Put on “New Sensation” and try not to move. It’s basically impossible. From that ringing guitar riff to the sweaty saxophone and Michael Hutchence’s slinky vocal, INXS built a track that feels like a green light for a good time. It arrived in 1987 on their breakthrough album Kick and became one of the band’s biggest international hits. But beneath the swagger there’s an idea worth talking about. If this one doesn’t have your foot tapping within the first few seconds, it might be worth checking your pulse. Let’s get into the meaning behind “New Sensation”, how the band created it, and why it still makes people hit the dance floor decades later.
Kick and the Big Breakthrough
By the mid-eighties, INXS were huge in Australia but still working hard to crack the rest of the world. Kick, their sixth album, changed everything. It was recorded between 1986 and 1987 with producer Chris Thomas, and it was the first INXS album written purely by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, with the rest of the band’s blessing.
The pair had been fired up by the success of their earlier single “What You Need”, and that confidence shows. The songs on Kick are punchy, funky and sharp. Some of the writing happened in Hong Kong, where Hutchence and drummer Jon Farriss owned an apartment. It’s a record built on momentum, and “New Sensation” is one of its liveliest moments.
Music by Farriss, Words by Hutchence
Like most INXS songs of this era, the work was split between the two main writers. Andrew Farriss composed the music, and Hutchence wrote the lyrics. Farriss came up with the guitar riff that carries the track, and Hutchence added a lyric about seizing the day and living boldly in search of new sensations.
Farriss has said he felt many of the lyrics on Kick were very positive, and that’s a good clue to how this one works. It isn’t brooding or tortured. It’s a song of encouragement, a nudge to step out of your comfort zone and try something thrilling. Guitarist Tim Farriss has said Hutchence was all over this one vocally right from the beginning, which makes sense, because the performance sounds so natural.
Details Worth Listening For
Here’s a fun challenge for your next listen. Pay attention to the little extras. Underneath the guitars there’s a banjo line, which Andrew Farriss created using a sampler. The saxophone part was played by Kirk Pengilly, who was the band’s guitarist and horn player. And right before it kicks in, Hutchence shouts “trumpet!”, which is a hilariously cheeky moment.
That shout is removed from the video version because, once you can see a saxophone on screen, it sounds a bit silly. The video itself shows a different side of Hutchence, wearing a suit with his hair tied back, as the band performs at the Municipal House in Prague. These details give the song personality, and they remind us INXS never took themselves too seriously.
What Does “New Sensation” Actually Mean?
Strip back the groove and the message is clear. It’s about wanting something fresh, whether that’s a romance, an adventure or simply a different way of feeling alive. The title promises excitement, and the song delivers it by sounding like exactly what it describes. There’s a funky, rock-and-roll pulse, a hint of blues in the guitar lines, and a vocal that sounds like it’s smiling.
It’s also an invitation. Hutchence isn’t just singing about his own thrills. He’s inviting the listener along. In the late eighties, when pop music was often glossy and distant, this felt warm and human. It tells you that life is short, so go out and try something that gives you goosebumps.
Chart Success and Pop Culture
The single was released in the United Kingdom on 29 December 1987 and rolled out worldwide the following year. In the United States it became the third big hit from Kick, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, right behind “Need You Tonight” at number one and “Devil Inside” at number two. A fourth single, “Never Tear Us Apart”, also became a huge hit.
INXS absolutely ruled MTV in 1988, and they closed the awards ceremony that year with a performance of “New Sensation”. The song’s promise of something exciting also made it irresistible to advertisers, and it has appeared in commercials for brands like Toyota, Sea World and McDonald’s. When a title sells itself, marketers notice.
The Band That Made It Work
It’s worth remembering that this wasn’t only the work of two writers. Even though Hutchence and Farriss wrote the songs, Tim Farriss has pointed out that the way each track is played is a total band collaboration, with contributions from everyone. You can hear it in the ringing guitars of Andrew and Tim, in Jon Farriss’s thumping beat, and in the quick, soulful sax solo from Pengilly.
That sense of chemistry is what made INXS so special. They’d been together for the better part of a decade by the time Kick arrived, and they moved like a single organism. “New Sensation” shows a band at the peak of its powers, confident enough to groove without rushing.
Hutchence’s Instrument
Andrew Farriss once recalled that Michael Hutchence’s real instrument was his voice, and that he often couldn’t explain what he was thinking in musical terms. That might sound like a problem, but it turned out to be a strength. Hutchence felt his way through melodies and phrasing, and Farriss supplied the structure. The partnership worked because they brought out different things in each other.
You can hear it in “New Sensation”. The music is tight and controlled, with that crisp riff and driving rhythm, while the vocal is loose, sensual and full of personality. One keeps the song steady and the other makes it dangerous, in the best possible way.
From the Opera House to the Charts
There’s a great bit of history behind the sessions for Kick. Towards the end of 1986, the band gathered at the Sydney Opera House to rehearse the songs Hutchence and Farriss had written. Imagine working through those tunes in one of the most famous buildings on Earth, long before the world knew how big the album would become.
From there the songs travelled through Hong Kong, studio sessions and finally the global charts. It’s a lovely reminder that huge hits often start as quiet rehearsals, with a handful of musicians figuring out what works. “New Sensation” was part of that journey, and it sounds like the work of people who believed in what they were doing.
Final Thoughts
“New Sensation” is pure feel-good rock and roll, but it’s smarter than it first appears. It’s about daring to chase something different, and about celebrating the thrill of being alive. Andrew Farriss gave it a riff that won’t quit, Michael Hutchence gave it a confident swagger, and the band wrapped it all in an irresistible groove. Not many songs manage to sound that cool and that generous at the same time, and that’s why INXS fans keep coming back. If you haven’t listened in a while, press play and let it work. Then go and do something that makes your heart beat a little faster. That’s the whole message, and it’s a good one.