Geoffrey Deane and David Jaymes formed Modern Romance in 1980, having previously been the mainstays of the punk parody band the Leyton Buzzards which they formed in 1977.
The band split up in 1980 though Deane and Jaymes continued working together, embracing the burgeoning electronic style of dance music that was becoming popular in London clubs at the time. They found a new manager and created a limited company called Business Art Productions, and signed to WEA. In 1980, their first release, eponymously titled "Modern Romance", was unsuccessful. After a second unsuccessful single, "Tonight", the band then opted to lessen the predominantly electronic sound in favour of a Latin-American dance style with emphasis on bass, percussion and brass. They recruited trumpet player John Du Prez into their new line-up. The band released a new single, "Everybody Salsa" in summer 1981, which reached the UK Top 20. However, prior to the release, they recruited a new drummer, Andy Kyriacou, who began promoting the single with the band, and set up their first personal appearance in a club.
They followed this later in the year with similarly themed "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", which reached the UK Top 10. Despite these two hits, the band's debut album, Adventures in Clubland, was not a success. However, in the US they scored a number 2 hit on the Billboard Dance chart with "Can You Move", a mostly rap variation of "Everybody Salsa". After further UK Top 40 hits with "Queen of the Rapping Scene" and a cover of the 1955 hit "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White", Deane departed the band in 1982 to pursue solo projects.
Michael J. Mullins took over the mantle of lead vocalist, and their next release saw the band reach their highest UK chart position with "Best Years of Our Lives" in late 1982. Further hits followed in 1983: "High Life" (UK No. 8), "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm" (UK No. 14), and the ballad "Walking in the Rain" (UK No. 7). Both "Best Years of Our Lives" and "Walking in the Rain" earned Silver discs. Despite being regularly featured in teen pin-up magazines, the band's commercial hot streak waned and further singles were less successful. The band released a compilation album for the Christmas 1983 market entitled Party Tonight. Though it only peaked at No. 45 in the UK, it became their most successful album and was certified gold for sales in excess of 100,000 copies within six weeks of release.
John Du Prez then left the band, and after disagreements with their record company, WEA, the band signed with RCA in 1984. This brought about a change of image – from bright coloured suits and wedge hairstyles to long hair and leather jackets. The band released a new single, a cover of The Temptations' 1971 hit "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)", but the single was not a success. Modern Romance released a final album, Burn It!, in 1985. The album was received poorly and the band called it quits after releasing the stand-alone single "Tarzan Boy" – a cover of the Baltimora hit from earlier that year – and an anthology mix of their biggest selling songs titled "Best Mix of Our Lives" (also 1985).
After leaving Modern Romance, former lead vocalist Geoff Deane reappeared in 1983 as 'Geoff Deane & The Valley Girls' to release the single "Navy Lark", then again for the solo "What About Romance", and he also wrote "You Think You're A Man" for Divine. Deane later became a scriptwriter and television producer, scripting for television programmes such as Birds of a Feather, Babes in the Wood, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Chef!, Last Man Standing, and A Many-Splintered Thing. In 2005, he wrote the film Kinky Boots starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a year later It's a Boy Girl Thing for Elton John's Rocket Pictures.
David Jaymes has since moved into the management and consultancy side of the music industry. He worked as the music supervisor on the film Fascination (2004) starring Jacqueline Bisset and James Naughton. He has also worked again with John Du Prez, composing music for commercials and feature films. Jaymes has managed artists such as Sinéad O'Connor, Justin Adams, Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff, Republica and Drum Club. He has also worked as consultant for Harry Nilsson, Jimmy Webb, George Fenton, and Chuck Mangione. In 2010, he worked with a host of musicians on the Haiti earthquake disaster single (a cover version of "I Put a Spell on You"), including Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Chrissie Hynde and Johnny Depp.
In 1999, Andy Kyriacou reformed Modern Romance with a new line-up, joining the burgeoning British 1980s revival scene. The new line-up features no original band members (Kyriacou himself had first appeared on the Modern Romance single, "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", although he had remained their drummer until the band split in 1985). In 2002, the new line-up released the album Back on Track, which consisted mostly of re-recorded Modern Romance hits. Back on Track was also released as Moves 2 Fast, with a slightly different track listing. Kyriacou's Modern Romance continues to play the 1980s festival circuit and appeared as the opening act at the 2010 Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames, which also included Boy George, Rick Astley, Level 42, T'Pau, Kajagoogoo and Heaven 17.
2012 saw the band play Let's Rock the Moor!, a boutique festival in Cookham, Berkshire, with other 1980s acts including Go West, Toyah, Nick Heyward and Billy Ocean. During their set they aired one of their new songs, "Rhythm Is My Lover", from the forthcoming album The 7th Day (penned by Kyriacou and guitarist Peter J Pinto).
Best Years of Our Lives
Modern Romance Lyrics
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I ask you the questions but you tell me lies
'Cause all of the time, you're just full of surprise
Please tell me, please tell me if all this is true
'Cause deep down inside, all I wanted was you
Ohh, makes me wanna dance
Ohh, it's a new romance
Ohh, I look into your eyes
Ohh, best years of our lives
When we first met, I could hardly believe
The things that would happen, what we could achieve
So let's be together for all of the time
And thank my good fortune that you are still mine
Ohh, makes me wanna dance
Ohh, it's a new romance
Ohh, I look into your eyes
Ohh, best years of our lives
I ask you the questions but you tell me lies
'Cause all of the time, you're just full of surprise
And I can't understand why you tease me this way
My heads in a whirl and I just gotta say
Ohh, makes me wanna dance
Ohh, it's a new romance
Ohh, I look into your eyes
Ohh, best years of our lives
Ohh, makes me wanna dance
Ohh, it's a new romance
Ohh, I look into your eyes
Ohh, best years of our lives
The Modern Romance song "Best Years of Our Lives" is an upbeat, danceable tune about a new romance that seems to be the answer to the singer's hopes and dreams. The song opens with the singer asking questions, but the person they are asking keeps telling lies, making the singer feel confused and off-balance. Despite this, the singer reveals that deep down, all they wanted was the other person, and the new relationship is a welcome surprise.
The chorus is celebratory and joyful, with the singer expressing excitement and happiness about the new romance. The lyrics are straightforward and literal, with the singer expressing their love for the other person and gratitude for their good fortune in finding them. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the idea that this new relationship is the best thing that has happened to the singer and that they plan to enjoy it fully.
Overall, "Best Years of Our Lives" is a fun and catchy song that captures the feeling of being swept up in a newfound love. The lyrics express hope, joy, and excitement, and the upbeat music is a perfect match for the positive message.
Line by Line Meaning
Best years of our lives
The time of our lives when everything is exciting and wonderful.
I ask you the questions but you tell me lies
I try to communicate with you, but you don't tell me the truth.
'Cause all of the time, you're just full of surprise
You always surprise me by not behaving the way I expect you to.
Please tell me, please tell me if all this is true
I want to know if what you say is true or not.
'Cause deep down inside, all I wanted was you
My deepest desire was to be with you all this time.
Ohh, makes me wanna dance
I feel so elated that it makes me want to dance and move to the rhythm of the music.
Ohh, it's a new romance
This is a new and fresh beginning for our love. It's like we are starting something new.
Ohh, I look into your eyes
I can see so much love and potential in your eyes. I feel connected to you.
When we first met, I could hardly believe
When we first met, I was so amazed that someone like you existed.
The things that would happen, what we could achieve
We had so much potential for greatness and success, and we could do anything together.
So let's be together for all of the time
Let's stay together forever and never let anything come between us.
And thank my good fortune that you are still mine
I feel so lucky that I still have you by my side, and I want to express my gratitude to fate.
And I can't understand why you tease me this way
I don't know why you play games with me and don't tell me the truth.
My heads in a whirl and I just gotta say
I feel so confused and overwhelmed that I have to say something.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Jaymes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind