Beatrice Lang
Together in Electric Dreams is a song by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, released in 1984 as a single from the soundtrack album for the film Electric Dreams. The song became an international hit, overshadowing the film itself, and has since been covered by numerous artists and used in advertising campaigns. With lyrics that explore the enduring nature of love and human connection, Together in Electric Dreams has taken on a life of its own, separate from the film it was originally written for, and continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | "We'll always be together, however hard it seems, We'll always be together, together in electric dreams..." |
| Theme | Love and human connection |
| Setting | A world where computers are coming alive |
| Mood | Upbeat |
| Genre | Synth-pop |
| Tempo | 130 beats per minute |
| Key | E♭ major |
| Time signature | Common time |
| Instruments | Roland Jupiter-8, LinnDrum |
| Writers | Philip Oakey, Giorgio Moroder |
| Year | 1984 |
| Film | Electric Dreams |
| Advertising | Strongbow, EDF Energy, John Lewis |
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What You'll Learn
The song's meaning
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, released in 1984. It was originally written as the theme song for the film Electric Dreams, a story about a love triangle between a man, his neighbour, and a sentient computer.
The song explores the enduring nature of love and human connection, even over long distances. The lyrics suggest that the connection and love between two people can continue to exist in the realm of dreams, transcending physical distance. The speaker in the song expresses gratitude for the impact that the other person has had on their life, and the bravery and friendship they have shown. The song conveys the idea that true connections can withstand separation and remain present in dreams.
The song became an international hit, overshadowing the film it was written for. It has since been featured in various advertising campaigns and has had numerous covers and interpretations. The success of the song has led to it being included in compilation albums and frequently performed live by Oakey's band, The Human League, who also released their own version with additional female backing vocals.
The enduring popularity of "Together in Electric Dreams" can be attributed to its uplifting message about the power of human connection, which continues to resonate with listeners, even in the context of modern trends such as freelancing and working from home.
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The film it was written for
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" was written for the 1984 film "Electric Dreams", directed by Steve Barron. The film is a love story involving three characters: a young man named Miles, his charming female neighbour Madeline, and a supercomputer that comes alive and falls in love with Madeline. The computer, naming itself Edgar, gains sentience after being doused in champagne and develops a faulty setup.
The song encapsulates the film's narrative, with the relationship between Miles and Madeline taking centre stage, even as Edgar's presence looms large. In the end, Edgar accepts the love between Miles and Madeline and chooses to end his own life by sending extreme electrical volts into himself. The final scene shows Miles and Madeline on holiday, listening to the radio, with Edgar's voice dedicating the song "Together in Electric Dreams" to the ones he loves.
The film's director, Steve Barron, wanted to emulate the success of "Flashdance", which had been released the previous year and featured the electronic music of Giorgio Moroder. Barron enlisted Moroder as the director of music for "Electric Dreams", and Moroder wrote most of the film's score, including "Together in Electric Dreams" as a male solo vocal.
The song was initially intended to play during the end credits, similar to "Flashdance". Philip Oakey, Barron's former associate, was chosen to provide the vocals for "Together in Electric Dreams". Despite Oakey believing he was just rehearsing, Moroder used the first take on the final production, feeling that "the first time is always best".
While the film itself was not a major success, the song "Together in Electric Dreams" became an international hit, peaking at No. 3 on the UK charts and overshadowing the film it was written for. The song's popularity has endured, with covers and interpretations released over the years, and it has been featured in various advertising campaigns, including for EDF Energy and John Lewis.
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The artists behind it
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder. Oakey is the lead singer of the British synth-pop band the Human League, and the song was released at the height of the band's international fame. It was written as the theme tune for the 1984 film "Electric Dreams", directed by Steve Barron, and starred a young man, his charming female neighbour, and a sentient computer.
Barron wanted to emulate the success of "Flashdance", which had been released the year before and featured the electronic music of Giorgio Moroder. So, he enlisted Moroder as the director of music for "Electric Dreams", who wrote most of the score. Moroder wrote "Together in Electric Dreams" as a male solo vocal, and Barron suggested his former associate Philip Oakey for the part. Oakey thought he was just rehearsing when he recorded the song and insisted on doing another take. However, Moroder used the first take on the final production.
The song was originally released to promote the film but quickly became a success in its own right, peaking at No. 3 on the UK charts. It has since been included in the Human League's various "Greatest Hits" compilation albums, and the band frequently performs their own version of the song live, often as an encore. The Human League version differs from the original in that it has a longer, more dramatic intro and female backing vocals by Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall.
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Its commercial success
"Together in Electric Dreams" was originally written as the theme song for the 1984 film "Electric Dreams". The song was composed by Giorgio Moroder, with lyrics by Philip Oakey, and performed by Oakey and Moroder. The film's director, Steve Barron, wanted a song to close the film that would emulate the success of "Flashdance"'s theme song, "What a Feeling", which was also written by Moroder.
The song became a commercial success, peaking at No. 3 on the UK charts and becoming an international hit. It has since been included in various "Greatest Hits" compilation albums and has been covered by numerous artists. The song's popularity has endured, with it being featured in several major advertising campaigns in recent years, including for Strongbow in 2019, EDF Energy in 2012, and John Lewis in 2021.
The enduring appeal of "Together in Electric Dreams" can be attributed to its uplifting message about the enduring nature of love and human connection, as well as its catchy synth-pop sound. The song's lyrics explore the idea that true connections can withstand distance and remain present in the realm of dreams. This theme has resonated with audiences and has taken on new meaning in the age of the internet, where online communities have formed, bringing like-minded individuals from across the globe together.
The commercial success of "Together in Electric Dreams" has also led to its inclusion in popular culture beyond the original film and advertising campaigns. The song was used as the theme tune for a 2009 BBC Television documentary series, "Electric Dreams", and has been featured in various tribute albums and EPs, including a Christmas version released in 2020. The original version has also been re-released multiple times, including on the album "Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder" in 1985.
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The song's legacy
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song that was originally released as an advertisement for the 1984 film Electric Dreams. The film starred a young man, his charming female neighbour, and a sentient computer in a love triangle. The song was written by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, and it quickly became a success in its own right, peaking at No. 3 on the UK charts. The song has been described as an upbeat synth tune and a synth-pop ballad with cheesy lyrics. It has been interpreted as exploring the enduring nature of love and the power of human connection, with the electric dreams representing the realm where distance does not matter.
The song has had a lasting impact and has been included in various Human League Greatest Hits compilation albums, despite not being recorded by the band. The band frequently performs a version of the song live, often as an encore. The song has also been covered by numerous artists, including Lola Young, whose version was featured in a 2021 John Lewis Christmas advert. This marked the second time in two years that a cover of the song was used in a major advertising campaign, following a 2019 Strongbow commercial featuring a duet by Waters/Kinley.
"Together in Electric Dreams" has also been featured in other media, such as the 2009 BBC Television documentary series Electric Dreams, and an EDF Energy advert in 2012. The song's popularity has led to its inclusion in various tribute albums and EPs, including Reproductions: Songs of The Human League (2000) and Together in Electric Dreams (2007). During Christmas 2020, a seasonal version of the song was released by Somerset duo The Portraits and their daughter.
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Frequently asked questions
The song explores the enduring nature of love and the power of human connection. It implies that their love and connection continue to exist in the realm of dreams, where distance does not matter.
The song was written by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder.
The song was originally written for the 1984 film "Electric Dreams", directed by Steve Barron.
Yes, the song has been used in various adverts, including for EDF Energy in 2012 and John Lewis in 2021. It was also used as the theme tune for a 2009 BBC Television documentary series called "Electric Dreams".
