You have to remember, this came out in the 70's, late 70's, 1979, but when this came out, everyone went WTF. Nothing sounded like it, and i mean nothing, this tune, and "Cars" kickstarted the New Wave scene in the UK, that then moved to the USA. This blew everything out of the water when it came out. it was groundbreaking.
Gary Numan is a giant in the New Wave movement and in the history of electronica. “Cars” was a major hit and what most people know. You should check it out along with “Down in the Park.”
He pretty much invented Industrial on his own just as a sort of afterthought! Not a bad effort ;) It was pretty cool seeing him perform Cars with Nine Inch Nails a while back too!
What is incredibly sad is that the music industry today do not acknowledge his new music as Electronica. He has evolved and continues to make music that is truly original.
Treat it like two words. Tube - Way. Tubeway Army. Just as it's spelt. I love Numan's voice, he was of his time and his voice was made to sound as soulless and electronic as the instruments which dominated this song. Love this song. It was the announcement of a new decade to come and couldn't get enough of it.
This is one of those songs where you really had to experience it at the time to appreciate how groundbreaking it was .. It was like nothing else in the mainstream charts I can recall, and its haunting, eerie, atmosphere combined with the strong melodic synth lines left a lifelong memory in my mind .. Very, very cool !
@@annesmith2259 Yep .. Great memories, and a really exciting time for music .. Loved the New Wave era, and the synth-based stream of it was essential to the overall movement .. And what a treasured single that is you have there ! .. Cheers, Wayne
It's timeless. It's so good that the rest of the great album doesn't begin to compare. I was minus 8 years old when this came out, he just doesn't appreciate greatness.
Same, incredibly humble person. We talked shop since I play keys. He asked “my” opinion on gear. Are you kidding me? He’s Gary friggin Numan, why even listen to or ask a nobody like me? Awesome guy.
@@kimble02 I'm old enough to have the Tubeway Army 12" from 1978 (That's too Bad etc.) Gary's voice is unique. I am lucky enough to have seen TA back in the day and also Numan recently. He's a fucking legend.
Nice!!! I’m old enough to remember when he hit the scene and it was something different (in a good way). I got to spend a little time with him and talk shop (I play keys and make music as well) a few years ago. Dude was so incredibly humble and gracious. He’s one of a kind! I was shocked he was asking me my opinion on different gear and plugins. What I had to say actually mattered to him. Totally crazy. Most anyone in his position wouldn’t listen to much less ask a peon like me technical questions about gear etc. Made me love the guy even more!
Yup I hadn't listened to the song in a while now that I did I was instantly reminded of Empire Of The Sun & all these new 2000s bands mimicking the depche mode sound
When this came out, it was explained that Numan was meant to be an android and so his voice is more spoken rather than singing as androids cant sing. His whole look and movements too, were the impression of androids back in 1979 when this was released
Gary Numan is incredible and he is still making music. He has a new album "Intruder" out next month. The singles off of it so far are amazing. The funny thing is about his voice, its gotten so much better as he has gotten older. He's gone in more of a darker industrial/goth direction than his 80s stuff. Incredible live shows as well.. seen him about 6 times so far
Gary Numan vocals Paul Gardener bass Russell Bell synth/guitar Chris Payne synth Billy Currie synth Cedric Sharply Drums This song was produced originally with just Numan on synth/guitar, Gardener on bass and Numan's Uncle Jess Lidysrd on drums
I travelled up an down england to watch gary in concert I actually went to see him in Wembley when I was supposed to be doing my cse, s exams in school haa
Gary Numan also wrote some other great tracks including "Cars", "Down in the Park", and he is now writing again great songs like "My Name is Ruin". His song have been covered by a lot of other artist, including "SagarBabies" and "Nine Inches Nails" who he preform with 2009. I was luck to see his first tour and saw him the last time in 2019, before Covid shut the world down
yes, for a new synth lover, Kraftwerk turns out now to be essential to listen to. ''Robots'', ''The Model'', ''Radioactivity'' and other great iconic songs.
The song is about a man who calls up prostitutes that are 'electric', ie, robots. I'm not sure if the point of view is of the robot or of the man lives amongst robots. In anycase, all that album the point of view is usually of a robot or android or even computer.
1979 matey! TopPop was a Dutch (copy) of Top of the Pops, there's a surprisingly large amount of 70's & 80's music videos you view that are on there. 1979 A really good year for music. Gary Numan, Blondie, Elvis Costello ........
john foxx-underpass/he's a liquid visage-fade to grey human league-being boiled/sound of the crowd yazoo-don't go/situation anne clark-our darkness/sleeper in metropolis
@@chiachy35 oh yes, Human League synths were something special.(they built a frame round them so it didn't void their HP agreement while paying for them, just in case someone in the audience threw beer on them!) Their Bar 2 gig in Sheffield from 1978 is astounding.
I never heard that explanation by Numan himself, but it makes sense because it was obvious to me when I bought that album back then and played it over and over, he was talking about artificial life. And then about 2 years later the SiFi movie, Blade Runner" came out from the SiFi short story by Philip K. Dick, who wrote "Do Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?".
This was an incredibly weird track when it came out still is. The reason your getting 80’s vibes is because this guy was one of the inventors of 80’s..... thanks for the video homie. Gary Numan is a cult figure to a lot of people good to see someone give it a good check. Cheers.
I've been a huge fan since 1979. Seen him live 8 or so times. I love that he's re-imagined so much of his older stuff into a more industrial type vibe (though so much was great upon release) and he keeps putting out great new music too. Total fanboy ... I could gush for days
Gary and the by then dedunct Tubeway Army (the band had already broken up by then) were thrown onto the UK conscience via Top Of The Pops in 1979 TOTP was THE programme musicians needed to be on for anyone to take notice. They appeared by chance, as the production team needed a "bubbling under" song and selected Tubeway Army simply because the name sounded interesting. They were given a spot between David Bowie and Roxy Music, two of the biggest acts of the time. Gary's fan based has always been loyal but he had a nightmare of a time with the Press. This single and its follow up, Cars, were the most successful of his songs as I recall. Numan is now acknowledged as one of the most influential artists of the post-Punk New Wave and Electronica movement. He still records and tours and has gained recent popularity with a whole new audience.
Gary played the synths on the record. He realised that he'd need keyboardists to play this live. This song kickstarted the elecropop movement of the 80's. And it's tubeway army not tubaway army the band didn't "break up" Jess Lidyard (Gary's uncle) didn't want to be on the road touring so Gary had to find a new drummer (,Cedric Sharpley) and obviously keyboardists ( Chris Payne and Billy Currie from Ultravox) they were the backing band in this video and were the "Numan" band on the 1979 touring pricipal tour
you've gotta see the live version he does of this today.. blew my mind BTW the song was written for guitar but after he heard the Moog in a studio, he rewrote it for synth
Back in 1979 coming out of the Punk era & into the New Wave era, Synth/Electro was the rage. In this song you can hear the electric guitar during the heavy synths, Gary Numan was well ahead of his time.
It's so strange watching a guy who has no knowledge of NUMAN Whom without there would be no dance music industrial. He is a real LEGEND ICON IN THD REAL SENSE. BUT HES DONE 24 ALBUMS AND ABOUT TO START A WORLDWIDE TOUR FOR HIS NEW ALBUM INTRUDER
This is a great example of Billy Currie's keyboard playing - the solo from Gary Numan's version of "On Broadway". The solo starts around 1.55. ruclips.net/video/j7BKiX4DAOE/видео.html
Omg!!! Finally! Gary Numan is an incredible human being. I've been a fan since the eighties. He is a very interesting man with a unique style that influenced the likes of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. You likely heard the song Cars by Gary Numan. That was on the radio, but this song is my fave. He also sings with his daughter Persia on a song called "My Name is Ruin". The style is pure eighties, you're right. He looks like he's having a blast making this video. Great time in music for me.
Terrible shame that the bassist, Paul Gardiner, died so young (committed suicide at 25 with a note pinned to his chest saying 'cremation please').But this song is pure drama. Love everything about it Never gets old.
Gary Numan incredible Artist “King of Synth” new album intruder reached number 2 great album his album savage (one before) also reached number 2 1979-2021 still going strong👌
Awesome !!! I first fell in love with Gary Numan when I heard Cars as a teenager long ago. This song is legendary though. I so appreciate the reaction, thanks! 🙂👍
This was made in the Dutch TV popmusic show Toppop. A sort of Dutch Top Of The Pops but without audience. This song was a huge hit in Europe. Check out Gary Numan's song My Name Is Ruin where he sings with his daughter
I remember this song so well ! Will always remember it , loved a girl at the time , she was my muse ! Every time I hear it , I think of her ! Still miss her !!!!!!!
I mean Gary was the pivot on which British synth-pop - and everything after it - was arguably based. It was the moment when the country probably said 'That's fucking enough of the 1970s'.
Are Friends Electric? has no chorus. It's actually 2 songs put together. The talking parts, he did on a piano as its own song, but then decided to add it into this as it sounded good. The song is about a robot hooker 😂
No, New Wave already going around 1977-78, as was Blondie. Electronic music wasn't new either (too many artists to list). But Gary Numan and Tubeway Army came out with a very different sound.
Are 'Friends' Electric has become a huge "anthem" for him - the fans react with a choreographed dance. In 2018 he did a concert tour with the Skaparis Orchestra (the leader of which is a huge Numan fan). It was epic. ruclips.net/video/GOlZ1e58vGQ/видео.html
Back then, we viewed about 99.9% of people who weren't part of that "lifestyle" with a kind of superiority. Gary had that same look in his eyes. It wasn’t a time when style and taste were democratized-no IKEA, no H&M. It might sound arrogant, and honestly, it was. But it was also a lot of fun! 😄 Despising parents, teachers, and classmates was the purpose of life and filled us with visionary energy.
Gary Numan went on to have a very successful solo career. You should listen to "Cars" and "We Are Electric". After his music career dwindled, his piloting career took off and he flew a Harvard painted to look like a Japanese Zero at UK air shows for many years. He was great at dog-fights, with loop the loops! And yes, I saw him fly many times, so I was a fan 2 times over, for the music and the flying!
One of the greatest musical accidents in history. He was in the studio to record new material, and if you listen to any tracks from the Tubeway Army debut album you’ll hear guitar and almost a punk sound, and he saw the synth all set up. Walked over to it and pressed the key and that preset sound “Vox Humana” blared out the speaker at him. He was blown away and knew there and then her wanted to use it in a song. Then, on a whole album. Then another. You get the idea. He wasn’t going to use synths and then he pretty much stopped using anything else
The idea that there are people who haven't heard this song and are only vaguely aware of Gary Numan makes me feel old :D Thank you for listening to this, it was a very important song for me as I was 14 when it came out in the UK. In fact in 1979 I went to see Tubeway Army at the Bristol Hippodrome and it was the first time I'd seen a band perform live. It was LOUD! Unlike many of my contemporaries, I was already into synthesizers when this came out - and in fact other bands had used synths a lot before Tubeway Army (Ultravox being one). However, this is the song that launched the post-punk era. Nothing was the same after "Are 'Friends' Electric?". Some random things: "Moog" is pronounced to rhyme with "Vogue". The chorus section was originally a totally different song idea, and Gary decided to stitch them together to make this song, which is one reason it's quite long. The guy drumming is Gary's uncle.
It’s pronounced MOW-g .. Robert Moog is the inventor/engineer who made these; an American. It was released in 1979 - NOT the 80’s! And, those are NOT choruses, it’s a bridge, musically speaking. Also, the keyboard player with red belt is from Ultravox. I was 13 & living in London, UK, at the time .. it transformed my life.
That’s our penthouse music 🎶 Back in the day’That’s exactly how it went down brother in cars coming through in the rain across the Golden Gate bridge across the bay bridge headed to Oakland California Lake Merritt sit by the fireplace eat grapes
Gary Numan is awesome... he's got a heavy British (maybe cockney?) accent... but that adds to the song. Makes it his. He was a pioneer in New Wave. You should check out the Silver Apples if you want the beginnings of synth.
I first heard this on the radio when i was 14 lol, didnt know who sang it or who the band was but i was like wtf is this 😮never heard anything like it before it was so futuristic, even today in 2022 it still sounds like it should be beyond the music that is playing today 😀
It’s dimensional advance in very high tech the story of our life thank you Gary it was a pleasure meeting you and look forward to seeing you again in the now and forever
Dereck you should listen to his newer stuff his second last album try my name is ruin. He also has his 12yr old daughter sings on this track it's a belter
Influenced heavily by Bowie and John Foxx early Ultravox Gary Numan pioneered synth music into the mainstream before anyone else. His vocal delivery is almost android like as is his intentional persona of an alien like being.
“For some reason his name sounds important”. It should do. When it comes to New Wave, Electronica and Synth-Pop music, Gary Numan is a god. His name is inextricably linked to the emergence and popularity of those late 70’s/early 80’s music genres
Mate Derrick you can never go wrong if you have the Main Synhty/Keyboard Maestro Billy Currie who made the Sound of Ultravox & Visage.....???? This song is late 70s......
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Song came out at 1979. Its almost 2022 & I am still listening this timeless masterpiece…. Ground breaking. Put Numan in the hall of fame…
Quite.
Fully agree
You have to remember, this came out in the 70's, late 70's, 1979, but when this came out, everyone went WTF. Nothing sounded like it, and i mean nothing, this tune, and "Cars" kickstarted the New Wave scene in the UK, that then moved to the USA. This blew everything out of the water when it came out. it was groundbreaking.
I don't consider this new wave ,its synth pop ,new wave were bands like the boomtown rats, or the cars .
Yeah synth Pop , MAGAZINE are New Wave
It's actually Machine Rock, but unfortunately it was labelled in with all the weaker stuff!
Emerson Lake and Palmer..1969...Moog been around for many years.
Gary Numan is a giant in the New Wave movement and in the history of electronica. “Cars” was a major hit and what most people know. You should check it out along with “Down in the Park.”
Down in the Park is amazing I have the 7 inch
Metal too
He pretty much invented Industrial on his own just as a sort of afterthought! Not a bad effort ;)
It was pretty cool seeing him perform Cars with Nine Inch Nails a while back too!
What is incredibly sad is that the music industry today do not acknowledge his new music as Electronica. He has evolved and continues to make music that is truly original.
Treat it like two words. Tube - Way. Tubeway Army. Just as it's spelt. I love Numan's voice, he was of his time and his voice was made to sound as soulless and electronic as the instruments which dominated this song. Love this song. It was the announcement of a new decade to come and couldn't get enough of it.
You (and almost everyone else, well everyone except Dereck) might think so ... but... Tube-Away Army, perhaps thinking of Solomon Linda's Wim-A-Way 🙂
This is one of those songs where you really had to experience it at the time to appreciate how groundbreaking it was .. It was like nothing else in the mainstream charts I can recall, and its haunting, eerie, atmosphere combined with the strong melodic synth lines left a lifelong memory in my mind .. Very, very cool !
Absolutely agree, I still have the single released at the the time . This track got me into synth/new wave big time
@@annesmith2259 Yep .. Great memories, and a really exciting time for music .. Loved the New Wave era, and the synth-based stream of it was essential to the overall movement .. And what a treasured single that is you have there ! .. Cheers, Wayne
Yep. I remember seeing them perform it on Top of the Pops and feeling like something IMPORTANT had changed forever.
@@smegger68 There's not that many songs that can make such an impression on people .. Truly memorable and innovative.
It's timeless. It's so good that the rest of the great album doesn't begin to compare. I was minus 8 years old when this came out, he just doesn't appreciate greatness.
I've met Gary Numan twice, he is an incredible artist and person.
lovely lovely man..met him many times,always a pleasure
I’ve met him too. Very nice and a modest, humble man.
his mate messaged me last week! I'm getting his autograph now!
Same, incredibly humble person. We talked shop since I play keys. He asked “my” opinion on gear. Are you kidding me? He’s Gary friggin Numan, why even listen to or ask a nobody like me? Awesome guy.
Christopher Payne signed my vinyl sleeve!
Don't agree with you about numan's voice, it's so distinctive and totally original. Still going strong today, new album released soon x
Totally unique. No one else sings like Gary. Love his work.
@@kimble02 I'm old enough to have the Tubeway Army 12" from 1978 (That's too Bad etc.) Gary's voice is unique. I am lucky enough to have seen TA back in the day and also Numan recently. He's a fucking legend.
Nice!!! I’m old enough to remember when he hit the scene and it was something different (in a good way). I got to spend a little time with him and talk shop (I play keys and make music as well) a few years ago. Dude was so incredibly humble and gracious. He’s one of a kind! I was shocked he was asking me my opinion on different gear and plugins. What I had to say actually mattered to him. Totally crazy. Most anyone in his position wouldn’t listen to much less ask a peon like me technical questions about gear etc. Made me love the guy even more!
Yup I hadn't listened to the song in a while now that I did I was instantly reminded of Empire Of The Sun & all these new 2000s bands mimicking the depche mode sound
When this came out, it was explained that Numan was meant to be an android and so his voice is more spoken rather than singing as androids cant sing. His whole look and movements too, were the impression of androids back in 1979 when this was released
Gary Numan is incredible and he is still making music.
He has a new album "Intruder" out next month. The singles off of it so far are amazing.
The funny thing is about his voice, its gotten so much better as he has gotten older. He's gone in more of a darker industrial/goth direction than his 80s stuff.
Incredible live shows as well.. seen him about 6 times so far
Gary Numan vocals
Paul Gardener bass
Russell Bell synth/guitar
Chris Payne synth
Billy Currie synth
Cedric Sharply Drums
This song was produced originally with just Numan on synth/guitar, Gardener on bass and Numan's Uncle Jess Lidysrd on drums
Short haired guy on keyboards is Billy Curry from Ultravox
I travelled up an down england to watch gary in concert I actually went to see him in Wembley when I was supposed to be doing my cse, s exams in school haa
imagine how different this was in 1978
Gary Numan also wrote some other great tracks including "Cars", "Down in the Park", and he is now writing again great songs like "My Name is Ruin". His song have been covered by a lot of other artist, including "SagarBabies" and "Nine Inches Nails" who he preform with 2009. I was luck to see his first tour and saw him the last time in 2019, before Covid shut the world down
This music will still feel fresh in 200 years.
yes, for a new synth lover, Kraftwerk turns out now to be essential to listen to. ''Robots'', ''The Model'', ''Radioactivity'' and other great iconic songs.
10:07 'There's nothing crazy about this song' ROFL , this song inspired TEARS FOR FEARS check out their interview about this song
The song is about a man who calls up prostitutes that are 'electric', ie, robots. I'm not sure if the point of view is of the robot or of the man lives amongst robots. In anycase, all that album the point of view is usually of a robot or android or even computer.
HIs voice is like part of the synth
Two members of the band, Paul Gardiner and Cedric Sharpley, are now sadly no longer with us
Are Friends Electric is actually two songs he put together. He is the nicest guy, after a concert he will hang out with the fans for hours.
great music to dance in the underground clubs during the 80's!!! one of my favourite.! The synth player is the keyboard player of Ultravox too
1979 matey! TopPop was a Dutch (copy) of Top of the Pops, there's a surprisingly large amount of 70's & 80's music videos you view that are on there. 1979 A really good year for music. Gary Numan, Blondie, Elvis Costello ........
This is one of my favorite songs of all time!!! It is amazing, voice and sounds. Classic New Wave.
The song "Cars" was SUPER famous when it came out. Also the song "Down In The Park" is amazing!
One of my favourite synth tracks ever
You want synths ?
John Foxx
Visage
Ultravox
Early OMD .. messages ... electricity
john foxx-underpass/he's a liquid
visage-fade to grey
human league-being boiled/sound of the crowd
yazoo-don't go/situation
anne clark-our darkness/sleeper in metropolis
@@chiachy35 oh yes, Human League synths were something special.(they built a frame round them so it didn't void their HP agreement while paying for them, just in case someone in the audience threw beer on them!) Their Bar 2 gig in Sheffield from 1978 is astounding.
I was 14 in 1979, I saw this on the BBC Old Grey whistle Test and it blew me away, so much so, I've been a Numo every since !
A classic of the new wave era
I never heard that explanation by Numan himself, but it makes sense because it was obvious to me when I bought that album back then and played it over and over, he was talking about artificial life. And then about 2 years later the SiFi movie, Blade Runner" came out from the SiFi short story by Philip K. Dick, who wrote "Do Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?".
This was an incredibly weird track when it came out still is. The reason your getting 80’s vibes is because this guy was one of the inventors of 80’s..... thanks for the video homie. Gary Numan is a cult figure to a lot of people good to see someone give it a good check. Cheers.
I've been a huge fan since 1979. Seen him live 8 or so times. I love that he's re-imagined so much of his older stuff into a more industrial type vibe (though so much was great upon release) and he keeps putting out great new music too. Total fanboy ... I could gush for days
Gary and the by then dedunct Tubeway Army (the band had already broken up by then) were thrown onto the UK conscience via Top Of The Pops in 1979
TOTP was THE programme musicians needed to be on for anyone to take notice. They appeared by chance, as the production team needed a "bubbling under" song and selected Tubeway Army simply because the name sounded interesting. They were given a spot between David Bowie and Roxy Music, two of the biggest acts of the time. Gary's fan based has always been loyal but he had a nightmare of a time with the Press. This single and its follow up, Cars, were the most successful of his songs as I recall.
Numan is now acknowledged as one of the most influential artists of the post-Punk New Wave and Electronica movement. He still records and tours and has gained recent popularity with a whole new audience.
I bought this on 7 inch vinyl when it came out and played it constantly.
Numan was a true pioneer👏👏
The 2 guys on synths are Billy Currie and Chris Payne who also wrote visages fade to grey,,,Billy Currie is also a member of Ultravox
Gary played the synths on the record. He realised that he'd need keyboardists to play this live. This song kickstarted the elecropop movement of the 80's.
And it's tubeway army not tubaway army the band didn't "break up" Jess Lidyard (Gary's uncle) didn't want to be on the road touring so Gary had to find a new drummer (,Cedric Sharpley) and obviously keyboardists ( Chris Payne and Billy Currie from Ultravox) they were the backing band in this video and were the "Numan" band on the 1979 touring pricipal tour
you've gotta see the live version he does of this today.. blew my mind
BTW the song was written for guitar but after he heard the Moog in a studio, he rewrote it for synth
ruclips.net/video/9itjv3Caryw/видео.html
Back in 1979 coming out of the Punk era & into the New Wave era, Synth/Electro was the rage. In this song you can hear the electric guitar during the heavy synths, Gary Numan was well ahead of his time.
It's so strange watching a guy who has no knowledge of NUMAN Whom without there would be no dance music industrial. He is a real LEGEND ICON IN THD REAL SENSE. BUT HES DONE 24 ALBUMS AND ABOUT TO START A WORLDWIDE TOUR FOR HIS NEW ALBUM INTRUDER
This is a great example of Billy Currie's keyboard playing - the solo from Gary Numan's version of "On Broadway". The solo starts around 1.55.
ruclips.net/video/j7BKiX4DAOE/видео.html
Omg!!! Finally! Gary Numan is an incredible human being. I've been a fan since the eighties. He is a very interesting man with a unique style that influenced the likes of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. You likely heard the song Cars by Gary Numan. That was on the radio, but this song is my fave. He also sings with his daughter Persia on a song called "My Name is Ruin". The style is pure eighties, you're right. He looks like he's having a blast making this video. Great time in music for me.
Totally agree! "My Name Is Ruin" and his daughter's contribution is stellar. Should be the theme song for a post-apocalyptic movie.
You slept on the best part!!!! Nowadays, when he sings, "You know I hate to ask..." the crowd screams in response, "Are Friends Electric!!!"
Terrible shame that the bassist, Paul Gardiner, died so young (committed suicide at 25 with a note pinned to his chest saying 'cremation please').But this song is pure drama. Love everything about it Never gets old.
This song was in OST of Need For Speed - Carbon. That is were I first heard it.
The guy "killing it" was also in Ultravox
Gary Numan incredible Artist “King of Synth” new album intruder reached number 2 great album his album savage (one before) also reached number 2
1979-2021 still going strong👌
And can we have a moment to say *DAMN* for the drummer *Ced Sharpley*
Awesome !!! I first fell in love with Gary Numan when I heard Cars as a teenager long ago. This song is legendary though. I so appreciate the reaction, thanks! 🙂👍
This is 1000X better than Cars. This song was a revelation to many people.
Keyboards: Chris Payne Billy Currie. Bass Paul Gardiner
"This Wreckage" "Cars" "ME: I Disconect From You"
The guy playing what seems to be a Polymoog is Billie Curry. He played synth on Ultravox's "Vienna"., also a haunting atmospheric song.
This was made in the Dutch TV popmusic show Toppop. A sort of Dutch Top Of The Pops but without audience. This song was a huge hit in Europe. Check out Gary Numan's song My Name Is Ruin where he sings with his daughter
I remember this song so well ! Will always remember it , loved a girl at the time , she was my muse ! Every time I hear it , I think of her ! Still miss her !!!!!!!
Synths served in three courses . Next up " THE MODEL " by Kraftwerk and " ASHES TO ASHES " by David Bowie
Ashes to Ashes also had that insane bassline!
This was just the beginning of the new wave era. You should look at Depeche Mode's "Shake the Disease" official video.
New Wave started 1977 and into 1978. And this song predates anything Depeche Mode did.
I mean Gary was the pivot on which British synth-pop - and everything after it - was arguably based. It was the moment when the country probably said 'That's fucking enough of the 1970s'.
Ohhh, Gary was a pioneer back then. He is the grand father of synth pop. Wooonderful song! Still love it! Many thanks for the upload.
Are Friends Electric? has no chorus. It's actually 2 songs put together. The talking parts, he did on a piano as its own song, but then decided to add it into this as it sounded good. The song is about a robot hooker 😂
This song started the NEW WAVE. I remeber it well. Tubeway Army (Gary Numan) and Blondie started that year and everybody was blown away.Btw: its 79
No, New Wave already going around 1977-78, as was Blondie. Electronic music wasn't new either (too many artists to list). But Gary Numan and Tubeway Army came out with a very different sound.
@@MikePhillips-pl6ov it started New Wave for me.;-)
pronounced 'moge' - over voltaged oscillatored mini beast. iconic as fvck.
Still amazing almost 45 years later, this track would still sound great at a club ❤ still gives me goosebumps
Are 'Friends' Electric has become a huge "anthem" for him - the fans react with a choreographed dance.
In 2018 he did a concert tour with the Skaparis Orchestra (the leader of which is a huge Numan fan). It was epic.
ruclips.net/video/GOlZ1e58vGQ/видео.html
Classic 1979 epic start to electronic music. And STILL producing amazing music.. new lp in a month..
This video is from the Dutch music TV show TOP POP
Back then, we viewed about 99.9% of people who weren't part of that "lifestyle" with a kind of superiority. Gary had that same look in his eyes. It wasn’t a time when style and taste were democratized-no IKEA, no H&M. It might sound arrogant, and honestly, it was. But it was also a lot of fun! 😄
Despising parents, teachers, and classmates was the purpose of life and filled us with visionary energy.
Gary Numan went on to have a very successful solo career. You should listen to "Cars" and "We Are Electric". After his music career dwindled, his piloting career took off and he flew a Harvard painted to look like a Japanese Zero at UK air shows for many years. He was great at dog-fights, with loop the loops! And yes, I saw him fly many times, so I was a fan 2 times over, for the music and the flying!
I recommend listening to John Foxx with the song "Underpass". Also a synth pioneer..
One of the greatest musical accidents in history. He was in the studio to record new material, and if you listen to any tracks from the Tubeway Army debut album you’ll hear guitar and almost a punk sound, and he saw the synth all set up. Walked over to it and pressed the key and that preset sound “Vox Humana” blared out the speaker at him. He was blown away and knew there and then her wanted to use it in a song. Then, on a whole album. Then another. You get the idea. He wasn’t going to use synths and then he pretty much stopped using anything else
The idea that there are people who haven't heard this song and are only vaguely aware of Gary Numan makes me feel old :D Thank you for listening to this, it was a very important song for me as I was 14 when it came out in the UK. In fact in 1979 I went to see Tubeway Army at the Bristol Hippodrome and it was the first time I'd seen a band perform live. It was LOUD! Unlike many of my contemporaries, I was already into synthesizers when this came out - and in fact other bands had used synths a lot before Tubeway Army (Ultravox being one). However, this is the song that launched the post-punk era. Nothing was the same after "Are 'Friends' Electric?".
Some random things:
"Moog" is pronounced to rhyme with "Vogue".
The chorus section was originally a totally different song idea, and Gary decided to stitch them together to make this song, which is one reason it's quite long.
The guy drumming is Gary's uncle.
Gary Numan is as influential to synth music as Led Zeppelin is to rock. Undisputable. PS I can assure you it was OMG wow in 1979, haha.
Need for Speed Carbon PSP Anyone ? Best Childhood Ever
This was a pre Top of the Pops rehearsal..... Gary never usually smiled at this point
This song really started the synth pop genre
This guy is fuckin smart. Fantastic reviewing
It’s pronounced MOW-g .. Robert Moog is the inventor/engineer who made these; an American. It was released in 1979 - NOT the 80’s! And, those are NOT choruses, it’s a bridge, musically speaking. Also, the keyboard player with red belt is from Ultravox. I was 13 & living in London, UK, at the time .. it transformed my life.
Im a Numanoid got every album to date he is just amazing
Other heavy synthpop songs : Cars by Gary Numam, Underpass by John Foxx, Living on video by Trans-X , The model by Kraftwerk , Situation by Yazoo.
That’s our penthouse music 🎶 Back in the day’That’s exactly how it went down brother in cars coming through in the rain across the Golden Gate bridge across the bay bridge headed to Oakland California Lake Merritt sit by the fireplace eat grapes
Gary Numan is awesome... he's got a heavy British (maybe cockney?) accent... but that adds to the song. Makes it his. He was a pioneer in New Wave. You should check out the Silver Apples if you want the beginnings of synth.
gary numan used to do air shows in world war 2 aircraft, he is a pretty decent pilot, i saw him a couple of times, very cool!
I first heard this on the radio when i was 14 lol, didnt know who sang it or who the band was but i was like wtf is this 😮never heard anything like it before it was so futuristic, even today in 2022 it still sounds like it should be beyond the music that is playing today 😀
It's a genuine groundbreaking masterpiece ..... and Gary Numan is a very modest artistic genius
It’s dimensional advance in very high tech the story of our life thank you Gary it was a pleasure meeting you and look forward to seeing you again in the now and forever
The Craziest Park, is the one from "Down In The Park". I think, the film "Us" was inspired by his music.
Check out the song Cars, his most commercial successful song, a new wave staple, hit # 1 in the UK and # 9 in the US.
🤘🤘🤘🤘❤❤❤❤❤ awesome music artist, awesome voice!!
Crank up the volume and let it rip
Numan was definitely one of the first ones to rock synth pop. Definitely ahead of his time.
Gary Numan was extremely popular in the 80's in the UK and still tours today, he's sold over 10 million records.
Down in the park is everything
I think it's the first time I am so early! haha Loved thereaction, I hope that you're having an awesome morning! :)
Dereck you should listen to his newer stuff his second last album try my name is ruin. He also has his 12yr old daughter sings on this track it's a belter
Tried Cars by Gary Numan? Listen LOUD!
Love Gary Newman - you really should check out ‘cars’ 😘
When it came out, I listened to it endlessly, it was like a light going on.
Numan is a legend and his music now continues to get better and better. The new Intruder album is simply amazing.
BTW it's Billy Currie of Ultravox on the minimoog
You should check out Sugababes' Freak Like Me, which is them covering that song over the instrumental track of Are Friends Electric.
Influenced heavily by Bowie and John Foxx early Ultravox Gary Numan pioneered synth music into the mainstream before anyone else. His vocal delivery is almost android like as is his intentional persona of an alien like being.
His recent stuff is awesome too. Check "My Name is Ruin" a track and music video where he sings with his daughter...
“For some reason his name sounds important”. It should do. When it comes to New Wave, Electronica and Synth-Pop music, Gary Numan is a god. His name is inextricably linked to the emergence and popularity of those late 70’s/early 80’s music genres
Mate Derrick you can never go wrong if you have the Main Synhty/Keyboard Maestro Billy Currie who made the Sound of Ultravox & Visage.....???? This song is late 70s......