Overkill (song)
Overkill is a song by the Australian band Men at Work . The song was released in March 1983 as the second single from their album Cargo . It was written by lead singer Colin Hay and produced by Peter McIan .
The song debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 9, 1983 . and reached its highest ranking with rank 3 in early June 1983. When it was released, it marked a departure from the typical reggae- pop style of Men at Work . Instead, Overkill has appropriate lyrics and blues and roots feel.
Colin Hay stated that the lyrics refer to the group's growing success following the release of Men at Work's first album, Business as Usual , and the excitement and fear that come with major life changes.
Lead singer Colin Hay performed an acoustic version in the first episode of the second season of the television series Scrubs , Mein Rundumschlag ( My Overkill ). This acoustic version appeared on Colin Hays album Man @ Work in 2003 .
Cover versions
- The Benjamin Gate , Emmerson Nogueira , Dashboard Confessional and John Farnham recorded a cover version of the song.
Chart placements
| Charts | Top ranking | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Chart placements | ||
 Australia (ARIA)
|
6th (... Where.) | ... |
 Germany (GfK)
|
30th (17 weeks) | 17th |
 United States (Billboard)
|
3 (16 weeks) | 16 |
 United Kingdom (OCC)
|
21st (10 weeks) | 10 |