"What You Need" is a song recorded by the Australian band INXS. It is the leadoff track from their 1985 album, Listen Like Thieves. "What You Need" was the second single single off the album after "This Time" and was the band's first American Top Ten hit, peaking at #5 on the Hot 100 singles chart.
The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence.
"What You Need" has a stomping groove that sounds similar to the Rolling Stones without the blues influence, plus a staggering performance by vocalist Michael Hutchence. The arrangement was spacious and the parts of the individual instruments simple, allowing them all to interlock easily — from the electronic drums and driving, rumbling bass line to the spare chordal strokes of the guitars and the stylish saxophone. During the chorus, the guitars suddenly kick up the intensity, hitting ringing power chords as the drums pound harder behind them. After the second chorus, there is also a breakdown in which Michael Hutchence chants the title over a drumbeat with effects layered over his voice; the guitar enters and plays a down-and-dirty single-note riff before returning to the verse figure.
