"Go Insane" is the title track of

Lindsey Buckingham Lindsey Adams Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American musician, record producer, and the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the Rock music, rock band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with ...

's second solo album. Released as a single in July 1984, it became Buckingham's second top 40 hit (after "

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", three years earlier). "Go Insane" is also Buckingham's most recent U.S. solo hit (peaking at No. 23 in the ''

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chart); on the other hand, it did not chart in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. In 1985, "Go Insane" received four nominations at the

1985 MTV Video Music Awards The 1985 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 13, 1985, honoring the best music videos from May 2, 1984, to May 1, 1985. The show was hosted by Eddie Murphy at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Don Henley was the night's big ...

: Most Experimental Video, Best Special Effects in a Video, Best Editing in a Video, and Best Cinematography in a Video, although it did not win any of these categories.

Lyrics

When asked about the lyrics of "Go Insane", Buckingham explained that the song was about being on the verge of insanity. "That song is not about going insane for all time but for the fact that we all go insane from time to time. There are times when we tend to go out a little bit and you're walking on that edge." In later years, Buckingham stated that the song, "Go Insane", was actually written about his post-break up relationship with former lover,

Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasing the album ...

Critical reception

'' described the song as "aggressive, electronic dance-rock." ''

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'' commented that the song's "punchy mid-tempo rhythm, catchy guitar riff, melody hook and the chorus harmonies all make this reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac, even if there are some odd effects in the background and an unsettling theme in the lyrics."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

likened "Go Insane" to Buckingham's work with Fleetwood Mac and highlighted the song's "massed choral sounds."

Personnel

* Lindsey Buckingham –

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

guitars The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

, keyboards,

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

Fairlight CMI The Fairlight CMI (short for Computer Musical Instrument) is a digital synthesizer, music sampler, and digital audio workstation introduced in 1979 by Fairlight. — with links to some Fairlight history and photos It was based on a commerc ...

LinnDrum The LinnDrum, often erroneously referred to as the LM-2, is a drum machine manufactured by Linn Electronics between 1982 and 1985. About 5,000 units were sold. Development The LinnDrum was designed by the American engineer Roger Linn. It was ...

* Bryant Simpson –

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

Chart history

Other versions

In concerts, notably on ''The Dance'', Buckingham did an acoustic fingerstyle version of "Go Insane", which featured just him and a nylon-string guitar. He first performed the song in this style on his 1992–1993 tour promoting the '' Out of the Cradle'' album. During the 2008 ''Gift of Screws'' tour, as well as

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1967 by the singer and guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green. Green named the band by combining the surnames of the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, and the bassis ...

's 2009 ''Unleashed'' tour, he played the original version of the song. He returned to performing the solo acoustic version on his 2011 ''Seeds We Sow'' tour.

References

External links

Lyrics, Interpretation, and Tabs
* {{authority control 1984 singles Songs written by Lindsey Buckingham Lindsey Buckingham songs 1984 songs Elektra Records singles Warner Music Group singles