The song's origins are surprisingly dark. Sembello and co-writer Dennis Matkosky originally conceived "Maniac" as a joke song about a , inspired by a news report and the 1980 horror film of the same name.
: A demo tape containing the song was accidentally sent to Flashdance music supervisor Phil Ramone . Recognizing its potential, Ramone and director Adrian Lyne requested a rewrite to align with the film's narrative of a young woman's intense dedication to dance. The Official Music Video Michael Sembello - Maniac (1983) (Official Video)
: The initial chorus reportedly included the gruesome line: "He's a maniac, maniac, that's for sure / He will kill your cat and nail him to the door". The song's origins are surprisingly dark