Self Control

Laura Branigan's version of Self Control is not just an '80s track: it's the moment when Italo disco became a massive phenomenon across Europe. While the original version by Raf dominated the Italian and Swiss charts in early 1984, Branigan gave it a punchier sound, replacing the original keyboard riff with a guitar riff and making the percussion hits more insistent. The result was a song that not only sounded different but also climbed to the top 5 in countries like Germany, Austria, and Canada, nearly reaching number one in the United States.

Everything was recorded in two key locations: West Germany and Los Angeles, with production handled by Robbie Buchanan and Jack White. Harold Faltermeyer, a disciple of Giorgio Moroder, arranged the track, giving it that electrifying touch that made it stand out. The duration varies by edition: 4 minutes and 21 seconds on the 7-inch single, but extends to 6 minutes in the 12-inch extended version. On the album Self Control, released in April 1984, Branigan included this song as the centerpiece—and it wasn’t by chance: it became her biggest international hit, reaching number 23 on the Billboard 200 and earning platinum certification.