From my perspective, the same happened to The Human League: when they both became successful mainstream pop numbers, they also became two completely different bands from the original ones, which doesn’t necessarily mean they were not good at crafting pop songs, but they definitely lacked the charm of their first more artistically and thought-provoking recordings.
@@zeitfieldunite4488 For some of us, thanks to Ultravox becoming a successful band, we could also delve into their first recordings and discover real gems such as this one.
Had ULTRAVOX at Bookie's Club 870, Detroit in February of 1979 after they lost their deal with Island. "SYSTEMS OF ROMANCE" had just been released. One of my proudest moments bringing great music to Detroit.
I also saw them at The Marquee on the back of Systems Of Romance. In London as a kid from Australia. Searching madly to find the best of Brit in a couple of weeks. Near everything was a disappointment but Ultravox was a complete life changer. Still remember it well. Lucky to have been there.
I was lucky to catch them live at Irving Plaza in New York City. Very inspired by them, went to Mannys and purchased an Arp Axxe synth. Caught Midge Ure front row center at Lincoln Center a few years later, great concert. Both are great, just different.
@@marcd2936 They were. These were old models and often older than the year these bands were using them. I worked at a local studio as 'school work release' in the early 80s and they had several, including an OSCar which see much of now. They would often go out of tune when heating u then cooling or when moved after tuning.
@@baronmeduse I heard the same from Depeche Mode, how they had to work on one song of 3'30 minutes for like a full hour or more, just rehearsing so forget about recordings _however, he said that indirectly it helped their creativity, because it gave them time to come up with other stuff for the same song or new ones, just delivering the whole product to proficiency fluid playing they will not have captured for their songs
My last assignment before I retired was actually in Hiroshima. I sat in the Garden of Remembrance and cried listening to this song. The Japanese people ( as throughout the stay) were the most gracious people you could ever wish to meet.
This song is amazing, one of the jewels of the John Foxx era. Remarkably there are three versions of the song. The original album version found on the second album Ha!Ha!Ha! was softer and mellower and dominated by a saxophone. In this version it is more bass laden with the bass guitar taking over large amounts of the saxophone parts. The third version is the earliest (demo) version that can be found on the b-side of ROckWrok. This version was more rockier and guitar orientated. In fact the demo version wouldn’t be seen out of place in the Ha!Ha!Ha! album had it been included in that album as the rest of the album was very punk orientated and I believe that this was probably the intention. The whole album was geared towards a punk direction which was popular at the time and it seems the band intended for Hiroshima Mon Amour to be just that until they softened it. I think they made the right decision as the song is better suited as a ballad type and it gives the listener a bit of break and time to relax since most of the rest of the album was almost punk rock and fast pace. I am a big fan of Ultravox - both the John Foxx and Midge Ure eras. Of course everyone identifies with Ure-era but Foxx era of the band had a charm and innocence of its own. While the Ure-lineup pushed the band into a more commercial route, the Foxx-lineup seem to play music for the love of music.
very well written + researched. i would hate to mar the words you wrote by going on. i agree with all said +only can give asides like the opinion based feelings i have. Foxx-UVox took the promise of Roxy Music circa 1975 + delivered. I also proffer that you can hear the sheer exuberance of the work here + through the diff versions of the song. This is live + alive music not cold and sterile as others perceive. Although I would never confuse this with the Allman Bros it has passion in it. Krautrock isnt for mass consumption but later Uvox and Conny Plank workes +delivered to the masses. Not sure how or why. I love both versions of the band. I know replacement of a lead person is a tough but it worked. one could only imagine if the ure/foxx could have been in the same group same time. ure is very good guitarist/ vocalist and well versed in many genres. foxx is the perfect foil to that.
There are really 4 versions because OMD basically copied it for Enola Gay. Don't get me wrong I love OMD but I didn't hear this till after Enola Gay charted and I was amazed how similar it was, even down the repeated synth line at the end.
I saw Ultravox at Eric's in Liverpool , didn't know who the singer was till he got a chorus of Slick! Slick! Slick! and then I new who he was ,it was Midge from the one time Bay city roller copy band from Scotland.After a few more shouts of John Fox! John fox ! John Fox! Midge started singing all the old tunes and sung them well ,he finished with great applause ,and then did an album and then lost all the Ultrafox fans,,,,,the Ultrafox albums are classics .
Yes, the recorded version has a saxophone. C.C., who was also the saxophonist of the equally great Gloria Mundi, played it. I never grow tired of this song... :)
Loved this song back in the day, and liked the band a lot for the brief time Foxx was with them. Even though he left (to make country music I believe) the remaining lineup made some great songs I liked and turned out to be very iconic of those times. I really liked the New Romantic movement, but perhaps that was because I was young and the musicians took themselves so seriously, were ever earnest and thoughtful about their music. Compare those time times and that music to the trailer trash music that comes out of America these days, what have we done???
I saw them three times in the incarnation, twice at the Marquee. What f****ng days eh!. JF still cuts it(John Fox and the Maths), excellent live show. I think he's touring now.
1977! 34 YEARS AGO! But it's more original and far fresher than anything from summer 2011! Is that Stevie Shears with the blond haircut at 2:26? Look at that and then cry at the beautiful lyrics. Thanks for sharing!
Yes indeed, it's John Foxx, and a splendid fellow he is too. I witnessed this line up gigging at "The Marquee" London circa 1978/79. John had a sharp taste in shirts then, and he has carried sartorial finesse throughout his career.
Lyrics ******* Somehow we drifted off too far Communicate like distant stars Splintered voices down the phone The sunlit dust, the smell of roses drifts, oh no Someone waits behind the door Hiroshima Mon Amour Riding inter-city trains Dressed in European gray Riding out to echo beach A million memories in the trees and sands, oh no How can I ever let them go? Hiroshima Mon Amour Meet beneath the autumn lake Where only echoes penetrate Walk through Polaroids of the past Future's fused like shattered glass, the sun's so low Turns our silhouettes to gold Hiroshima Mon Amour
I love the melody of this song. In my personal case, it activates chemicals in my nervous system producing an explosion of dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin... all at the same time... as in the case of the songs "Sinful Passion", "SOS d'un terrien en detresse", etc., etc. by Dimash Kudaibergen for example... I love songs that really stimulate MY brain, no matter the language...
The music was commercially viable. Plain and simple. No crime in that either as it seems in the eyes of some people (not referring to you but others) - they have to put food on the table.
These song is a milestone in electronic music history.
Thanks Ultravox.
I had the extreme pleasure of driving John around Boston in 1977 when Ultravox played there.
This is simply a track of pure beauty. It's been with me since '77. "How can I ever let it go"
🧡 Ultravox!
Me too. A fantastic track off a brilliant album. I still play it a lot.
@@hawkpaul8735I think that we're on the same page Paul. "Ultravox!" "Ha Ha Ha" and
"Systems of Romance" are never far away from my turntable 🧡
Bought this album 1978, sounds as good now as it did then, timeless. 49 year old going on 16 again....
This was the REAL Ultravox.
Midge Ure was not bad either. Who's side are you on ? Flying the anti Mig. Oh there was another singer
From my perspective, the same happened to The Human League: when they both became successful mainstream pop numbers, they also became two completely different bands from the original ones, which doesn’t necessarily mean they were not good at crafting pop songs, but they definitely lacked the charm of their first more artistically and thought-provoking recordings.
@@zeitfieldunite4488 For some of us, thanks to Ultravox becoming a successful band, we could also delve into their first recordings and discover real gems such as this one.
So very true mate.
Sorry, but the “real” Ultravox had Stevie Shears instead of Robin Simon
Way Way Way ahead of their time !
Brilliant band ! This IS the real ULTRAVOX!
This song is the absolute template for soooo much of what happened in the '80s. Truly visionary.
Had ULTRAVOX at Bookie's Club 870, Detroit in February of 1979 after they lost their deal with Island. "SYSTEMS OF ROMANCE" had just been released. One of my proudest moments bringing great music to Detroit.
I can remember recording this from ogwt, absolute class.
Pure beauty and poetry - truly one of the best songs ever written...and I only discovered it last week 😢😮
Never gets old, never gets boring.
R.I.P Chris😥
John Foxx at his best. Sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it.
I bet if John Foxx was 30-35 years younger, and released this song it would be a big hit in the modern day charts. Undiscovered and timeless!...
I also saw them at The Marquee on the back of Systems Of Romance. In London as a kid from Australia. Searching madly to find the best of Brit in a couple of weeks. Near everything was a disappointment but Ultravox was a complete life changer. Still remember it well. Lucky to have been there.
one of the greatest songs ever done
Beautiful! I could listen to John Foxx until the end of time & never get bored. . .
Memories of seeing them in a tiny club in Nottingham & they were simply awesome. Powerful, stylish & ice fucking cool ......then along came Ure
Il meglio degli ultravox 👏👏👏
This is a good song. John Foxx supporting OMD on the 2013 tour. Will see them on 1st May at Nottingham.
Changed my life ! Musical and social ! Allways thankful for that !
Changed my life, too!!! 💕
This is the best song ever.
One of my favorite songs.
One of my favourite song of Ultravox. Very good version.
one of the greatest tunes ever.
One of my all time favourite songs by my all time favourite band x
Esta canción es atemporal, estamos en el 2020 y sigue sonando bien, casi como el primer dia
Awesome version of the song, super!
stunning version!
I was lucky to catch them live at Irving Plaza in New York City. Very inspired by them, went to Mannys and purchased an Arp Axxe synth. Caught Midge Ure front row center at Lincoln Center a few years later, great concert. Both are great, just different.
i loved Ultravox with John Fox, say no more classic classic track love you for ever xxxx
I saw Ultravox about this time at the Marquee in London, they were unreal and awesome, like from somewhere else.
great song i havnt heard for ages ,thanks.
Yes, its the uncommercial Ultravox.
Sooo much better than the commercial Ultravox, no exclamation mark
This song was a forerunner (template even) to the sound about to explode upon the mainstream scene.
I saw them at the Marquee in London summer 1978 just before System Of Romance they blew my mind... glorious times
I saw them then too. Amazing live band
This is an awesome version of a great song.
These are early synths and they were very difficult to control live. Awesome band
Look up Blancmange Blind Vision Live.
Analog synths aren't that hard to control live. Blancmange, Gary Numan, OMD, Depeche Mode, Human League all started out with analog synths.
@@marcd2936 They were. These were old models and often older than the year these bands were using them. I worked at a local studio as 'school work release' in the early 80s and they had several, including an OSCar which see much of now. They would often go out of tune when heating u then cooling or when moved after tuning.
@@baronmeduse I heard the same from Depeche Mode, how they had to work on one song of 3'30 minutes for like a full hour or more, just rehearsing so forget about recordings _however, he said that indirectly it helped their creativity, because it gave them time to come up with other stuff for the same song or new ones, just delivering the whole product to proficiency fluid playing they will not have captured for their songs
Pioneers, ground breakers, never hear anything like this again
Kraftwerk, Ultravox, gary Numan, OMD, Joy Division... OMFG!!!! Love them.
Love them all, most especially OMFG, great band that.
Sarcasm after 10 years. Took a while mate but you got there in the end.
@@wmorris189 Sarcasm after 10 years. Took a while mate but you got there in the end.
El sintetizador se me clava en la mente, que pedazo de solo!!!!!!!
My last assignment before I retired was actually in Hiroshima. I sat in the Garden of Remembrance and cried listening to this song. The Japanese people ( as throughout the stay) were the most gracious people you could ever wish to meet.
Good live version of this, my favorite Ultravox song.
that sound life with no compression from the recording must have been massive, wow!
Absolutely love it when the bass kicks in - fantastic...
Top class Professional Music!
saw them at the Lyceum during the Systems of Romance tour.... phenomenal live band
Awesome!!
This is so much better than studio version
Magnificent. Groundbreaking.
This song is amazing, one of the jewels of the John Foxx era. Remarkably there are three versions of the song. The original album version found on the second album Ha!Ha!Ha! was softer and mellower and dominated by a saxophone. In this version it is more bass laden with the bass guitar taking over large amounts of the saxophone parts. The third version is the earliest (demo) version that can be found on the b-side of ROckWrok. This version was more rockier and guitar orientated. In fact the demo version wouldn’t be seen out of place in the Ha!Ha!Ha! album had it been included in that album as the rest of the album was very punk orientated and I believe that this was probably the intention. The whole album was geared towards a punk direction which was popular at the time and it seems the band intended for Hiroshima Mon Amour to be just that until they softened it. I think they made the right decision as the song is better suited as a ballad type and it gives the listener a bit of break and time to relax since most of the rest of the album was almost punk rock and fast pace.
I am a big fan of Ultravox - both the John Foxx and Midge Ure eras. Of course everyone identifies with Ure-era but Foxx era of the band had a charm and innocence of its own. While the Ure-lineup pushed the band into a more commercial route, the Foxx-lineup seem to play music for the love of music.
very well written + researched. i would hate to mar the words you wrote by going on. i agree with all said +only can give asides like the opinion based feelings i have. Foxx-UVox took the promise of Roxy Music circa 1975 + delivered. I also proffer that you can hear the sheer exuberance of the work here + through the diff versions of the song. This is live + alive music not cold and sterile as others perceive. Although I would never confuse this with the Allman Bros it has passion in it. Krautrock isnt for mass consumption but later Uvox and Conny Plank workes +delivered to the masses. Not sure how or why. I love both versions of the band. I know replacement of a lead person is a tough but it worked. one could only imagine if the ure/foxx could have been in the same group same time. ure is very good guitarist/ vocalist and well versed in many genres. foxx is the perfect foil to that.
There are really 4 versions because OMD basically copied it for Enola Gay. Don't get me wrong I love OMD but I didn't hear this till after Enola Gay charted and I was amazed how similar it was, even down the repeated synth line at the end.
Great summary, the only thing you’ve missed about this version is the sensational drumming, it creates such a brilliant staccato rhythm!
Two different and great bands to me. This is amazing.
I saw Ultravox at Eric's in Liverpool , didn't know who the singer was till he got a chorus of Slick! Slick! Slick! and then I new who he was ,it was Midge from the one time Bay city roller copy band from Scotland.After a few more shouts of John Fox! John fox ! John Fox! Midge started singing all the old tunes and sung them well ,he finished with great applause ,and then did an album and then lost all the Ultrafox fans,,,,,the Ultrafox albums are classics .
Schönes Lied!! Vielen Dank!
Timeless and epic. This record stands alone. 🏔
LOVE THE SONG!!!!!
Awesome !
Yes, the recorded version has a saxophone. C.C., who was also the saxophonist of the equally great Gloria Mundi, played it. I never grow tired of this song... :)
Hiroshima Mon Amour is the work of John of 70s of Ultravox.
Ultravox best John era.
Vintage Ultravox!
Billy Currie is a hell of a Keyboard and Violin Player. Who said no one can make "Rock & Roll " with a synthesizer?
I really appreciate Foxx's lyric writing. He had an interesting voice as well. Really liked Robin Simon's guitar work, too (and his hair!) :D
His vocal quality reminds me of Peter Murphy.
I thought he was a brilliant solo performer.
Love this version
A classic Ultravox performance with John Foxx singing Hiroshima mon amour. A classic Old Grey whistle test!
Def the best version.oooohhh and that arp odyssey.oooohhhh.
immense version
Pure Class.
Interesting piece of music, and am going to have find out more about these guys.
An absolutely amazing track, strange and haunting.
Great video and song....shared to the 'GLAM on Media Factory Show TV' Community on Google+
que genio !!!
Loved this song back in the day, and liked the band a lot for the brief time Foxx was with them. Even though he left (to make country music I believe) the remaining lineup made some great songs I liked and turned out to be very iconic of those times. I really liked the New Romantic movement, but perhaps that was because I was young and the musicians took themselves so seriously, were ever earnest and thoughtful about their music. Compare those time times and that music to the trailer trash music that comes out of America these days, what have we done???
I was there.......John Foxx and the maths were brilliant! Hope he tours himself soon....
I saw them three times in the incarnation, twice at the Marquee. What f****ng days eh!. JF still cuts it(John Fox and the Maths), excellent live show. I think he's touring now.
I love this version. Slower, less edgy than the original yet, unwittingly, it seemed to set the template for sooo much of the '80s music.
CTID
Ultravox are always great, with Foxx or Ure.
well said thank you.....
and dont forget Tony Fenelle. Awsome live and in my opinion Revelation was a great album
better than released version the intro is awesome Synth and drums ,really great version ;)
Amen, brother.
Bellissima . Non serve dire altro ......
1977! 34 YEARS AGO! But it's more original and far fresher than anything from summer 2011! Is that Stevie Shears with the blond haircut at 2:26? Look at that and then cry at the beautiful lyrics.
Thanks for sharing!
Classic !
WoW !!
Foxx+++ He is still gigging, albeit rarely. I caught him supporting Numan. If you ever get the chance, go see. Foxx still has it, in spades ...
Will always love Ultravox.
Bravo sir/madam!
I can also wholeheartedly recommend Soundcloud, it's been my radio for about a year and a half now. I wish I had it when I was a kid.
luv this song! like a supa roxy music! happy bday w.cann. also nice TR-77 drumbox. live drums and bass wow!
Best version
Fantastic song, also the cover by The Church is quite amazing.
heard the Jan Linton version? Kind of a mix between the slow and fast version, with a guitar replacing the sax
Yes indeed, it's John Foxx, and a splendid fellow he is too. I witnessed this line up gigging at "The Marquee" London circa 1978/79. John had a sharp taste in shirts then, and he has carried sartorial finesse throughout his career.
Shite
a sound that would carry on into the next decade by those influenced.
Phenomenal
Lyrics
*******
Somehow we drifted off too far
Communicate like distant stars
Splintered voices down the phone
The sunlit dust, the smell of roses drifts, oh no
Someone waits behind the door
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Riding inter-city trains
Dressed in European gray
Riding out to echo beach
A million memories in the trees and sands, oh no
How can I ever let them go?
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Meet beneath the autumn lake
Where only echoes penetrate
Walk through Polaroids of the past
Future's fused like shattered glass, the sun's so low
Turns our silhouettes to gold
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Thanks
Just what's needed
❤
Thanks for the lyrics mate
Masterpiece
Totally agree. Heavy bass gives it a better feel. Foxx was really good, just Bowie-ish enough. Awesome song.
INCREDIBLE performance of one of the few greatest songs of the 20th century. 🌹
WELL put and VERY true!!!!
Supreme Classic!
I love the melody of this song. In my personal case, it activates chemicals in my nervous system producing an explosion of dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin... all at the same time... as in the case of the songs "Sinful Passion", "SOS d'un terrien en detresse", etc., etc. by Dimash Kudaibergen for example... I love songs that really stimulate MY brain, no matter the language...
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great song and version,ultravox live
1977 this could be 2077 one of my best songs .
I like this! But when I was 16 it was easy to hate Midge Ure for achieiving the success that the Foxx era Ultravox deserved!
The music was commercially viable. Plain and simple. No crime in that either as it seems in the eyes of some people (not referring to you but others) - they have to put food on the table.
If I won the lottery I would pay £1million to put this band back together for one gig