Wiktor Wise
Are 'Friends' Electric? is a song by Tubeway Army, written by Gary Numan and released in 1979. It has since been covered by various artists, including Moloko, Patrick Dineen, and Grace Jones. The song is notable for its unique structure, with no chorus and a mix of spoken and sung vocals, as well as its early use of synthesizers. The original performance of the song on *Top of the Pops* in 1979 has been described as new wave.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | Are "Friends" Electric? |
| Artist | Tubeway Army |
| Writer | Gary Numan |
| Language | English |
| Year of Release | 1979 |
| Album | Top of the Pops - Volume 74 |
| Covers | Moloko, Patrick Dineen, An Pierlé, Groove Armada, and more |
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What You'll Learn
Are Friends Electric? written by Gary Numan
"Are Friends Electric?" is a song written and performed by Gary Numan. It was released in 1979 as part of the album "Replicas" by Tubeway Army, Numan's first band. The song is considered new wave and post-punk, and its sound was heavily influenced by the Moog synthesizer.
Numan has described the process of writing the song as combining two separate songs he was working on, one with a verse and one with a chorus, that he felt went well together. The lyrics were inspired by a short story he had written for a possible book. In the story, and in the song, "friends" are androids with oblong pupils, and the song describes a man who orders a prostitute, who turns out to be an android. Numan has also described the song as a "futuristic version of getting pornography in the post", and has said that if the BBC had known what the lyrics were about, they would never have let him perform the song on "Top of the Pops".
The song has had a lasting impact on music, with UK DJ Richard X sampling the music and combining it with the vocals of Adina Howard's "Freak Like Me" in 2002. The song, now called "We Don't Give a Damn About Our Friends", became a club classic. A version with the vocals performed by The Sugababes was also released, which went to #1 in the UK.
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Are Friends Electric? by Moloko
"Are Friends Electric?" is a song by Moloko, released in 1997 on their album "Random". The song is a cover of the 1979 song "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Tubeway Army, written by Gary Numan.
The Moloko version of the song is a haunting, synth-driven track that features lead singer Róisín Murphy's distinctive vocals. The lyrics paint a picture of loneliness and isolation, with references to peeling paint, fading light, and a man smoking a cigarette outside. The narrator wonders what they are doing in a room like this and questions the nature of friendship, asking if "friends" are electric.
The song's title and lyrics suggest a world where friendship and human connection have become mechanized and artificial, perhaps due to technology or some other form of alienation. The narrator seems to be struggling with the idea of what it means to be a friend and whether their own "friend" is broken or faulty.
The song's mood and themes are enhanced by its musical arrangement, which is often sparse and atmospheric, with a driving beat and layers of synths and electronic sounds. The production emphasizes the sense of isolation and the mechanical nature of the "friends" in question.
Overall, "Are Friends Electric?" by Moloko is a thought-provoking and evocative song that explores themes of loneliness, technology, and the changing nature of human connection and friendship in the modern world.
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Are Friends Electric? by Groove Armada
"Are Friends Electric?" is a song by English electronic music duo Groove Armada. It was released on March 3, 2008, as a part of the LateNightTales compilation, which was compiled and mixed by Groove Armada themselves. The song is a cover of the original "Are Friends Electric?" by Gary Numan, which was first released in 1979 under the artist name Tubeway Army. Groove Armada's version of the song has a BPM of 94 and a length of 4 minutes and 28 seconds. It is classified under the Electronica genre.
The lyrics of the song, which can be found on websites like Genius Lyrics, explore themes of loneliness and heartbreak. The song describes a scenario where the singer's "friend" has broken down, leaving them with no one to love. The singer also discovers the reasons behind the phone calls and smiles, which seem to have caused them pain. The song is filled with emotions of sadness and confusion, with lines like "And I missed you tonight / It must be time to leave / You see it meant everything to me".
The release of "Are Friends Electric?" by Groove Armada was accompanied by other tracks on the LateNightTales compilation, including "The Happy Detective" by Will Self, a parody of the noir detective story that also serves as a tender meditation on human frailty. The song has gained recognition as a great remix, with some listeners praising it for its unique sound and interpretation of the original.
Overall, "Are Friends Electric?" by Groove Armada is a captivating cover that puts a fresh spin on Gary Numan's classic. It showcases the duo's ability to blend their distinct electronic sound with the original's new wave influences, creating a memorable and atmospheric rendition.
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Are Friends Electric? by Tubeway Army
"Are Friends Electric?" is a song by Tubeway Army, written by Gary Numan and released in 1979. It appeared on Top of the Pops in the same year. The original song is five minutes long, has no chorus, and is mostly spoken, not sung. It is known for highlighting the untapped potential of synthesizers.
The song has been covered and sampled by numerous artists over the years. Notable covers include versions by Moloko, An Pierlé, Patrick Dineen, and Grace Jones. Pierlé's version, in particular, became a hit on Belgian radio and helped launch her music career.
The song has also been sampled in various songs, including "Madness Tempel" by Madlib, "Lockjaw" by Sir Mix-a-Lot, and "Creator" by Return of the Living Acid.
"Are Friends Electric?" is considered influential in the world of electronic music and has left a lasting impact despite the advances in the genre since its release.
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Are Friends Electric? on Top of the Pops (TOTP) in 1979
"Are Friends Electric?" by Tubeway Army appeared on Top of the Pops (TOTP) in 1979. The single was released in May 1979 and became the band's first entry on the UK Singles Chart. It steadily climbed up the charts, reaching the number one spot in June 1979 and remaining there for four weeks. By the end of the year, it was the fourth highest-selling single in the UK. The song was written and performed by Gary Numan, who was the frontman and sole songwriter, producer, and public face of the band.
Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave band formed in 1977 at the height of punk rock. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesizer-based number-one hit with "Are Friends Electric?" and its parent album "Replicas" topping the UK charts in mid-1979. The song and album marked a shift in the band's sound from punk rock to electronic.
The band's performance on TOTP on 24 May 1979 is particularly notable. The band members, including Ultravox keyboardist Billy Currie, Chris Payne, Paul Gardiner, and drummer Cedric Sharpley, appeared all dressed in black and near-motionless, with Numan's performance often described as "like an android". This style, which may have been a way to hide stage nerves, became his trademark.
The underlying context of the song has been said to reference the Philip K. Dick novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". The song's title and lyrical content draw a clear parallel to the novel's exploration of the blurred lines between humans and androids.
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Frequently asked questions
1979.
Gary Numan.
There have been at least 12 covers of "Are 'Friends' Electric?".
