@@SimSim-zf9if Reid said is was "overtly homosexual" and refused to play it on his (breakfast?) show, and then the BBC agreed and followed suit by refusing to play it. The rest is history :)
@@AdieAdie17 If I remember it had already charted, and then Mike Reid announced on his breakfast show he was not going to play it. I was getting dressed for school at the time when I heard it!
As a young teen in the 80's, this song blew all of our minds. We just kinda pretended we didn't know what he was talking about. Luckily, our parents never caught on, or there would have been some kind of outrage. Straight under the radar, that was the 80's! lol. In Australia at least.
This is easily among the top 10 dance songs ever. And yes, the lyrics are extremely explicit and they caused a huge controversy when the song was initially released in 1984. The band tried to say the lyrics were not sexual and the song was actually about motivation. That did not work. No one believed them and after a time they finally admitted the lyrics were exactly about what they appeared to be. Nearly 40 years later this song is STILL fun to dance to!
Being a teen in the mid 80's was epic with the beginning of MTV when was actually music tv, we were obsessed. Our young minds were so wonderfully warped by so many great songs like this. Yes, everyone mindlessly sang along a hundred times a day either on radio, tv or just in our own heads, but did "get" the strong innuendo implied, but it was another of our anthems. When I hear this one again, it takes me right back to a great time in my life. Love your reactions. Speaking of Godley and Creme, you must see their video for their song "Cry"!!!
I have all of 10ccs albums. The video for "Cry" is great ..but have you ever heard and seen their live version of "Feel the Benefit ---"? 2 great solos at the end.ruclips.net/video/x95-bMwhX_8/видео.html
You have to admit, what is there not to blush about!? Absolutely 80's, absolutely wild! (I am glad he did this reaction video, it is "Not Available" where I am LOL)
Dereck, the evil genius behind those sounds: producer Trevor Horn. You may need to look into his 80s portfolio. Maybe start with Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones.
My dad was homophobic as hell in the early eighties - but 'Welcome to the pleasuredome ' was his fave album as I was growing up. Holly Johnson has a lot to answer for.
I am French and a teenager at this time. I loved this song but I didn't understand the lyrics. I was quite surprised when I undestood. I still love this song and its music. And yes, the power of love is one of my favorite songs too
As a 17 yr old girl going to gay pubs and clubs I can remember being in the ‘ladies’ at Bolts and we heard those first beats and the doors of the cubicles all flew open as everyone charged down the stairs to the postage stamp sized dance floor. The whole place just shook with stampeding DMs! Oh Happy Days!
My 24 year old son is gay. I'm so glad my bestie was a gay man I lovingly called Timmy Fluffypants. I'm also grateful he took me to the 1 gay bar in our town during the 90s and I'm now able to teach my son how to dance so all the boys will love him...lol.
I saw them in Chicago when they had to come back after their first concert at the Bismark hotel floor collapsed during the concert. This made news around the world with the headline "Frankie sinks the Bismark".
Wasn’t it Holly Johnson who said something like “I think we sank the Bismarck!” One of my great regrets is that I missed that show. Then of course when I saw the reviews the next day ...
The first time I went to Hollywood when I was stationed at Norton AFB (now closed), my friends made sure this song was playing loudly from the cassette player as we drove down Santa Monica Blvd. Great memories!! BTW, my name is Frank(ie)! ❤️😃👍🏻
This was banned on Radio 1 in Britain (biggest radio station) which made it’s sales go though the roof. It still remains one of the top 5 best selling songs of all time there. Over 2,000,0000 sales. Two tribes is mega too.
" Relax " was heavily featured in Brian De Palma's Hitchcockian style film " Body Double " (1984) It was a very controversial song and music video in it's day. There were several edits of the video, which all seem to have been censored in one form or another. The " Laser beams " edit was the only video version that ever got any airplay here in the United States. Video controversy aside, the song itself is such a solid track. Even 30+ years later, it still sounds fresh today. You should also listen to their song " Two Tribes ", it's very different, and very, very GOOD.
In Body Double, it was all about the Norma Desmond coming down the stairs while Holly was leading Craig Wesson down the stairs. Poor Deborah Shelton though at the end.
Your so adorable you blushed... This is a amazing club song if you don't get up to dance to this your no fun....🤣 You enjoyed it you were bopping away with a beautiful smile 😍 Looking forward to your next review
The original version was quite rough, but genius producer Trevor Horn turned this into the masterpiece it is (as well as the remixes, other singles, and album). He's responsible for the instrumentation, synths, handclaps etc
Sold 2.1 million in the UK, remember these were the days when you had to go to a shop and a buy a vinyl record. Their first three singles went to no 1.The content of the video is so gay and considering when this was its amazing it was such a big hit. Great reaction.
A true classic. And that bass... They still play it on the radio today. Around Christmas time you should react to "The Power of Love". Vastly different from this one. A beautiful big epic ballad. And to this day one of the most played modern songs at Christmas time over here in Europe.
I was in the 5th grade (11-12 years old) when this song was on the radio in Alaska of all places. I loved it, I had no idea what it was about. I remember telling my mother I loved this song when it was on the radio and my mother looked at me strangely. Which made me like the song more. It was like 20 years later I had any idea what the song was about. My mother was not surprised when I came out.
Some of us were in a car in 1985 frying on MDA when we heard this on the killer car music system. It sounded so big and incredible. Like a magic experience.
For men, "If I like this I must be gay" - in 1984. Which is incredibly punk, actually, and that's where Frankie started, and the whole tribal dancing thing was where they brilliantly ended up - as I said, Trevor Horn is just unbelievable...
What a great choice! It came out as I was discovering in college that my childhood guy friends were gay, and we all dived into this new gay bar in town. Best times to reminisce about! It was all pretty removed from my upbringing, but they were my family, good Southern gentlemen, always looking out for me. This song represents so much of what I found fascinating as a basically nerdy but curious straight girl. Thank you for reacting to this--excellent commentary!
Paul Morley used to live round the corner from me and wrote and produced a music magazine with my brother. Went on to big things in the music world and media. Godley and Creme were part of 10 cc who started strawberry studios recording studio near to where I live.
This track was VERY popular with straight people too (it was IMMENSE) despite or because of its lyrics or because of it being banned. People don’t like to be told what to think. Believe what they say about the Power of Love too. It’s beautiful.
The legendary Trevor Horn produced this track - he’s the one who created all those amazing layers to this banger, which was absolutely groundbreaking because the computer technology used was brand new to the industry. In a most excellent BBC documentary about 80’s music (check it out, you won’t be disappointed), he stated that he considered this the greatest/favourite song that he produced.
My number one tune from the 80s and one of the best selling tracks. They knew exactly what they were doing and giving a massive middle finger to the conservatives in a time when gay rights were being actively suppressed by Margaret Thatcher and her government. It also helped that it was banned by radio one on its second release and sold millions! It became almost like a rallying cry to a whole generation. TUNE!!!!
Franky man! Only other group to have 3 songs in the top 3 in the charts since the Beatles and they were from the same town as the Beatles too!strange but true!😎
I was 10 years old in 1983. I was too young to pick up on this. I don't even think I thought about what it really meant until the 90's. We used to sing this song and we didn't know what we were singing lol. I'm not sure cum was even in my vocabulary as a teen.
Interesting fact, the band was signed to ZTT Records on reputation and when they got them into a recording studio they discovered that they couldn’t play their instruments, to a satisfactory standard. Fortunately they had, the legendary, Ian Dury on their books, so they used The Blockheads, Ian’s band to record the instrumental.
This was an ENORMOUS number 1 hit in the UK and was soon having similar success all over Europe and later, the World. It was huge in the clubs too. Their first 3 singles all went to number 1 in the UK and stayed at the top of the charts for weeks. They were the first openly gay group to top the charts. Bowie and Elton John had come out as bisexual in the 70s but Elton was back in the closet by this time and it would be quite some time before he came out as gay. This was the era of Thatcher and Reagan. A very conservative era. For a band to be not just openly gay but explicitly, in your face, gay and still have huge success was unheard of and was something of a breakthrough moment. Another openly gay British band, 'Bronski Beat' were also having enormous success, at around the same time and Culture Club, fronted by Boy George were set for international megastardom. The times they were a changin'. In the UK at least... :)
The video is Tom of Finland meets Studio 54. Amazing 80 synths music and a reflection of the hypocrisy of the times. Remember the "Frankie Says..." t-shirts. Good for Frankie! It's still here in 2024.
This is one of my favorite songs of all times. Couldn`t care any less about the lyrics, just like The power of love, but love the sound, the melody, the beat. Fantastic song.
Produced by Trevor Horn who originally started producing after Thereza Bazar from Dollar asked him to do some songs with them, he did Mirror Mirror, Hand Held In Black and White, Give Me Back My Heart, and Videoteque, and then he went on to ABC and Frankie
It came out in October 1983, just a little seductive don't you think?? When I first heard the song I really enjoyed the music, then when I actually heard the lyrics - BOOM!! A real shocker!!
THIS SONG IS THE 80`s aarrgg loved it back then ( mind you was only about 10 lmao ) love it now... superb reaction video glad you loved it too. Saw Holly live and oooft he still got it :0)/ much love and respect from Scotland xoxox subbed
You're totally right about the lyrics not registering. This came out when I was 11, and at school all the lads were Frankie fans and you were considered 'gay' if you liked what the girls liked - Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet! Going to see Frankie was the first gig me and my best mate (still, we were in a band together for 8 years and I was best man at his wedding) went to - in Sheffield, 30 miles away, when we were still 12. Can't believe our mums let us go at that age. Great first gig though!
Frankie Goes To Hollywood were only the second group to have their first three singles go to number 1 in the UK. The first - Gerry and the Pacemakers (RIP Gerry Marsden).
It was a VERY explicit video when this song came out. I think it was the reason why only the UK got this video version. And we(USA) only got the concert type video.
I do find it gratifying to watch things I lived through being found interesting to much younger folks. I learn all over again through a different lens. And I am encouraged that younger people seem to be open to music of all decades, something I wasn't so much.
This song had peaked at No. 2 in the U.K and had escaped the censor to get mainstream airplay , but when a BBC radio 1 Dj called Mike Read eventually realised what the song was about he immediately banned it. This lead to the public suddenly wanting to hear the track it then zoomed back up the charts and was No. 1 for several weeks. The song benefited also from several remixes which helped its sales. Trever Horn then went on to produce a whole host of acts, like Yes, Grace Jones.. He became the world's hottest producer at the time off the back of this track.
There is a more funk version of this one. It's the original original before what's his name, Trevor Horn got ahold of this and produced n changed it!!?? Help! My friend says it was a Frankie EP. Somebody knows... 😁💯
Trevor Horn was behind this. Super producer: ABC, Seal, Propaganda, Malcolm McLaren, Yes, ART OF NOISE, JeffBeck. He's THE MAN. Relax was such a wonderful song, I have the 12" original pressing. Great stuff!
The story of its creation is hilarious. The band played it Trevor Horn scrapped it all except the vocal, brought in the Blockheads to record it. Kept some of that, brought a set of session players, kept some of that. So the song is a mixture of various musicians, except the actual band. Apparently the only noise of the entire band on the record is them jumping into the swimming pool at the end.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
this was banned on UK Radio when it came out so, naturally, it went straight to number one on the charts!!
@@SimSim-zf9if Reid said is was "overtly homosexual" and refused to play it on his (breakfast?) show, and then the BBC agreed and followed suit by refusing to play it. The rest is history :)
@@AdieAdie17 If I remember it had already charted, and then Mike Reid announced on his breakfast show he was not going to play it. I was getting dressed for school at the time when I heard it!
@@jon-paulfilkins7820 Me too!
@@AdieAdie17 And now they are all over the alphabets.
Of course it's a killer song. Being banned just made it more popular. It's a great ride.✌✌🌻🌻
As a straight man I think the gay scene brought us some of the best songs ever I love them brilliant
Yes!!!. ❤️
Words cannot describe the impact of this song. It was the biggest selling sing worldwide in the year it was released. Iconic springs to mind.
As a young teen in the 80's, this song blew all of our minds. We just kinda pretended we didn't know what he was talking about. Luckily, our parents never caught on, or there would have been some kind of outrage. Straight under the radar, that was the 80's! lol. In Australia at least.
❤️
The Power of love is a totally different song from them,just beautiful
🎶💗🎶
Best FGTH Song
Oh yes!! ‘The Power of Love’ my fav song by FGTH. Such a haunting ballad but like you said, it’s beautiful. Just love it!😍
I think The Power of Love is a beautiful song too. Its often played at Christmas but I don't see it as Christmas song at all.
@@ladykaycey Agree the only christmas reference is the nativity play in the vid, and time of year it was released 19 November 1984 &
December 1993 💗
This is easily among the top 10 dance songs ever. And yes, the lyrics are extremely explicit and they caused a huge controversy when the song was initially released in 1984. The band tried to say the lyrics were not sexual and the song was actually about motivation. That did not work. No one believed them and after a time they finally admitted the lyrics were exactly about what they appeared to be. Nearly 40 years later this song is STILL fun to dance to!
This song is the BOMB in a club / disco. Everyone just storms the dancefloor
The whole LP "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" is fantastic.
In 🇬🇧 we use to have t-shirts saying Frankie says relax 😀
Being a teen in the mid 80's was epic with the beginning of MTV when was actually music tv, we were obsessed. Our young minds were so wonderfully warped by so many great songs like this. Yes, everyone mindlessly sang along a hundred times a day either on radio, tv or just in our own heads, but did "get" the strong innuendo implied, but it was another of our anthems. When I hear this one again, it takes me right back to a great time in my life. Love your reactions. Speaking of Godley and Creme, you must see their video for their song "Cry"!!!
I have all of 10ccs albums. The video for "Cry" is great ..but have you ever heard and seen their live version of "Feel the Benefit ---"? 2 great solos at the end.ruclips.net/video/x95-bMwhX_8/видео.html
Yes and 10cc in general.
Aawww you blushed talking about the lyrics 😊
I know! That was very cute, wasn’t it?
You have to admit, what is there not to blush about!? Absolutely 80's, absolutely wild! (I am glad he did this reaction video, it is "Not Available" where I am LOL)
Dereck, the evil genius behind those sounds: producer Trevor Horn. You may need to look into his 80s portfolio.
Maybe start with Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones.
or even some of the Grace Jones portfolio.
@@marvelboy74 Yes!
The Buggles, ABC...
@@Leftatalbuquerque Trevor Horn.
@@N-Bahner Yes, I know - I was there.
My dad was homophobic as hell in the early eighties - but 'Welcome to the pleasuredome ' was his fave album as I was growing up. Holly Johnson has a lot to answer for.
I am French and a teenager at this time. I loved this song but I didn't understand the lyrics. I was quite surprised when I undestood. I still love this song and its music.
And yes, the power of love is one of my favorite songs too
"....A leash around the other guys neck and riding him...riding him like a bull, riding him like a horse..." Lol. Yes and plugging him in the rear :-D
fantastic reaction and analysis! Thanks for reacting to it and sharing.
lemme tell y'all. dancing in a gay club with gay men and their shirts off..... when I say OH. MY. GAWD. damn I'm so happy to be a part of the 80s era.
Al Pacino was missing...and I can't find the single from Willy de Ville "The Heat of the Moment".
As a 17 yr old girl going to gay pubs and clubs I can remember being in the ‘ladies’ at Bolts and we heard those first beats and the doors of the cubicles all flew open as everyone charged down the stairs to the postage stamp sized dance floor. The whole place just shook with stampeding DMs! Oh Happy Days!
My 24 year old son is gay. I'm so glad my bestie was a gay man I lovingly called Timmy Fluffypants.
I'm also grateful he took me to the 1 gay bar in our town during the 90s and I'm now able to teach my son how to dance so all the boys will love him...lol.
The sound is thanks to Trevor Horn of Buggles fame. Also worth listening to "Two Tribes", "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" and "The Power of Love".
Some Yes members plays as studio members here.
I saw them in Chicago when they had to come back after their first concert at the Bismark hotel floor collapsed during the concert.
This made news around the world with the headline "Frankie sinks the Bismark".
Wasn’t it Holly Johnson who said something like “I think we sank the Bismarck!”
One of my great regrets is that I missed that show. Then of course when I saw the reviews the next day ...
Hay dude!!.. great song!! Pure eighties!!
The power of freedom to create a music video back in the eighties!! Well done Frankie goes to Hollywood!!
You should react to "The Power Of Love". Another great song by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
You should react to Visage - Fade to grey
YES!!
Night Train, Damned don't cry! Steve Strange (RIP) and Midge Ure were great!
Mind of a Toy Damned Don't Cry Night Train The Anvil and Look What They've Done.
The first time I went to Hollywood when I was stationed at Norton AFB (now closed), my friends made sure this song was playing loudly from the cassette player as we drove down Santa Monica Blvd. Great memories!! BTW, my name is Frank(ie)! ❤️😃👍🏻
This was banned on Radio 1 in Britain (biggest radio station) which made it’s sales go though the roof. It still remains one of the top 5 best selling songs of all time there. Over 2,000,0000 sales. Two tribes is mega too.
This song just shouts 'pride!'.
Love it to bits.
Do What Thou Wilt... So Mete it Be! (~ Soror Babalon~) 🤗😏😄
Haha,the BBC banned video Lol
Not just the video the whole song. They didn’t even play it on the chart show when it got to number one!!!!
The BBC bans it and made it more popular.
Don’t know why tho
I'm so happy Canada never banned this song back in the day.
Aaaahhh! I love this song and FGTH and Holly Johnson ❤❤❤❤
This was a very big hit in the US
Greatest 80s hymn with "Sweet dreams (are made of this)" from Eurythmics !
80's Music is the best!
"The Power of Love (Extended Version)" from Frankie Goes To Hollywood is a high recommendation!
" Relax " was heavily featured in Brian De Palma's Hitchcockian style film " Body Double " (1984)
It was a very controversial song and music video in it's day. There were several edits of the video, which all seem to have been censored in one form or another.
The " Laser beams " edit was the only video version that ever got any airplay here in the United States.
Video controversy aside, the song itself
is such a solid track. Even 30+ years later,
it still sounds fresh today.
You should also listen to their song
" Two Tribes ", it's very different, and very,
very GOOD.
In Body Double, it was all about the Norma Desmond coming down the stairs while Holly was leading Craig Wesson down the stairs. Poor Deborah Shelton though at the end.
Great movie! 👍🏾
Gigantic in the clubs. With this video being banned, they did make a second video which is more the band performing on stage.
Your so adorable you blushed... This is a amazing club song if you don't get up to dance to this your no fun....🤣
You enjoyed it you were bopping away with a beautiful smile 😍
Looking forward to your next review
Such an Iconic 80's Classic that never gets old!! One of those songs that if it ever comes up, you listen to it! Thanks Dereck!
I highly recommend Sex Dwarf by Soft Cell - the uncensored version.
Imagine someone like Sam Smith doing that now! There'd be a national meltdown! Haha!
I would add Berlin's - I'm a.... (song)
Anything by Lords of Acid!
Chauffeur by Duran Duran
I would love a reaction to sex dwarf best soft cell song on NSEC
The original version was quite rough, but genius producer Trevor Horn turned this into the masterpiece it is (as well as the remixes, other singles, and album). He's responsible for the instrumentation, synths, handclaps etc
Greatest 'single' in the history of the world. I'm 64 and will be having this played at my funeral! Always been a huge favourite of mine.
Sold 2.1 million in the UK, remember these were the days when you had to go to a shop and a buy a vinyl record. Their first three singles went to no 1.The content of the video is so gay and considering when this was its amazing it was such a big hit. Great reaction.
Ur the only 'reactor' so far that knew eggsactly what type o bar it was, cheers!🤘😎
A true classic. And that bass...
They still play it on the radio today.
Around Christmas time you should react to "The Power of Love". Vastly different from this one.
A beautiful big epic ballad. And to this day one of the most played modern songs at Christmas time over here in Europe.
It's an absolutely beautiful track
At the time, it was mind blowing. Too catchy to deny. So people ignored the lyrics. 😂
Put this on in any dance party and I guarantee a full dance floor!
I remember when it first come out in the UK ....hell on and banned from everywhere ...us kids loved it
It was played in a movie in the 80's called BODY DOUBLE starring I beleive Melanie Griffith .
Brian DePalma's classic with Craig Wesson, Melanie Griffith, and Deborah Shelton (of Dallas)
I was in the 5th grade (11-12 years old) when this song was on the radio in Alaska of all places. I loved it, I had no idea what it was about. I remember telling my mother I loved this song when it was on the radio and my mother looked at me strangely. Which made me like the song more. It was like 20 years later I had any idea what the song was about. My mother was not surprised when I came out.
Some of us were in a car in 1985 frying on MDA when we heard this on the killer car music system. It sounded so big and incredible. Like a magic experience.
For men, "If I like this I must be gay" - in 1984. Which is incredibly punk, actually, and that's where Frankie started, and the whole tribal dancing thing was where they brilliantly ended up - as I said, Trevor Horn is just unbelievable...
New Order "Blue Monday" 💕
To continue : Cargo by Axel Bauer ? One night in Bangkok by Murray Head ? The Riddle by Nik Kershaw ?
What a great choice! It came out as I was discovering in college that my childhood guy friends were gay, and we all dived into this new gay bar in town. Best times to reminisce about! It was all pretty removed from my upbringing, but they were my family, good Southern gentlemen, always looking out for me. This song represents so much of what I found fascinating as a basically nerdy but curious straight girl. Thank you for reacting to this--excellent commentary!
Paul Morley used to live round the corner from me and wrote and produced a music magazine with my brother. Went on to big things in the music world and media. Godley and Creme were part of 10 cc who started strawberry studios recording studio near to where I live.
This was one of the best club songs back in "my day", lol. You danced so very hard when this came up.
This track was VERY popular with straight people too (it was IMMENSE) despite or because of its lyrics or because of it being banned. People don’t like to be told what to think.
Believe what they say about the Power of Love too. It’s beautiful.
Welcome to the pleasure dome , relax,two tribes , the power of love, born to run etc etc
'Two Tribes' has to be next. I think it's even better than 'Relax'. Absolutely HUGE sounding.
The legendary Trevor Horn produced this track - he’s the one who created all those amazing layers to this banger, which was absolutely groundbreaking because the computer technology used was brand new to the industry. In a most excellent BBC documentary about 80’s music (check it out, you won’t be disappointed), he stated that he considered this the greatest/favourite song that he produced.
My number one tune from the 80s and one of the best selling tracks. They knew exactly what they were doing and giving a massive middle finger to the conservatives in a time when gay rights were being actively suppressed by Margaret Thatcher and her government. It also helped that it was banned by radio one on its second release and sold millions! It became almost like a rallying cry to a whole generation. TUNE!!!!
I grew up when this was huge and NEVER saw this version of the video until THIS YEAR!
I suspect this video made with the intention that it would be banned, because the song being banned from radio had actually helped their sales.
frankie goes to hollywood had the rare achievement of occupying the No.1 AND No.2 spot in the charts with two singles, relax and two tribes!
Try Welcome to the Pleasure Dome too it's a terrific song and a great clip as are Two Tribes and Power of Love.
I loved Frankie. This song still sounds really fresh. 😊
Franky man! Only other group to have 3 songs in the top 3 in the charts since the Beatles and they were from the same town as the Beatles too!strange but true!😎
I was 10 years old in 1983. I was too young to pick up on this. I don't even think I thought about what it really meant until the 90's. We used to sing this song and we didn't know what we were singing lol. I'm not sure cum was even in my vocabulary as a teen.
Interesting fact, the band was signed to ZTT Records on reputation and when they got them into a recording studio they discovered that they couldn’t play their instruments, to a satisfactory standard. Fortunately they had, the legendary, Ian Dury on their books, so they used The Blockheads, Ian’s band to record the instrumental.
In the 80's everything was explicit, no correction, and believe me, only a few feeled offended.
React to Bronski Beat please especially “why”
Yes!! 💗 & Disenchanted!!
🎶💗🎶
@@debler That's by The Communards.
@@sexysadie2901 Woops!! 😋 Thanks!! 😉👍
For a Friend and So Cold The Night by the Communards also, Jimmy Somerville’s voice just blows me away🙏🏻👌🏻
This is still one of my fav songs. Been jamming to it since ‘84!!! ❤❤
"Two tribes" is pretty full on to.
"Smalltown Boy" is about suffering, "Relax" is about enjoying. That's it guv'nor :)
This was an ENORMOUS number 1 hit in the UK and was soon having similar success all over Europe and later, the World. It was huge in the clubs too. Their first 3 singles all went to number 1 in the UK and stayed at the top of the charts for weeks. They were the first openly gay group to top the charts. Bowie and Elton John had come out as bisexual in the 70s but Elton was back in the closet by this time and it would be quite some time before he came out as gay. This was the era of Thatcher and Reagan. A very conservative era. For a band to be not just openly gay but explicitly, in your face, gay and still have huge success was unheard of and was something of a breakthrough moment. Another openly gay British band, 'Bronski Beat' were also having enormous success, at around the same time and Culture Club, fronted by Boy George were set for international megastardom. The times they were a changin'. In the UK at least... :)
The video is Tom of Finland meets Studio 54. Amazing 80 synths music and a reflection of the hypocrisy of the times. Remember the "Frankie Says..." t-shirts. Good for Frankie! It's still here in 2024.
This is one of my favorite songs of all times. Couldn`t care any less about the lyrics, just like The power of love, but love the sound, the melody, the beat. Fantastic song.
It was banned on the BBC music show, which of course guaranteed No.1 in the charts for weeks. Now i'm older i can see & hear how awesome it is.♥️
This was produced by the brilliant Trevor Horn. ❤
I love Holly Johnson’s voice x
I can’t believe that this song is nearly 40 years old. 😊
Love your reactions Dereck. You put more into these than most - thoughful.
Soft Cell "Tainted love" "Sex dwarf" 💕
Produced by Trevor Horn who originally started producing after Thereza Bazar from Dollar asked him to do some songs with them, he did Mirror Mirror, Hand Held In Black and White, Give Me Back My Heart, and Videoteque, and then he went on to ABC and Frankie
me encanta, hacía siglos que no veía este video clip, ¡¡Has estado sembrao Dereck!!, no sé como se traduciría esto.
En fin, relax. Felicidades y besos
It came out in October 1983, just a little seductive don't you think?? When I first heard the song I really enjoyed the music, then when I actually heard the lyrics - BOOM!! A real shocker!!
Synths, welcome to the 80s baby !
THIS SONG IS THE 80`s aarrgg loved it back then ( mind you was only about 10 lmao ) love it now... superb reaction video glad you loved it too. Saw Holly live and oooft he still got it :0)/ much love and respect from Scotland xoxox subbed
Play it in a club today - watch EVERYONE dance.
Lol I was 12 years old when this went to Number 1. I can't believe my parents let me listen to it.... how naive they were lol
You're totally right about the lyrics not registering. This came out when I was 11, and at school all the lads were Frankie fans and you were considered 'gay' if you liked what the girls liked - Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet!
Going to see Frankie was the first gig me and my best mate (still, we were in a band together for 8 years and I was best man at his wedding) went to - in Sheffield, 30 miles away, when we were still 12. Can't believe our mums let us go at that age. Great first gig though!
This was definitely a club favorite! ♥♥♥♥♥
Frankie Goes To Hollywood were only the second group to have their first three singles go to number 1 in the UK. The first - Gerry and the Pacemakers (RIP Gerry Marsden).
love this video cool naughty 80's video mmmm yummmy ;) Thanks Dereck Reacts .when you wanna come , relax reminds me of some thing LOL
Remember that this was a different time then we have now, Madonna's Justify My Love was also banded as well. I still love this song today!
Not sure why but everytime I hear this song, it makes me want to listen to "The Bad Touch" by the Bloodhound Gang
It was a VERY explicit video when this song came out. I think it was the reason why only the UK got this video version. And we(USA) only got the concert type video.
Oh Derek I would like to be in your place, young and not knowing anything and be excited at every new discovers!!!
I do find it gratifying to watch things I lived through being found interesting to much younger folks. I learn all over again through a different lens. And I am encouraged that younger people seem to be open to music of all decades, something I wasn't so much.
Welcome to the Pleasuredome is one of the best produced albums of the 80s.
This song had peaked at No. 2 in the U.K and had escaped the censor to get mainstream airplay , but when a BBC radio 1 Dj called Mike Read eventually realised what the song was about he immediately banned it.
This lead to the public suddenly wanting to hear the track it then zoomed back up the charts and was No. 1 for several weeks.
The song benefited also from several remixes which helped its sales.
Trever Horn then went on to produce a whole host of acts, like Yes, Grace Jones.. He became the world's hottest producer at the time off the back of this track.
There is a more funk version of this one. It's the original original before what's his name, Trevor Horn got ahold of this and produced n changed it!!?? Help! My friend says it was a Frankie EP. Somebody knows... 😁💯
Still this is great.
As a 52 yo man, I still have a t-shirt that says "Franky says Relax" on it.
It's was on the radio and in the clubs everywhere.
Then it got banned!
Then everyone went put and bought it!!
Boom!!
Still a great tune!
Frankie says Relax! Love this reaction
Trevor Horn was behind this. Super producer: ABC, Seal, Propaganda, Malcolm McLaren, Yes, ART OF NOISE, JeffBeck. He's THE MAN. Relax was such a wonderful song, I have the 12" original pressing. Great stuff!
The story of its creation is hilarious. The band played it Trevor Horn scrapped it all except the vocal, brought in the Blockheads to record it.
Kept some of that, brought a set of session players, kept some of that.
So the song is a mixture of various musicians, except the actual band.
Apparently the only noise of the entire band on the record is them jumping into the swimming pool at the end.