Otis Singleton
Together in Electric Dreams is a song by British singer and composer Philip Oakey and Italian composer and producer Giorgio Moroder. It was written by Oakey and Moroder and recorded for the original soundtrack of the 1984 film Electric Dreams. The song was intended to promote the film but quickly overshadowed it, becoming a commercial success and peaking at No. 3 on the UK charts. The song has since been included in various Greatest Hits compilation albums by Oakey's band, The Human League, and is often erroneously credited as a Human League single.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Synth-pop ballad |
| Mood | Emotional |
| Tempo | 130 beats per minute |
| Key | E♭ major |
| Time signature | Common time |
| Instruments | Roland Jupiter-8, LinnDrum |
| Writers | Philip Oakey, Giorgio Moroder |
| Singer | Philip Oakey |
| Film | Electric Dreams |
| Film Director | Steve Barron |
| Film Plot | A man buys a computer system that becomes sentient and competes with his neighbour for the neighbour's affection. |
| Song Plot | A romantic relationship between two people who are in love but are far apart. |
| Song Release Date | September 1984 |
| Film Release Date | 1984 |
| EP Release Date | November 2007 |
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What You'll Learn
'Together in Electric Dreams' was written for the film 'Electric Dreams'
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song written and recorded by British singer and composer Philip Oakey and Italian composer and producer Giorgio Moroder. It was written for the 1984 film Electric Dreams, directed by Steve Barron, and was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984. The song was a major commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and even overshadowing the original film it was intended to promote.
The song was written to emulate the success of the film Flashdance, which had featured the electronic music of Giorgio Moroder. Moroder was brought on as the director of music for Electric Dreams and wrote "Together in Electric Dreams" as a male solo vocal. Philip Oakey, the frontman of the band Human League, was suggested by Barron for the part. Although the song was originally intended to promote the film, it quickly became a success in its own right, with Oakey noting the irony that a track that took only about ten minutes to record would become a worldwide hit.
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" encapsulates the narrative of the film, which centres around the character Miles, who finds himself in a love triangle with his neighbour Madeline and a supercomputer that becomes alive. The lyrics of the song allude to a relationship that endures despite physical distance, reflecting the connection between Miles and Madeline as well as the role of the sentient computer in their lives.
The popularity of "Together in Electric Dreams" has endured, with the song being included in various Greatest Hits compilation albums of the Human League, despite the band never officially recording their own version. The song has also been covered and featured in numerous advertisements, contributing to its lasting impact and recognition.
In conclusion, "Together in Electric Dreams" was written for the film Electric Dreams and became an iconic song that not only promoted the film but also achieved significant success and recognition beyond it. The song's themes of connection and enduring love resonated with audiences and contributed to its lasting popularity.
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The song was a bigger success than the film
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song by British singer and composer Philip Oakey and Italian composer and producer Giorgio Moroder. It was written and recorded for the original soundtrack of the 1984 film Electric Dreams. The song was initially released to promote the film but quickly overshadowed it, becoming a success in its own right.
The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and remaining in the charts for thirteen weeks. It also charted in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The song's popularity has endured, with covers and seasonal versions being released decades later. It has been included in The Human League's Greatest Hits albums and is often played live by the band, despite never having been recorded by them.
In contrast, the film Electric Dreams was not a critical or commercial success. It was the directorial debut of Steve Barron, who had previously directed music videos, including The Human League's "Don't You Want Me". Barron wanted to emulate the success of Flashdance and enlisted Giorgio Moroder, who had worked on that film's electronic music, as the director of music for Electric Dreams.
The song "Together in Electric Dreams" was written by Moroder as a male solo vocal, and Barron suggested Oakey, his former colleague, for the part. Oakey later remarked on the irony that a song that took about ten minutes to record became a worldwide hit, while some of his other tracks that took much longer to produce did not.
The song's lyrics and music video seem to refer to a long-distance relationship maintained through electronic communication, with the phrase "electric dreams" perhaps alluding to the early days of electronic mail. However, interpretations vary, with some seeing it as a song about a parent who left their child or about the online community and human connection in the digital age.
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The song was written and recorded in ten minutes
"Together in Electric Dreams" was written and recorded in ten minutes. The song was originally released to promote the 1984 film Electric Dreams, which was director Steve Barron's first full-length feature film. The song was written by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, and performed by Oakey. Oakey was the frontman of the band Human League, and the song is often erroneously credited as a Human League single.
Oakey stated that it was ironic that a track that took ten minutes to record became a worldwide hit, while some of his Human League material that took over a year to record did not. The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and remaining in the charts for thirteen weeks. It also hit the Australian Top 5 and had minor chart success in New Zealand and the Netherlands.
The song was written for a male solo vocal, and Barron suggested Oakey for the part. The song was later credited to both Moroder and Oakey. Moroder is best known for his production work and is often called the 'Father of Disco'. He has produced singles for artists including Donna Summer and is the founder of the former Musicland Studios in Munich.
"Together in Electric Dreams" has since been included in the band's various Greatest Hits compilation albums, and the band frequently performs its 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.
The song is a synth-pop ballad that captures the story of a romance. In the film, the lead character Miles finds himself in a love triangle with his neighbour, Madeline, and a supercomputer that becomes alive. The song is played at the end of the film, with the computer, nicknamed Edgar, dedicating it to Miles and Madeline as he accepts their love for each other and commits suicide by sending extreme electrical volts into himself.
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The song was written by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song written by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder. Oakey is the lead singer of the British synthpop band the Human League. Moroder is an Italian composer and producer known for his work in electronic music. The song was recorded for the original soundtrack of the 1984 film "Electric Dreams", directed by Steve Barron.
Barron, who had previously directed music videos for the Human League, wanted an "emotional" song to play during the end credits of his first full-feature film. He enlisted Moroder, who wrote most of the film's score, to compose a song for a male solo vocal. Moroder then suggested Oakey, with whom he had previously worked, for the part. The song was later credited to both Moroder and Oakey.
"Together in Electric Dreams" was released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1984 and became a major commercial success. It reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and charted in several other countries, including Australia and New Zealand. The song's popularity helped to boost the legacy of the film it was intended to promote, which was not a critical or commercial success.
The song has since been included in various Greatest Hits compilation albums by the Human League, although the band has never recorded their own version. 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 features a longer, more dramatic intro and female backing vocals by Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall.
"Together in Electric Dreams" has also been featured in various television shows and advertisements, including a 2009 BBC documentary series and an EDF Energy advert in 2012. It has become one of the staple '80s electronic hits and is often credited as a Human League single due to its association with the band and Oakey's vocals.
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The song has been covered by other artists
"Together in Electric Dreams" was originally recorded by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder for the soundtrack of the 1984 film Electric Dreams. The song became a major commercial success, even eclipsing the original film it was intended to promote. It reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and remains one of the staple '80s electronic hits.
The song has been covered by several other artists and has been included in various compilation albums. The British synthpop band The Human League, of which Oakey is the lead singer, frequently performs a version of the song with female backing vocals by Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall. Although the band has never recorded their own version, the song is often erroneously credited as a Human League single.
In 2000, the song was covered by Lali Puna for the tribute album "Reproductions: Songs of The Human League". A 2020 Christmas version was released by the Somerset duo The Portraits and their daughter. In 2021, Lola Young covered the song for a John Lewis Christmas advert. That same year, Young also performed the song for Red Nose Day's Comic Relief.
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Frequently asked questions
"Together in Electric Dreams" is a song written and recorded by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder for the 1984 film Electric Dreams. It was intended to promote the film but quickly became a success in its own right, overshadowing the film. The song is about a couple in love who stay connected through electronic mail.
Philip Oakey is the lead singer of the British synthpop band The Human League.
Giorgio Moroder is an Italian composer and producer. He is often called the "Father of Disco" and has produced singles for Donna Summer, including "Love to Love You Baby", "I Feel Love", and "Hot Stuff".
Electric Dreams is a 1984 film about a man who buys a computer system that becomes sentient. The computer, which calls itself Edgar, becomes jealous of the man's relationship with his neighbour, Madeline, and eventually takes over a radio station to dedicate the song "Together in Electric Dreams" to the man as a goodbye.
The song is called "Together in Electric Dreams" because it captures the story of a romance between Miles and Madeline, with their love solidified within the death of Edgar, the supercomputer. The phrase "electric dreams" may also refer to the old 70s computer featured in the music video, indicating that the couple is staying connected through electronic mail.
