"Brilliant Mind" is a song by British new wave band Furniture, released in 1986 by Stiff as the lead single from their second studio album The Wrong People. It was written by Jim Irvin, Hamilton Lee, Sally Still and Tim Whelan, and produced by Mick Glossop. "Brilliant Mind" reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart and remains the band's only entry on the chart. The song was featured in the John Hughes film Some Kind of Wonderful (1987).

Background

In 2010, Jim Irvin recalled of the song, "The chorus came to me as I got on a 110 bus in Hounslow, after signing on the dole. The only way was up. And, ironically, this was the song that did it."

Music video

The song's music video was shot at the Wag Club, Wardour Street, London, in front of an invited audience of the band's friends. Speaking of the video to Record Mirror in 1986, Irvin said, "We had to haul all our friends out of bed at the crack of dawn so we'd have an audience. It looks quite refreshing because it's absolutely bereft of effects – hasn't even got the luxury of colour."

Critical reception

On its release, Paul Massey of the Aberdeen Evening Express stated, "Excellent track from a promising London five-piece that twists, turns and grabs your attention: Jim Irvin's vocals are a treat. Hear it." Jerry Smith of Music Week praised it as an "excellently delivered subtle song with echoing guitar line and rousing sax used within an economic arrangement to produce a powerful number". He added, "After a couple of plays its nagging hook becomes not only interesting but memorable as well." In a review of the song's 1991 reissue, Sherman at the Big Controls, writing for NME, described the song as "Pigbag-meets-June Brides indie pop" and noted the "superbly pretentious line" of the chorus. He stated, "Incredible. I put this on at 33 by accident and it sounded like the best Joy Division record ever! Play it at 45 and it's got the best Peter Hook bass riff ever! It actually sounds much better than I remember it five years ago."

Track listings

7–inch single (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Australia) 12–inch single (UK and France)

1991 reissue

7–inch single (UK) 12–inch single (UK)

Personnel

Credits are adapted from The Wrong People vinyl LP liner notes and the UK 12-single vinyl single. Furniture Additional musicians Production Other

Charts