Ultravox's 1977 album Ha!Ha!Ha! could be called "experimental punk", with frontman John Foxx toying with musical conventions throughout the LP. The last song on the record, "Hiroshima Mon Amour", was his masterpiece. It's been called the first synthpop song, the archetype that defined an entire genre. Ultravox would go on to release Systems of Romance one year later, their Foxx-era magnum opus, but it was "Hiroshima" that made it all possible. At least three or four years ahead of its time, the track went on to inspire Gary Numan and countless others to tinker with sythesizers and drum machines. With it's haunting, incrutible lyrics, futuristic sound, and sparse, cold synths, "Hiroshima Mon Amour" was a shining beacon on the stagnant musical landscape of late-70s pop. Although it didn't make the charts back then, "Hiroshima Mon Amour" has stood the test of time and gets my #29 spot. It also marks Ultravox's fourth and final appearance on my Top 200.
Live performance below.
Masterpiece...
ReplyDeleteKinda makes Midge Ure look like the Phil Collins of Ultravox in comparison
Wow...that's harsh! Apologize to Midge!
Deleteyou're right ... no upstanding synthpop musician should ever be compared to the Talentless Cue Ball of Mediocrity.
DeleteSorry Midge! You're OK !
John Foxx is great, but for some reason I get the impression that he's a virtual unknown in the US. Well, the US charts suck anyway/
ReplyDeleteNo lie.
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