New Order's Temptation! I discovered Depeche Mode in 1985 with People Are People on MTV. I discovered Erasure in 1987 when they toured with Duran Duran! Wonderland was a great album!
Growing up in the 80's I also listened to the same music. I had several erasure albums on cassette tape. Erasure and Depeche helped me keep my sanity in my very stressful upbringing. I still have lots of memories associated with these songs. I subscribed to this channel because the Professor expresses the feelings and emotions and memories associated with the music I grew up loving. Thank you.
That both have the that raspy edge to their voices. Allison' Moyet has a more diverse octave range tho. I love them both. Vince Clarke is a musical genius.
Wonderfully heartfelt words that resonate with so many of us, I’m sure. Thank you for being able to articulate those feelings so passionately and eloquently.
I remember when I put on Chains of Love in my car with my teenage daughter and her friend. They heard the slow opening "How can I explain..." and were saying "aww come on dad" thinking it was too mellow and then it kicks into high gear and they were soon singing along!
You hit the nail on the head with the word “joy” this is exactly how I would describe Erasure! There’s just something about Andy and Vince! They make music magic!!
WOW. You hit it on the head with some great memories. I grew up in Utah and still have some great memories of Grey Whale and MODified. I would blow a crap ton of money on the newest vinyls and cassettes! Easure was one of the best bands that got me through my teenage years. I still love them and several other great artists like: Easure, Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo, Book of Love, INXS, OMD, REM, New Order, Tears for Fears, U2, Red Flag, B-52s, Pet Shop Boys, and the list could just keep going. I can't just do a Top 5 for Easure, but here is my Top 10: A Little Respect, Chains of Love, Oh Amour, Sometimes, Victim of Love, Always, Ship of Fools, Blue Savannah, Who Needs Love Like That, and It Doen't Have to Be. Thanks for keeping the music alive!
Thank you! You described my childhood...loved Grey Whale and MODified. Great List! I remember Grey Whale kept a printout of upcoming album releases I'd always try to keep tabs on when I went in.
I ❤ Erasure too. Andy Bell's vocals are amazing and he is a great performer also. He dances with so much energy. My favorites are Chorus, Blue Savanah, and Star. I will listen to their greatest CD today
I LUUURVE Erasure!!! ❤❤❤ I owned all their albums, and in the 90's I bought their greatest hits CD, Pop. I had to listen to that album all the way through every time I put it on....singing and dancing my way through every single song. I'm in my late 50's now, and they make up a large part of my playlist...and I still can't listen to just one song, and I still have to get up and sing and dance along. Few things make me smile as instantly as the first line of "A Little Respect"..."I try to discover a little something to make me sweeter". 😃
Love Erasure!! I was introduced to them in 1987 when they opened for Duran Duran (my all time fav). I was 16. It was so cool. I'm in the south so the audience was not sure how to react to them. I was so glad I had the chance to see them- even though I didn't know who they were at the time. I was an instant fan.
'A Little Respect' is a golden pop song. It is perhaps forgotten how huge Erasure was in the eighties and nineties, certainly in Britain. Hit followed hit. Me and my wife saw them live in Preston a few years ago and the vocals were little changed from their peak. Their version of 'Take A Chance On Me' mirrored by the video played a huge role in the rehabilitation of Abba in critical and popular opinion ( not that it should ever have been necessary but they had fallen seriously out of favour from the start of their ( 37 year) hiatus in 1982). It coincided with the Abba Gold compilation ( there were two eventually) which was massive and convinced most people that Abba had been cool and amazing all along. Erasure must take some of the credit for their resurgence. Vince Clarke was also one half of The Assembly with Fergal Sharkey ( The Undertones and solo artist), who scored a big hit with the quirky 'Never Never' in Britain in 1984. Only You with Yazoo ( Alison Moyet) is a great song too. Its use in the Christmas Special of The Office ( British version)accompanies one of the best moments in television history, in my view.
...MAN, you hit it...you, HIT IT! ...Erasure INDEFINITELY created that ABBA resurgence; I was working at a Sam Goody at the time (1992?), and People were buying BOTH those CD's, together! ...nice to see Erasure gettin' 'a little respect', 'round here.... ; )
I just listened to “A Little Respect” the other day after having not heard it in forever! I agree that it’s such a great song. All Yazoo songs are golden as well.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Only You is great. Alison Moyet does a fantastic version of it at a Hermes catwalk from a few years ago. It is on You Tube. She had a string of highly successful singles in the UK in the eighties and has continued releasing music to this day. A great vocalist and self aware, recently getting rid of her gold discs, downsizing to a modest abode and living an ordinary life.
My Favorite Erasure album is 'I Say I Say I Say' - a flawless, timeless album. I do love all their albums. Truly Amazing to score this interview. When I saw the thumbnail I couldn't click fast enough.
I say… is one of my three least favourite Erasure albums. Their songwriting are not too good on this, they sound very uninspired. My top 5 is 1: Nightbird 2: Cowboy 3: Erasure 4: Violet flame 5: Loveboat
I was really skeptical about Erasure at first. I already liked Depeche Mode and when I learned that Vince Clarke WAS Depeche Mode, I thought I might as well check them out. I saw them on the Nightbird tour and it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Amazing - and criminally underrated.
Funny enough, it was the reverse with me. I discovered Erasure first and a friend recommended me to listen to ‘Stripped’ from a band I didn’t know - Depeche Mode, and I became addicted! How could I have missed them from the beginning of the 80’ies😊!
This spoke to my heart Adam! I think Andy has a majestic voice, and Erasure are one of my favorite bands ever. The Innocents is a magnificent album, I love Phantom Bride and Yahoo! They seem like very normal, sweet guys as well. Thank you Adam!
For the record, my top 5 Vince Clarke songs: 1. Nobody's Diary (Yazoo) 2. Never Never (The Assembly) 3. New Life (Depeche Mode) 4. The Circus (Erasure) 5. Only You (Yazoo)
I appreciate the effort you put into your background set. I always look at the albums, and remember the record stores in the 80's. I couldn't afford much, but would rely on the radio to hear my favorite songs til I got mixed tapes from my friends and admirers. Keep at it, your doing great work, and your efforts will pay off.
The first time I heard Erasure was September '88. I was with my brother and sister-in-law driving down I-40 listening to Casey Kasem count down the Top 40. I remember Casey Kasem saying coming in with their first Top 40 hit is Erasure with their song Chains of Love. My sister-in-law said she hated it, but I didn't. I went later that week and bought the Innocents. It was my favorite album of 1988, and I have been a huge fan ever since.
Erasure still makes the rotation for me. I listened to the Chorus album just this week. I commented elsewhere that Vince Clarke has an ear for top-drawer voices and musical hits. To me, he's the genius behind Erasure, Yazoo, and Depeche Mode. I enjoy knowing that all of these artists are still out there creating and making albums for me to buy.
I love when you do any video on Erasure. My absolute favorite band of all time. They got me through Junior High and are just as good today. Beautiful, powerful music. I named my dogs after Vince and Andy. Good timing on this video. We need to keep Vince's wife in our thoughts (she is ill). Sad that their US tour was cancelled, but completely understand. Thanks for the great video!
Erasure are a band that while they’re not my “cup of tea” I have great respect for. Vince is a great musician and songwriter and Andy is a great singer.
I’ve been a fan from the beginning. I have gone to several concerts and met both of them multiple times throughout the past 35+ years. Even got invited to a VIP room at a club by Vince (promoting Chorus) to speak about synths. Two of the nicest and most talented people around.
I've been a huge Erasure fan for over 30 years. Their music is worth collecting - I have every shred of music they've ever released. Vince is one of my favorite people in the world, and Andy's vocals perfectly compliment his synths.
Been listening to them since 1988, and Erasure got me thru some really hard times and good ones too! Andy & Vince forever!!! And thank you for recognizing Andy’s vocal range and the emotional deepness of the songs 😍😍 I Say, I Say, I Say, Cowboy, Light at the End of the World, the Innocents & Circus are my fave albums from them. I still faithfully follow them & they still are brilliant!
I went to a record store back in 1986 to seek out the 12 inch vinyl of Depeche Modes stripped. The sales person behind the counter said "here's a new album from a new band Vince Clarke has just formed" it was Wonderland. I bought it, put it on the turntable and never looked back. They have always been my favorite band of all time. I even got the privilege of seeing them in Hamburg 1992. Favorite concert ever!
They are both so kind! How can you not be fans of them! I just love it when you interview these wonderful people. I work from home and have little social contact, for me these make me feel a little less lonely!
Wow...same experience you had. My older sister had The Innocents and I fell in love with the album and like you...my love grew and I also grew up in rural Nevada and would go into SLC a few times each year and buy cassettes. I also would go on to buy Wonderland, The Circus, Wild, Crackers International, etc...it was also fun to see us influence others in our rural school get turned onto them. You explained it so well that it was a gateway drug into the other synth bands like OMD, DM and others...same! Thanks for capturing my own memories in your own!
One of my favorite things in life is listening to people gush over things they're truly passionate about, be it music, video games, movies, paintings, etc. etc. that's why I LOVE this channel so much. I also love that extremely rare opportunity to gush about something I love and someone is there to listen (and they want enjoy it). I've had a couple times in my life where I went off on a passionate 20 min. rant about why I love Judas Priest and I'd just get lost in space talking about how they saved me, how they changed me, how they changed music...I've done the same with my favorite games and, to a lesser extent, movies My Metal Mount Rushmore is; Judas Priest, Thy Catafalque, Death and Helloween
Same here! I love it when Professor of Rock praises some of my favorite songs! It's why I've gotten so many people I know hooked on him. It gives me pleasure when other people discover his channel and realize that he's there to help keep the REAL music alive.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I'm in my late 30s, but I spent my teens and my 20s being "that" kind of metalhead. The kind that ONLY listened to Metal and thought anything else was talentless garbage. It wasn't until I was into my 30s that I stopped being a gatekeeping, elitist asshole and started just enjoying music and embracing all genres. Pop, rock, synth, punk, jazz, you name it. I still love Metal the most, but my tastes have expanded and Professor of Rock is a wonderful channel to celebrate music, in all it's forms.
@@GRAHFXENO I only listened to R&B music when I was a middle schooler, but since the beginning of 2020 I have grown to embrace all forms of music. Whether it be rock, disco, pop, or jazz, everyone has a different taste for music!
Man you always seem to hit the mark- I am in my 50’s and also feeling like an out cast as a kid all these bands helped me get through it - I also tried hard to like the main stream but I just couldn’t- I always felt better when I listened to Erasure , Howard jones , Depesh Mode , the cure - New Order . Till this day that’s all I listen too and now my kids have become enamored with the music I grew up with - Thank you for your channel I love it.
Oh yes, this is great. I’m a Brit and my grandad bought me two albums on cassette in 1986. Invisible touch and the circus. I’ve loved genesis and erasure ever since. Vince Clarke is the greatest. Fortunate enough to see the wild, chorus, covers, acoustic tour and last years’ and they NEVER disappoint. Love them
My favorite track on Invisible Touch would have to be "Land of Confusion". That song resonated with us a lot during pandemic times. And yes, Vince Clarke is a legend.
Exactly, everything started with Erasure, when I was thirteen I heard single Chorus and it completely change my life and music taste. It gets me to Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order, Kraftwerk, Bowie, Pink Floyd etc. Thank for your video 😄👍🏼
@@turdferguson7264 Of course, there is a lot of great music I didn't mentioned 😉👍🏼😀 All electronic and synthpop bands (Pet Shop Boys, Human League, Camouflage) are counted automatically. I tried to say that Erasure opened door to my long and wide music journey and I've met a lot of great music by this long long way. They even make me to take keyboard and learn how to play and started to play synth in some music bands 😀
My favorite Erasure story is around the Yaz reunion. Vince asked Andy if he would be OK with it, and Andy’s reply was something like “You have to do it, and I want a front row ticket.” Seeing Yaz live was something I never thought possible. I am a huge fan of both. Erasures Abbaesque is definitely a desert island disk.
You outdid yourself again on this one Adam. Not so much an Erasure fan, but discovered them in reverse through Depeche Mode. You are so articulate about what so many of us felt about our friends MUSIC growing up. Tower Records was my primary source of entertainment in college along with the local used record store. Even into adulthood in the age of the CD I would spend hours going though the bins and the stacks. Hard to believe that source of joy and discovery is gone… but the music lives on
Thanks for all these interviews: it isnot only nostalgia, it is more than thatn, it is the celebration of the good music that will last forever. I love classic rock (70s), but my 80s soundtrack, while growing up, was Pet Shop Boys, Tears for Fears, New Order, Erasure, Depeche Mode and The Cure. Erasure became more famous a little later in the 80s, at least in South America, but I still follow their career, in particular, Vince Clarke, who is a master of his craft.
This must be possibly your most earnest, heartfelt discussion about your favourite music and bands. I completely relate to what you are saying here. Bands such as The Cure, Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode opened the doors for me in not just accepting for who I am but also played aa major role in shaping me as an artist while making my own music and writing my own songs. Finally, one could be cool in a completely different way, almost with an authenticity and sincerity, that it it really felt like music for the outcasts in terms of the subject matter. I owe a huge debt especially to The Cure. By the way, huge respect for a band like Erasure and also to the United Kingdom in general for giving a platform for such music to flourish in the aftermath of punk music scene. We might not have seen such bands and musicians were it not for punk and early post-punk which was a reaction to the grandiose and snobbishness of excessively technical and obnoxious way music was going in general. Such movements brought music back to the masses but also making it adventurous and daring.
I'm like P.O.R. - I love rock. It's my genre. But I adore Erasure and always have. And they're the only band that can get me on a dancefloor. This feels right here, great interview.
Yup yup! Erasure is my ULTIMATE favorite band! I have lived in Utah all my life. I just finished commenting on the Safety Dance video with my musical journey growing up. Pop Goes the World from Men Without Hats launched me into loving synthpop, and then I found Erasure, skyrocketing me through the universe of fabulous music.
My top 10 Electro Pop songs, in no particular order. Things that dreams are made of- Human League Let Me Go - Heaven 17 Now this is fun - Dépêche Mode When I needed you- Erasure Don’t go - Yazoo Being Boiled (Travelogue version) - Human League Complex - Gary Numan Say Hello Way Goodbye(12”) - Soft Cell The Model - Kraftwerk Western Promise - Ultravox. The early 80’s in the UK was a great time to be young! Great channel by the way.
I was a kid listening to all kinds of music in the 80s. Hair metal was my eventual go to scene but I always listened to a wide variety while in high school and throughout my life. Bands like Erasure and others of that genre were on my radar but nothing I'd really listen to a lot. 120 minutes on MTV was a great way of keeping up with this type of music too. Going back and listening to Erasure, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths and many others in my 50s...I can appreciate the genius of these bands now. Great video. Keep up the amazing work Professor.
Well done. I love the passion you express for the music we love! In the club, we were the cool ones who knew all the words to Erasure. Fond memories of dancing and laughing
Thanks for sharing! I, like you first discovered Erasure in High School with The Innocents. And I was obsessed with that album, lol! And like you, that led me to Depeche Mode! Especially with the Vince Clarke connection. They are still to this day my 2 favorite artist. Love Erasure!
My first concert that I went with friends instead of my parents was Erasure at Madison Square Garden on their Wild tour. We had nosebleed seats but I had so much fun
From Idaho also, was a metal head in school, but many of the new wave bands had some great music and many metalheads were secretly listening to. Erasure and Depeche Mode were my two favs. Keep the great content coming.
I'm from the UK, so we knew Erasure a bit earlier. 'Sometimes' is one of the very great 80's songs. I'm so glad you did this. You should interview Roddy Frame...
Adam, NEVER apologize for audio that isn’t great, especially like this Erasure interview. I could hear it just fine. I went so far as to cover your subtitles so I couldn’t read then, but I STILL heard every word.
I’m about the same as you with my discovery of A Little Respect in the late 80s and fell in love with this band. After listening to erasure for over 30 years…my top 5 has changed a lot but here it is…no order! 1. Piano Song (with vocals) 2. Freedom 3. Blue Savannah 4. Sunday Girl 5. Drama!
Thanks for this. I would never have guessed that you'd like Erasure. Being a Brit they were never underground for me. And despite being an acoustic musician I love Erasure. They are the only synth-electro-pop group I follow religiously. The fact that they are still going today is a testament to their greatness. Yes, a few things are hit or miss but there are still some great songs coming off the modern albums. I have so many memories associated with Erasure songs but my favourite album is the self titled 'Erasure' - it's long but I think it is almost prog-electro-pop. A sensation. ('Nightbird' and 'I Say, I Say, I Say' are also emotionally charged for me.)
It was 1985. I was a Junior in High School. I was in Homeroom and a girl had her walkman on listening to something. I was in Chorus and loved music, so I asked her what she was listening to. She said it was a new group called Erasure. She let me listen to some. I loved it. It was Wondderland. As soon as I had the chance I bought the cassette. Synth Pop Galore. Been loving them ever since. Here we are coming up on 40 years later and they're still relevant and awesome. They are WAY beyond a so called 'Gay Band'. They were, and are, the pinnacle of Synth Pop. And Chorus is my favorite of Erasure. Just a fantastic album.
Love Erasure! Have seen them live a couple times and also Andy Bell as a solo artist! Amazing voice and very funny on stage, the public loves him! In a concert i saw he had a little technical issue with sound, so he sung the next song... a cappella. Truly amazing artist
being a massive Erasure fan there’are always songs that you really love even when they never were “a single” I think Andy’s vocals sound great on: Boy (Cowboy), Save me darling (Cowboy), Take me back (I Say), So the story goes (I Say), Grace/ A Long goodbye (Erasure), Fly away (LATEOTW), Here in my heart (Loveboat), well, there’s a lot , love Andy’s voice so damn bad when he sings at Vince’s rhythm …when they get together the magic happens 🇲🇽❤️🇬🇧
Something I never ever expected as an 80s teen Erasure fan was that one day I would find myself picking out apples in the grocery store while “A Little Respect” played on the store sound system.
I’ll always be in awe that Vince Clarke and Martin Gore were in the same band. I love them both so much as song writers. I’ve observed how Vince’s songs make people so happy.
Professor, you have such an eloquent way of expressing yourself! I love your deep dives Into the music scene, your enthusiasm, but you woulda made a fine poet, too! 😄
Erasure was/is a big part of my life, too. One of the best ever concerts I've been to was their WILD! tour in 1990. We had 8th row seats. I remember going home and taking a pen and putting a tiny dot next to all 21 songs they sang that night on my cassette liners. Still have those and was just looking at Wonderland and Two Ring Circus yesterday!
YEAH..!!! Your cover art has the imagery from “Chorus” my FAV album of theirs. I had their 1st single & album on vinyl right when it came out because - Vince. Awesome, & fantastic content yet again. 👏🙏
Listening to you talk I remember what a loser I felt like as a “waver”. But I LOVED this music, these bands, the whole look. Still do. Today I have the confidence I wish I had then. I’ve seen Erasure twice, DM 3 times, Echo once, The Cure once (BUT I’ll see them in London this year)- I hate the Smiths 🤢 I had 5th row seats to see Erasure in January and it got cancelled. They are geniuses. Thanks for this post!!!
was lucky enough to see their INNOCENTS world tour with only about 200 people in the crowd in a small club in Melbourne Australia 89...you would have LOVED being so close to the band bro...truly THE single greatest pop band of all time
Everything Vince Clarke touches is gold. He is why I became a musician. But I run the gamut from Genesis with Peter Gabriel to Echo and the Bunnymen to Erasure to the Eagles to Gary Numan (new and old), NIN, Yes, The Wild Swans, Van Halen, The Ocean Blue, Depeche Mode, The Innocence Mission, Metallica, Pink Floyd, The Smiths ... I could go on and on.... God bless you Adam and this amazing channel.
I tell kids that the wait for that new album to drop. Is like you standing line waiting for that hot 🔥 game for the PS5 or in my case Super Tecmo for my Super Nintendo! Hey ProRo 👋, is that dating myself? Great interview your sincerity seems real. And I commend you for that. Thanks once again for sharing your youth and memories with us again. I think that if you asked your dad he would have helped you make that video happen ! 🤔
Enjoy your stories. Had those moments, quests, discoveries... went the punk on ramp... but we overlap tremendously... my college and post college years...
Poll: What is your pick for the definitive SYTH POP OPUS! The best song that represents the genre?
Left to my own devices... by the Pet Shop Boys.
I'm going for Space Age Love Song by Flock of Seagulls
I ran
New Order's Temptation! I discovered Depeche Mode in 1985 with People Are People on MTV. I discovered Erasure in 1987 when they toured with Duran Duran! Wonderland was a great album!
@@billywilson4908 Great choice. AFOS is way underrated!
Oh L'Amour is one of the songs I'll listen forever, again and again... ❤️🥰 I love Erasure, from the bottom of my heart
Growing up in the 80's I also listened to the same music. I had several erasure albums on cassette tape. Erasure and Depeche helped me keep my sanity in my very stressful upbringing. I still have lots of memories associated with these songs. I subscribed to this channel because the Professor expresses the feelings and emotions and memories associated with the music I grew up loving. Thank you.
Andy Bell of Erasure and Alison Moyet of Yazoo are two great British synthpop icons who, to my ears, sound remarkably similar.
Totally agree with you.
They do!
No I would say Jimmy Somerville was a lot closer vocally, Alison was good though, along with Lisa Stansfield
True fact
That both have the that raspy edge to their voices. Allison' Moyet has a more diverse octave range tho. I love them both. Vince Clarke is a musical genius.
I think Andy and Vince are just the perfect musical match, they’re both so extraordinary talented
Wonderfully heartfelt words that resonate with so many of us, I’m sure. Thank you for being able to articulate those feelings so passionately and eloquently.
I remember when I put on Chains of Love in my car with my teenage daughter and her friend. They heard the slow opening "How can I explain..." and were saying "aww come on dad" thinking it was too mellow and then it kicks into high gear and they were soon singing along!
You hit the nail on the head with the word “joy” this is exactly how I would describe Erasure! There’s just something about Andy and Vince! They make music magic!!
Thank you Professor for tapping into those sweet, heartfelt, and poignant pop songs of Erasure. No mistaken those amazing vocals and melody. ❤️
They are masterpieces.
WOW. You hit it on the head with some great memories. I grew up in Utah and still have some great memories of Grey Whale and MODified. I would blow a crap ton of money on the newest vinyls and cassettes!
Easure was one of the best bands that got me through my teenage years. I still love them and several other great artists like: Easure, Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo, Book of Love, INXS, OMD, REM, New Order, Tears for Fears, U2, Red Flag, B-52s, Pet Shop Boys, and the list could just keep going. I can't just do a Top 5 for Easure, but here is my Top 10: A Little Respect, Chains of Love, Oh Amour, Sometimes, Victim of Love, Always, Ship of Fools, Blue Savannah, Who Needs Love Like That, and It Doen't Have to Be. Thanks for keeping the music alive!
Thank you! You described my childhood...loved Grey Whale and MODified. Great List! I remember Grey Whale kept a printout of upcoming album releases I'd always try to keep tabs on when I went in.
I ❤ Erasure too. Andy Bell's vocals are amazing and he is a great performer also. He dances with so much energy. My favorites are Chorus, Blue Savanah, and Star. I will listen to their greatest CD today
I LUUURVE Erasure!!! ❤❤❤
I owned all their albums, and in the 90's I bought their greatest hits CD, Pop. I had to listen to that album all the way through every time I put it on....singing and dancing my way through every single song. I'm in my late 50's now, and they make up a large part of my playlist...and I still can't listen to just one song, and I still have to get up and sing and dance along.
Few things make me smile as instantly as the first line of "A Little Respect"..."I try to discover a little something to make me sweeter". 😃
Love Erasure!! I was introduced to them in 1987 when they opened for Duran Duran (my all time fav). I was 16. It was so cool. I'm in the south so the audience was not sure how to react to them. I was so glad I had the chance to see them- even though I didn't know who they were at the time. I was an instant fan.
'A Little Respect' is a golden pop song. It is perhaps forgotten how huge Erasure was in the eighties and nineties, certainly in Britain. Hit followed hit. Me and my wife saw them live in Preston a few years ago and the vocals were little changed from their peak. Their version of 'Take A Chance On Me' mirrored by the video played a huge role in the rehabilitation of Abba in critical and popular opinion ( not that it should ever have been necessary but they had fallen seriously out of favour from the start of their ( 37 year) hiatus in 1982). It coincided with the Abba Gold compilation ( there were two eventually) which was massive and convinced most people that Abba had been cool and amazing all along. Erasure must take some of the credit for their resurgence. Vince Clarke was also one half of The Assembly with Fergal Sharkey ( The Undertones and solo artist), who scored a big hit with the quirky 'Never Never' in Britain in 1984. Only You with Yazoo ( Alison Moyet) is a great song too. Its use in the Christmas Special of The Office ( British version)accompanies one of the best moments in television history, in my view.
...MAN, you hit it...you, HIT IT! ...Erasure INDEFINITELY created that ABBA resurgence; I was working at a Sam Goody at the time (1992?), and People were buying BOTH those CD's, together! ...nice to see Erasure gettin' 'a little respect', 'round here.... ; )
I just listened to “A Little Respect” the other day after having not heard it in forever! I agree that it’s such a great song. All Yazoo songs are golden as well.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Only You is great. Alison Moyet does a fantastic version of it at a Hermes catwalk from a few years ago. It is on You Tube. She had a string of highly successful singles in the UK in the eighties and has continued releasing music to this day. A great vocalist and self aware, recently getting rid of her gold discs, downsizing to a modest abode and living an ordinary life.
My Favorite Erasure album is 'I Say I Say I Say' - a flawless, timeless album. I do love all their albums. Truly Amazing to score this interview. When I saw the thumbnail I couldn't click fast enough.
Yes!!! My favorite Erasure album too! Got me thru some hard times ❤️
I say… is one of my three least favourite Erasure albums. Their songwriting are not too good on this, they sound very uninspired. My top 5 is 1: Nightbird 2: Cowboy 3: Erasure 4: Violet flame 5: Loveboat
I was really skeptical about Erasure at first. I already liked Depeche Mode and when I learned that Vince Clarke WAS Depeche Mode, I thought I might as well check them out. I saw them on the Nightbird tour and it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Amazing - and criminally underrated.
Funny enough, it was the reverse with me. I discovered Erasure first and a friend recommended me to listen to ‘Stripped’ from a band I didn’t know - Depeche Mode, and I became addicted! How could I have missed them from the beginning of the 80’ies😊!
This spoke to my heart Adam! I think Andy has a majestic voice, and Erasure are one of my favorite bands ever. The Innocents is a magnificent album, I love Phantom Bride and Yahoo!
They seem like very normal, sweet guys as well. Thank you Adam!
Andy Bell is one of my favorite synth pop voices of all time.
Such an infectious, melodic treat of a song that brings back sweet memories from the 80s....
Loved Erasure! I had their CDs mixed in with my punk, metal, and others in my alternative music collection.
Rock on!
For the record, my top 5 Vince Clarke songs:
1. Nobody's Diary (Yazoo)
2. Never Never (The Assembly)
3. New Life (Depeche Mode)
4. The Circus (Erasure)
5. Only You (Yazoo)
Sorry to burst your bubble but Alison Moyet wrote Nobody’s diary.
@@belessretarded4770 Don't forget Moyet's goth piano ballad, "Winter Kills." Savage and beautiful!
Ah, "Never Never" with Feargal Sharkey! An anthem for me and my one member fey and twee teen lonely hearts club!
I appreciate the effort you put into your background set. I always look at the albums, and remember the record stores in the 80's. I couldn't afford much, but would rely on the radio to hear my favorite songs til I got mixed tapes from my friends and admirers. Keep at it, your doing great work, and your efforts will pay off.
The first time I heard Erasure was September '88. I was with my brother and sister-in-law driving down I-40 listening to Casey Kasem count down the Top 40. I remember Casey Kasem saying coming in with their first Top 40 hit is Erasure with their song Chains of Love. My sister-in-law said she hated it, but I didn't. I went later that week and bought the Innocents. It was my favorite album of 1988, and I have been a huge fan ever since.
Such a great album. I think that was my first of theirs, too.
I’m a huge fan of erasure since my teenage years. Thank you Adam for make this video about this amazing duo!
Erasure still makes the rotation for me. I listened to the Chorus album just this week. I commented elsewhere that Vince Clarke has an ear for top-drawer voices and musical hits. To me, he's the genius behind Erasure, Yazoo, and Depeche Mode. I enjoy knowing that all of these artists are still out there creating and making albums for me to buy.
Vince leaving DM was the best thing that ever happened to DM😅
I love when you do any video on Erasure. My absolute favorite band of all time. They got me through Junior High and are just as good today. Beautiful, powerful music. I named my dogs after Vince and Andy. Good timing on this video. We need to keep Vince's wife in our thoughts (she is ill). Sad that their US tour was cancelled, but completely understand. Thanks for the great video!
I knew there was a “family illness” but didn’t realize it was Vince’s wife 🥺 I pray she’ll be ok 🙏🏼
Erasure are a band that while they’re not my “cup of tea” I have great respect for. Vince is a great musician and songwriter and Andy is a great singer.
Not a little respect?
I’m always mesmerised by the magic storytelling of the Professor of Rock.
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I’ve been a fan from the beginning. I have gone to several concerts and met both of them multiple times throughout the past 35+ years. Even got invited to a VIP room at a club by Vince (promoting Chorus) to speak about synths. Two of the nicest and most talented people around.
I love when you get vulnerable with us, Adam. Because most of us were YOU when we were younger. Thank you 💝
Wonderland is still to this day one of my favorite albums. Every song just makes me happy.
Erasure is such a fantastic band. Love their music.
Absolutely stunning band. They are one of my all time top 3 bands ever.
Man what an episode, your words so vividly bring back the pain and ache of those times that im choked up
I've been a huge Erasure fan for over 30 years. Their music is worth collecting - I have every shred of music they've ever released. Vince is one of my favorite people in the world, and Andy's vocals perfectly compliment his synths.
Been listening to them since 1988, and Erasure got me thru some really hard times and good ones too! Andy & Vince forever!!! And thank you for recognizing Andy’s vocal range and the emotional deepness of the songs 😍😍 I Say, I Say, I Say, Cowboy, Light at the End of the World, the Innocents & Circus are my fave albums from them. I still faithfully follow them & they still are brilliant!
Erasure should have a monument somewhere, as a thanks of a whole generation.
Fun to hear the phrase Waver Kid.
It’s been a while since I heard that but brings back fun memories of the 80’s.
Great decade musically.
Spandau ballet. Thompson twins. Lots of heart hits that were very well done. What a wonderful thing. Synth beat writing. Super vocals!
I went to a record store back in 1986 to seek out the 12 inch vinyl of Depeche Modes stripped. The sales person behind the counter said "here's a new album from a new band Vince Clarke has just formed" it was Wonderland. I bought it, put it on the turntable and never looked back. They have always been my favorite band of all time. I even got the privilege of seeing them in Hamburg 1992. Favorite concert ever!
"Chains of Love" never gets old. Brilliant song.
They are both so kind! How can you not be fans of them! I just love it when you interview these wonderful people. I work from home and have little social contact, for me these make me feel a little less lonely!
Wow...same experience you had. My older sister had The Innocents and I fell in love with the album and like you...my love grew and I also grew up in rural Nevada and would go into SLC a few times each year and buy cassettes. I also would go on to buy Wonderland, The Circus, Wild, Crackers International, etc...it was also fun to see us influence others in our rural school get turned onto them. You explained it so well that it was a gateway drug into the other synth bands like OMD, DM and others...same! Thanks for capturing my own memories in your own!
One of my favorite things in life is listening to people gush over things they're truly passionate about, be it music, video games, movies, paintings, etc. etc. that's why I LOVE this channel so much. I also love that extremely rare opportunity to gush about something I love and someone is there to listen (and they want enjoy it). I've had a couple times in my life where I went off on a passionate 20 min. rant about why I love Judas Priest and I'd just get lost in space talking about how they saved me, how they changed me, how they changed music...I've done the same with my favorite games and, to a lesser extent, movies
My Metal Mount Rushmore is; Judas Priest, Thy Catafalque, Death and Helloween
Same here! I love it when Professor of Rock praises some of my favorite songs! It's why I've gotten so many people I know hooked on him. It gives me pleasure when other people discover his channel and realize that he's there to help keep the REAL music alive.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I'm in my late 30s, but I spent my teens and my 20s being "that" kind of metalhead. The kind that ONLY listened to Metal and thought anything else was talentless garbage. It wasn't until I was into my 30s that I stopped being a gatekeeping, elitist asshole and started just enjoying music and embracing all genres. Pop, rock, synth, punk, jazz, you name it. I still love Metal the most, but my tastes have expanded and Professor of Rock is a wonderful channel to celebrate music, in all it's forms.
@@GRAHFXENO I only listened to R&B music when I was a middle schooler, but since the beginning of 2020 I have grown to embrace all forms of music. Whether it be rock, disco, pop, or jazz, everyone has a different taste for music!
Man you always seem to hit the mark- I am in my 50’s and also feeling like an out cast as a kid all these bands helped me get through it - I also tried hard to like the main stream but I just couldn’t- I always felt better when I listened to Erasure , Howard jones , Depesh Mode , the cure - New Order . Till this day that’s all I listen too and now my kids have become enamored with the music I grew up with - Thank you for your channel I love it.
Oh yes, this is great. I’m a Brit and my grandad bought me two albums on cassette in 1986. Invisible touch and the circus. I’ve loved genesis and erasure ever since. Vince Clarke is the greatest. Fortunate enough to see the wild, chorus, covers, acoustic tour and last years’ and they NEVER disappoint. Love them
My favorite track on Invisible Touch would have to be "Land of Confusion". That song resonated with us a lot during pandemic times. And yes, Vince Clarke is a legend.
Exactly, everything started with Erasure, when I was thirteen I heard single Chorus and it completely change my life and music taste. It gets me to Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order, Kraftwerk, Bowie, Pink Floyd etc. Thank for your video 😄👍🏼
Can I add OMD to that list please?
@@turdferguson7264 Of course, there is a lot of great music I didn't mentioned 😉👍🏼😀 All electronic and synthpop bands (Pet Shop Boys, Human League, Camouflage) are counted automatically. I tried to say that Erasure opened door to my long and wide music journey and I've met a lot of great music by this long long way. They even make me to take keyboard and learn how to play and started to play synth in some music bands 😀
The Human League, Eurythmics, OMD, and so much more.
@@turdferguson7264 I think you're forgetting the communards and U2 they started new wave
My favorite Erasure story is around the Yaz reunion. Vince asked Andy if he would be OK with it, and Andy’s reply was something like “You have to do it, and I want a front row ticket.”
Seeing Yaz live was something I never thought possible. I am a huge fan of both. Erasures Abbaesque is definitely a desert island disk.
You outdid yourself again on this one Adam. Not so much an Erasure fan, but discovered them in reverse through Depeche Mode. You are so articulate about what so many of us felt about our friends MUSIC growing up. Tower Records was my primary source of entertainment in college along with the local used record store. Even into adulthood in the age of the CD I would spend hours going though the bins and the stacks. Hard to believe that source of joy and discovery is gone… but the music lives on
Thanks for all these interviews: it isnot only nostalgia, it is more than thatn, it is the celebration of the good music that will last forever. I love classic rock (70s), but my 80s soundtrack, while growing up, was Pet Shop Boys, Tears for Fears, New Order, Erasure, Depeche Mode and The Cure. Erasure became more famous a little later in the 80s, at least in South America, but I still follow their career, in particular, Vince Clarke, who is a master of his craft.
This must be possibly your most earnest, heartfelt discussion about your favourite music and bands. I completely relate to what you are saying here. Bands such as The Cure, Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode opened the doors for me in not just accepting for who I am but also played aa major role in shaping me as an artist while making my own music and writing my own songs. Finally, one could be cool in a completely different way, almost with an authenticity and sincerity, that it it really felt like music for the outcasts in terms of the subject matter. I owe a huge debt especially to The Cure.
By the way, huge respect for a band like Erasure and also to the United Kingdom in general for giving a platform for such music to flourish in the aftermath of punk music scene. We might not have seen such bands and musicians were it not for punk and early post-punk which was a reaction to the grandiose and snobbishness of excessively technical and obnoxious way music was going in general. Such movements brought music back to the masses but also making it adventurous and daring.
I'm like P.O.R. - I love rock. It's my genre. But I adore Erasure and always have. And they're the only band that can get me on a dancefloor. This feels right here, great interview.
Yup yup! Erasure is my ULTIMATE favorite band! I have lived in Utah all my life. I just finished commenting on the Safety Dance video with my musical journey growing up. Pop Goes the World from Men Without Hats launched me into loving synthpop, and then I found Erasure, skyrocketing me through the universe of fabulous music.
I adore Erasure! Thank you for this.
I remember how excited I was when I heard Erasure on the radio the first time. I loved Yazoo and Erasure even more.
My top 10 Electro Pop songs, in no particular order.
Things that dreams are made of- Human League
Let Me Go - Heaven 17
Now this is fun - Dépêche Mode
When I needed you- Erasure
Don’t go - Yazoo
Being Boiled (Travelogue version) - Human League
Complex - Gary Numan
Say Hello Way Goodbye(12”) - Soft Cell
The Model - Kraftwerk
Western Promise - Ultravox.
The early 80’s in the UK was a great time to be young!
Great channel by the way.
I was a kid listening to all kinds of music in the 80s. Hair metal was my eventual go to scene but I always listened to a wide variety while in high school and throughout my life. Bands like Erasure and others of that genre were on my radar but nothing I'd really listen to a lot. 120 minutes on MTV was a great way of keeping up with this type of music too. Going back and listening to Erasure, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths and many others in my 50s...I can appreciate the genius of these bands now. Great video. Keep up the amazing work Professor.
My favorite song from Erasure, Chains is love. The beginning of the song is awesome.
Well done. I love the passion you express for the music we love! In the club, we were the cool ones who knew all the words to Erasure. Fond memories of dancing and laughing
I think as with anything else it always makes a difference in what club you're in.
Sweet Surrender is an amazing song! Still one of my Repeats on Spotify.
Thanks for sharing! I, like you first discovered Erasure in High School with The Innocents. And I was obsessed with that album, lol! And like you, that led me to Depeche Mode! Especially with the Vince Clarke connection. They are still to this day my 2 favorite artist. Love Erasure!
My first concert that I went with friends instead of my parents was Erasure at Madison Square Garden on their Wild tour. We had nosebleed seats but I had so much fun
From Idaho also, was a metal head in school, but many of the new wave bands had some great music and many metalheads were secretly listening to. Erasure and Depeche Mode were my two favs. Keep the great content coming.
This band (along with OMD, New Order, and Morrissey) got me through horrors of high school. Thank you so much for this!
Same here! Rock on!
And I’m so glad they did!
I'm from the UK, so we knew Erasure a bit earlier. 'Sometimes' is one of the very great 80's songs. I'm so glad you did this. You should interview Roddy Frame...
Adam,
NEVER apologize for audio that isn’t great, especially like this Erasure interview. I could hear it just fine. I went so far as to cover your subtitles so I couldn’t read then, but I STILL heard every word.
I absolutely agree!
Nice to see Erasure get a bit of sunshine in this video. Such an under appreciated band.
I’m about the same as you with my discovery of A Little Respect in the late 80s and fell in love with this band. After listening to erasure for over 30 years…my top 5 has changed a lot but here it is…no order!
1. Piano Song (with vocals)
2. Freedom
3. Blue Savannah
4. Sunday Girl
5. Drama!
"Piano Song" is so underrated. Love that song.
Thanks for this. I would never have guessed that you'd like Erasure. Being a Brit they were never underground for me. And despite being an acoustic musician I love Erasure. They are the only synth-electro-pop group I follow religiously. The fact that they are still going today is a testament to their greatness. Yes, a few things are hit or miss but there are still some great songs coming off the modern albums. I have so many memories associated with Erasure songs but my favourite album is the self titled 'Erasure' - it's long but I think it is almost prog-electro-pop. A sensation. ('Nightbird' and 'I Say, I Say, I Say' are also emotionally charged for me.)
It was 1985. I was a Junior in High School. I was in Homeroom and a girl had her walkman on listening to something. I was in Chorus and loved music, so I asked her what she was listening to. She said it was a new group called Erasure. She let me listen to some. I loved it. It was Wondderland. As soon as I had the chance I bought the cassette. Synth Pop Galore. Been loving them ever since. Here we are coming up on 40 years later and they're still relevant and awesome. They are WAY beyond a so called 'Gay Band'. They were, and are, the pinnacle of Synth Pop. And Chorus is my favorite of Erasure. Just a fantastic album.
Love Erasure! Have seen them live a couple times and also Andy Bell as a solo artist! Amazing voice and very funny on stage, the public loves him! In a concert i saw he had a little technical issue with sound, so he sung the next song... a cappella. Truly amazing artist
being a massive Erasure fan there’are always songs that you really love even when they never were “a single”
I think Andy’s vocals sound great on:
Boy (Cowboy), Save me darling (Cowboy), Take me back (I Say), So the story goes (I Say), Grace/ A Long goodbye (Erasure), Fly away (LATEOTW), Here in my heart (Loveboat), well, there’s a lot , love Andy’s voice so damn bad when he sings at Vince’s rhythm …when they get together the magic happens 🇲🇽❤️🇬🇧
One of my all-time favorite bands, great vocals and synths. The Innocence is their best album.
I hope Erasure sees this video. Great video. Great speaking voice,.. you have so much passion in your stories.
Yes yes yes. Thank you for this video. Good songs are good songs “always”
Something I never ever expected as an 80s teen Erasure fan was that one day I would find myself picking out apples in the grocery store while “A Little Respect” played on the store sound system.
I’ll always be in awe that Vince Clarke and Martin Gore were in the same band. I love them both so much as song writers. I’ve observed how Vince’s songs make people so happy.
I love Andy Bell's voice!
I was in high school (late ‘80s) when I discovered my love for Erasure.
Professor, you have such an eloquent way of expressing yourself! I love your deep dives Into the music scene, your enthusiasm, but you woulda made a fine poet, too! 😄
Love to Hate You.... Such and awesome jam!!! The lyrics!
Erasure was/is a big part of my life, too. One of the best ever concerts I've been to was their WILD! tour in 1990. We had 8th row seats. I remember going home and taking a pen and putting a tiny dot next to all 21 songs they sang that night on my cassette liners. Still have those and was just looking at Wonderland and Two Ring Circus yesterday!
I saw that tour too! So fun!!!
@@Galloway278 The costume and set changes!
Great tour. Went with my Mom and she loved it as much as I did.
Awesome interview. A very underrated band here and in many other places.
They are fantastic.
Gained even more love & respect for them for the simple fact of the mention of Slim Whitman! Great interview as always!
Chorus is one of my favorite songs from that era. And Chains of Love.
YEAH..!!! Your cover art has the imagery from “Chorus” my FAV album of theirs. I had their 1st single & album on vinyl right when it came out because - Vince. Awesome, & fantastic content yet again. 👏🙏
1980's new wave was great. The killing moon by echo and the bunnymen was great. Erasure was great. Pictures of you is my favorite cure song.
Amen!
Great Cure song. My favorite is "Catch".
I also love “Lips Like Sugar” also by Echo and the Bunnymen. So many great new wave hits from the 80s.
The Innocents was one of my very first favorite albums as a young 8 year old. I still love it so much.
Listening to you talk I remember what a loser I felt like as a “waver”. But I LOVED this music, these bands, the whole look. Still do. Today I have the confidence I wish I had then. I’ve seen Erasure twice, DM 3 times, Echo once, The Cure once (BUT I’ll see them in London this year)- I hate the Smiths 🤢
I had 5th row seats to see Erasure in January and it got cancelled. They are geniuses. Thanks for this post!!!
Man, you lived my life almost exactly. You're like my spirit doppelganger. Keep up the good fight!
was lucky enough to see their INNOCENTS world tour with only about 200 people in the crowd in a small club in Melbourne Australia 89...you would have LOVED being so close to the band bro...truly THE single greatest pop band of all time
never met anyone who doesn't like erasure. They are still my favourite band, the innocents is a wonderful album. legends, the pair of them.
Everything Vince Clarke touches is gold. He is why I became a musician. But I run the gamut from Genesis with Peter Gabriel to Echo and the Bunnymen to Erasure to the Eagles to Gary Numan (new and old), NIN, Yes, The Wild Swans, Van Halen, The Ocean Blue, Depeche Mode, The Innocence Mission, Metallica, Pink Floyd, The Smiths ... I could go on and on.... God bless you Adam and this amazing channel.
Awesome as always. I always learn so much from your videos.
Thank you, Adam!
I feel like we had mirror experiences with this band. There is something about Andy Bell and Vince Clarke that just pokes through reality
Poland Love Erasure ;-)
The Prof is at max passion when discussing his seminal influences in his favorite genre 🤘🏻
I tell kids that the wait for that new album to drop. Is like you standing line waiting for that hot 🔥 game for the PS5 or in my case Super Tecmo for my Super Nintendo! Hey ProRo 👋, is that dating myself? Great interview your sincerity seems real. And I commend you for that. Thanks once again for sharing your youth and memories with us again. I think that if you asked your dad he would have helped you make that video happen ! 🤔
Enjoy your stories. Had those moments, quests, discoveries... went the punk on ramp... but we overlap tremendously... my college and post college years...
I agree the orchestral versions on the two ring circus are FLAWLESS