878. Leave In Silence - Depeche Mode (1982)

 

 

I hate being in these situations

That call for diplomatic relations

 

From their second album 'A Broken Frame',Vince Clarke had left and all the songs were written by Martin Gore. For many years,I thought Dave Gahan was singing "I'm heading for the dole" but it's "I'm heading for the door". It still sounds like dole and always will.

 

877. Keep It Dark - Genesis (1981)

 

 

It seems strange to have a lie

About a world so bright

And tell instead a made-up story

From the world of night

 

This percussion led song was a top 40 hit but it's not one of their better known singles.

 

876. Killer Queen - Queen (1974)

 

 

She keeps Moet et Chandon in her pretty cabinet

"Let them eat cake" she says

Just like Marie Antoinette

 

Written by Freddie Mercury,this was kept off the top of the chart by 'Gonna Make You A Star' by David Essex. 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' had reached no.10 earlier the same year but 'Killer Queen' can be considered to be Queen's breakthrough single.

 

875. Steal Your Thunder - Prefab Sprout (1997)

 

 

There is a chance I'll be lucky

And see lightning strike twice

 

Another track from 'Andromeda Heights',I like the harmonica and strings on this one.

 

 

874. Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys (1987)

 

 

Tell me,tell me that your sweet love hasn't died

Give me one more chance to keep you satisfied

 

A fantastic cover of the Elvis song. It was recorded after a live performance of the song on an ITV programme commemorating ten years since Elvis' death was well received. The original version from 1972 was actually recorded by Gwen McCrae whose husband George went on to have a UK no.1 with 'Rock Your Baby'.

 

Wow, I never knew Strict Machine was about lab rats, seeing these lyrics a whole lot differently now! A great song nonetheless.

873. Cambodia - Kim Wilde (1981)

 

 

But there is only one thing left I know for sure

She won't see his face again

 

A synthpop ballad,this was Kim's fourth top 20 single from 1981. It was written by her brother Ricky and her dad Marty who had many hits of his own in the rock'n'roll era. The lyrics were based on the bombing of Cambodia by the US in the Vietnam War.

 

872. Code/Evergreen - Faithless (2001)

 

 

The birds are calling to me and

all the leaves I came to love are falling

 

These are actually two tracks from the 'Outrospective' album. 'Code' is a short instrumental which leads into 'Evergreen' and they belong together. Vocals on this are by Zoe Johnston.

 

871. Everything's Gone Green - New Order (1981)

 

 

It seems like I've been here before

 

New Order's third single and they are already merging indie and dance music. This was the last song by them produced by Martin Hannett who had worked on both Joy Division albums and the first New Order album 'Movement'.

 

870. One Night In Bangkok - Murray Head (1984)

 

 

Siam's going to be the witness

to the ultimate test of cerebral fitness

This grips me more than would a

muddy old river or reclining Buddha

 

From the musical 'Chess', this was written by Benny and Bjorn from Abba and Tim Rice. The highlight is the orchestral intro and this is the full version with the two minute intro intact. It's shorter on the single. The song ended up being banned in Thailand as its lyrics "cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism".

 

 

 

Leave in Silence sounds a little bit deep house (without so much of a beat) actually when it gets going. Certainly sounds more modern than a lot of songs around at its time.

 

One Night in Bangkok is great too, recently discovered that, with the rapped verses and the sung chorus, it still sounds relevant, not too dissimilar in style to Eminem's light hearted content like 'We Made You'.

Edited February 3, 20187 yr by The Snake

869. Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire (2004)

 

 

Sleeping is giving in

So lift those heavy eyelids

 

From Arcade Fire's superb debut album 'Funeral', this is still their only top 20 single.

 

Leave in Silence sounds a little bit deep house (without so much of a beat) actually when it gets going. Certainly sounds more modern than a lot of songs around at its time.

 

One Night in Bangkok is great too, recently discovered that, with the rapped verses and the sung chorus, it still sounds relevant, not too dissimilar in style to Eminem's light hearted content like 'We Made You'.

 

Indeed. They both qualify for your forgotten 80s smashes thread.

 

One Night in Bangkok, Rebellion and Always On My Mind all really good, throwing me back 10 or so years!

The Pet Shop Boys cover of Always On My Mind is great, definitely one of the best covers of a song ever imo!

868. Reward - The Teardrop Explodes (1981)

 

 

Bless my cotton socks,I'm in the news

 

An early 80s classic,this still sounds fresh. The group split up in 1982 but I like some of Julian Cope's solo singles. 'Sunshine Playroom', 'The Greatness and Perfection of Love' and 'Eve's Volcano' are all fine songs but none of them made it into my chart.

 

867. Flying North - Thomas Dolby (1982)

 

 

Metal bird dip wing of fire

Whose airlines comb dark Earth

 

From his debut album 'The Golden Age Of Wireless'. His real name is Thomas Robertson but he changed it as there was a singer around at the time called Tom Robinson. Dolby Laboratories then took him to court but the court ruled that they had no exclusive rights to the name Dolby and he was able to carry on using it.

 

My fave Thomas Dolby song is 'Hyperactive!', great dancey new wave tune!

866. Ordinary World - Duran Duran (1993)

 

 

Where is my friend when I need you most?

Gone away

 

This is such a good comeback single for a band who were on the wane. It gave them their highest chart position since 'A View To A Kill' in 1985.

 

865. Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (1980)

 

 

It worries me this kind of thing

How you hope to live alone

And occupy your waking hours

 

The fourth song in my chart by OMD but the first to be sung by their main lead singer Andy McCluskey. This is one of the earliest synthpop hits.