Modern English
Modern English is a rock band best remembered for their iconic 1982 song "I… Read Full Bio ↴Modern English is a rock band best remembered for their iconic 1982 song "I Melt With You" which, despite not reaching the top 40 in either the US or U.K., has appeared in various commercials and movies over the years with a popular music video that became an MTV staple. Exploring post-punk themes of loss, reflection, and devotion, the group faced changing waves of success over the 80s and early 90s, putting four albums into the Billboard 200 chart. They disbanded a while in 1991, but they later resurfaced in 1995 with some new members. They most recently released their seventh studio album in 2010, touring sporadically over the past recent decades.
Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as "The Lepers". The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the indie rock band (later Ted Mason, Matthew Shippley). A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length debut, called 'Mesh & Lace' and released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloomy gothic rock sound already patented by bands such as Bauhaus and Joy Division.
The follow-up album, titled 'After The Snow' and recorded by the same line-up, introduced warmer sounds and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the hit "I Melt With You") in contrast to the tinny bleakness of the debut, although keeping the same post-punk dramatic focus. The August 1982 release was well received in the U.S., selling 500,000 units, and the band relocated to New York, New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Their subsequent album Ricochet Days had a crisper production with hits such as "Ricochet Days" and "Hands Across the Sea".
By the time of Stop Start, released in the US by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) (later of March Violets) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial success, pushed by their label and subsequent producers. Grey returned to England to form a new outfit, but reconvened Modern English in 1990 with Davidson and Conroy. They released Pillow Lips on the TVT label, selling 300,000 units. Robbie Grey and band member Ted Mason co-wrote and produced a second release for TVT, recording with live strings and multiple harmonies. It received very little enthusiasm from TVT and has been seen as the least successful Modern English album. Locked into contractual obligations with TVT, Grey subsequently put the band on hold in 1991 to study and travel, and Mason handled the legal issues of getting out of the TVT deal.
In 1995, Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards), Ted Mason (guitar, vocals, production) recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. Robbie Grey continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit with Matthew and new guitarist Steven Walker writing new songs and playing them to packed audiences across the US, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music. The new lineup recorded a new album with legendary producer Hugh Jones who originally produced "I Melt With You." 2007 saw the repackaged–remastered re-release of Everything's Mad for the Mi5 Recordings label distributed by Caroline/EMI. A Modern English rarities album with unreleased material was expected in early 2008, but it became stalled.
The group put out their latest studio effort in 2010 with 'Soundtrack'. Said work reunited them with Hugh Jones, the producer of 'After the Snow'. As of 2013, Modern English has sold close to four million records worldwide, and they were present at the BMI awards in the Dorchester Hotel in London where Robbie Grey, Mick Conroy and guitarist Steven Walker were presented with a lifetime achievement award for 3 million radio plays of "I Melt With You."
Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as "The Lepers". The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the indie rock band (later Ted Mason, Matthew Shippley). A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length debut, called 'Mesh & Lace' and released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloomy gothic rock sound already patented by bands such as Bauhaus and Joy Division.
The follow-up album, titled 'After The Snow' and recorded by the same line-up, introduced warmer sounds and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the hit "I Melt With You") in contrast to the tinny bleakness of the debut, although keeping the same post-punk dramatic focus. The August 1982 release was well received in the U.S., selling 500,000 units, and the band relocated to New York, New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Their subsequent album Ricochet Days had a crisper production with hits such as "Ricochet Days" and "Hands Across the Sea".
By the time of Stop Start, released in the US by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) (later of March Violets) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial success, pushed by their label and subsequent producers. Grey returned to England to form a new outfit, but reconvened Modern English in 1990 with Davidson and Conroy. They released Pillow Lips on the TVT label, selling 300,000 units. Robbie Grey and band member Ted Mason co-wrote and produced a second release for TVT, recording with live strings and multiple harmonies. It received very little enthusiasm from TVT and has been seen as the least successful Modern English album. Locked into contractual obligations with TVT, Grey subsequently put the band on hold in 1991 to study and travel, and Mason handled the legal issues of getting out of the TVT deal.
In 1995, Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards), Ted Mason (guitar, vocals, production) recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. Robbie Grey continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit with Matthew and new guitarist Steven Walker writing new songs and playing them to packed audiences across the US, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music. The new lineup recorded a new album with legendary producer Hugh Jones who originally produced "I Melt With You." 2007 saw the repackaged–remastered re-release of Everything's Mad for the Mi5 Recordings label distributed by Caroline/EMI. A Modern English rarities album with unreleased material was expected in early 2008, but it became stalled.
The group put out their latest studio effort in 2010 with 'Soundtrack'. Said work reunited them with Hugh Jones, the producer of 'After the Snow'. As of 2013, Modern English has sold close to four million records worldwide, and they were present at the BMI awards in the Dorchester Hotel in London where Robbie Grey, Mick Conroy and guitarist Steven Walker were presented with a lifetime achievement award for 3 million radio plays of "I Melt With You."
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Modern English Lyrics
A Viable Commercial Da da die - chop chop Da da die - chop…
After the Snow The rhythm of the rain gives an off beat on…
Beautiful People If you know how I'm feeling, You'll hear just what I…
Beauty The first time that I saw you, There was sunshine in…
Black Houses Sunday morning, the sun is shining, peacefully Ball games in…
Blue Waves Is it something in the water Did it fall from…
Breaking Away Long days and stormy weather The same old road today There's…
Care About You There's many things in this whole world That everyone should…
Carry Me Down Slipping through the sand and the sand through your fingerti…
Chapter 12 Have you seen the book today It's full of lies…
Chapter 12 Twelve Inch Mix Have you seen the book today It's full of lies…
Coming Up For Air No-one wants to lose, The magic that's inside, All the col…
Dance of Devotion You didn't know how much I wanted you You didn't know…
Dawn Chorus When summer returns to its warm green fields the sun…
Elastic I will push you Then I'll pull you If I…
Face of Wood dreaming in a chair, contemplating the times gone by -…
Gathering Dust The pressure's on no time to lose The pressure's on…
Grief Tears are moving down your face Etching lines across your sk…
Hands Across the Sea Come with me Close your eyes and touch what greets…
Heart Here's the news for the special day He's lost his…
Heaven Heaven I'm in heaven When I close my eyes I'm in heaven The…
Here We Go Again Here we go again London is insane Confusion in my…
Home (BAD 11) 'Cause, baby, now we got bad blood You know it used…
I (instrumental)…
I Can't Breathe I can't see anymore Don't want to breathe anymore What can…
I Don I've read your books And seen your films I've lived this l…
I Don't Know Anything I've read your books And seen your films I've lived this lif…
I Melt with You Moving forwards, using all my breath Making love to you was…
I Melt With You (Live) Moving forward using all my breath Making love to you was…
I Melt WithYou Moving forwards, using all my breath Making love to you was…
I'll Stop the World Moving forward using all my breath Making love to you…
I'll Stop The World And Melt With You Moving forward using all my breath Making love to you was…
Ink & Paper Well there it is in black and white No need to…
It You've said a lot, believe me You've said too much again Don…
Just a Thought Reckless I feel, reckless I feel It's something ideal, it's …
Let Let's all dream of a crazy scene Where the whole world's…
Life Woven from a very pretty mouth, Oh yeah, All across the wo…
Life in the Gladhouse life in the gladhouse is never dull humdrum days still…
Life in the Gladhouse (12" mix life in the gladhouse is never dull humdrum days still…
Life's Rich Tapestry Woven from a very pretty mouth, Oh yeah, All across the worl…
Machines Old machinery's broken down There's no new past there's no…
Melt With You Moving forwards, using all my breath Making love to you was…
Move in Light Constantly moving, countryside lives Idle chatter, ?ing lip…
Pillow Lips I have to ask you, Do you want this to be…
Rainbow End Are you sleeping with the stars tonight or are you blue…
Ricochet Come on down with me I'll show you sights you've…
Ricochet Days Come on down with me I'll show you sights you've…
Ricochet Days (Live) Come on down with me I'll show you sights you've never…
Ringing in the Change Reflection (b-side) 'twas a new kind of morning All refl…
Sixteen Days Sixteen days no bread and water Sixteen days no light of…
Someone's Calling turning 'round as if in flight I sense your breath…
Spinning Me Round When someone close is always on your mind A memory…
Table Turning The bells are tolling for me and my love Discreet…
Take Me Away You're a mine of information, I'm your whore of paradise, Yo…
That Have the past The past is long ago You know you want…
That's Right Have the past The past is long ago You know you want…
The Killing Screens Sometimes I just want to scream There's so many Many…
The Token Man What do you feel when you see The token man in…
Too Much In you, I've found The love I dive to drown With the…
WAVES There's no way out I have to cum I've lost my way I…
You Moving forward using all my breath Making love to you was…
You're Too Much In you, I've found The love I dive to drown With the…