The NME's 1981 Review Of "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League

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(excerpt)

"Samson Oakey - who resembles Phil McNeill at the height of punk - needs to have a haircut and the stuffing knocked out of him. But it takes two to do it (duet) wrong. This could be a swinging little song if given to two black singers with GREAT VOICES. Phil and moll sound sallow and callow. So many people should be silent songwriters. You could be in folklore instead of on Top Of The Pops. Look at Phil Spector. No, don't look at him like that!"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

the early pet shop boys ones are equally good.
funniest is nme's 'best album of all time' (u no who )
getting 7/10.
ah retrospect.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Who wrote the review, Tico?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

No idea. It's quoted in the heavily remaindered NME book of the 100 top selling uk singles ever.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Piscesboy, what is the "best album of all time" to which you refer? The Stone Roses?

― Nick H, Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought the NME was supposed to be better in the old days?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

saying NME was better in the old days was better in the old days

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"swinging"!!

(I think the review is pretty accurate, ackshually!)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

that's it nick.
'30 something' by carter got a 10 acksherlee

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

'Don't You Want Me' would sound terrible if given to two black singers with GREAT VOICES...i'm wondering who exactly the reviewer had in mind - Luther Vandross and Tina Turner?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Asian Dub Foundation's 'Community Music' also got a 10 in NME but you wont see it anywhere near no 'best albums evah' poll

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

marcello may remember who that is - i don't

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

not impossible: danny bakah

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah Stevem, i mean history has shown that the way the Human League did it is just irresistable and cute; there's something yearning and nerdy about those nasal Euro voices that would be irrevokably lost with "great black voices" (bleaurgh!) so yeah; still it's fun to think about, and i doubt the "well-sung" song would be at all bad if you'd never heard the version that actually exists; in fact it might be fantastic

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I posted it because -

- it comes from the NME's 'golden age'

- it seemed vaguely relevant

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Peabo Bryson and Marilyn McCoo

― Andy K (Andy K), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the flawed, weedy voices are absolutely essential to the song's atmosphere: they emphasize the desperation and neediness. It would be interesting to hear what a couple of "better" singers would have done with this song, but the way this review is phrased seems suspect -- I wonder who wrote it.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

the blonde one (joanne ?) hates her vocal interestingly enough.
i love it. it sounds like it was done in a rush, like a lot of
dead good vocal performances.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

the thing is there are countless singles from the early to mid eighties featuring 'two black singers with great voices juicy juicy' over a synthpop backing and I can't think of one that measures up to 'don't you want me'

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

haha "great black voice" = Rick Astley! he would be KILLER on this song!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of Rick Astley, should Clay and Ruben record a remake?

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

the long lost saw donna summer-rick astley duet!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

haha i was gonna say before i got to the end of the thread: i would have loved for this to become a standard!

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

blount i think this predates all of them, so the reviewer didn't know that yet

danny baker is still my guess

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the vocals are especially effective in the context of the video... arent these jet-set types (as they potray themselves sorta) not supposed to fall in love and be vulnerable?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah but the video looks like it was filmed with one of those fisher price cameras you had to plug directly to the vcr

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

that's called "british TV" jess

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

*slow claps*

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Got to be Danny Baker. Can see it a mile off.

― Taylor Parkes (Taylor Parkes), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

As a technical aside to Tracer, may I point out that British TV is of considerably higher resolution than US TV. PAL, the British system, is 400 lines compared to NTSC's 350.

― Momus (Momus), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I still think that Jarvis and Britney should do a remake of this song.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

yes!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

(Correction: An NTSC picture is made up of 525 lines of picture on your TV screen. PAL has 625 lines of resolution.)

― Momus (Momus), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Despite being unfair and basically inaccurate, it's still a funny review. I'm guessing the writer was more concerned with sounding witty than in giving yet another single a fair shake.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

danny baker is still my guess

well it definitely isn't morley...

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Momus is getting a little Patrick Bateman with his tv there

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:02 (twenty-two years ago)

'Don't You Want Me' is one of my favorite sounds. It would be even better performed by the excellent Whitney Houston, Phil Collins or Huey Lewis and the News.

― Momus (Momus), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

phil or huey in blackface maybe...

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you like The Human League? I've been a big fan ever since the release of their 1981 album, Dare. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Dare where, uh, Phil Oakey's presence became more apparent. I think Don't You Want Me was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Callis, Ware and Oakey. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Sound of the Crowd. In this song, Phil addresses the problems of abusive political authority. Love Action is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as, uh, anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your ass. The Human League's mature career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like Human and, uh, Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Oakey works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is (Keep Feeling) Fascination, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

― Momus (Momus), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I can imagine where the reviewer's reaction came from, sure, since Oakley's melodies and voice seem like strong soul singing coming out sideways and different -- almost like he wrote everything with a little bit of the "black singer with a great voice" in his head that wasn't entirely the way he sounded. Of course, as everyone points out, that's precisely what was interesting about him, and it's easy to imagine that he realized that too, because he never actually tried to sound like a black singer with a great voice, and he never tried to get anyone else to do it, either: a single like "Don't You Want Me" is the sound of a guy who's completely figured out that singing nearly-soul parts in a dead affect happens to turn out sounding really cool. Which shouldn't be surprising: after all, the music on the single pulls the same trick, "black [musicians] with great [instrumental skills]" reflected in the blank-faced deadpan of synthesizers and drum machines.

They could have written "Don't You Want Me" for some terrific black singers, sure. (Tina Turner is dead right, actually: I imagine her kicking off with the "I was working as a waitress" line and it seems not only great but really not so different from plenty of her 80s stuff). But Oakley's the guy who didn't even want that synth/guitar line winding through the song, and this "silent songwriter" suggestion has me imagining him driving around Los Angeles in a convertible, on his way to produce a new single for Klymaxx.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

What's weird is that roughly a year ago, I mentioned to a friend that it's unfortunate that a Motown girl group didn't perform "Don't You Want Me".

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

lance lockarm's bootleg pairs 'don't you want me' with ms. jade's 'big head'. it's an amazing track actually. http://falco.kuci.uci.edu/~brianm/lancelockarm/

― jl, Wednesday, 11 June 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

I saw the unexpurgated version of the video on some music channel last night, It makes the best of dvd cut look really rather rubbish.

― leigh (leigh), Friday, 16 December 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

It occurs to me that when this review was written, "Dare" had been out for a while and had already sold well ("Love Action" and "Open Your Heart" had been big hits "Sound of the Crowd" a small one). "dare" was already one of those LPs you hear in every shop.

"Don't You Want Me" was already quite well known, then, which must affect what the review is for.

― Tim (Tim), Friday, 16 December 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

I saw the unexpurgated version of the video on some music channel last night, It makes the best of dvd cut look really rather rubbish.
-- leigh (melodynelso...), December 16th, 2005.

go on lee, dont leave me hanging!

― piscesboy, Saturday, 24 December 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god, Huey Lewis doing this song? I'm going to vomit!

― Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House (Bimble...), Sunday, 25 December 2005 13:16 (twenty years ago)

nabisco OTM

― Zora (Zora), Sunday, 25 December 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Just imagine if these two had sung "Don't You Want Me":

http://www.illustrated-db-discography.nl/12inch/pix/tonight88.jpg

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 25 December 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

i think the whole idea of 'great black voices' improving this is kinda ridiculous. its also kinda stereotypical and generalises 'great black voices'. either way, this reviewer saying that is like someone saying 'ahh the overkill of these sub gospel histrionics would be so much better if this song was put in the hands of ian curtis' while speaking about i dunno, something like otis redding's try a little tenderness

― okok, Sunday, 25 December 2005 21:36 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but everybody knows that the best version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is Paul Young's.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 26 December 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

One really interesting thing is to read NME reviews from the late 60s. Back then, critical rock journalism was not yet born, and the reviewers would usually just assume the hit potential of the record. Giving results such as comparing Nick Drake unfavorably to Peter Sarstedt.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 26 December 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

Where can I read this? By the way, wasn't Cream magazine out by this time?

― ))))))))))0000000, Monday, 26 December 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

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