Chart-topping ’80s musician Toni Basil may have created the cheerleading anthem of the century but at 81, she’s put her days of twirling pom poms on stage behind her.
The beloved “Mickey” hitmaker and award-winning choreographer has had crowds chanting “Hey Mickey, you’re so fine!” for the past four decades but she’s now mostly retired from the spotlight. And even though she may lead a more private life, that doesn’t mean she’s lost of her signature sense of style.
View this post on Instagram
Basil was recently spotted out and about in a residential area of Los Angeles while chatting with a friend. She looked almost unrecognizable while covered up in a black and white geometric-print robe with her jet black hair tied up in a matching headscarf. She accessorized the look with a dark pair of sunglasses.
The singer, actress and dancer was also sporting a comfortable pair of smiley face slippers, which may have seen better days considering they were held together by duct tape.
See the photos of the unrecognizable musician HERE.
While Basil isn’t spotted out frequently, she’s still incredibly active on social media and within the dance community. In 2019, at age 75, she choreographed Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She also currently teaches dance workshops around the globe, sharing her lasting impact on street dance community.
Basil also left her mark on the music industry and was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023. Her impact was especially clear recently when comparison were drawn between her hit song “Mickey” and Bruno Mars and Rosé‘s release, “APT.” Basil was not credited on the song and co-producer Cirkut says the similarities were unintentional.
“We weren’t trying for it to end up in the vein of ‘Mickey,’ that was unintentional!” Cirkut told Music Week. “It just makes people go, ‘Oh, what is that?'”
Basil has not spoken out about the song.
