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.
@@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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Wow what a great song! The chorus is exquisite. The change is speeds and industrial sounds to harmonic bliss back to heavy guitar. Dark bright and dark. I cannot believe this is 1979, this must have influenced so many 80s , 90s and 00s groups.
It influenced so many groups it influenced! Trent Reznor sited him as one of his biggest influences when he founded Nine Inch Nails, and they've appeared live together.
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 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 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 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
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
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?".
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
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.
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👌
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.
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
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
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
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 !!!!!!!
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.
One of my favourite artists with incredibly moody songs and although his music is very electronic it somehow possesses such emotion.This song blew me away when I first heard it and still does.Gary's newest music is even better with really heavy synthes.His voice is unique and it really fits the music,and it has improved as he has gotten older.
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!
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! 🙂👍
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
“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
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 😀
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.
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.
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.
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 ........
I was was just a rat running around London up to no good as a boy, I heard this and stopped and thought wtf is this, been a fan ever since.😊 he’s voice compliments the synths and the style back then. RIP Cedric’s, rip Paul.
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.
"Gary Numan... his name sounds ... important" LOL. He was a little influencial you could say ... But he's still around and to be honest his vocals have actually gotten better and more diverse over time. Also, he has a new album "Intruder" just released which you should check out too.
One more recommendation for ya: Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor cites Numan as a huge, huge influence, and has stated that he wrote one of his albums while continuously playing Numan's "Telekon" album in the background. He has covered Numan's song "Metal", and about a decade ago he invited Gary on stage to perform that song, as well as "Cars", with Nine Inch Nails when they performed in London. Enjoy! ruclips.net/video/2fbVlVLu1m8/видео.html
His voice is unique it fits with the music the guy can sing good if he wants play ''I Sing Rain'' and I could suggest more. I am a mega fan I heard all his albums, too live things and more that doesn't suit the kind of music he does, Paul Gardiner is also Bass Guitar not Mini or Poly Moog Synths. Plus M.E. you reacted to is very futuristic, depressing, dark and has an incredible body chilling atmosphere that comes off it.
This song ushered in electronica synth pop and new wave he was an inovative pioneer in the music industry still performing today still releasing music check out My name is ruin.😊😊😊😊
Just for context, this is on the long-running British pop charts show Top of the Pops. Each week they'd have bands/artists in who were at the top of the charts to play their current single.
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.
I’d be interested to see you react to modern Gary Numan, more industrial, vocals less high & yet still very synth oriented. I’m sure you appreciate this was 1979- I’m a massive Numan fan & collector but even I wasn’t born then, but I think you’d like the newer stuff more, including his voice. He’s not playing a ‘robot’ or ‘android’ character these days of course!
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 😂
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.
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
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 🙂
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
Short haired guy on keyboards is Billy Curry from Ultravox
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
Wow what a great song! The chorus is exquisite. The change is speeds and industrial sounds to harmonic bliss back to heavy guitar. Dark bright and dark. I cannot believe this is 1979, this must have influenced so many 80s , 90s and 00s groups.
It influenced so many groups it influenced! Trent Reznor sited him as one of his biggest influences when he founded Nine Inch Nails, and they've appeared live together.
He popularised 80s music before it existed 😅 Amazing tune.
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 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 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 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
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.
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
A classic of the new wave era
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.
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.
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?".
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
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.
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👌
This is one of my favorite songs of all time!!! It is amazing, voice and sounds. Classic New Wave.
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.
This video is from the Dutch music TV show TOP POP
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
The song "Cars" was SUPER famous when it came out. Also the song "Down In The Park" is amazing!
HIs voice is like part of the synth
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
You slept on the best part!!!! Nowadays, when he sings, "You know I hate to ask..." the crowd screams in response, "Are Friends Electric!!!"
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.
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
"This Wreckage" "Cars" "ME: I Disconect From You"
10:07 'There's nothing crazy about this song' ROFL , this song inspired TEARS FOR FEARS check out their interview about this song
Keyboards: Chris Payne Billy Currie. Bass Paul Gardiner
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!
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
And can we have a moment to say *DAMN* for the drummer *Ced Sharpley*
Cars was Numan most popular song
One of favorite songs of all time. 👍
It's a genuine groundbreaking masterpiece ..... and Gary Numan is a very modest artistic genius
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.
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
This is 1000X better than Cars. This song was a revelation to many people.
The guy playing what seems to be a Polymoog is Billie Curry. He played synth on Ultravox's "Vienna"., also a haunting atmospheric song.
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 !!!!!!!
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.
One of my favourite artists with incredibly moody songs and although his music is very electronic it somehow possesses such emotion.This song blew me away when I first heard it and still does.Gary's newest music is even better with really heavy synthes.His voice is unique and it really fits the music,and it has improved as he has gotten older.
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..
I bought this on 7 inch vinyl when it came out and played it constantly.
Numan was a true pioneer👏👏
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! 🙂👍
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
“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
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 😀
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.
Classic 1979 epic start to electronic music. And STILL producing amazing music.. new lp in a month..
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.
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.
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.;-)
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 ........
Love Gary Newman - you really should check out ‘cars’ 😘
This song really started the synth pop genre
Numan is a legend and his music now continues to get better and better. The new Intruder album is simply amazing.
Uncharacteristically smiley 😊
I was was just a rat running around London up to no good as a boy, I heard this and stopped and thought wtf is this, been a fan ever since.😊 he’s voice compliments the synths and the style back then. RIP Cedric’s, rip Paul.
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.
I think it's the first time I am so early! haha Loved thereaction, I hope that you're having an awesome morning! :)
Numan was definitely one of the first ones to rock synth pop. Definitely ahead of his time.
FINALLY ! This one and Cars... The "roots" of new wave.
You should check out Sugababes' Freak Like Me, which is them covering that song over the instrumental track of Are Friends Electric.
pls "CARS"! , CAAAAAAAAARS!
Yes please! 👍
Ground Zero for so much. One of the most influential songs in history, triggering entire genre's of music into being.
"Gary Numan... his name sounds ... important" LOL. He was a little influencial you could say ... But he's still around and to be honest his vocals have actually gotten better and more diverse over time. Also, he has a new album "Intruder" just released which you should check out too.
One more recommendation for ya:
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor cites Numan as a huge, huge influence, and has stated that he wrote one of his albums while continuously playing Numan's "Telekon" album in the background. He has covered Numan's song "Metal", and about a decade ago he invited Gary on stage to perform that song, as well as "Cars", with Nine Inch Nails when they performed in London. Enjoy!
ruclips.net/video/2fbVlVLu1m8/видео.html
Yes still doing it too ,fantastic gary numan, try cars by him.
The first real synth record given us a taste of what was to come in the 80s
His voice is unique it fits with the music the guy can sing good if he wants play ''I Sing Rain'' and I could suggest more. I am a mega fan I heard all his albums, too live things and more that doesn't suit the kind of music he does, Paul Gardiner is also Bass Guitar not Mini or Poly Moog Synths. Plus M.E. you reacted to is very futuristic, depressing, dark and has an incredible body chilling atmosphere that comes off it.
I have the original single of this song from when it was released. Another one by him that's really good is We Are Glass. Very catchy yet distinct.
This song ushered in electronica synth pop and new wave he was an inovative pioneer in the music industry still performing today still releasing music check out My name is ruin.😊😊😊😊
Just for context, this is on the long-running British pop charts show Top of the Pops. Each week they'd have bands/artists in who were at the top of the charts to play their current single.
Still amazing almost 45 years later, this track would still sound great at a club ❤ still gives me goosebumps
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.
I’d be interested to see you react to modern Gary Numan, more industrial, vocals less high & yet still very synth oriented. I’m sure you appreciate this was 1979- I’m a massive Numan fan & collector but even I wasn’t born then, but I think you’d like the newer stuff more, including his voice. He’s not playing a ‘robot’ or ‘android’ character these days of course!
I hope you can check out Gary Numans song "Saints and Liars" its from his new album. You'll be very surprised!
Way before the internet was a twinkle in anybody's eye, when I was about 14, I fell in love with GN, and I still love him today xx
Gary Numan was extremely popular in the 80's in the UK and still tours today, he's sold over 10 million records.
He was great back then and still is releasing great songs today.😎
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 !
The guy "killing it" was also in Ultravox
"Cars" was released under Gary, I think "Down In The Park" was released under The Tubeway Army and/or Gary.
Are Friends Electric was their 4th and final single under the Tubeway Army name. Cars was the 1st single from Gary under his own name.
@@DOMSKYTRANCE "Down in the Park" is still my favorite! When i play it live, people love it!
@@janstan8407 Yep remember buying the single before they made it big.
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 😂
For the beginning of electronic music, you should listen to Kraftwerk, Das Model, or Autobahn.
You have to react to Numan's "Cars". It was a song you couldn't get away from in 1980.
Notice Billy Currie from Ultravox and Visage on one of the synths?
Remember this one when it came out in the UK at 9 years old. NEVER heard anything like it.