Wikipedia

Flesh for Fantasy

"Flesh for Fantasy" is a song by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released in August 1984 as the third single from his second studio album Rebel Yell (1983). It reached No. 5 in New Zealand, No. 11 in Germany, No. 20 in Switzerland, and No. 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Flesh for Fantasy"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Rebel Yell
B-side"Blue Highway"
ReleasedAugust 1984 (US)
21 September 1984 (UK)[1][2]
Recorded1983
Genre
Length
  • 4:37 (Album version)
  • 3:47 (Single version)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriters
ProducerKeith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Eyes Without a Face"
(1984)		 "Flesh for Fantasy"
(1984)		 "Catch My Fall"
(1984)
Music video
"Flesh for Fantasy" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicNot rated[3]

Background and writing

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The song was written by Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, with its title being inspired by the American anthology film Flesh and Fantasy (1943).[4]

Composition

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"Flesh for Fantasy" is a new wave,[5][6] hard rock[5] and post-punk song,[6] with elements of rock, pop and funk.[7]

Music video

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The music video was directed by the American film and television director Howard Deutch.[8]

Spanish version

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Argentine rock singer-songwriter Miguel Mateos made a Spanish version, titled "Sexo y frenesí", and included it on his second live album Salir Vivo in 2002.

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Flesh for Fantasy"
Chart (1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 28
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10]11
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[11] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12]5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13]20
UK Singles (OCC)[14]54
US Billboard Hot 100[15]29
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16]8
West Germany (Media Control)[17] 11

References

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  1. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 20.
  2. ↑ Melody Maker – new releases, 15 Sept 1984 edition, page 4
  3. ↑ Donald A. Guarisco. "Flesh for Fantasy - Billy Idol | Song Info". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Idol, Billy (2014). Dancing with myself. New York. ISBN 978-1-4516-2850-0. OCLC 873740790.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. 1 2 Guarisco, Donald. "Flesh for Fantasy Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Harrington, Jim (March 5, 2019). "What is New Wave icon Billy Idol up to now? You might not guess". East Bay Times. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  7. ↑ Peacock, Tim (November 30, 2024). "The Best Billy Idol Songs: A Master Of Reinvention". uDiscover Music. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Music Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 35. Billboard Publications, Inc. 1 September 1984. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510.
  9. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 147. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 9520". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Billy Idol".
  12. ↑ "Billy Idol – Flesh for Fantasy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Billy Idol – Flesh for Fantasy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/9/1984 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Billy Idol Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Billy Idol Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - BILLY IDOL - FLESH FOR FANTASY". Offiziellecharts.de.
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