Telecommunication (song)
Encyclopedia
Telecommunication is a 1981 song by A Flock of Seagulls
, from their first album. Although it did not chart on either the traditional UK
or US charts, it received considerable time on the dance charts. The up-tempo beat featuring power chords and heavy synth, along with the futuristic lyrics, has enabled the song to reach cult
status.
The song is noteworthy because the band eschewed the guitar-laden choruses many songs of this period had (e.g. power ballad), and instead relied on percussion arpeggios and multi-layered sounds. The effect is not unlike what is known as the wall of sound
effect, although unlike recordings of Phil Spector
(who expressed interest in the band, calling them "phenomenal"), A Flock of Seagulls recorded in stereo
.
and space
. The first line mentions "ultraviolet
..radio light..to your solar system
..." indicating someone or something is attempting to communicate across the galaxy
. In astronomy, UV light is emitted by very hot objects. A motif in the bands lyrics is alien life forms (with A Flock of Seagulls (album)
being essentially a rock opera
about alien abduction) and futuristic technology
. The song also includes references to nuclear energy
and wireless communication, the latter not being in wide use until a decade after the song's release.
A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
, from their first album. Although it did not chart on either the traditional UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or US charts, it received considerable time on the dance charts. The up-tempo beat featuring power chords and heavy synth, along with the futuristic lyrics, has enabled the song to reach cult
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
status.
The song is noteworthy because the band eschewed the guitar-laden choruses many songs of this period had (e.g. power ballad), and instead relied on percussion arpeggios and multi-layered sounds. The effect is not unlike what is known as the wall of sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
effect, although unlike recordings of Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
(who expressed interest in the band, calling them "phenomenal"), A Flock of Seagulls recorded in stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
.
Lyrics
The song details types of energy transmitted across timeTime
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
and space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
. The first line mentions "ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
..radio light..to your solar system
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
..." indicating someone or something is attempting to communicate across the galaxy
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
. In astronomy, UV light is emitted by very hot objects. A motif in the bands lyrics is alien life forms (with A Flock of Seagulls (album)
A Flock of Seagulls (album)
A Flock of Seagulls is the eponymous debut album by the Liverpudlian New Wave band A Flock of Seagulls. It was released in 1982 on Jive , and featured the international hit single "I Ran ," which reached the Top 10 in the U.S. and New Zealand, as well as #1 in Australia. The song "Space Age Love...
being essentially a rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
about alien abduction) and futuristic technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. The song also includes references to nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and wireless communication, the latter not being in wide use until a decade after the song's release.
External links
- A Flock of Seagulls reviewed in 1982. http://avaxhome.ws/music/rock/progressive_rock/a_flock_of_seagulls_a_flock_of_seagulls.html
See also
- A Flock of SeagullsA Flock of SeagullsA Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
- Wall of SoundWall of SoundThe Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
- Phil SpectorPhil SpectorPhillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
- New Wave musicNew Wave musicNew 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...
- Alien Abduction
- Concept AlbumConcept albumIn music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...