The song was originally written for the act "Fast Arithmetic" (Oakey–Beckett),a side project in development within the Human League environment. A demo version was recorded in 1991 and presented to East West Records. It later became the first release by the Human League under East West,who had signed the band after their long-term contract with Virgin ended in 1992.
As it was the first commercial release by the band in four years,it was described in the media as a comeback. Oakey took issue with this description and said in an interview that the band had never stopped recording and performing since its formation in 1977.[3] The band had collaborated with Yellow Magic Orchestra prior to signing with East West.[4]
Release and promotion
"Tell Me When" was the first Human League single to be released from Octopus. It was issued on 26 December 1994,four weeks ahead of the album.[5] Released in a variety of vinyl and CD single formats,these variously included remixes of "Tell Me When" by contemporary electronic acts Utah Saints,Development Corporation and Red Jerry,a non-album B-side ("The Bus to Crookes"),and a track from the band's recent collaboration with Yellow Magic Orchestra.
"Tell Me When" became the Human League's most commercially successful single in nine years and reintroduced the band to the British general public. It received considerable radio promotion in advance of its late 1994 UK release,hitting the airwaves at a time when many people started to get Christmas song fatigue.[6] Radio 1 played the song three weeks before release with Capital FM playing it two weeks prior.[6] By the time of its release,the single received over one thousand plays per week across the board according to East West Records.[6] One month after its release,the single steadily gained airplay on Europe's leading radio markets. It topped the Major Market Airplay charts in the UK for two weeks commencing 4 February,registering total plays of 915 for the week of 11 February.[7] According to East West Records,the single had achieved sales of around 200,000 copies.[8] Capital 95.8 head of music Richard Park welcomed the single,saying "the marketplace is just ready for a fresh dose of the Human League".[6] It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart in early 1995,their highest UK chart position since "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" reached number two in 1983,and spent a total of nine weeks on the chart.[9] It also peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100,on 15 April 1995,giving the band their last hit to date in the United States.[10] The song fared well on the Mainstream Top 40 chart,where it peaked at number nine on 22 April 1995.[11] Additionally,it reached number eight on the Cash Box Top 100.
Critical reception
Several critics of the Octopus album,singled out 'Tell Me When' as a standout track. Dave Thompson of AllMusic said it echoes earlier material,likening it to 'Fascination' and 'Mirror Man'. He went further,saying that "the real difference is found in the vignette-esque lyrics and the more complex vocals. And these slight changes make all the difference,turning synth dreams into techno club success."[12] David Bauder of Associated Press called the song "splendid",and noted that it is a "shimmering melody,with Kraftwerk-like synthesizers and Phil Oakey's arch voice sweetened by his two female colleagues. It ranks with their best work." He added that it was the only song from the album "with any worth".[13] Also Larry Flick from Billboard magazine was favourable,writing,"British synth-pop act that enjoyed a high profile during the '80s returns with a percolating swinger,which harkens back to its now-classic hits,'Don't You Want Me' and 'Fascination'."[14] Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly described it as "bubbly" and "radio-friendly",whilst calling the album "lackluster".[15] In his weekly UK chart commentary,James Masterton said,"It may not be the biggest new hit of the week but it is certainly the most significant",concluding with that it is "sounding like typical Human League of old".[16] Jennifer Nine from Melody Maker viewed it as "a brightly hopeful,wafer-thin compendium of standard League traits,including that pocket calculator-powered "funky" breakdown."[17]
A reviewer from Music &Media commented,"Comeback of the year? That's up to you. Anyway,the return of the Sheffield synth band in the premier division of pop creates an enormous buzz in radio land."[18] In the album review,the reviewer said that 'Tell Me When' "portrays Phil Oakey and the girls as a perfect replica of the electro pop band around 1981's Dare album."[19]Music Week gave the single a top score of five out of five,describing it as "pristine synth pop as a deep Oakey lead and girl harmonies make this the most joyful single of the week. Welcome back."[20] John Kilgo from The Network Forty wrote,"This is a great comeback for the Sheffield,England trio! A techno-pop release full of energy highlighted by a very catchy hook. This smash is a no-brainer."[2] Steve Sutherland from NME praised it as "pretty damn near" the Human League "at their best".[21] Another NME editor,Paul Moody,viewed it as "sublimely clumsy" with "this killer Human League chorus all over it,the sort that rings around your brain like a nursery rhyme from Mars."[22]People Magazine stated that "their hot new single 'Tell Me When' has made the Human League hip again". They added,"But the tune is an infectious anachronism—the synthesizer trio still tinkle about as soullessly as they did in 1982,when they hit No. 1 with 'Don't You Want Me'."[23]James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update named it "typical Human League holler" in his weekly dance column.[24] Tony Cross from Smash Hits felt it's "the best thing" on the album.[25] David Sinclair of The Times commented,"All the familiar components are here join-the-dots tune,danceable synth-pop arrangement,catchy bubblegum chorus but the result sounds disconcertingly like the Human League by numbers."[1]
Music video
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A music video was produced to promote the single, and was shot entirely on location in Prague[citation needed] in the Czech Republic. It is directed by British director Andy Morahan.[26] It uses reverse motion in several scenes. In the video, well-known sites in the city can be seen, as Wenceslas Square, Prague Castle and Wallenstein Garden.[27] It opens with Catherall and Sulley in the Wallenstein Gardens, where leaves are blowing upwards instead of downwards. In some city scenes, Oakey walks in the streets, while other people are walking backwards.[28] The band then performs in the main hall of the Wallenstein Palace, surrounded by lit candles and candelabras. In the outside scenes, Catherall wears a black dress while Sulley wears a white dress. In the indoor scenes, they both wear black dresses with hat and a veil on their faces.
Legacy
In 2016, The Guardian ranked "Tell Me When" number nine in their list of "The Human League – 10 of the Best".[29] Ian Wade noted, "No one would have expected a Human League comeback in 1995, the high summer of Britpop." In 2025, music magazine Classic Pop ranked it numbers 16 and two in their lists of the "Top 20 Comeback Singles" and "10 Best Human League Songs".[30][31] Steve O'Brien wrote, "It may not have been marketed as such, but 'Tell Me When' was definitely a 'blue' Human League song, a crazily catchy pop number that would net the band their final – to date – Top 10 hit."
Track listing
CD 11994, East West (YZ882CD1)
"Tell Me When" (7-inch edit) – 4:42
"Tell Me When" (Mix 1) – 5:09 (remix by Utah Saints)
↑ Interview Philip Oakey GMTV 1995 Transcribed: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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