Tainted Love - Soft Cell
May 21st 2008 15:14
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret by Soft Cell
Originally released in 1964 by R&B and soul performer Gloria Jones, Tainted Love became a global hit when covered in flamboyant, synth-atic, light and rainbow colors by the Biritish synth-pop band Soft Cell. Marc Almond and David Ball came together in 1979, unaware of the fact that they were going to leave their imprint on the 80s' musical trends in just a few years with a single that would break Guinness records and end up being one of the most covered songs of all times.
Synthesizers reigned all throughout the 80s as Soft Cell remained an influential force behind and alongside groups such as Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Erasure, A-Ha, Pulp, Blur and Pet Shop Boys.
While Tainted Love's haunting cachiness is timeless, the duo did not fail to impress the critics and fans, especially in the UK, all throughout their 3 (three) years of togetherness which were enough to fit everlasting success in. They came back together in 2001 and released an album after 18 years in 2002.
Marc Almond later re-embraced popularity in his solo career when he gained international recognition for Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart, his cover duet with the song's original performer Gene Pitney. It reached #1 in UK and still stands as one of the most memorable ballads remnant from the 80s.
Starting on a cymbal rhythm and a single bass beat, Tainted Love bursts into its teasing bass walk and synth galore 24 seconds into the track and is quick to deliver its main idea with,
"Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
From the pain that you drive into the heart of me"
Run away I've got to
Get away
From the pain that you drive into the heart of me"
as it takes us into the story of a dysfunctional relationship. If you listen to the rhythm closely, you can actually picture someone tiptoeing away stealthily instead of backpaddling in a hopeless situation. This is not the harshest way of saying goodbye. Rather, Soft Cell makes fun of the entire breaking up process by going,
"Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you"
Now I'll run from you"
and teleports one to one of those Tom & Jerry moments when Tom the tomcat starts chasing Jerry the mouse around the house only to end up being chased by Jerry in a comical "the hunted becomes the hunter" craze.
Before lovers become strangers, they separate the same window through which they look towards the future together and realize that they don't like the view from there. What looked beautiful yesterday seems to have lost its nuance today. "You have everything I need" metamorphoses into,
"You don't really want it any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way"
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way"
Gradually, it reaches to a point where you can't be in the same neighborhood, the same house, the same room and finally the same bed with the fallen lover. Any kind of contact with them feels demanding if not repulsive,
"Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease"
I cannot stand the way you tease"
As a side note, this song came out when AIDS marked the end of the free-sex era and surprisingly suited the paranoia many people went through.
With its impish synth waves and skipping tempo, Tainted Love is extremely successful in reflecting the psychological state of the one who walks out on the relationship. Alas, there are so many ballads which portray the pain and gloom of the breakup process that one rarely comes across songs like these to relate to when free of the heavy chains.
It is a deep sigh of relief, a pat in the back and a whistle as you move on merrily.
Ink Blots
Browse music online at IMEEM
Buy Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret online from Amazon
Meet the artist Soft Cell at Wikipedia.
Meet Marc Almond at The Official Mark Almond Website
Read the entire lyrics at Lyrics on Demand
Browse music online at IMEEM
Buy Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret online from Amazon
Meet the artist Soft Cell at Wikipedia.
Meet Marc Almond at The Official Mark Almond Website
Read the entire lyrics at Lyrics on Demand
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I was a huge New Romantic fan back in the day. Still have a soft spot for a lot if it, and play it out in certain retro sets. I have the original 12" of Tainted Love which is backed with Tainted Dub which has Tainted Love segueing into a cover version of Where Did Our Love Go? Awesome.
Soft Cell also claim to be the first UK act to introduce ecstasy into the dance music culture through their liaisons with an American girl they met whilst in New York who gave them their first disco biscuits. Thus the album title Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret which slyly and cryptically refers to the loved-up, i-wanna-dance-all-night-and-b e-an-exhibitonist feel of being high on ecstasy ...
Comment by Ayda
Phantasmelodia
Very tipsy.