Trystan Casey
Are 'Friends' Electric? is a song by Gary Numan and Tubeway Army, released in 1979. It is considered a New Wave classic and one of the first cyberpunk songs. The track is from the album 'Replicas' and is known for its synth new wave sound. Numan performed a notable version of the song at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Gary Numan & Tubeway Army |
| Genre | Synthpop, New Wave, Post-Punk |
| Release Date | 1979 |
| Album | Replicas |
| Peak Position | #1 in the UK Singles Chart |
| Lyrics | It's cold outside / And the paint's peeling off of my walls / There's a man outside / In a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette / Now the light fades out / And I wonder what I' |
| Influence | Phillip K. Dick and William S. Burroughs |
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What You'll Learn
- The song's lyrics were inspired by a short story Numan wrote for a possible book
- It was released in 1979 by Tubeway Army, Numan's band at the time
- The song's commercial success was unexpected due to its unconventional structure and lack of a definable chorus
- It inspired a bootleg that, with vocals from The Sugababes, became a UK #1 hit in 2002
- The song is considered one of the first cyberpunk releases, influencing the synth-pop genre
The song's lyrics were inspired by a short story Numan wrote for a possible book
The lyrics to "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan were inspired by a short story he wrote for a possible book. Numan has stated that the lyrics came from a larger story he had been working on, and the song itself is a musical version of a short story. The song is about a man who calls for a prostitute, who turns out to be an android. The only way to tell the androids apart from humans is that their pupils are slightly oblong. Numan has also stated that the song's lyrics came about when he was trying to write two separate songs and realized that the verse of one and the chorus of the other sounded good together.
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" was released in 1979 and was a breakout hit for Numan, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart. The song is considered to have kicked off synth-pop and helped establish Numan as a solo artist. Numan has also stated that writers Phillip K. Dick and William S. Burroughs influenced the song and his album Replicas, which includes "Are 'Friends' Electric?".
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It was released in 1979 by Tubeway Army, Numan's band at the time
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a song by Gary Numan that was released in 1979 by Tubeway Army, Numan's band at the time. It was the group's breakout single, reaching #1 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is considered to have kickstarted the synthpop genre.
The song was written by Numan, who was a solo artist by the time of its release, but used Tubeway Army as his band. The group consisted of Cedric Sharpley on drums, Russell Bell on keyboards, and others. "Are 'Friends' Electric?" was Numan's third album, following on from his previous records, "Tubeway Army" and "Replicas".
The lyrics for "Are 'Friends' Electric?" came from a short story that Numan had written for a possible book. As Numan explained in a 2006 interview with the Guardian:
> The reason 'Friends' is in inverted commas is because a 'friend' is an android. It's about a man who calls up for a prostitute and is visited by one. The only way you could tell them from humans was the pupils in their eyes were slightly oblong, and on the picture disc, my eye was like that."
The song's influence extended beyond its immediate commercial success, with its electronic sound helping to usher in the synthpop era on both sides of the Atlantic. Numan became a consistent hitmaker in the early '80s, particularly in his native UK.
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The song's commercial success was unexpected due to its unconventional structure and lack of a definable chorus
The commercial success of Gary Numan's "Are 'Friends' Electric?" was unexpected, to say the least. The song, released in 1979, was a breakout hit for Numan, reaching the top spot in the UK Singles Chart. However, its path to success was far from conventional, and its enduring legacy is due to its unique structure and unconventional sound.
Numan himself has expressed surprise at the song's success, acknowledging that its lack of a definable chorus and danceable rhythm went against the grain of typical pop songs of the era. In an interview, he reflected on the song's unusual structure, attributing it to his attempt to combine two separate unfinished songs. He merged a verse from one song with a chorus from another, resulting in a five-minute track that defied the conventions of traditional pop songwriting.
The electronic sound of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" was also initially polarising for audiences and critics alike. It took a while for the media to catch on, and there was resistance from some who dismissed it as a quirky, fleeting trend. However, the song resonated with the UK public, spending four weeks at number one before it even received radio airplay. This unexpected success can be attributed to the song's innovative use of synthesizers and its place in the burgeoning synth-pop genre, which Numan is now credited with helping to pioneer.
The impact of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" extended beyond its initial chart performance. The song has been recognised as influential in the evolution of cyberpunk as a music genre, blending science fiction themes with a lawless, computer-dominated society. Additionally, the song's lyrics, inspired by writers like Phillip K. Dick and William S. Burroughs, added depth to its appeal. The song's title, with its inverted commas, hints at a story where "friends" are androids, their true nature revealed only by the subtle oblong shape of their pupils.
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It inspired a bootleg that, with vocals from The Sugababes, became a UK #1 hit in 2002
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a 1979 hit by Gary Numan, which was initially released under the name Tubeway Army. The song is considered one of the first cyberpunk albums and a breakout single that arguably kicked off synth-pop. It was also one of the first songs to blend electronic sounds with pop music, making it quite unusual for its time.
UK-based DJ Richard X created a bootleg sampling the music of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and overlaying the vocals from Adina Howard's "Freak Like Me." This bootleg, titled "We Don't Give A Damn About Our Friends," became a popular anthem in UK clubs. However, Adina Howard was unhappy with her voice being sampled.
Universal, the record company that owned the rights to "Are 'Friends' Electric?", also signed The Sugababes, a group that had recently been dropped from London Records. The Sugababes provided the vocals for "Freak Like Me," replacing Howard's, and Richard X remixed the track to suit their vocals. The new version, also titled "Freak Like Me," became a commercial success and debuted at #1 in the UK in 2002, revitalizing the Sugababes' career. Gary Numan loved the new song and presented the Sugababes with the QW award for Best Single.
The Sugababes' version of "Freak Like Me" demonstrates the enduring appeal of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" more than two decades after its initial release. It also showcases the creative process of sampling and remixing in music production, transforming a classic song into a contemporary hit.
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The song is considered one of the first cyberpunk releases, influencing the synth-pop genre
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a 1979 hit by Tubeway Army, a band that served as a front for solo artist Gary Numan. The song is considered one of the first cyberpunk releases and a defining influence on the synth-pop genre.
The track's electronic sound was not for everyone, and it received a mixed critical reception upon its release. However, it became a commercial success, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart. The song's success helped establish Gary Numan as a solo artist and a pioneer of synth-pop.
The lyrics of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" are based on a short story Numan had written for a possible book. In the song, 'friend' is an android, as indicated by the oblong pupils in their eyes. This theme of human-machine interaction and the exploration of a lawless subculture in an oppressive, technology-driven society align with cyberpunk's key characteristics as a genre of science fiction.
The influence of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and its parent album, "Replicas", can be seen in the work of other artists. For example, electro group Information Society covered the song, and Numan himself has acknowledged the influence of writers Phillip K. Dick and William S. Burroughs on the album. Numan's work has also been sampled by other artists, such as UK DJ Richard X, who created a bootleg by combining the music of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" with the vocals of Adina Howard's "Freak Like Me".
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Frequently asked questions
'Are Friends Electric' was sung by Gary Numan.
The song is from the 1979 album Replicas by Gary Numan and Tubeway Army.
The song is considered New Wave and Post-Punk.
Yes, Gary Numan has performed the song live in recent years.
