The Magic Friend

"The Magic Friend" is a song recorded by Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited.[1] It was released in August 1992 as the fourth and final single from their debut album, Get Ready!. The UK release once again omitted Ray Slijngaard's rap, which lasted for 16 bars three times through, but did include some of the vocals from Anita Doth, with the "mocking chorus echoes" being abandoned as only Ray's part remains, thus leaving Anita's sole vocals as "disembodied whispers" during the middle eight.[2] The single scored chart success in many European countries with its highest peak coming in Finland where it topped the charts. In Zimbabwe it peaked at number 5 in October 1992.

"The Magic Friend"
Widely distributed variant of the standard artwork
Single by 2 Unlimited
from the album Get Ready!
Released3 August 1992
Recorded1992
GenreEurodance
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Phil Wilde
  • Jean-Paul De Coster
2 Unlimited singles chronology
"Workaholic"
(1992)		 "The Magic Friend"
(1992)		 "No Limit"
(1992)
Music video
"The Magic Friend" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "One of the more successful techno acts in Europe continues its bid for mainstream club and radio approval along these shores with a cute and NRGetic wriggler. The music is a bit harder than previous tracks, though the rap is a little too strained and silly for its own good."[3] Kat Stevens of Freaky Trigger noted the track's "tasty ingredients" of "recogniseable pop stars, colourful boshing beats, catchy chorus, silly noises [and] fervoured anticipation." Comparing parts of the track to settings on a Yamaha keyboard, she compared the track's main synth sound to the "Brass 1" setting and the "gutteral metallic swinging" to the "Slap Bass" setting.[2] Norwegian newspaper Glåmdalen wrote in their review of the Get Ready! album, that the song "with all its electronics [is] quite interesting."[4] James Hamilton from Record Mirror said it is "'Start-Rite' techno for young "wannabe" ravers".[5] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits stated that "the insufferable duo return with another ropey techno effort".[6]

Chart performance

"The Magic Friend" was a major hit on the charts on several continents. In Europe, it peaked at number-one in Finland. It managed to climb into the Top 10 also in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and on MTV's European Top 20. In the United Kingdom, the single reached number 11 in its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on August 23, 1992.[7] Additionally, it was a Top 20 hit also in Germany, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100 and a Top 30 hit in Sweden. Outside Europe, "The Magic Friend" managed to climb to number-one on the RPM Dance Chart and number 26 on the Singles Chart in Canada, number 5 in Zimbabwe and number 16 in Australia.

Music video

The music video for "The Magic Friend" was directed by British director David Betteridge. It was shot in The Pinnacles and Wave Rock in Australia. Ray and Anita sing the song in the video while a character dances around in the background. Betteridge also directed the music videos for "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone" and "Workaholic". "The Magic Friend" was uploaded to YouTube in July 2014. By September 2020, it had more than 222,000 views.

Track listings
Belgian CD single
  1. "The Magic Friend" (Vocal Edit) (3:43)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Instrumental Edit) (3:02)
  3. "The Magic Friend" (Extended Version) (5:14)
  4. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean Remix) (5:15)
  5. "The Magic Friend" (Automatic Remix) (4:23)
  6. "Murphy's Megamix" (5:40)
  7. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
German CD maxi
  1. "The Magic Friend" (Vocal Edit) (3:43)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Instrumental Edit) (3:02)
  3. "The Magic Friend" (Extended) (5:14)
  4. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean Remix) (5:05)
  5. "Murphy's Megamix" (5:40)
  6. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
UK CD single
  1. "The Magic Friend" (7" Edit) [aka Instrumental Edit] (3:02)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Automatic Remix) (4:23)
  3. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean Remix) (5:15)
  4. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
7" single
  1. "The Magic Friend" (Vocal Edit) (3:43)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Instrumental Edit) (3:02)
12" maxi
  1. "The Magic Friend" (Automatic Remix) (4:23)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean Mix) (5:15)
  3. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
  4. "Murphy's Megamix" (5:40)

Charts

References
  1. "Allmusic: 2 Unlimited (Biography)". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  2. Stevens, Kat (2007-11-27). "Blog '92: THAT'S WHAT I AM". FreakyTrigger. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  3. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  4. RV (1992-03-30). "2 Unlimited". Glåmdalen (in Norwegian). p. 13. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  5. "DJ Directory: Out On Monday" (PDF). Record Mirror. 1992-08-08. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  6. "New Singles". Smash Hits. 1992-08-05. p. 41. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 23 August 1992 - 29 August 1992". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  8. "The Magic Friend", in various Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  9. "Ultratop.be – 2 Unlimited – The Magic Friend" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. Canada dance peak
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-09-19. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  12. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – 2 Unlimited – The Magic Friend". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  14. Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  15. UK Singles Chart Everyhit.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  16. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1992-08-15. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  18. "Jaaroverzichten 1992". Ultratop. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  19. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  20. "Single top 100 over 1992" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  21. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
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