Beatrice Lang
Are 'Friends' Electric? is a song originally performed by the English band Tubeway Army, released in 1979. It was written and produced by the band's frontman and lead vocalist, Gary Numan. The song has been covered by several artists, including Information Society, who included it in their 1997 album Don't Be Afraid. The song's lyrics explore a science fiction narrative about robots in the future that provide various services, including prostitution, and the ambiguity surrounding their true nature due to their human-like appearance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Artist | Tubeway Army |
| Original Release Year | 1979 |
| Covered by | Information Society, Armitage Shanks, Nancy Boy, Adina Howard, Sugababes, Weezer, Kevin Max + Service Unicorn, Coco Morier (Ft. Holly Marilyn Solem), Moloko, Republica, The Dead Weather |
| Information Society's Cover Release Date | 23 September 1997 |
| Information Society's Cover Album | Don't Be Afraid |
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What You'll Learn
- The song 'Are Friends Electric' was written by Gary Numan and released in 1979
- The song was originally written as two separate songs
- The song's lyrics are inspired by a short story Numan wrote
- The song's theme explores the idea of robots in the future that look human and provide services
- The song's commercial success is attributed to its unique sound and sci-fi themes
The song 'Are Friends Electric' was written by Gary Numan and released in 1979
The song "Are Friends Electric" was written and produced by Gary Numan and released in 1979. It was performed by the English band Tubeway Army, of which Numan was the frontman and lead vocalist. The song was a hit, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart and staying there for four weeks. It was the band's breakout single and their last song before breaking up.
The song was originally written as two separate songs, with Numan combining the verse of one and the chorus of the other. The lyrics came from a short story Numan had written for a possible book, about what London would be like in the future. The song is about robots that perform different services and look human, so neighbours don't know what they really are. In the song, the robot is a prostitute, which is why 'friends' is in inverted commas.
"Are Friends Electric" has been covered by several artists, including Information Society, Armitage Shanks, Nancy Boy, and the Sugababes, who retitled their version "Freak Like Me." The song has had a lasting influence, with some crediting it as the song that kicked off synthpop.
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The song was originally written as two separate songs
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" was originally written as two separate songs. The song was written and produced by Gary Numan, the frontman and lead vocalist of the English band Tubeway Army. It was the band's breakout single, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1979 and staying there for four weeks.
Numan has explained that he was working on two different songs and had a verse for one and a chorus for the other, but he couldn't finish either. However, he realised that the two songs sounded good together, which is why the final version is five minutes long. The song has three distinct sections: a recurring verse with a synth riff in C and B flat, a recurring section with spoken word over slow arpeggiated seventh chords, and an instrumental break in F.
The song's lyrics were inspired by a short story that Numan had written for a possible book or a sci-fi story he was working on about machines cloning human skin to perform various services, including prostitution. The song's theme revolves around robots in the future that look human, so much so that neighbours can't tell them apart. In the song, one of these robots is a prostitute, which is why the word "friend" is in inverted commas in the title—it refers to an android.
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" has been covered by various artists, including Information Society for their 1997 album "Don't Be Afraid", and British garage punk band Armitage Shanks for their 1998 album "25 Golden Showers". In 2002, a remixed version of the song was released by the Sugababes under the title "Freak Like Me", which also topped the UK charts.
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The song's lyrics are inspired by a short story Numan wrote
The lyrics of the song "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan were inspired by a short story he wrote for a possible book. In a 2011 interview with the BBC, Numan confirmed that the song was "a sci-fi story I was writing about machines who cloned human skin that did all the horrible menial jobs including prostitution. It's actually about an electronic prostitute."
Numan also revealed that the lyrics came from short stories he had written about what London would be like in 30 years. In the song, the "friends" are robots that come to the door and supply various services, but neighbours do not know what they really are because they look human. The song is about a man who calls up for a prostitute and is visited by one.
The song, released in 1979, was a hit for Numan's band Tubeway Army, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart. It is considered a breakthrough single that kick-started synthpop. After this song, Numan left the band and started his successful solo career, releasing "Cars," which also topped the UK charts and cracked the US.
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" has been covered by various artists over the years, including Information Society for their 1997 album "Don't Be Afraid," and British garage punk band Armitage Shanks for their 1998 album "25 Golden Showers."
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The song's theme explores the idea of robots in the future that look human and provide services
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a song by the English band Tubeway Army, released in 1979. It was written and produced by the band's frontman and lead vocalist, Gary Numan. The song explores the idea of robots in the future that look human and provide various services, including prostitution.
In the song, "friends" refer to androids or robots that are designed to look and act like humans. The lyrics depict a man who calls for a prostitute, only to be visited by one of these machines. The song blurs the lines between humans and robots, as the narrator cannot tell the difference between the two. This is further emphasized by the use of inverted commas around the word "friend" in the title, suggesting that these machines are not truly friends but merely imitations.
Numan himself has confirmed that the song is about "machines who cloned human skin and did all the horrible menial jobs, including prostitution." He drew inspiration from science fiction writers such as Philip K. Dick and JG Ballard and his own short stories about the future of London. The song's theme explores a world where robots have become so advanced that they can perfectly mimic humans, performing a range of services, from menial tasks to more intimate ones.
The song's impact can be seen in its influence on other artists, who have covered it over the years, including Information Society, Armitage Shanks, Nancy Boy, and more. Each cover brings its own interpretation, but the underlying theme of robots providing human-like services remains intact.
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" not only sparked conversations about the potential future of robotics and their impact on society but also left a lasting impression on the music industry, with its unique blend of synthpop and spoken word, solidifying its place as a landmark song in musical history.
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The song's commercial success is attributed to its unique sound and sci-fi themes
The commercial success of the song "Are Friends Electric" by Gary Numan and Tubeway Army is often attributed to its unique sound and sci-fi themes. Released in 1979, the song became a breakout hit, reaching #1 in the UK Singles Chart and is considered to have kick-started the synthpop genre.
The song's unique sound is characterised by its use of synthesizers, with Numan recording it on a Polymoog synthesizer, along with conventional bass and drums. The instrumentation is minimal, featuring a conventional drum and bass guitar backing track, additional heavily flanged guitar, subdued vocals, and prominently, a Minimoog. This combination of elements created an innovative and distinctive sound that stood out in the music industry at the time.
The song's sci-fi themes are another key factor in its commercial success. The lyrics were inspired by Numan's interest in science fiction writers such as Philip K. Dick and JG Ballard, and the song explores a futuristic world where robots perform various services, including prostitution, while appearing indistinguishable from humans. This blend of science fiction and social commentary captured the imagination of listeners and helped the song resonate with audiences.
Additionally, the song's structure and composition contributed to its appeal. Numan has shared that the song was originally two separate compositions but he realised that they sounded better combined. This resulted in a longer song with a unique structure, featuring three distinct sections: a recurring verse, a spoken-word section, and an instrumental break. This format, along with its memorable synth riff and arpeggiated chords, created a captivating listening experience.
The song's impact extended beyond its initial success, as it inspired numerous covers and adaptations. Artists such as Information Society, Armitage Shanks, Nancy Boy, and Sugababes have all released their versions, some of which have also achieved commercial success. "Are Friends Electric" has solidified its place in music history, influencing subsequent synthpop and electronic music while retaining its unique sound and enduring appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
The original version of 'Are Friends Electric' was released by the English band Tubeway Army in 1979. It was their breakout single and reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.
'Are Friends Electric' is about robots in the future that perform different services and look human, so neighbours don't know what they really are. The robot in the song is a prostitute.
Information Society covered 'Are Friends Electric' for their 1997 album 'Don't Be Afraid'.
Other artists who have covered the song include Armitage Shanks, Nancy Boy, Replicants, Weezer, Moloko, Republica, The Dead Weather, and Sugababes (who retitled their version 'Freak Like Me').
