Popdose - Latest Comments in Lost in the ’80s: Ultravox

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Ultravox

DavidMedsker — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:15:36 -0000

I had no idea how lucky I was to buy the CD copy of Ultravox's The Collection when I did. Sucker was out of print soon after, and I still play the daylights out of that disc today. Hmmm, I think I'll pop it on while making dinner tonight.

Yes, they sometimes bit off more than they could chew, but no one can deny that Ultravox went for something different than anyone else at the time. Never bought any of Midge's solo records, though. Didn't have the same allure. Plus that "Dear God" song was a dead ripoff of Tears for Fears' "The Working Hour."

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Ultravox

Gene Mate — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:28:44 -0000

I always adored Ultravox. A greatly under appreciated band. I've introduced my kids to them and they love them, too.

My favourite song, albeit a cover, is "No Regrets", but mostly for sentimental reasons. Youth and a breakup due to immaturity made the song all the more poignant. Whenever I'm melancholy a dose of Ultravox and Midge Ure is always welcome. Along with a nice scotch to reminisce by, of course.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Ultravox

JonCummings — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:40:59 -0000

I must have had my Ultravox greatest-hits album on vinyl, and I haven't gotten digital versions of the songs. So this is the first time I've heard "One Small Day" in about 20 years. I really like the song.

"Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" was hot shit on MTV for awhile because of its images of nuclear holocaust. Its "plot" was borrowed/ripped off (and greatly expanded upon) for a cool Canadian movie from 1999 called "Last Night," in which various Canucks prepare in their own ways for the end of the world, which they know is coming at midnight.

Considering its anthemic nature, you'd have thought "One Small Day" would be a big hit at least in England, where Ultravox was already established with a couple Top-10s ("Vienna" and "All Stood Still"). But "OSD" peaked at 27--then "Dancing with Tears" went Top-5.

I always thought Manic Street Preachers were trying to achieve a "Dancing with Tears" effect with "If You Tolerate This Your Children WIll Be Next." I'm probably completely off base on that, but then I never really "got" the Manics anyway.