Telecommunication (song)

Last updated

"Telecommunication"
A Flock of Seagulls - Telecommunication.jpg
Single by A Flock of Seagulls
from the album A Flock of Seagulls
B-side
  • "Intro"
  • "Tanglimara"
ReleasedSeptember 1981 [1]
Studio Battery, London
Genre
Length2:31
Label Jive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Bill Nelson
A Flock of Seagulls singles chronology
"Talking"
(1981)
"Telecommunication"
(1981)
"I Ran (So Far Away)"
(1982)

"Telecommunication" is a song by A Flock of Seagulls from their debut album A Flock of Seagulls , released in 1982. The song was released in 1981 as the band's second single. Although it did not chart on either the traditional United Kingdom or United States charts, it received considerable time on the dance charts. It peaked at number 19 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1981, along with "Modern Love Is Automatic". [4] The uptempo beat featuring power chords and heavy synth, along with the futuristic lyrics, has enabled the song to reach cult status. The song is noteworthy because the band eschewed the guitar-laden choruses many songs of this period had (e.g. power ballad), and instead relied on percussion arpeggios and multi-layered sounds.

Contents

Lyrics

The song details types of energy transmitted across time and space. The first line mentions "ultraviolet..radio light..to your solar system..." indicating someone or something is attempting to communicate across the galaxy. In astronomy, UV light is emitted by very hot objects. A motif in the band's lyrics is alien life forms (with their debut album being essentially a rock opera about alien abduction) and futuristic technology. [5] The song also includes references to nuclear energy and wireless communication.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Paul Colbert of Melody Maker praised "Telecommunication" as a "superb single" that "ow[es] a lot of its wing power to Bill Nelson's hand at the helm". He added, "It's more of a picture than a record – you can see the whole song developing under your eyes until it trashes the canvas and rips it up in your face, so you put it on again." [6]

Formats and track listing

7": Jive. / Jive 4 United Kingdom

  1. "Telecommunication" – 2:31
  2. "Intro" – 3:23

12": Jive. / Jive T 4 United Kingdom

  1. "Telecommunication" – 2:31
  2. "Intro" – 3:23
  3. "Tanglimara" – 4:33

Charts

Chart (1981)Peak
position
UK Singles Top 100 ( Record Business ) [7] 75

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Flock of Seagulls</span> English new wave and synth-pop band

A Flock of Seagulls are an English new wave band formed in Liverpool in 1979. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds, hit the peak of their chart success in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Little Thing Called Love</span> 1979 single by Queen

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by Freddie Mercury in 1979, the track is included on their 1980 album The Game, and also appears on the band's compilation album Greatest Hits in 1981. The song peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart in 1979 and became the group's first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in 1980, remaining there for four consecutive weeks. It topped the Australian ARIA Charts for seven weeks. It was the band's final single release of the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Roboto</span> 1983 single by Styx

"Mr. Roboto" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Kilroy Was Here (1983). It was written by band member Dennis DeYoung. In Canada, it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart. It entered on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and US CashBox Top 100 on February 12, 1983. On April 30 the song peaked at #3 on Billboard,but fared better on Cash Box, where it reached #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Ran (So Far Away)</span> 1982 single by A Flock of Seagulls

"I Ran (So Far Away)", also released as "I Ran", is a song by English new wave band A Flock of Seagulls. It was released in 1982 as their third single and it was the second single from their self-titled debut album. It topped the chart in Australia, and reached number seven in New Zealand and number nine in the United States. It was not successful in Europe and only reached number 31 in Germany. In the band's home country of the United Kingdom it reached number 43. However, the song was certified silver by the BPI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomic (song)</span> 1980 single by Blondie

"Atomic" is a song by American rock band Blondie from their fourth studio album, Eat to the Beat (1979). Written by Debbie Harry and Jimmy Destri and produced by Mike Chapman, the song was released in February 1980 as the album's third single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Nail in My Heart</span> 1980 single by Squeeze

"Another Nail in My Heart" is a 1980 song by new wave band Squeeze. Written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, it was released on the album Argybargy. Notable for Tilbrook's guitar solo right after the first verse, the song features marimba in its opening at the suggestion of newly acquired bassist John Bentley. Difford has expressed disappointment with his lyrics on the song, though he praised Tilbrook's solo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Name Is Prince</span> 1992 single by Prince and the New Power Generation

"My Name Is Prince" is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band the New Power Generation, released in September 1992 by Paisley Park and Warner Bros. as the second single from their 1992 Love Symbol album. The song is about Prince himself and his musical prowess. The rap sequence is performed by NPG member Tony M. The intro to the song features vocal samples from Prince's earlier songs "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "Partyup", and "Controversy". Its music video was directed by Parris Patton and featured Kirstie Alley and Lauren Green.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History (The Verve song)</span> 1995 single by the Verve

"History" is a song by English rock band the Verve. It was included on their second album, A Northern Soul (1995), and was released 18 September 1995 as the third and final single from the album, charting at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is notable for being released after the band's sudden first break-up. In 2014, NME ranked it at number 312 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". There was no original music video filmed for the single. Instead, an official compilation of clips from the Verve's previous music videos was created by Richard Ashcroft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let the Beat Control Your Body</span> 1994 single by 2 Unlimited

"Let the Beat Control Your Body" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released in January 1994 by Byte, ZYX and PWL as the fifth and final single from the band's second album, No Limits (1993). The album version is largely instrumental and contains just a few spoken words from bandmembers Ray Slijngaard and Anita Doth. The single version contains full verses rapped by Slijngaard and a new chorus sung by Doth, which were co-written by them both. The song enjoyed chart success in many European countries, peaking at number two in the Netherlands and within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom. It was nominated in the category for Best Song on MTV Awards. Nigel Simpkiss directed the music video for "Let the Beat Control Your Body", which received heavy rotation on both MTV Europe and VIVA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peek-a-Boo (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)</span> 1988 single by Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Peek-a-Boo" is a song by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1988 as the first single from the band's ninth studio album, Peepshow. Melody Maker described the song as "a brightly unexpected mixture of black steel and pop disturbance" and qualified its genre as "thirties hip hop". "Peek-a-Boo" was rated "Single of the Week" in both Sounds and NME. Sounds wrote that it was a "brave move", "playful and mysterious". NME described it as "Oriental marching band hip hop" with "catchy accordion." They then said : "If this nation was served by anything approaching a decent pop radio station, "Peek A Boo" would be a huge hit."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Robots</span> 1978 song by Kraftwerk

"The Robots" is a single by German electronic group Kraftwerk, which was released in 1978. The single and its B-side, "Spacelab", both appeared on the band's seventh album, The Man-Machine (1978). However, the songs as they appear on the single were edited into shorter versions. It charted at number 25 on Germany, number 39 on US Dance Club Songs Chart, and number 23 on Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Original (Leftfield song)</span> 1995 single by Leftfield featuring Toni Halliday

"Original" is a song by English electronic duo Leftfield, released on 12" and CD on 13 March 1995 by Hard Hands/PolyGram as the third single from their debut album, Leftism (1995). It features singer Toni Halliday on vocals and gave the group their first appearance on Top of the Pops, reaching number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. Halliday wrote the lyrics with Neil Barnes and Paul Daley. The beginning of the song is used often on the UK version of Big Brother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talking (A Flock of Seagulls song)</span> 1981 single by A Flock of Seagulls

"(It's Not Me) Talking" is the debut single by British new wave band A Flock of Seagulls, originally recorded in 1981. It was re-recorded in 1983 and is featured on their second album Listen. The song is about a man who hears voices in his head, who believes that he is being contacted by aliens from outer space, and who cannot run away from his emotions; wherever he goes, the voice is there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire in My Heart</span> 1999 single by Super Furry Animals

"Fire in My Heart" is the tenth single by Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals. It was the second single to be taken from the group's 1999 album Guerrilla, and reached number 25 in the UK Singles Chart after its release on 9 August 1999. The track, originally titled "Heartburn", has been described by the band's singer Gruff Rhys as a country and western song with lyrics that offer "soul advice".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Oh My (Slade song)</span> 1983 single by Slade

"My Oh My" is a song by British rock band Slade, released in November 1983 as the second single from the band's 11th studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, and in 1984 as the second single from the album's US counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and produced by John Punter. "My Oh My" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, topped the charts of Norway and Sweden, and peaked at No. 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful World (Devo song)</span> 1981 single by Devo

"Beautiful World" is a song by American new wave band Devo, written by Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh. It appears on their fourth studio album New Traditionalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Age Love Song</span> Single by A Flock of Seagulls

"Space Age Love Song" is a 1982 single released by the British band A Flock of Seagulls. It was their fourth single. Lead guitarist Paul Reynolds remarked on their 1984 video album Through the Looking Glass that, as the band could not come up with a title for the track, he suggested "Space Age Love Song" because he thought it sounded like a space age love song. The song reached the top 30 in the UK and the US in June 1982 and February 1983 respectively.

<i>Modern Love Is Automatic</i> 1981 EP by A Flock of Seagulls

Modern Love Is Automatic is a 1981 EP by the British new wave band A Flock of Seagulls, written by Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds. The song of the same name was also showcased on their self-titled album the following year. The song peaked at #19 on the US Dance Club Play chart as a double A-side with Telecommunication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Flock of Seagulls discography</span>

The following is a complete list of recordings by the English new wave band A Flock of Seagulls.

References

  1. "A Flock of Seagulls singles".
  2. Prato, Greg. "A Flock of Seagulls – Essential New Wave". AllMusic . Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. A Flock of Seagulls - The Best of A Flock of Seagulls (1987): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  4. "A Flock of Seagulls – Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  5. Fitchett, James A.; Fitchett, David A. (2001). "Drowned Giants: Science Fiction and Consumption Utopias". Science Fiction and Organization. Routledge.
  6. Colbert, Paul (19 September 1981). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 14. ISSN   0025-9012.
  7. "Singles Top 100". Record Business . Vol. 4, no. 31. 19 October 1981. p. 7. ISSN   0144-0691.