It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love

"It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love" is the debut single by Dutch electronic band Spectral Display, released as a single in 1982 from their eponymous debut album. It was written by members Michel Mulders and Henri Overduin, and produced by Mulders.^[1]

"It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love"
Single by Spectral Display
from the album Spectral Display
Released	1982
Genre	New wave, synth-pop
Length	3:28
Label	EMI
Songwriter(s)	Michel Mulders, Henri Overduin
Producer(s)	Michel Mulders

M.I.A. version

"It Takes a Muscle"
Single by M.I.A.
from the album Maya
Released	20 December 2010 (2010-12-20)
Genre	Dubtronica
Length	3:03
Label	N.E.E.T. XL Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Michael Mulders Henri Overduin
Producer(s)	Diplo
M.I.A. singles chronology
"Tell Me Why" (2010) "It Takes a Muscle" (2010) "Internet Connection" (2011)

British recording artist M.I.A. covered "It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love" in 2010, titled "It Takes a Muscle".^[2] It is from her third studio album, Maya.

Production of M.I.A.'s version was handled by Diplo and incorporated reggae elements.^[3] The single was released worldwide as a digital download, under license to XL Recordings and N.E.E.T. Recordings, on 20 December 2010. Prior to the official release of the single, Diplo uploaded the song to his SoundCloud account on 26 October 2010.^[4] The song served as the sixth single from the album. After audience encouragement, M.I.A. performed "It Takes a Muscle" at Terminal 5, New York City in September and on British TV show Later... with Jools Holland in December 2010.^[5] The track received positive feedback from music critics.^[6][7][8]

Promo copies of the single announced that a music video for the song, directed by Spike Jonze, would be released.^[9] However, the video was never released and it is unknown whether it has ever been filmed.

Track listing

Digital download^[10]

1. "It Takes a Muscle" – 3:03
2. "It Takes a Muscle" (Pearson Sound Refix) – 5:53

Promo CD^[9]

1. "It Takes a Muscle" (Radio Edit) – 2:38
2. "It Takes a Muscle" (Original) – 3:00

12" single^[11]

1. "It Takes a Muscle" (Pearson Sound Refix)

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Worldwide	20 December 2010	Digital download, streaming	XL Recordings, N.E.E.T. Recordings

Other versions

In 2019, Australian musician Kirin J. Callinan covered the song for his covers album Return to Center.^[12]