“What You Need”: The Track That Put INXS on the Map Globally
Before they were packing stadiums across the globe, INXS were an Australian band on the rise—tight, stylish, and ready to cross over. That moment arrived with “What You Need,” a funky, punchy track that exploded onto the airwaves in 1985 and signaled a major turning point for the group.
Released in Australia on August 26, 1985, “What You Need” served as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Listen Like Thieves. It had all the swagger, rhythm, and attitude to set them apart from the rock crowd—and it did just that.
The Sound That Stuck
Written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, the track was produced by Chris Thomas—the same legendary producer who’d worked with the Sex Pistols, Elton John, and even helped finish The Beatles’ White Album. Thomas brought a slicker, funkier polish to INXS’s sound, fusing rock with a danceable bounce that was radio gold.
“What You Need” rides a strutting groove, built around chunky guitar riffs, stabbing synths, and a beat that practically demands movement. Hutchence’s vocal delivery is effortless cool—seductive, playful, and totally magnetic.
A Video That Turned Heads
The song’s now-iconic music video, directed by Richard Lowenstein, leaned hard into visual flair. Using rotoscope animation and surreal cutouts, it looked like nothing else on MTV at the time—and that’s exactly why it stuck. No traditional live footage here, just eye-popping edits and bold style, perfectly matching the track’s energy.
The video was a hit in Australia and earned Best Video at the 1985 Countdown Music and Video Awards.
Breaking Big in the U.S.
“What You Need” gave INXS their first real taste of American success. The song climbed to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, a big leap that helped crack open U.S. airwaves for their future hits. It also charted at #2 in Australia, #21 in Canada, and hit the Top 20 in New Zealand.
From there, INXS didn’t look back. They followed up with global smashes like Need You Tonight and Never Tear Us Apart, but “What You Need” laid the foundation for all that was to come.
Still Got What You Need
Even today, “What You Need” sounds fresh. It’s lean, funky, and undeniably catchy—proof that INXS knew how to craft pop-rock with personality and groove. More than a hit, it was their breakthrough statement. And nearly 40 years later, it still hits just right.