(How to Be A) Millionaire

"(How to Be A) Millionaire"
Single by ABC
from the album How to Be a ... Zillionaire!
B-side"(How to Be A) Billionaire"
Released2 November 1984 (1984-11-02)[1]
Recorded1984
GenreSynth-pop[2]
Length3:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Martin Fry
  • Mark White
ABC singles chronology
"S.O.S."
(1984) 		"(How to Be A) Millionaire"
(1984) 		"Be Near Me"
(1985)

"(How to Be A) Millionaire" is a song by English pop band ABC. It was the first single taken from their third studio album, How to Be a ... Zillionaire! (1985).

The single peaked at a modest No. 49 on the UK Singles Chart, though it fared better in the US where it reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100[3] and No. 4 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, the song received a poor reception by Smash Hits reviewer Neil Tennant who found ABC imitating American dance records "There's no originality or feeling - ABC are just desperately apeing an already over-imitated sound."[5]

Music video

The animated music video shows a cartoon Martin Fry and Mark White being overwhelmed by their luxury goods, which are continually growing in size. The other two band members make a brief appearance also in animated form.[6]

Track listing

7": Neutron NT107

  1. "(How to Be A) Millionaire" – 3:30
  2. "(How to Be A) Billionaire" – 3:37

12": Neutron NTXR 107

  1. "(How to Be A) Zillionaire" (Bond Street Mix) – 6:05
  2. "(How to Be A) Millionaire" (Single Remix) – 3:31
  3. "(How to Be A) Millionaire" (A Capella Version) – 3:30

12": Neutron NTX 107

  1. "(How to Be A) Zillionaire" (Wall Street Mix) – 7:33
  2. "(How to Be A) Millionaire" – 3:31
  3. "(How to Be A) Millionaire" (Accapella) – 3:30
  4. "(How to Be A) Millionaire" (Nickel & Dime Mix) – 5:22 (included on US version only)

Chart performance

Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 49
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 20
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 4

References

  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 28.
  2. ^ Phares, Heather. ABC - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of ABC (2000) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  3. ^ "ABC Chart History". Billboard.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 16.
  5. ^ Tennant, Neil. "Singles". Smash Hits 21 November 1984. p. 20.
  6. ^ (How to Be A) Millionaire. MTV. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015.
  7. ^ Letterman – Regis Is Shrek – YouTube


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