Relax ( song ) - wikipedia Relax ( song ) `` Relax '' Single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood from the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome B - side `` One September Monday '', `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' Released 24 October 1983 ( 1983 - 10 - 24 ) Format 7 '' 12 '' MC CD Recorded Genre Hi - NRG, new wave Length 3 : 53 Label ZTT Songwriter ( s ) Peter Gill Holly Johnson Brian Nash Mark O'Toole Producer ( s ) Trevor Horn Frankie Goes to Hollywood singles chronology `` Relax '' ( 1983 ) `` Two Tribes '' ( 1984 ) Audio sample file help This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( April 2018 ) `` Relax '' is the debut single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, released in the United Kingdom by ZTT Records in 1983. The song was later included on the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome ( 1984 ). Although fairly inauspicious upon initial release, `` Relax '' finally reached number one on the UK singles chart on 22 January 1984, ultimately becoming one of the most controversial and most commercially successful records of the decade. The single eventually sold a reported 2 million copies in the UK alone, making it the seventh best - selling single in the UK Singles Chart 's history. Following the release of the group 's second single, `` Two Tribes '', `` Relax '' rallied from a declining UK chart position during June 1984 to climb back up the UK charts and re-attain number - two spot behind `` Two Tribes '' at number one, representing simultaneous chart success by a single act, unprecedented since the early 1960s. Upon release in the United States in late 1984, `` Relax '' repeated its slow UK progress, reaching number 67 upon initial release, but eventually reaching number 10 in March 1985. The song won Best British Single at the 1985 Brit Awards. The song featured on the soundtrack to T2 Trainspotting and also in the game Grand Theft Auto : Vice City Stories in the fictional in - game radio station Wave 103. Contents 1 Background and recording 2 Release, controversy and ban by the BBC 3 Original 1983 -- 1984 mixes 4 B - sides 5 Videos 6 Track listings 6.1 7 `` : ZTT / ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) 6.2 12 `` : ZTT / 12 ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) 6.3 12 `` : ZTT / 12 ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) 6.4 12 `` : ZTT / 12 ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) 6.5 12 `` : Island / 0 - 96975 ( United States ) 6.6 12 `` : ZTT / 062 - 2000686 ( Greece ) 6.7 MC : ZTT / CTIS 102 6.8 MC : ZTT 7 Charts and certifications 7.1 Original version ( 1983 to 1985 ) 7.1. 1 Weekly charts 7.2 Year - end charts 7.3 1993 and 2001 reissues 7.4 Relax ' 93 7.5 Sales and certifications 8 Re-issues 8.1 1993 re-issues 8.1. 1 CD : ZTT / FGTH1CD 8.1. 2 2x12 `` : ZTT / SAM 1231 8.2 2001 re-issue 8.2. 1 Cd maxi rep 8027 8.2. 2 CD : Star 69 / STARCD 520 ( US ) 9 Covers 10 See also 11 Bibliography 12 References 13 External links Background and recording Relax ( Demo ) excerpt An excerpt from Relax ( Demo ) Problems playing this file ? See media help. Singer Holly Johnson has claimed that the words of the song came to him as he was walking down Princess Avenue in Liverpool : ``... I mean they were just, you know, words that floated into my head one day when I was walking down Princess Avenue ( in Liverpool ) with no bus fare, trying to get to rehearsals -- I mean there was no great sort of calculated, ' Oh I 'll sing these words and this record 'll be banned '. '' ZTT Records signed Frankie Goes to Hollywood after producer - turned - ZTT cofounder Trevor Horn saw the band play on the television show The Tube, on which the group played an early version of `` Relax ''. Horn described the original version of `` Relax '' as `` More a jingle than a song '', but he preferred to work with songs that were not professionally finished because he could then `` fix them up '' in his own style. Once the band was signed, ZTT co-founder Paul Morley mapped out the marketing campaign fashioned as a `` strategic assault on pop ''. Morley opted to tackle the biggest possible themes in the band 's singles ( `` sex, war, religion '' ), of which `` Relax '' would be the first, and emphasized the shock impact of Frankie members Holly Johnson 's and Paul Rutherford 's open homosexuality in the packaging and music videos. Horn dominated the recording of `` Relax '' in his effort for perfectionism. The band were overawed and intimidated by Horn 's reputation, and thus were too nervous to make suggestions. Johnson said in his autobiography, `` Whatever he said we went along with ''. When attempts to record with the full band proved unsatisfactory, Horn hired former Ian Dury backing band the Blockheads for the sessions, with Norman Watt - Roy providing the original bass line. Those sessions were later deemed to be not modern sounding enough. Horn then constructed a more electronic - based version of the song with keyboards by session musician Andy Richards and with rhythm programming assistance from J.J. Jeczalik of Art of Noise. Horn developed this version of the recording in his west London studio while the band remained in their hometown of Liverpool. Horn had made 3 versions of `` Relax '' prior to Richards and guitarist Stephen Lipson joining his ZTT Production ' Theam ' in late 1983. Horn left the studio late one night asking for Lipson to erase the multitrack ( of version 3 ) due to lack of progress, but came back into the studio some time later to hear Richards playing a variety of modal chords based around the key of E minor with Lipson playing guitar along to the unerased multitrack. Ultimately lead vocalist Johnson was the only band member to perform on the record ; the only contribution by the other members was a sample crafted from the sound of the rest of the band jumping into a swimming pool. Horn explained years later, `` I was just... Look, ' Relax ' had to be a hit. '' Despite the band 's absence from the record, Horn said, `` I could never have done these records in isolation. There was no actual playing by the band, but the whole feeling came from the band. '' Horn completed the recording having spent £ 70,000 in studio time. Release, controversy and ban by the BBC Morley intentionally courted scandal with the promotion of `` Relax ''. ZTT initiated the ad campaign for `` Relax '' with two quarter - page ads in the British music press. The first ad featured images of Rutherford in a sailor cap and a leather vest, and Johnson with a shaved head and rubber gloves. The images were accompanied by the phrase `` ALL THE NICE BOYS LOVE SEA MEN '' and declared `` Frankie Goes to Hollywood are coming... making Duran Duran lick the shit off their shoes... Nineteen inches that must be taken always. '' The second ad promised `` theories of bliss, a history of Liverpool from 1963 to 1983, a guide to Amsterdam bars ''. When first released in November 1983, the initial progress of `` Relax '' on the UK Top 75 was sluggish. First charting at number 67, by its seventh week on the chart it had progressed only to number 35, even falling back slightly during that time. But then on Thursday 5 January 1984, Frankie Goes to Hollywood performed `` Relax '' on the BBC flagship television chart show, Top of the Pops. The following week it soared to number 6. On 11 January 1984, Radio 1 disc jockey Mike Read expressed on air his distaste for both the record 's suggestive sleeve ( designed by Anne Yvonne Gilbert ) and its lyrics, which centred on the oft - repeated `` Relax, do n't do it / When you want to suck to it / Relax, do n't do it / When you want to come. '' He announced his refusal to play the record, not knowing that the BBC had just decided that the song was not to be played on the BBC anyway. In support of their disc jockey, BBC Radio banned the single from its shows a reported two days later ( although certain prominent night - time BBC shows -- including those of Kid Jensen and John Peel -- continued to play the record, as they saw fit, throughout 1984 ). The now - banned `` Relax '' rose to number 2 in the charts by 17 January, and hit the number - one spot on 24 January. By this time, the BBC Radio ban had extended to Top of the Pops as well, which displayed a still picture of the group during its climactic Number One announcement, before airing a performance by a non-Number One artist. This went on for the five weeks that `` Relax '' was at number one. It then began a slow decline on the charts, falling back as far as number 31 in May 1984 before returning to number two in July whilst Frankie 's follow - up single `` Two Tribes '' held the UK number - one spot. In the end, `` Relax '' remained on the Top 75 for 48 consecutive weeks and returned in February 1985 for four more, giving a total of 52. The ban became an embarrassment for the BBC, especially given that UK commercial radio and television stations were still playing the song. Later in 1984 the ban was lifted and `` Relax '' featured on both the Christmas Day edition of Top of the Pops and Radio 1 's rundown of the best - selling singles of the year. Throughout the `` Relax '' controversy, the band continued to publicly deny that the song 's lyrics were sexual. Nevertheless, by 1984, it was clear that the public were aware of the sexual nature of the lyrics, but the scandal had fuelled sales anyway. In 1985, with the release of the Welcome to the Pleasuredome album ( which included `` Relax '' ), the band dropped any public pretense about the lyrics : Everything I say is complete lies. Like, when people ask you what ' Relax ' was about, when it first came out we used to pretend it was about motivation, and really it was about shagging. -- Mark O'Toole, Welcome to the Pleasuredome album liner notes The track was reissued in September 1993, the first of a string of Frankie Goes to Hollywood singles to be reissued that year. It debuted at a high number six on the UK singles chart and peaked at number five the next week. It spent seven weeks on the Top 75 this time, thus extending its combined total to 59, making it the third longest runner of all time ( seven other singles have since surpassed it ; now it is in joint 10th place ). Original 1983 -- 1984 mixes Relax `` The Last Seven Inches '' Although the 7 - inch version of the single remained unchanged throughout its initial release ( a mix generally known as `` Relax ( Move ) '' ), promotional 7 - inch records featuring a substantially different mix of `` Relax '' ( entitled either `` The Last Seven Inches '' or `` Warp Mix '' because it is a compilation of other versions ) were the subject of a limited 1984 release. Relax ( The Last Seven Inches ) excerpt An excerpt from Relax ( The Last Seven Inches ) Problems playing this file ? See media help. Three principal 12 - inch remixes of `` Relax '' were eventually created by producer Trevor Horn : One of the reasons we did all the remixes was that the initial 12 - inch version of ' Relax ' contained something called ' The Sex Mix ', which was 16 minutes long and did n't even contain a song. It was really Holly Johnson just jamming, as well as a bunch of samples of the group jumping in the swimming pool and me sort of making disgusting noises by dropping stuff into buckets of water ! We got so many complaints about it -- particularly from gay clubs, who found it offensive -- that we cut it in half and reduced it down to eight minutes, by taking out some of the slightly more offensive parts ( this became the `` New York Mix '' ). Then we got another load of complaints, because the single version was n't on the 12 - inch -- I did n't see the point in this at the time, but I was eventually put straight about it. Horn attested that visits to New York 's Paradise Garage club led to the creation of the final `` Relax ( U.S. Mix ) '', which ultimately replaced the original `` Sex Mix '' / `` New York Mix '' releases : It was only when I went to this club and heard the sort of things they were playing that I really understood about 12 - inch remixes. Although I myself had already had a couple of big 12 - inch hits, I 'd never heard them being played on a big sound system, and so I then went back and mixed ' Relax ' again and that was the version which sold a couple of million over here ( in the UK ). Relax picture 12 '' disk The original 12 - inch version of `` Relax '', labelled `` Sex Mix '', ran for over 16 minutes, and is broadly as described by Horn above. The subsequent `` New York Mix '' was an 8 - minute - plus edit of the `` Sex Mix '', and can only be distinguished by having 12ISZTAS1 etched on the vinyl. The final 12 - inch mix, containing no elements from the foregoing versions, was designated the `` U.S. Mix '', and ran for approximately 7 : 20. This was the most commonly available 12 - inch version of `` Relax '' during its worldwide 1984 chart success. The UK cassette single featured as the title track a unique amalgam of excerpts from the `` Sex Mix '', `` U.S. Mix '', `` Move '' and an instrumental version of `` Move ''. Since virtually all of the UK `` Relax '' 12 - inch singles were labelled `` Sex Mix '', a method of differentiating between versions by reference to the record 's matrix numbers necessarily became de rigueur for collectors of Frankie Goes to Hollywood releases ( and ultimately collectors of ZTT records in general ). `` Relax ( Come Fighting ) '' was the version of the song included on the Welcome to the Pleasuredome album. This is ostensibly a variant of the 7 - inch single `` Move '' mix, but readily distinguishable from it in many ways. For example, the `` Move '' mix fades in on a foghorn type sound while the album mix fades in on sustained synth chords. Also, the backing vocals of the `` Move '' mix are panned to the left, whereas they are mixed in the centre on the album version. Additionally, the `` Move '' mix features a prominent reverberated kick drum sound during the introduction that also appears in other parts of the song, which is completely absent from the album mix. The album mix also has a certain post-production sheen ( greater stereo separation of parts, more strategic uses of reverb, etc. ) that is absent from the original 1983 7 - inch single mix. The later `` 1993 Classic Mix '' reissue is almost identical to the `` Come Fighting '' album version. The original airing of Relax on The Tube, before the band were signed to ZTT, featured another verse that was edited from all the released versions, `` In heaven everything is fine, you 've got yours and I 've got mine '', presumably removed as it was taken directly from the David Lynch film Eraserhead. B - sides The 7 - inch featured `` One September Monday '', an interview between ZTT 's Paul Morley, Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford. During the interview, Holly revealed that the group 's name derived from a page of the New Yorker magazine, headlined `` Frankie Goes to Hollywood '' and featuring Frank Sinatra `` getting mobbed by teenyboppers ''. On all of the original 12 - inch releases, the B - side featured a cover of `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '', followed by a brief dialogue involving Rutherford attempting to sign on, and an a cappella version of the title track 's chorus, segueing into an instrumental version of `` Relax '', known as `` From Soft to Hard ''. `` From Soft to Hard '' has the same structure as the 7 - inch `` Move '' mix, but is not simply an instrumental of this mix. The UK cassette single included `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' and interview sections not included on `` One September Monday ''. Videos The first official video for `` Relax '', directed by Bernard Rose and set in a S&M themed gay nightclub, featuring the bandmembers accosted by buff leathermen, a glamorous drag queen, and an obese admirer dressed up as a Roman emperor, was allegedly banned by MTV and the BBC, prompting the recording of a second video, directed by Godley and Creme in early 1984, featuring the group performing with the help of laser beams. However, after the second video was made the song was banned completely by the BBC, meaning that neither video was ever broadcast on any BBC music programmes. A live performance video of the song was directed by David Mallet, making the rounds at MTV. Another MTV video of the studio version includes footage from the Brian De Palma film Body Double. Body Double, a popular 1984 erotic thriller film, contains a film within a film sequence in which Frankie Goes to Hollywood performs Relax on the set of a porn film. Track listings All discographical information pertains to original UK releases only unless noted `` Relax '' written by Peter Gill / Johnson / Mark O'Toole `` One September Monday '' credited to Gill / Johnson / Morley / Brian Nash / O'Toole / Rutherford `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' written by Gerry Marsden 7 `` : ZTT / ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) `` Relax '' ( Move ) -- 3 : 52 `` One September Monday '' -- 4 : 47 Also released as a 7 '' picture disc ( P ZTAS 1 ) 12 `` : ZTT / 12 ztas 1 ( United Kingdom ) `` Relax '' ( Sex Mix ) ( 16 : 24 ) `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' -- 4 : 03 `` Relax '' ( From soft to hard ) -- 4 : 21 Also released as a 12 '' picture disc ( 12 PZTAS 1 ). The Sex Mix on the picture disc is actually the U.S. Mix a.k.a. Long Mix, running time approximately 7 : 20 12 `` : ZTT / 12 ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) `` Relax '' ( New York Mix ) ( 8 : 20 ) `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' -- 4 : 03 `` Relax '' ( From soft to hard ) -- 4 : 21 `` New York mix '' is an edit of `` Sex Mix '' 12 `` : ZTT / 12 ZTAS 1 ( United Kingdom ) `` Relax '' ( U.S. Mix ) -- 7 : 20 `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' -- 4 : 03 `` Relax '' ( From soft to hard ) -- 4 : 21 `` Relax '' ( U.S. Mix ) is also known as `` Relax '' ( Long version ) 12 `` : Island / 0 - 96975 ( United States ) `` Relax '' ( U.S. Mix ) -- 7 : 20 `` Relax '' ( Move ) -- 3 : 52 `` Relax '' ( From soft to hard ) -- 4 : 21 `` U.S. Mix '' labelled as `` Long version '' `` Move '' labelled as `` 7 '' Version '' `` From soft to hard '' labelled as `` Instrumental '' also released on MC in Canada ( Island / ISC - 69750 ) 12 `` : ZTT / 062 - 2000686 ( Greece ) `` Relax '' ( Disco Mix ) ( 6 : 15 ) `` Ferry ' Cross the Mersey '' -- 4 : 03 `` Relax '' ( From soft to hard ) -- 4 : 21 `` Disco Mix '' ( a.k.a. `` The Greek Disco Mix '' ) is a combination of `` Relax ( move ) '' and the `` New York Mix '' `` Disco Mix '' ( a.k.a. `` The Greek Disco Mix '' ) is labelled as `` Relax '' ( Sex Mix ) on the original 12 ``, which is incorrect. MC : ZTT / CTIS 102 Relax ( cassette single ) excerpt An excerpt from Relax ( cassette single ) Problems playing this file ? See media help. `` From Soft To Hard -- From Dry To Moist '' `` The Party Trick '' ( acting dumb ) -- 0 : 36 `` The Special Act '' ( adapted from the sex mix ) -- 7 : 46 `` The US Mix '' ( come dancing ) -- 4 : 38 `` The Single '' ( the act ) -- 3 : 55 `` Later On '' ( from One September Monday ) -- 1 : 36 `` Ferry Across The Mersey (... and here I 'll stay ) '' -- 4 : 06 MC : ZTT `` Relax '' `` Relax '' -- 3 : 57 `` Relax MCMXCIII '' -- 3 : 43 `` Ollie J Remix '' ( come dancing ) -- 6 : 31 `` Jam & Spoon trip - O - Matic Fairn Tale Mix '' - 7 : 50 `` Jam & Sppon Hi N6R6G Mix '' -- 7 : 54 `` New York Mix - The original '' -- 7 : 26 Charts and certifications Original version ( 1983 to 1985 ) Weekly charts Chart ( 1983 - 1985 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 5 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Canadian RPM Top Singles 11 Denmark ( Tracklisten ) 5 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Finland ( The Official Finnish Charts ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Greece ( IFPI Greece ) Hong Kong Singles Chart 9 Iceland ( Tónlist ) Irish Singles Chart Israel Singles Chart Italy ( FIMI ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 5 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 5 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 10 Norway ( VG - lista ) Polish Singles Chart 18 Portugal Singles Chart 18 Spain ( AFYVE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) Thailand Singles Chart UK ( Official Charts Company ) U.S. Billboard Hot 100 10 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 20 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales 26 Year - end charts Chart ( 1984 ) Rank Australia 16 UK Switzerland 6 Chart ( 1985 ) Rank New Zealand 16 US ( Joel Whitburn 's Pop Annual ) 102 1993 and 2001 reissues Chart ( 1993 - 1994 ) Peak position Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) 21 Ireland ( IRMA ) 6 Japan ( Oricon ) 40 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 8 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 27 Norway ( VG - lista ) 7 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 15 Chart ( 2001 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 19 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales 22 Relax ' 93 Chart ( 1993 - 1994 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 22 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 10 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 ) 13 Germany ( Media Control Charts ) 13 Netherlands ( GfK Dutch Chart ) 12 Switzerland ( Swiss Hitparade ) 6 UK ( Official Charts Company ) 5 Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Gold 50,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Platinum 2,103,000 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 500,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Re-issues The title track has periodically been reissued as a single in a number of remix forms. 1993 re-issues CD : ZTT / FGTH1CD `` Relax '' -- 3 : 55 `` Relax '' ( MCMXCIII ) -- 3 : 42 `` Relax '' ( Ollie J. Remix ) -- 6 : 38 `` Relax '' ( Jam & Spoon Trip - O - Matic Fairy Tale Remix ) -- 7 : 52 `` Relax '' ( Jam & Spoon HI N-R-G Remix ) -- 7 : 55 `` Relax '' ( U.S. Mix ) -- 7 : 22 2x12 `` : ZTT / SAM 1231 `` Relax '' ( Ollie J. Remix ) -- 6 : 38 `` Relax '' ( Trip - Ship Edit ) -- 6 : 12 `` Relax '' ( Ollie J 's Seven Inches ) -- 3 : 30 `` Relax '' ( Jam & Spoon HI N-R-G Remix ) -- 7 : 55 `` Relax '' ( Jam & Spoon Trip - O - Matic Fairy Tale Remix ) -- 7 : 52 `` Relax '' ( MCMXCIII ) -- 3 : 42 UK 12 '' promo 2001 re-issue Cd maxi rep 8027 `` Relax '' 4 : 11 ( original single A side ) `` One September Monday '' 4 : 50 ( original single B side ) `` Ferry Cross The Mersey '' 4 : 06 ( original 12inch B side ) `` Relax MCMXIII '' 3 : 43 `` Relax '' 4 : 07 ( enhanced section ) ( original video ) CD : Star 69 / STARCD 520 ( US ) `` Relax '' ( Peter Rauhofer 's Doomsday Radio Mix ) -- 3 : 45 `` Relax '' ( Peter Rauhofer 's Doomsday Club Mix ) -- 9 : 47 `` Relax '' ( Saeed & Palash Addictive Journey ) -- 11 : 16 `` Relax '' ( Coldcut Remix ) -- 4 : 59 `` Relax '' ( Peter Rauhofer 's Doomsday Dub ) -- 6 : 27 `` Relax '' ( Original New York 12 '' Mix ) -- 7 : 31 `` Relax '' ( Original Radio Mix ) -- 3 : 54 Covers This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2018 ) Judge Dread released the first cover version of the song, in 1984. `` Weird Al '' Yankovic covered the chorus as the final song of the polka medley `` Hooked on Polkas '' from his 1985 album Dare to Be Stupid. Powerman 5000 covered it with Danny Boy for the Zoolander Soundtrack. They made a music video as well. Brooklyn Bounce covered it for their 1997 album The Beginning. Bloodhound Gang sampled it in their song `` Mope ''. Richard Cheese covered it on his 2002 album Tuxicity. The Dandy Warhols covered it for their 2004 album Come On Feel the Dandy Warhols. One - Way Mirror covered it on their 2008 album One - Way Mirror. Atrocity covered it on their 2008 album Werk 80 II. Blake McGrath released a cover version as a single in 2010. Kevorkian Death Cycle released a cover version on their 1999 album A + 0 ( M ). Duran Duran performed a snippet of the song during `` The Wild Boys '' on their 2011 -- 12 All You Need Is Now Tour. U2 performed a snippet of the song during some live shows on their The Unforgettable Fire Tour ( 1984 ), Vertigo Tour ( 2005 ) and U2360 ° Tour ( 2009 / 2010 / 2011 ). Blondie performed the song throughout 2013 on their Blast Off Tour & No Principals Tour. They also recorded it for their 2014 studio album Ghosts of Download. One Less Reason covered it on their 2011 album Faces and Four Letter Word See also List of songs banned by the BBC Bibliography Reynolds, Simon ( 2005 ). Rip It Up and Start Again : Postpunk 1978 -- 1984. Penguin. ISBN 0 - 14 - 303672 - 6. References Jump up ^ Murray, Nick ( 17 September 2014 ). `` 100 Best Singles of 1984 : Pop 's Greatest Year > 30 -- Frankie Goes to Hollywood, `` Relax '' ``. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 May 2016. Jump up ^ Reynolds, Simon ( 2009 ). Rip It Up and Start Again : Postpunk 1978 -- 1984. New York : Faber & Faber. p. 504. ISBN 0 - 571 - 21570 - X. ' Relax ' tapped into Hi - NRG 's remorseless, metronomic precision and orgiastic vibe -- the spasming drum roll at the end of the single feels like an amyl nitrite rush. Jump up ^ `` TBT : When MTV Banned Frankie Goes To Hollywood 's Original Video For `` Relax '' For Being Too Gay ``. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company ''. www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Get Lucky becomes one of the UK 's biggest selling singles of all - time ! ''. Officialcharts.com. 2013 - 06 - 27. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Relax -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood ''. MusikBloggNo. Retrieved 9 August 2017. Jump up ^ Reynolds, p. 377 ^ Jump up to : Reynolds, p. 379 Jump up ^ `` Classic Tracks : Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- ' Relax ' ''. Sound on Sound. April 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ zttaat.com. `` Zang Tuum Tumb and all that - Articles - The making of relax ''. www.zttaat.com. Retrieved 9 August 2017. Jump up ^ Reynolds, p. 380 Jump up ^ Reynolds, p. 381 Jump up ^ Stuart Maconie ( 2013 ). The People 's Songs : The Story of Modern Britain in 50 Records. p. 263. ISBN 140903318X. Jump up ^ `` ' Banned ' Frankie tops chart ''. BBC News. 6 October 2000. Retrieved 4 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` From ABC to ZTT ''. Sound On Sound. August 1994. Jump up ^ `` Frankie Goes to Hollywood - `` Relax ( version 3 : lasers ) '' ``. mvdbase.com. 1984 - 10 - 29. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 29. Jump up ^ Gibron, Bill ( September 9, 2006 ). `` Body Double : Special Edition ''. DVD Talk. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( illustrated ed. ). St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. p. 118. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Relax in Canadian Top Singles Chart ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ Jump up to : Iain Blair ( 1985 ). Frankie Goes to Hollywood. pp. 20 and 21. ISBN 978 - 0809252756. ^ Jump up to : Steve Hawtin ; et al. `` Song artist 604 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood ''. Tsort.info. Retrieved 26 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Relax in French Chart '' ( in French ). Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search `` Frankie Goes to Hollywood '' Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. ^ Jump up to : `` Relax in Irish Chart ''. IRMA. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Two last results when searching `` Relax '' Jump up ^ `` The best - selling singles of 1984 in Italy ''. HitParadeItalia ( it ). Retrieved 20 June 2013. 11. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood ( # 1 ) ^ Jump up to : `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. ^ Jump up to : `` Charts.nz -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax ''. Top 40 Singles. ^ Jump up to : `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. ^ Jump up to : `` Swedishcharts.com -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax ''. Swiss Singles Chart. ^ Jump up to : `` Frankie Goes to Hollywood ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Frankie Goes to Hollywood awards on Allmusic ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Jump up ^ Charted twice. The 3 : 02 version peaked at # 67 on 5 / 5 / 1984 ; the 3 : 56 version peaked at # 10 3 / 16 / 1985. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( doc ) format = requires url = ( help ). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles ''. Music Week. London, England : Morgan - Grampian plc : 37. 26 January 1985. Jump up ^ Hung, Steffen. `` Swiss Year - End Charts 1983 - swisscharts.com ''. swisscharts.com. Jump up ^ `` End of Year Charts 1984 ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 17, 2017. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1999 ). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin : Record Research Inc. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 142 - X. Jump up ^ Pennanen, Timo ( 2006 ). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 ( in Finnish ) ( 1st ed. ). Helsinki : Tammi. ISBN 978 - 951 - 1 - 21053 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Frankie Goes To Hollywood -- Relax ' 93 ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Jump up ^ Hung Medien. `` Relax ' 93 in Austrian Chart ''. Archived from the original on 2 March 2006. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Relax ' 93 in Belgian Chart ''. Ultratop and Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Relax ' 93 in German Chart ''. Media control. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Relax ' 93 in GfK Dutch Chart ''. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Jump up ^ Hung Medien. `` Relax ' 93 in Swiss Chart ''. Archived from the original on 5 December 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Canadian certifications -- Frankie Goes to Hollywood -- Relax ''. Music Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` British certifications -- Frankie Goes to Hollywood -- Relax ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Enter Relax in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ Lane, Dan ( June 27, 2013 ). `` Daft Punk 's Get Lucky becomes one of the UK 's biggest selling singles of all - time ! ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 6, 2015. Jump up ^ `` American certifications -- Frankie Goes to Hollywood -- Relax ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` U2 Relax - U2 on tour ''. U2gigs.com. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 29. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Frankie Goes to Hollywood Peter Gill Mark O'Toole Holly Johnson Paul Rutherford Brian Nash Jed O'Toole Sonia Mazumder Ryan Molloy Studio albums Welcome to the Pleasuredome Liverpool Compilations Bang ! Bang !... The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood Reload ! Frankie : The Whole 12 Inches Maximum Joy The Club Mixes 2000 Twelve Inches Rage Hard : The Sonic Collection Frankie Say Greatest Inside the Pleasuredome Singles `` Relax '' `` Two Tribes '' `` The Power of Love '' `` Welcome to the Pleasuredome '' `` Rage Hard '' `` Warriors of the Wasteland '' `` Watching the Wildlife '' Related articles Discography Frankie Goes to Hollywood video game Hard On Big in Japan Trevor Horn Stephen Lipson Perfect Songs ZTT Records Book : Frankie Goes to Hollywood Powerman 5000 Spider One Dj Rattan Murv Ty Oliver Johnny Rock Heatley Terry Corso Adam 12 Evan Rodaniche M. 33 Al 3 Dorian 27 Jordan Cohen Lamar Louder Adrian Ost X51 Zer0 Sci55ors Studio albums The Blood - Splat Rating System ( 1995 ) Tonight the Stars Revolt ! ( 1999 ) Anyone for Doomsday ? ( 2001 ) Transform ( 2003 ) Destroy What You Enjoy ( 2006 ) Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere ( 2009 ) Copies, Clones & Replicants ( 2011 ) Builders of the Future ( 2014 ) New Wave ( 2017 ) Extended plays True Force ( 1994 ) The Korea EP ( 2005 ) Compilations The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Vol. 1 ( 2004 ) Singles `` When Worlds Collide '' `` Nobody 's Real '' `` Relax '' Related articles Discography Alien Ant Farm Damone Halfcocked Human Waste Project Rob Zombie Scum of the Earth Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Relax_(song)&oldid=852696587 '' Categories : 1983 singles 1983 songs 1984 singles Brit Award for British Single Controversies in the United Kingdom Frankie Goes to Hollywood songs LGBT - related songs Music videos directed by Godley and Creme Number - one singles in Finland Number - one singles in France Number - one singles in Germany Number - one singles in Greece Number - one singles in Israel Number - one singles in Italy Number - one singles in Spain Number - one singles in Switzerland Obscenity controversies in music Songs written by Holly Johnson Songs written by Mark O'Toole ( musician ) Songs written by Peter Gill ( FGTH drummer ) UK Singles Chart number - one singles ZTT Records singles Hidden categories : CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Pages using citations with format and no URL CS1 Finnish - language sources ( fi ) Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages Use dmy dates from June 2014 Use British English from June 2014 Articles with hAudio microformats Articles needing additional references from April 2018 All articles needing additional references Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Articles needing additional references from March 2018 Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Español Français Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 July 2018, at 19 : 18 ( UTC ). 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Question: who originally sang relax don't do it
Answer: Frankie Goes to Hollywood