The Magic Friend
single
CoverThe_magic_friend.jpg
Artist2 Unlimited
AlbumGet Ready!
Released3 August 1992
Genre
Length
  • 4:32
  • 3:43 (single version)
LabelByte
Writer
Producer
  • Phil Wilde
  • Jean-Paul De Coster
Prev year1992
Next year1993

"The Magic Friend" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited.[2] It was released in August 1992 by Byte Records as the fourth and final single from their debut album, Get Ready! (1992). The UK release once again omitted Ray Slijngaard's rap, which lasted for 16 bars three times through, but did include some of the vocals from Anita Doth, with the "mocking chorus echoes" being abandoned as only Ray's part remains, thus leaving Anita's sole vocals as "disembodied whispers" during the middle eight.[3] The single experienced chart success in many European countries, including Finland, where it topped the chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by David Betteridge and filmed in Australia. The Dutch leading afternoon radio program on national pop outlet Radio 3 FM/Hilversum renamed itself "The Magic Friend", after the single.[4]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "One of the more successful techno acts in Europe continues its bid for mainstream club and radio approval along these shores with a cute and NRGetic wriggler. The music is a bit harder than previous tracks, though the rap is a little too strained and silly for its own good."[5] Kat Stevens of Freaky Trigger noted the track's "tasty ingredients" of "recogniseable pop stars, colourful boshing beats, catchy chorus, silly noises [and] fervoured anticipation." Comparing parts of the track to settings on a Yamaha keyboard, she compared the track's main synth sound to the "Brass 1" setting and the "gutteral metallic swinging" to the "Slap Bass" setting.[3] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update deemed it as "'Start-Rite' techno for young "wannabe" ravers".[6] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits stated that "the insufferable duo return with another ropey techno effort".[1]

Chart performance

"The Magic Friend" peaked at number one in Finland and entered top 10 in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain. In the United Kingdom, the single reached number 11 during its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on 23 August 1992.[7] On the UK Dance Singles chart in Music Week, "The Magic Friend" reached number nine. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Germany and a top-30 hit in Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 11. Outside Europe, the single reached number one on the Canadian RPM Dance chart and number 26 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, number five in Zimbabwe, and number 16 in Australia.

Music video

The music video for "The Magic Friend" was directed by British director David Betteridge. It was shot in The Pinnacles and Wave Rock in Australia. Ray and Anita sing the song in the video while a mysterious character dances around in the background. Selina Webb from Music Week complimented "the slightly surreal" video, adding that it is "in particular standing head and shoulders above the average dance video."[8] Betteridge also directed the videos for "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone" and "Workaholic". "The Magic Friend" was later made available on 2 Unlimited's official YouTube channel in 2014.

Track listings

  • 7-inch single
  1. "The Magic Friend" (vocal edit) (3:43)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (instrumental edit) (3:02)
  • 12-inch maxi
  1. "The Magic Friend" (Automatic remix) (4:23)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean mix) (5:15)
  3. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
  4. "Murphy's Megamix" (5:40)
  • CD single, Belgium
  1. "The Magic Friend" (vocal edit) (3:43)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (instrumental edit) (3:02)
  3. "The Magic Friend" (extended version) (5:14)
  4. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean remix) (5:15)
  5. "The Magic Friend" (Automatic remix) (4:23)
  6. "Murphy's Megamix" (5:40)
  7. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
  • CD single, UK
  1. "The Magic Friend" (7-inch edit) (3:02)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (Automatic remix) (4:23)
  3. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean remix) (5:15)
  4. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)
  • CD maxi, Germany
  1. "The Magic Friend" (vocal edit) (3:43)
  2. "The Magic Friend" (instrumental edit) (3:02)
  3. "The Magic Friend" (extended) (5:14)
  4. "The Magic Friend" (Rio & Le Jean remix) (5:05)
  5. "Murphy's Megamix" (5:40)
  6. "Automatic Megamix" (4:55)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9]11
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10]1
Spain (AFYVE)[11]9
UK Airplay (Music Week)[12]37
UK Dance (Music Week)[13]9
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[14]5

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Australia (ARIA)[15]94
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16]41
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[17]13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18]81
Germany (Media Control)[19]93
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20]49
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21]40

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom3 August 19927-inch vinyl · 12-inch vinyl · CD · cassettePWL Continental[22]
Australia5 October 199212-inch vinyl · CD · cassetteLiberation[23]
Japan16 November 1992Mini-CDMercury[24]

References

  1. ^ Doyle, Tom (5 August 1992). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 41. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  2. ^ "AllMusic: 2 Unlimited (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ Stevens, Kat (27 November 2007). "Blog '92: That's What I Am". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  4. ^ Tilli, Robbert (9 March 1996). "2 Unlimited: Common-Market Chartbusters". Billboard. p. 29. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (29 August 1992). "Single Reviews". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  6. ^ Hamilton, James (8 August 1992). "DJ Directory: Out On Monday". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. ^ uk
  8. ^ Webb, Selina (15 May 1993). "Market Preview: Music Video". Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 38. 19 September 1992. p. 21. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  10. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish). 1st ed. Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  11. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st ed. Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  12. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart". Music Week. 12 September 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles". Music Week. 15 August 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  14. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  15. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  16. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  17. ^ "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1992". RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 25.
  18. ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Single top 100 over 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  22. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 1 August 1992. p. 19.
  23. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 05/10/92: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 140. 4 October 1992. p. 21.
  24. ^ "2 アンリミテッド | マジック・フレンド" [2 Unlimited | Magic Friend] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 September 2025.