Tovey began his musical career after studying performance art at Leeds Polytechnic, but started recording upon his move back to his native London, UK. The songs of his early career (under the pseudonym) all feature synthesizers plus, sometimes, machine sounds like that of an electric razor or an electric drill. Almost all of his songs create a dark, mystical atmosphere, with Gadget's voice hovering monotonously over then unheard of, groundbreaking and still brilliant synthesizer sound effects. The lyrics are either very earnest, discussing subjects like guilt or life and death, or convey a black, sarcastic humour.
Initially, Fad Gadget was merely a moniker for Tovey, but as time went on a band was formed (although keeping Tovey as the main focal point). His longest-serving sidekick was drummer Nick Cash. Other members were keyboardist David Simmonds, bassist Peter Balmer, guitarist & bassist David Rogers and viola player & backing vocalist Joni Sackett
Singles included Back To Nature, Ricky's Hand and Collapsing New People. Fad Gadget was the first artist signed to the then-fledgling Mute label, on which he released four full length albums, Fireside Favourites (1980), Incontinent (1981), Under The Flag (1982) and Gag (1984). After 1984's Gag, Tovey released a compilation, (The Fad Gadget Singles), and recorded five more albums under his own name, whose styles ranged from semi-industrial electronic ballads to folk-oriented protest songs. He last appeared on a European tour supporting his latest album in 1993 and then virtually disappeared for some eight years.
In 2001 Tovey (and Cash) resurfaced with a comeback appearance and subsequently supported Depeche Mode on the Exciter tour later that year, again under his pseudonym Fad Gadget and backed by members of Temple X, whose album he had been producing. (Depeche Mode cite Tovey/Gadget as an icon and a paragon, and his influences can be heard in their music.) Tovey died of a heart attack on 3 April, 2002, aged 45, having suffered heart problems throughout his life.
Collapsing New People
Fad Gadget Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch them - collapsing
Jaded - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
Stay awake all night
But never see the stars
And sleep all day
On a chain link bed of nails
Faded - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
Dated - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
Steer clear of the sun
Pancake, sandpaper skin
They have no reflections
Drink blood but pierce no veins
Hated...
Exaggerate the scar tissue
Wounds that never heal
Takes hours of preparations
To get that wasted look
Hated - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
Wasted - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
Fated - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
Dated - collapsing new people
Watch them, collapsing
The Fad Gadget song "Collapsing New People" is a commentary on the decline of society and how people are conditioned to conform to societal norms. The lyrics suggest that people are becoming jaded, faded, and dated - essentially collapsing under the weight of social pressure to fit in.
The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "Faded - collapsing new people, watch them - collapsing." This creates a sense of urgency, as if the collapse and decay of society is happening right before our eyes. The next verse uses the word "jaded" instead of "faded," indicating that people are becoming tired and disillusioned with the world around them.
The lines "Stay awake all night, but never see the stars, and sleep all day, on a chain link bed of nails" convey a feeling of oppression and captivity. People are so consumed by their own worries and fears that they are unable to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around them. They are trapped in a cycle of self-destruction, unable to break free from their own self-imposed limitations.
The song finishes with a series of phrases that all end with "collapsing new people." This repetition emphasizes the idea that society is in a state of decline and that people are becoming increasingly disillusioned and disconnected from each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Faded - collapsing new people
The people who have lost their energy and vitality are slowly falling apart.
Watch them - collapsing
Observing them as they are breaking down and unable to maintain their strength any longer.
Jaded - collapsing new people
The people who have lost their enthusiasm are falling to pieces.
Stay awake all night
But never see the stars
Even if they try to keep themselves awake, they can't see the beauty in the world.
And sleep all day
On a chain link bed of nails
Their resting is futile and the discomfort never lets them really rest.
Dated - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
The people who are outdated and seem to not belong to this era are being destroyed.
Steer clear of the sun
Pancake, sandpaper skin
They have no reflections
Drink blood but pierce no veins
They are avoiding the light and their skin is dry and rough. They don't have any inner self-reflection and leech off of others while giving nothing back.
Hated...
These people are not well-liked as they only seem to destroy themselves and propagate negativity.
Exaggerate the scar tissue
Wounds that never heal
Takes hours of preparations
To get that wasted look
Their past experiences haunt them and they make a spectacle of their pain. They perform self-destructive habits to appear desolate, which takes considerable effort.
Wasted - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
People who misuse their time, resources and energy are falling to pieces.
Fated - collapsing new people
Watch them - collapsing
People who seem to be following a preordained sequence of events in life are breaking down.
Dated - collapsing new people
Watch them, collapsing
People who seem to not belong in the current era are slowly falling apart and unable to maintain their momentum.
Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: FROST, DAVID SIMMONDS, FRANK TOVEY, NICK CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind