The Magic Friend


"The Magic Friend" is a song recorded by Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. 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. 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.

Music

Kat Stevens of Freaky Trigger notes the track's "tasty ingredients" of "recogniseable pop stars, colourful boshing beats, catchy chorus, silly noises 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.

Critical reception

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." Glåmdalen wrote in their review of Get Ready!, that the song "with all its electronics quite interesting."

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. Betteridge also directed the music videos for "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone" and "Workaholic".

Track listings

; Belgian CD single
  1. "The Magic Friend"
  2. "The Magic Friend"
  3. "The Magic Friend"
  4. "The Magic Friend"
  5. "The Magic Friend"
  6. "Murphy's Megamix"
  7. "Automatic Megamix"
; German CD maxi
  1. "The Magic Friend"
  2. "The Magic Friend"
  3. "The Magic Friend"
  4. "The Magic Friend"
  5. "Murphy's Megamix"
  6. "Automatic Megamix"
; UK CD single
  1. "The Magic Friend"
  2. "The Magic Friend"
  3. "The Magic Friend"
  4. "Automatic Megamix"

; 7" single
  1. "The Magic Friend"
  2. "The Magic Friend"
; 12" maxi
  1. "The Magic Friend"
  2. "The Magic Friend"
  3. "Automatic Megamix"
  4. "Murphy's Megamix"

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts