what is the best song bernard sumner has ever been involved in?

barney has been involved in some truly great groundbreaking music; some downright classics, be it with joy division, new order, electronic or bad lieutenant. in my mind there is only one question. what is the greatest song to which he has contributed?

impossible to choose

greatest song? one vote for "Twenty Four Hours"
greatest contribution to a song (where Barney's guitar, vocals or lyrics shine the most)? not as easy - lots of re-listening to do!

getting away with it

The best Bernard vocal performance is Electronic's "Some Distant Memory," about which we've commented at length. Marr and Sumner's arranging skills at their peak, plus winsome lyrics that never get treacly.

Bernard lyrics I'd defend without equivocation:

Senses
Leave Me Alone
Age of Consent
True Faith
1963
all of Technique
Regret
Everyone Everywhere
Special
Run Wild

did he write the lyrics to dreams never end or was that hooky?

Vanishing Point off of Technique, or maybe Electronic's Try All You Want. Some Distant Memory has never really clicked with me.

Or it could be Shadowplay

"Ho Hey"

never heard it.

Jesus titty fucking Christ, this is some question.

Bizarre Love Triangle and Regret are the two that spring to mind immediately for me. Honestly can't decide between those two.

Also for consideration, stuff where he wasn't an actual band member, but played or produced, eg Shark Vegas "You hurt me"

Which is awesome but I guess it would be pretty contrarian to say it was better than Joy Division

Technotronic "Rockin over the beat"

"Getting Away with It" or "All Day Long" or "Disorder."

If we are including his production work I'll go for Quando Quango's "Atom Rock" / "Triangle" single which I've always considered to be the peak of the Factory dance sound - various ACR types on board, Barney producing, 808s bouncing and it's got Johnny Marr showing off his funk guitar chops, and may have sown the seeds of Electronic back in 84. IMO it's brilliant.

Sounds good will have to check that one out.

loooove "Love Tempo" too.

Warsaw.

― crüt, Monday, January 28, 2013 1:28 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWPIotDeNLs

Have to say i'm very tempted to go for Ceremony myself. So good musically. Just which ian had recirded it properly, in the studio.

Much as I love both NO and JD, this is 'Getting Away With It'

Why? Can't see it myself.

the original single version of Ceremony above is a good choice

But for me it would be anything off Brotherhood. With the strong proviso that the original CD pressing of Brotherhood was one of the worst CD transfers ever - it's shrill, harsh, and hurts the ear just to listen to a few seconds of it. No album has ever been more misrepresented by that fucking awful first CD version of Brotherhood. The remaster is adequate, but even that isn't remotely as good as the original warmth of the vinyl version I bought when it fist came out back in 1986 (and I'm no vinyl fetishist).

So I don't want to link to any of the horribly harsh versions that are on YouTube that make it seem Brotherhood was the worst not best NO album, so instead here's the song I'd pick, but in a great early live version that features some of Bernard Sumner's best ever guitar playing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-T3yzQbMVE

Your Silent Face

'getting away with it' without a second's hesitation.

As much as I like to go for deep cuts etc., I would probably say "Atmosphere."

Or "Transmission."

Or "Ceremony."

Or "Temptation."

But then I feel bad about leaving out "Lonesome Tonight," "Confusion," "Everything's Gone Green," "Cries And Whispers," "Leave Me Alone" and "Age Of Consent."

Not to mention "Dreams Never End," "Truth," "Hurt," "586," "Weirdo," "All The Way," "Run," "Regret," "The Perfect Kiss," and "Here to Stay."

And all the JD LP tracks I love...

If we're going to include his production work, then "Looking From A Hilltop" ranks up there pretty highly too.

I mean, this is pretty impossible.

Looking from a hilltop! Yeah, I can't choose.

my favorite Be Music productions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iRypDlgnSs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhAxDmRRo9A

It's been said that between New Order albums they'd get new gear and try it out on other bands, thus the awesomeness of Can't Afford to Let You Go or Looking From A Hilltop

not to say those other bands didn't contribute to said awesomeness.

But the answer I'd say is the synth strings on Atmosphere, if that was his doing.

Dreams Never End

Regret just ahead of Getting Away With It.

did Curtis write those lyrics? At any rate Hook sang it.

xpost

Pretty sure Curtis's last involvement was the lyrics for Ceremony and In a Lonely Place.

Pretty sure Curtis's last involvement was the lyrics for Ceremony and In a Lonely Place.

Hook sang it, but Sumner played guitar on it. Hook may have written the lyrics, but it wasn't Curtis, in fact it seems to be about Curtis.