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Post by Horacewimp on Feb 16, 2016 8:53:36 GMT
This week I have chosen one song Are ‘Friends’ Electric? By Tubeway Army (Gary Numan) as the song of the week.
I hope to show how the song has progressed from a 1979 early 80s synthpop style anthem to a more Rock or Punk influenced version which is how Gary Numan now plays it live.
Gary Numan started his career recording an album worth of punk influenced demo tapes these were released without success. Gary changed his style to a new wave oriented sound, which introduced him to synthesisers.
Tubeway Army his band released the single Are ‘Friends’ Electric? about an android in May 1979, it took seven weeks before the song reached number one in the UK staying there for four weeks.
In the unbroadcast video above some of you may spot a young Billie Currie later of Ultravox and Visage fame playing the keyboards. This video shows how the song was played live back in 1984
Winding on to the current day, Gary Numan still has a large loyal following. He tours and releases new material which are synth based but also now have a much more Rock and Punk influence. Compare how Are ‘Friends’ Electric? Is now played live to the old 1984 version
The song was heavy sampled in the Sugarbabes 2002 number one Freak Like Me
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Post by unomusette on Feb 16, 2016 18:48:42 GMT
Interesting idea, although I might pass on the Sugarbabes version... He always comes across as a proper good guy when interviewed, and he was certainly a total original when he first appeared. I shall apply myself diligently to this project
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Post by sparky123 on Feb 16, 2016 19:36:33 GMT
In the unbroadcast video above some of you may spot a young Billie Currie later of Ultravox and Visage fame playing the keyboards. This video shows how the song was played live back in 1984 (And my favourite Chris Payne on the other keyboard!! ) This is a class song, one of my faves, although I did play it to death a while back and got sick of it. I saw Gary when he last played in Newcastle and I was a bit disappointed he did change Are Friends Electric? as I wanted it to sound like the original, although he has said in interviews he doesn't like playing his old hits and only does 2 or 3 to please the fans.
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Post by dillwyn on Feb 16, 2016 22:01:34 GMT
I bought this as a single back when first released. I can still remember learning to play this on a bontempi organ (no synths around for us kids). I was totally confused by the lyric but still an excellent individual sound. You can see the bowie influence in that early video.
I kind of like the sugababes sample track too.
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Post by jrmugz on Feb 17, 2016 0:50:39 GMT
Cool HW, looking very forward to checking it out. Always liked "Cars", so I'm sure at the very least it will be very interesting.
Jim
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Post by Helmut83 on Feb 17, 2016 3:17:09 GMT
Hearing the version on the first video, I can't help but think this song would sound 1000 times better recorded rock style, with guitar powerchords doing the main basic riff and the chords and with a heavier organic bass sound, because it has the features of a rock anthem. The song itself I think is good and the riffs over which it is constructed work really well, but in my opinion like this it doesn't shine as it could.
The version of the second video is a bit closer to how I think it could be and definitely better with those hard drums, but still way too synth for me. The last one is the best version of the three.
I don't know the Sugarbabes but I've seen ladies who look worse than the blonde on the video.
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Post by jrmugz on Feb 19, 2016 21:43:45 GMT
OK here is my review of the two songs:
01. "Are Freinds Electric" (by Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army) - Really love the spaced out synthesizers and the cool title of the song. Captivating melody. Good bridge. And true the last live version gives it a rockier edge, which is good. 02. "Freak Like Me" (by Sugababes) - Nice use of synths for a song that might not necessarily make it through the Parent Teacher's Association.
Star Rating: 3.8 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Are Friends Electric", "Freak Like Me" Bottom Line: Good songs that may rely a little too much on the synthesizer gimmick.
Thanks for posting HW, always wanted to delve more into Gary Numan, would have been cool if more of his songs, but a good incentive for me to check out some more, for sure. He has a way with the synth riffs, kind of like The Cars.
Will mark you down for the next open spot.
Jim
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Post by Chippa on Feb 20, 2016 1:22:15 GMT
I like this more than his huge hit "Cars". I can see why he's so influential within the EDM genre.
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Post by jrmugz on Feb 20, 2016 16:03:23 GMT
Now that HW gave me the opportunity, with his pick of the week, it inspired me to pick Gary Numan's "Pleasure Principle" album with "Cars" on it, to do my taxes to right now. So far sounding really nice!
Jim
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Post by Horacewimp on Feb 20, 2016 16:32:18 GMT
jrmugz try these tracks, they are some of my Gary Numan favourites.
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Post by jrmugz on Feb 20, 2016 19:22:43 GMT
Will do HW, and I'll review those as well, probably Monday, if not sooner. For Pleasure Prinicple, I guess "Airliner" and "Cars" are the main two leaving me running for seconds. What are your favorites on that one? They all sounded pretty decent, to be sure. Jim
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Post by Horacewimp on Feb 20, 2016 19:59:40 GMT
I like Films, Cars, Complex and M.E. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army were one of the first acts I saw live back in 1978 or 9 can't remember exactly, what I do remember is that OMD were the support act and I have followed them ever since. I must of seen Gary Numan four or five times live over the years, always a good show. Once the tables were turned and he was the support act for OMD!!
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Post by 88keys on Feb 20, 2016 22:10:45 GMT
Gary Numan was definitely way ahead of his time.
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Post by unomusette on Feb 20, 2016 22:57:53 GMT
Firstly, I really like the idea of seeing how a classic song is performed now compared to its original incarnation. I watched the most recent performance first, thinking to myself that I knew the old version off by heart. What I liked about it was his obvious enjoyment of the performance, loads of genuine grins and he seems very at home with the metal/industrial/goth approach. As I recall he did want to move on style-wise and was a bit impatient with people who kept asking for the old approach so it was good to see him do just that to a capacity audience. The crowd were right into it too, the whole atmosphere was brilliant. I wonder if he meant to mix the lyrics up a bit, or was it a boob well disguised? I thought to myself, this is great, it's engaging with the crowd and he's playing the proper frontman. This newer version was lining up to easily be my favourite. In the interests of fairness, I then watched the live version from 1984. When he was on Top of the Pops etc back in the day he always looked quite ill at ease and he's said himself he was quite shy and struggled with being the centre of attention. But here he was actually very much in control and playing the part of otherworldly creature like a pro. You can really see the Bowie influence at play and it was such a good live version of his original persona I was much impressed. I was expecting to see him standing still and just twitching a bit. So although he would probably vote for the recent version himself, I'd say the older live show was better because it was such a one-off idea and so well executed. The fact that he moved on and didn't cling to the trusted formula just to make money is also worth applauding. Nice work, Gary and thanks for showing us this Horacewimp
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Post by jrmugz on Feb 21, 2016 22:10:45 GMT
jrmugz try these tracks, they are some of my Gary Numan favourites. 01. "I Die You Die" - Reminds me of "Panorama"-era Cars. Nice chorus, melody, and very cool synth-break that leads into the haunting ending. 02. "Down in the Park" - Sounds really nice, enjoying it a lot. Maybe as good or better than "Cars". I need to get this one and "Cars". 03. "We are Glass" - Very cool tune, playing cards with my son and diggin' these tunes! 04. "TOTP" - Decent chorus, like it. Thanks for posting these ones too, HW! Jim
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