"Heat of the Moment" is the first single released by progressive rock band Asia from their 1982 eponymous debut. The song was the most popular of the album, and a big hit in the USA, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #4 on the Billboard Top Singles chart. It was written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes. "Heat of the Moment" is featured at the beginning of another Asia song called "Don't Call Me" as a dialing number from a telephone.
Interpretation
The lyrics contain the line, "And now you find yourself in 82". While this is often interpreted to refer to the year 1982, Wetton has said that it refers to a location. However, in live versions, Wetton has often substituted the current year for "82" in the second verse and rhymed it with another word.
B-sides
"Time Again" is the B-side of the UK release. The song was written by all the band members, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton, and can also be found on the Asia album.
"Ride Easy" is the B-side of the singles released outside of the UK. This song was written by Wetton and Howe. It was never given a regular release on a studio album, but it was included in the EP Aurora, released only in Japan in 1986. During an interview on the 2007 released Asia DVD Fantasia: Live in Tokyo, Wetton indicated that "Ride Easy" is one of his favourite Asia songs.