What’s
up, Dialophiles? Tonight, the Dial is receiving a signal transmitted from a
vintage Pinecone computer located somewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. This
file, sent by someone named “Edgar” via the curious antiquity of a dialup
connection, contains a classic 1984 pop track that is highly worthy of the
Dial’s spotlight. So fire up your green monochrome CRT, and set your handset in
the cradle of your acoustic modem coupler, so that you may enjoy Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder’s “Together in Electric
Dreams”!
“I only knew you for a while, I never saw you smile, ‘til it was time to go… time to go away.”
Philip Oakey, The Human League’s male vocalist, (“Don’t You Want Me”, “Keep Feeling Fascination”), co-authored the track alongside producer extraordinaire Giorgio Moroder, among who’s many pop masterpieces are Irene Cara’s “Flashdance (What a Feeling)”, “Call Me” by Blondie, and Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”, and “Hot Stuff”.
An upbeat new-wave styled pop ballad, Oakey and Moroder’s collaboration served as the theme song to the motion picture “Electric Dreams”, a largely forgotten 1984 rom/com in which a love triangle develops between a desktop computer, its owner Miles, and his classical cellist neighbor Madeline. The film even indicates that the lovesick computer composes this very song in tribute to the human couple!
A quirky film with a lot of charm and heart, Electric Dreams also serves as an excellent time capsule of the mid 80s with constant references to the computer technology available at the time, and the dramatic MTV inspired visuals and filming techniques. Sadly, it has yet to be issued on DVD on America, as it only available as a Region 2 release for movie fans in Europe, the Middle East, and Japan.
“Sometimes it’s hard to recognize, love comes as a surprise… and it’s too late… it’s just too late to stay.”
Now, our loyal Dialophiles “across the pond” may be rather puzzled that we are spotlighting a major smash hit song here, a UK #3 at that, which in 2009 even served as the theme to the BBC Four “Electric Dreams” documentary series, and has been covered by many electro pop artists since, as well. The surprising reason, is that the single was not pushed to radio in the states, likely because the source film underperformed at the box office. This was a true missed opportunity for Top 40 fans, as Oakey’s angst-ridden baritone meshes perfectly with Moroder’s expert synth-pop. The opening notes float melodically around the listener as the guitar chords accent the feel of the track, then the soft drum machine loops bring the mid-tempo beat, which perfectly rounds out this true musical work of art.
The “Electric Dreams” soundtrack LP, released concurrently with the film, also contained tracks by Electric Light Orchestra bandleader Jeff Lynne, (“Let It Run”, and the US #85 lower chart entry “Video!”), Culture Club (“Love Is Love”, and “The Dream”), and Heaven 17 (“Chase Runner”). The theme song was also re-released the following year on the Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder LP, after which, Oakey resumed work with The Human League, and soon charted the smash hit ballad “Human”. Moroder would grace the airwaves once more with Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”, and Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone”.
“Because the friendship that you gave, has taught me to be brave… no matter where I go, I’ll never find a better prize…”
“I only knew you for a while, I never saw you smile, ‘til it was time to go… time to go away.”
Philip Oakey, The Human League’s male vocalist, (“Don’t You Want Me”, “Keep Feeling Fascination”), co-authored the track alongside producer extraordinaire Giorgio Moroder, among who’s many pop masterpieces are Irene Cara’s “Flashdance (What a Feeling)”, “Call Me” by Blondie, and Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”, and “Hot Stuff”.
An upbeat new-wave styled pop ballad, Oakey and Moroder’s collaboration served as the theme song to the motion picture “Electric Dreams”, a largely forgotten 1984 rom/com in which a love triangle develops between a desktop computer, its owner Miles, and his classical cellist neighbor Madeline. The film even indicates that the lovesick computer composes this very song in tribute to the human couple!
A quirky film with a lot of charm and heart, Electric Dreams also serves as an excellent time capsule of the mid 80s with constant references to the computer technology available at the time, and the dramatic MTV inspired visuals and filming techniques. Sadly, it has yet to be issued on DVD on America, as it only available as a Region 2 release for movie fans in Europe, the Middle East, and Japan.
“Sometimes it’s hard to recognize, love comes as a surprise… and it’s too late… it’s just too late to stay.”
Now, our loyal Dialophiles “across the pond” may be rather puzzled that we are spotlighting a major smash hit song here, a UK #3 at that, which in 2009 even served as the theme to the BBC Four “Electric Dreams” documentary series, and has been covered by many electro pop artists since, as well. The surprising reason, is that the single was not pushed to radio in the states, likely because the source film underperformed at the box office. This was a true missed opportunity for Top 40 fans, as Oakey’s angst-ridden baritone meshes perfectly with Moroder’s expert synth-pop. The opening notes float melodically around the listener as the guitar chords accent the feel of the track, then the soft drum machine loops bring the mid-tempo beat, which perfectly rounds out this true musical work of art.
The “Electric Dreams” soundtrack LP, released concurrently with the film, also contained tracks by Electric Light Orchestra bandleader Jeff Lynne, (“Let It Run”, and the US #85 lower chart entry “Video!”), Culture Club (“Love Is Love”, and “The Dream”), and Heaven 17 (“Chase Runner”). The theme song was also re-released the following year on the Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder LP, after which, Oakey resumed work with The Human League, and soon charted the smash hit ballad “Human”. Moroder would grace the airwaves once more with Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”, and Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone”.
“Because the friendship that you gave, has taught me to be brave… no matter where I go, I’ll never find a better prize…”
As an interesting aside, The Human League has frequently covered “Together…” in concert, adding Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley’s vocals to compliment Oakey’s lead, and a lengthy, instrumental opening. But as of yet, they have not released a live or studio version of their treatment of the classic track on any of their recordings.
So thank you… “Edgar”, whomever, (or whatever) you are, for tuning our receivers toward this classic 80s ballad. The Radio Dial sends you our sincerest thanks. May the rest of the New Year find you in proper working order. ;^)
“We’ll always be together, however far it seems… love never ends… we’ll always be together… together in electric dreams”
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