Soundtrack to a Generation (song)
Encyclopedia
"Soundtrack to a Generation" is a song by the British synthpop
group The Human League
. It is taken from the album, Romantic?
, from 1990.
. It was written by lead singer Philip Oakey
and keyboard player Neil Sutton
and features vocals by Oakey, Joanne Catherall
and Susan Ann Sulley.
It was recorded at HL studios in Sheffield
during 1990 and produced by Bob Kraushaar
. After the moderate success of "Heart Like a Wheel
" in 1990, Virgin agreed to release a second single from Romantic? In an attempt to resurrect their past, the band advertised the track as 'Red', a reference to their old early 1980s labeling system of 'Red' for dance tracks and 'Blue' for pop songs. The reference was lost on all but the most knowledgeable fans.
Although "Soundtrack to a Generation" was called "likable" in some sections of the music press who praised Oakey's profound lyric of "all I knew at 17 is all I know now". It was also heavily criticized elsewhere, particularly for Sulley and Catherall's idiosyncratic incidental "holy cow!" exclamations.
After losing money on the single's promotion and its music video, it would be the point that Virgin Records ran out of patience with the Human League. There would be no further releases from Romantic? and within a year the band would be dropped by the label.
first onscreen appearance with the band.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
. It is taken from the album, Romantic?
Romantic?
Romantic? is the sixth studio album by the English synthpop band The Human League. It was issued by Virgin Records in 1990 and was the band's first album of new material in four years...
, from 1990.
Background
"Soundtrack to a Generation" is the second and final single to be taken from Romantic?. It would be the band's final original release under their contract with Virgin RecordsVirgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. It was written by lead singer Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey is an English composer, singer, songwriter and producer.He is best known as the lead singer, frontman and co-founder of the famous English synthpop band The Human League. He has also had an extensive solo music career and collaborated with numerous other artists and producers...
and keyboard player Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton is a long term associate member of the veteran British synthpop group The Human League. He is best known as the on stage and studio keyboard player, but also has written various lyrics and composed instrumental tracks for the band and has numerous Human League album credits.His...
and features vocals by Oakey, Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall is an English singer; best known as one of the two female vocalists of the veteran English synthpop band The Human League.Born and raised in Sheffield, England...
and Susan Ann Sulley.
It was recorded at HL studios in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
during 1990 and produced by Bob Kraushaar
Bob Kraushaar
Robert Peter Kraushaar is an English pop music record producer specializing in mixing. Kraushaar has mixed and produced commercially successful songs and albums for numerous British and international artists....
. After the moderate success of "Heart Like a Wheel
Heart Like a Wheel (song)
"Heart Like a Wheel" is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. It is taken from the Romantic? album of 1990.-Background:"Heart Like a Wheel" was the first single to be taken from the Human League's Romantic? album of 1990...
" in 1990, Virgin agreed to release a second single from Romantic? In an attempt to resurrect their past, the band advertised the track as 'Red', a reference to their old early 1980s labeling system of 'Red' for dance tracks and 'Blue' for pop songs. The reference was lost on all but the most knowledgeable fans.
Reception
Released in the UK in October 1990, "Soundtrack to a Generation" flopped badly reaching only number 77 in the UK singles chart, and charting for two weeks. It was to be the worst performance of a Human League single for ten years.Although "Soundtrack to a Generation" was called "likable" in some sections of the music press who praised Oakey's profound lyric of "all I knew at 17 is all I know now". It was also heavily criticized elsewhere, particularly for Sulley and Catherall's idiosyncratic incidental "holy cow!" exclamations.
After losing money on the single's promotion and its music video, it would be the point that Virgin Records ran out of patience with the Human League. There would be no further releases from Romantic? and within a year the band would be dropped by the label.
Promotional video
The music video for "Soundtrack to a Generation" was a simply shot studio performance of the song with video smudge effects and a video overlay of falling leaves to give an "autumn" effect. The band's dress style had been a deliberate attempt to distance themselves from the over-stylized, late-1980s videos. There was little change in Catherall, but Oakey had re-adopted long hair and wore leather chaps. Susan Ann Sulley had adopted a "Supermodel" style of a very short dress and bouffant blonde hair. The video would be keyboard player and co-songwriter Neil Sutton'sNeil Sutton
Neil Sutton is a long term associate member of the veteran British synthpop group The Human League. He is best known as the on stage and studio keyboard player, but also has written various lyrics and composed instrumental tracks for the band and has numerous Human League album credits.His...
first onscreen appearance with the band.
Track listing
- CD 1 1990, Virgin (VSCDT 1303)
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Edit) - 4:01
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Orbit MixWilliam OrbitWilliam Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
) - 6:03 - "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Instrumental) - 4:32
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Pan Belgian Mix) - 4:40
- CD 2 1990, Virgin (VSCDX 1303)
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Pan Belgian Dub) - 5:55
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (808 Mix Instrumental) - 4:44
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Dave Dodd's Mix) - 6:07
- "Soundtrack to a Generation" (Acapella) - 2:47
External links
- http://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/soundtrack_generation.htm