Saved By Zero
Encyclopedia
"Saved by Zero" is a song by new wave
rock group The Fixx
. Released in 1983, it was the lead single
their second album, Reach the Beach
, and is perhaps their second best-known song following "One Thing Leads to Another
."
An 8-minute version of "Saved by Zero" is included as a bonus track
on the 2003 reissue of Reach the Beach.
mantra Śūnyatā. Fixx frontman Cy Curnin
reflected on its meaning in a 2008 interview:
promotion. The ad was played at a high rotation during sporting events, being documented as having aired 42,000 times on October 26. This resulted in criticism online as being overplayed and even motivated the creation of a Facebook
group, "Stop Playing Toyota's 'Saved By Zero' Commercial", and "Toyota: Saved by Mitsubishi?" The overwhelming distaste for the campaign would also be documented by the likes of Time
and Esquire
. Despite the complaints, Toyota said that the ad was successful and that they would not cut short its scheduled run in November that year.
Cy Curnin
noted his amusement at the irony Toyota's using the song to boast 0% car financing. He enjoyed the royalty checks and renewed attention the song gave The Fixx, both good and bad, but disliked the rerecording, stating, "I would prefer to have been the one singing it... It’s a bit cheesy."
for "Saved by Zero." While the label had previously been financially apprehensive with The Fixx, upon the rising commercial significance of music videos, a large budget was granted for "Saved by Zero," allegedly providing "lunches, massages, and fourteen stylists." The heavy price tag, however, ultimately persuaded MCA to financially lighten up in future endeavors.
The beginning of the video pays homage to the 1941 film classic Citizen Kane by Orson Welles
. The premise sees Cy Curnin playing a painter who creates the artwork for Reach the Beach. He is stranded at a flat, and he reminisces about his childhood. Another scene features Curnin painting his naked torso with white and red acrylic paint
tubes.
in fearful lyrics." Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine named it an AMG Track Pick and called the song a "cool, robotic slice of synth pop."
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
rock group The Fixx
The Fixx
The Fixx is an English rock band formed in London in 1979. Their hits include "One Thing Leads to Another," "Red Skies," "Stand or Fall," "Saved by Zero," "Sign of Fire," "Are We Ourselves?," "Secret Separation," "Driven Out," "How Much Is Enough?," and "Deeper and Deeper," which was featured on...
. Released in 1983, it was the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
their second album, Reach the Beach
Reach the Beach
Reach the Beach is the second studio album by British new wave band The Fixx, released in 1983. The album reached number eight on the American albums chart, their highest to date there...
, and is perhaps their second best-known song following "One Thing Leads to Another
One Thing Leads to Another
"One Thing Leads to Another" is a song by new wave rock group The Fixx, from their album Reach the Beach. "One Thing Leads to Another" is the group's best known song, and their most successful single, peaking at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1983 and peaking at No. 2 on the US...
."
An 8-minute version of "Saved by Zero" is included as a bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
on the 2003 reissue of Reach the Beach.
Composition and meaning
"Saved by Zero" features a repetitive, jittery guitar riff and corresponding bass. It features a soothing yet haunting presentation with its ghostly vocals and dark atmosphere. Lyrically, "Saved by Zero" is a reference to the BuddhistBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
mantra Śūnyatā. Fixx frontman Cy Curnin
Cy Curnin
Cy Curnin is a singer/songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist for the new wave music group, The Fixx. The band became famous with the song "One Thing Leads to Another" in 1983, and remained popular in the United States throughout the 1980s...
reflected on its meaning in a 2008 interview:
- "It was about looking at your own life, not so much about amassing material things but about experiences that lend you to be blissful... The song was written from the point of view of the release you get when you have nothing left to lose. It’s sort of a meditation. It clears your head of all fears and panics and illusions and you get back to the basics, which is a Buddhist mantra, which I practiced back then, and which I still do. The idea of the song is how great it is to get back to zero."
Toyota advertising campaign
In 2008, a re-recorded version of the song was used in an American national advertising campaign for Toyota, touting a 0% annual percentage rateAnnual percentage rate
The term annual percentage rate , also called nominal APR, and the term effective APR, also called EAR, describe the interest rate for a whole year , rather than just a monthly fee/rate, as applied on a loan, mortgage loan, credit card, etc. It is a finance charge expressed as an annual rate...
promotion. The ad was played at a high rotation during sporting events, being documented as having aired 42,000 times on October 26. This resulted in criticism online as being overplayed and even motivated the creation of a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
group, "Stop Playing Toyota's 'Saved By Zero' Commercial", and "Toyota: Saved by Mitsubishi?" The overwhelming distaste for the campaign would also be documented by the likes of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
and Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
. Despite the complaints, Toyota said that the ad was successful and that they would not cut short its scheduled run in November that year.
Cy Curnin
Cy Curnin
Cy Curnin is a singer/songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist for the new wave music group, The Fixx. The band became famous with the song "One Thing Leads to Another" in 1983, and remained popular in the United States throughout the 1980s...
noted his amusement at the irony Toyota's using the song to boast 0% car financing. He enjoyed the royalty checks and renewed attention the song gave The Fixx, both good and bad, but disliked the rerecording, stating, "I would prefer to have been the one singing it... It’s a bit cheesy."
Music video
Brian Grant had been chosen by MCA to direct the music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Saved by Zero." While the label had previously been financially apprehensive with The Fixx, upon the rising commercial significance of music videos, a large budget was granted for "Saved by Zero," allegedly providing "lunches, massages, and fourteen stylists." The heavy price tag, however, ultimately persuaded MCA to financially lighten up in future endeavors.
The beginning of the video pays homage to the 1941 film classic Citizen Kane by Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
. The premise sees Cy Curnin playing a painter who creates the artwork for Reach the Beach. He is stranded at a flat, and he reminisces about his childhood. Another scene features Curnin painting his naked torso with white and red acrylic paint
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry...
tubes.
Reception
"Saved by Zero" would become one of The Fixx's most popular songs and a concert staple. It has been described as having "acutely captured the paranoia of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
in fearful lyrics." Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine named it an AMG Track Pick and called the song a "cool, robotic slice of synth pop."
Chart positions
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
20 |
| Mainstream Rock | 9 |