Fade to Grey (Visage song)

November 10, 1980

Fade to Grey is a song by British New Romantic band Visage. The song is next to Do not You Want Me by The Human League one of the most commercially successful singles of the British synth pop. The single captured in numerous countries, including Germany and Austria, the top chart. The Federation of the Phonographic Industry, a Gold Record and the British Phonographic Industry, a Silver record registered for the single.

Formation

The composition comes from Billy Currie and Christopher Payne and was taken during sound checks the Pleasure Principle Tour of Gary Numan 1979. The piece, which was also Cedric Sharpley was contributed compositions, although he is not named as the author, was at that time the title Toot City. It was not originally intended for Visage, but as a reminder of the tour. Currie urged therefore to a recording and contacted the producer Martin Rushent. The inclusion of the instrumental tracks from Currie, Payne and Sharpley took place a day after the conclusion of the tour in Rushents Genetic Sound Studio in Berkshire instead. Only later Midge Ure wrote a text for the song, should sing the Strange as the frontman of the project. In addition to Steve Strange, the Belgian -born Brigitte Arens sang a French text lines in the Mayfair Studios in Primrose Hill, London. The recording was supervised by John Hudson as a sound engineer and mixed and produced by the band and Midge Ure. The B- side of the single is the instrumental The Steps.

Occupation

  • Steve Strange - Vocals
  • Brigitte Arens - French song
  • Midge Ure - backing vocals
  • Rusty Egan - backing vocals
  • Billy Currie - synthesizer, violin
  • Christopher Payne - synthesizer, viola
  • Cedric Sharpley - drums, percussion programming

Publication and chart success

The single was released on Polydor on 10 November 1980 and rose on December 20, 1980 to number 68 in the UK Top 75 a. Fade to Grey stayed 15 weeks in the UK charts and reached number eight on February 17, 1981. In Germany, the single appeared from February 23, 1981 in the Media Control Charts on, sat down for seven weeks at the top, holding a total of 29 weeks in the charts. In the Swiss charts, the single also sat at the head; in the Austrian charts reached Fade to Grey third place.

A remix version of Visage and John Luongo with a length of 6:38 minutes in 1983 on the compilation Fade to Grey - The Singles Collection published as Vinlylangspielplatte. Numerous remixes in 1993 for the promotion of the compact disc of this compilation ( Fade to Grey - The Best of Visage ) published: The Bass Heads ( Desa Basshead and Nick Murphy ), Andy Stephenson, Dave Ralph, Tim Wedge and Daryl Strickley mixed the recordings new from. The Bass Heads 7 "Edit was also placed in the British Top 40.

Reception

Stewart Mason judges in his review for Allmusic: " Midge Ure and Billy Currie fashioned a minimalist, pulsating synth -pop sound seemingly Influenced by the artsy likes of clusters as well as Giorgio Moroder 's electro - disco throb. " ( Midge Ure and Billy Currie form a minimalist, pulsating synth-pop sound that seems to be influenced by both the artistic preferences of clusters as well as the electric disco rhythm of Giorgio Moroder. )

Dave Thompson in his book Alternative Rock judges in 2000: " Fade to Grey remains a timeless classic. " ( Fade to Grey remains a timeless classic. )

Dave Rimmer, author of Like Punk Never Happened, criticized in his picture book The Look - New Romantics the pomposity: "A pop record with a disco feel, catchy chorus and a bit of French to make it sound, European ', it was well - dressed but superficial, all trousers and no mouth. " ( a Popp bar with a disco feel, catchy chorus and a serving of French in order to be European ' sound, it was well packed, but superficial, just a big mouth. )

Cover versions and musical quotations

Fade to Grey was often gecovert. Therefore, the list is limited to a few artists.

  • Ed Starink - Fade to Grey ( 1989)
  • The Time Frequency - Fade to Grey ( 1994)
  • Datura - Fade to Grey (1996 on the album Eternity )
  • Mark 'Oh - Fade to Grey ( 1996)
  • Gregorian - Fade to Grey (1999 on the album Masters of Chant )
  • Nouvelle Vague - Fade to Grey (2006 à on the album Bande Part)

No cover version, but probably - depending on the perspective - a musical quotation or plagiarism is One Word Kelly Osbourne. Linda Perry, the originator of One Word was sued by Billy Currie due to copyright infringement. The strenuous process ended in a settlement and Perry agreed to pay a portion of royalties to the author of Fade to Grey.

Adam Clayton revealed to the Irish journalists BP Fallon in an interview that the attempt to re-enact the bassline of Fade to Grey, has inspired him to the U2 Single New Years Day.

Genre Visage (Album) Dave Thompson (author) Gregorian (band) Nouvelle Vague (Band)
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