Trystan Casey
Together in Electric Dreams is a song by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, written and recorded for the 1984 film Electric Dreams. The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984 and became an international hit, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and staying in the charts for thirteen weeks. The song was also a commercial success in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The film Electric Dreams is a science fiction romantic comedy directed by Steve Barron and written by Rusty Lemorande. It stars Lenny Von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, and Maxwell Caulfield, and features the voice of Bud Cort. The film received mixed reviews from critics but has become known for its soundtrack, which features music by popular artists of the time, including Culture Club, Jeff Lynne, and Heaven 17.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Electric Dreams |
| Genre | Science fiction romantic comedy |
| Director | Steve Barron |
| Writer | Rusty Lemorande |
| Stars | Lenny Von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, Maxwell Caulfield, Bud Cort (voice) |
| Release Date | 20 July 1984 (US), 17 August 1984 (UK) |
| Song Name | Together in Electric Dreams |
| Artist | Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder |
| Album | Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder |
| Release Year | 1985 |
| Chart Performance | No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart, success in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands |
| Instruments Used | Roland Jupiter-8, triangle, LinnDrum |
| Tempo | 130 beats per minute |
| Key and Time Signature | E♭ major in common time |
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What You'll Learn
Together in Electric Dreams was written for the film
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song written by British singer-songwriter Philip Oakey and Italian composer-producer Giorgio Moroder. It was recorded for the original soundtrack of the 1984 film Electric Dreams, directed by Steve Barron. The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984 and became an international hit, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and staying in the charts for thirteen weeks. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.
The film Electric Dreams is a science fiction romantic comedy starring Lenny Von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, and Maxwell Caulfield, with the voice of Bud Cort. The film follows an architect, Miles Harding, who buys a personal computer to help develop his ideas for earthquake-resistant buildings. The song "Together in Electric Dreams" is featured in a key scene in the film where the characters Madeline and Miles go on vacation together, and Edgar dedicates the song to "the ones I love" on the radio.
The song was written specifically for the film by Oakey and Moroder, who was hired as the composer for the film's soundtrack. Moroder wrote the music and Oakey wrote the lyrics, and they recorded the song with Oakey on male solo vocals. The song was intended to play during the end credits of the film, emulating the success of the song "Flashdance" from the film of the same name.
The promotional video for the song was designed to promote the film Electric Dreams and featured key scenes from the film spliced with footage of Oakey. The song's popularity even eclipsed the film it was intended to promote, and it is often erroneously credited as a single by Oakey's band, The Human League. The song was later included on the joint album "Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder", released in 1985.
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The song was a bigger hit than the film
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" was written by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder and recorded for the original soundtrack of the 1984 film Electric Dreams. The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984 and became a major commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and staying in the charts for thirteen weeks. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The song's popularity has been attributed in part to it being released at the height of Oakey's band, The Human League's, international fame and success, leading to it often being erroneously credited as a Human League single. The song's success also led to it being included in the band's various Greatest Hits compilation albums.
The film Electric Dreams, on the other hand, received mixed reviews from critics and was not a commercial success. It is described as a "1984 science fiction romantic comedy film" directed by Steve Barron and written by Rusty Lemorande. The film starred Lenny Von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, and Maxwell Caulfield, and featured the voice of Bud Cort. While the film did not achieve widespread success, it is notable for being Barron's directorial debut and for its exploration of the commercial link between a movie and its soundtrack.
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" was intended to promote the film and was written specifically for a male solo vocal, with Oakey being suggested for the part by Barron. The song's promotional video spliced key scenes from the film with footage of Oakey, and was designed to promote the film rather than the song itself. However, the song quickly overshadowed the film and became a success in its own right. This can be attributed in part to the song's catchiness, with Dave Ling of Number One noting the "dazzling synthwork" and "surprisingly catchy song" and the addition of a guitar solo that "adds a touch of variation and originality".
The song's longevity is evident in its continued inclusion in The Human League's live performances and compilation albums, as well as its use in various advertisements and as a documentary series theme tune, contributing to its re-entry into the charts in 2012. The song has become one of the staple '80s electronic hits and has helped to enhance the legacy of the film Electric Dreams, despite the film's initial lack of critical and commercial success.
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The film's plot and themes
The 1984 science fiction romantic comedy film Electric Dreams explores the relationship between humans and technology, specifically the impact of computers on people's lives. The film stars Lenny Von Dohlen as Miles Harding, an architect who purchases a personal computer to aid in his work. However, Miles ends up buying more gadgets than he needs, including a speech synthesizer and a microphone, which start to take over his life. The computer, voiced by Bud Cort, becomes a key character in the film, with its impact on Miles' life driving the plot.
One of the central themes of Electric Dreams is the power of music and its ability to enhance and shape the film's narrative. The film's director, Steve Barron, has acknowledged the influence of the previous year's film Flashdance and its use of electronic music by Giorgio Moroder. Barron enlisted Moroder as the director of music for Electric Dreams, aiming to emulate the success of Flashdance. Moroder wrote the film's score and collaborated with Philip Oakey on the song "Together in Electric Dreams," which plays during the end credits. The song became an international hit, even outshining the film itself.
The film also explores the nature of love and relationships, with a focus on the idea of "give and take." The character Edgar's attempts at writing a love song provide comedic relief, while the song "Together in Electric Dreams" adds an emotional element to the narrative. The film's dream-like sequences and the use of music video-style visuals contribute to the exploration of love and the power of music.
Electric Dreams received mixed reviews from critics upon its release, with some considering the plot hokey and the computer animation archaic. However, the film has gained a cult following, with fans appreciating its blend of humour, romance, and its innovative use of music for its time. The soundtrack features prominent musicians of the era, including Culture Club, Jeff Lynne, and Heaven 17, further emphasising the film's theme of the commercial link between movies and their soundtracks.
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The film's soundtrack and other songs
The 1984 science fiction romantic comedy film "Electric Dreams" features music from prominent musicians and bands of the time, including Giorgio Moroder, Culture Club, Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra), and Heaven 17. The movie's soundtrack album, also called "Electric Dreams", was released in 1984 and featured original music from popular rock and new wave musicians of the 1980s.
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" was written and recorded by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder for the film's original soundtrack. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984, becoming a major commercial success and an international hit. The song reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the charts for thirteen weeks. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The song was later included on Oakey and Moroder's self-titled joint album, released in 1985. The music video for "Together in Electric Dreams" spliced key scenes from the film with footage of Oakey, and it was perceived as a music video or a Human League video in the United Kingdom, where the film was not as successful.
Another song from the "Electric Dreams" soundtrack that was released as a single is "Video!" by Jeff Lynne, with the non-album track "Sooner or Later" as the B-side. The soundtrack also includes two new recordings by Culture Club: "The Dream" and "Love Is Love", as well as a song by Culture Club backing singer Helen Terry called "Now You're Mine". Additionally, Boy George and Roy Hay of Culture Club wrote the song "Electric Dreams", which was performed by P. P. Arnold. Other songs from the soundtrack include "Chase Runner" by Heaven 17, "Let it Run" and "Madeline's Theme" by Jeff Lynne, and "The Duel" by Giorgio Moroder.
The film's director, Steve Barron, has commented on the importance of music in "Electric Dreams", comparing it to the successful use of electronic music in the film "Flashdance", which was released a year earlier. Barron enlisted Giorgio Moroder as the director of music for "Electric Dreams", and Moroder wrote most of the score, including "Together in Electric Dreams", which plays during the end credits.
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The film's release and reception
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984, ahead of the film's release. It became a major commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and staying in the charts for 13 weeks. The single also charted in Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the US. The song was nominated for a 1984 BAFTA Music Award for "Best Original Song Written for a Film".
The film Electric Dreams was released in the United States by MGM/UA Entertainment Co. on 20 July 1984 and in the United Kingdom by 20th Century Fox on 17 August 1984. It was director Steve Barron's first full-feature film. The film received mixed reviews from critics. In 1985, Philip Oakey, one of the singers of the film's theme song, said, "I never liked that song. I thought it was just an old-fashioned synth record, sub-romantic and a bit sentimental, but my words were good."
The film was released on VHS in 1984 and in 1991 in the US by MGM/UA Home Video, who also released a LaserDisc in America in 1985. Warner Home Video released a Video CD version for the Singapore market in 2001. The film received a Region 2 DVD release on 6 April 2009, by Second Sight Films, who also released a Blu-ray on 7 August 2017, making its worldwide debut on Blu-ray.
The film's soundtrack, featuring music from prominent musicians of the time, was re-issued on CD in 1998. It was available throughout Europe but remained unreleased on compact disc in the US until September 1998.
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Frequently asked questions
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" is from the 1984 film Electric Dreams.
"Together in Electric Dreams" was written and performed by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder. Oakey is the lead singer of the British synthpop band The Human League, and Moroder is an Italian composer and producer.
Yes, "Together in Electric Dreams" was a commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and staying in the charts for 13 weeks. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The song was so popular that it eclipsed the film it was intended to promote.
