Liza Minnelli – Losing My Mind
Broadway heartbreak meets late-’80s synth-pop drama
Back in 1989, Liza Minnelli surprised just about everyone with her album Results—a stylish collaboration with Pet Shop Boys and co-producer Julian Mendelsohn. Gone were the cabaret classics and big Broadway ballads (well, not entirely), and in their place: shimmering synths, moody beats, and club-ready elegance. The lead single, “Losing My Mind,” took a torch song written by Stephen Sondheim for his 1971 musical Follies and gave it a full-on electronic makeover.
It was bold, unexpected—and brilliant.
A theater staple reborn for the dancefloor
Originally sung by the character Sally Durant Plummer in Follies, “Losing My Mind” is all about obsessive, spiraling heartbreak. Minnelli, always known for her expressive vocals and dramatic range, kept that emotional core—but the Pet Shop Boys wrapped it in a synth-driven, club-ready arrangement. You’ve got Fairlight programming, swirling synths, and a clean, pulsing beat that turns Sondheim’s heartbreak aria into something theatrical and totally danceable.
It’s drama with eyeliner and strobe lights.
Liza, reimagined
Minnelli’s voice—usually tied to Broadway belters and jazz standards—slips beautifully into this setting. She doesn’t just sing it, she lives it: every note is wrapped in theatrical emotion, vulnerability, and flair. The lyrics still sting:
“You said you loved me / Or were you just being kind?” But the driving rhythm gives it a sense of urgency that’s more nightclub than orchestra pit.
She’s vulnerable, fierce, and totally in control of the moment.
Visuals and video noir
Directed by Brian Grant, the music video leaned into surreal noir style: Minnelli in a luxe domestic space falling apart emotionally as it literally rains indoors. Shot in 1989, it echoes both old Hollywood glamour and MTV cool. The mysterious man, the dark lighting, the high-gloss melancholy—it all fits the song’s tone perfectly.
Chart success across Europe
In the UK, “Losing My Mind” climbed all the way to #6, making it Liza Minnelli’s only UK Top 10 hit. It reached #2 in Ireland, #7 in Spain, and landed in the Top 20 in Germany, Austria, and Belgium. It also charted modestly in France (#42), Australia (#72), and New Zealand (#23). Not bad for a reinvented show tune from a Broadway legend.
Legacy: unexpected and unforgettable
Today, “Losing My Mind” still feels like a bold artistic swing. It’s a favorite among fans of both Minnelli and Pet Shop Boys, and a standout from the Results album. It’s been recognized by Q Magazine and pop historians as one of the cleverest genre crossovers of its time—a mix of showbiz heart and synth-pop sophistication that few could’ve pulled off like Liza.
