Tesla Girls

"Tesla Girls" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the third single from their fifth studio album, Junk Culture (1984). It peaked at No. 21 in the UK and Ireland, and No. 8 on the Dutch Top 40. Although only moderately successful on the charts, it became one of the group's biggest club hits. The song was featured in the John Hughes film Weird Science (1985). Background The song title refers to Nikola Tesla and was suggested by Martha Ladly, who had also suggested the title of their third studio album Architecture & Morality (1981). Tesla is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. "The references to electric chairs and dynamos is actually a reference to dynamos which was essential for the use of the alternating current and anything electrical basically," said Andy McCluskey in an online Q&A session in 1998. Critical reception and legacy "Tesla Girls" met with a few detractors on release. Singer Kim Wilde, whose work had been influenced by OMD, called the song "inane and monotonous". On the other hand, Billboard categorised the single as "recommended", while observing "nervous electronics and obscure lyrics by one of the new wave's trendsetting bands".