- I know this week is Woodstock week, but I want to start posting some one hit wonders on Wednesdays as well. And so we start today with soft Cell's "Tainted Love". Some might not count them as a one hit wonder but by request and because its there only real popular song I'm considering it one.
Members:
- Marc Almond
- Dave Ball
Both were apparently art students and formed Soft Cell in Leeds, England (1980). Their sound is very electronic, filled with synth sounds that make them quite a unique pair. Even though "Tainted Love" was not an original for them, because their version was so popular, many people mistakenly give them the credit. The song has actually been remixed countless times, each with a distinctly different sound. For me, "Tainted Love" is a song that defines 80's music because everything about it says 80's, the videos for it, the lyrics, the beat. If you are a fan of 80's music( which I am :) ) this is a must know song.
I still find myself trying to do the "boop boop" notes along with that synthesizer, and missing the beat as often as hitting it. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen this song first hit the airwaves, it was such a jarring sound to my ear. I had grown up hearing the original Motown versions of both tunes in Soft Cell's medley. It was nearly a sacrilegious cover of a pair Motown treasures, and yet a satisfying weird bit of pop on its own.
All the A.M. top-40 stations cut the song down to some three minutes or so, usually just fading it out before the transition to "where did our love go".
The "boop boop" has to be their signature beat for sure >.<
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing how the song can go from classic motown soul to this electronic pop sound and still be well done. That's pretty funny how you said it was jarring at first considering the differences between The supremes/gloria jones to soft cell. But again, the song is popular so I can imagine people began to like that sort of sound. Maybe this is were 80's music really started to grow ^-^ interesting.