Martin Fry had some underground success as a music journalist with the fanzine 'Modern Drugs', interviewing various British pop and rock groups, before he decided to join a band himself. ABC has its roots in the group Vice Versa, a Sheffield electronic music outfit formed in 1977 by Stephen Singleton and Mark White. They founded their own label, 'Neutron Records', and released an EP. Fry started off with the act as a synthesizer player. By 1980, the band had evolved into ABC, with Fry becoming the lead vocalist.
The group's first single, "Tears Are Not Enough", made the U.K. Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album, 'The Lexicon of Love', which reached number one in the U.K. Albums Chart. Produced by Trevor Horn, it often featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in The Observer Music Monthly's "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th in Q magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums" (June 2000). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow", "The Look Of Love (Part 1)" and "All of My Heart" and shot high-concept music videos.
ABC found it difficult to follow up their debut. The second album, Beauty Stab, was released in November 1983. It performed poorly in comparison to its predecessor. Gary Langan, who had engineered The Lexicon of Love, produced the effort. The first single, "That Was Then but This Is Now", briefly appeared in the UK Top 20, followed by a Top 40 showing for "S.O.S.". The band eschewed remixes for the project, and the 12" single for "That Was Then but This Is Now" featured the disclaimer "This record is exactly the same as the 7" version. The choice is yours." Stephen Singleton retired from the band in 1984.
Now a duo of Fry and White, augmented by two non-performing band members, Fiona Russell-Powell (known as Eden) and David Yarritu, ABC's chart fortunes in the UK dwindled further with the 1985 album How To Be A Zillionaire. Keith LeBlanc from Tackhead programmed much of the beatbox work for the album. The group did score its first US Top 10 hit with "Be Near Me" (which also made the UK Top 30). The album also featured the singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire", "Vanity Kills" and "Ocean Blue". ABC was one of the first bands to do video scratching" for several videos from the How to Be a... Zillionaire album, including the video for "Be Near Me".
Following a hiatus. while Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned with Alphabet City. Best known for "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, the album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love" and "King Without a Crown" as singles. All three tracks would make the CD version of the group's first anthology.
In 1989, the duo issued Up, their fifth and final PolyGram studio album. This time experimenting with house music, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World". They then released another single, "The Real Thing". During this period the group worked on a couple of outside productions aimed at the house music scene. One was Paul Rutherford's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) solo album and first single release; the other was for Lizzie Tear on the group's own Neutron label.
In 1990, the band released a greatest hits compilation album, Absolutely. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990, and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promos was also released. One new song, "The Look Of Love (1990 Remix)", was released to promote the package.
The group then moved to the EMI label (and MCA in North America), where they recorded the 1991 LP Abracadabra. "Love Conquers All", the first single, barely placed in the UK chart, though Italian production team Black Box provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance chart.
Fry resurrected the band's name in 1997 for the album Skyscraping, an homage to several of his musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music, and the Sex Pistols. A collaboration with Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 and Keith Lowndes, the album again was met with critical approval rather than broad commercial success. However, three singles were released, "Rolling Sevens", "Skyscraping", and "Stranger Things", complete with extra B-sides.
In 1999, ABC released their first live album, The Lexicon of Live. The album covered most of their major hits. Although Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band and adorned the album cover in his trademark gold lamé suit.
Look of Love: The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Although essentially a reissue of greatest hits package Absolutely (from 1990), the album featured two new songs by Fry titled "Peace and Tranquility" and "Blame". A companion DVD, along with a bonus disc of remixes, was also released.
In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted to get the line-up of Fry, Palmer, Singleton and White together for a reunion concert. Fry and Palmer appeared and played together (with help from Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo) for the first time in over twenty years. Singleton and White opted not to participate.
Following a tour of the United States in May and June 2006, Fry and Palmer, together with keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together a new ABC album, Traffic. It was released on 28 April 2008. Gary Langan, who worked on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed and produced the album. The first single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2 in January, was added to the station's "A" playlist for the week beginning 29 March, and was released as a download track on 1 April. ABC performed two songs from Traffic during the 2008 Regeneration Tour of the US; "Ride" and "The Very First Time".
On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "Addicted to Love", with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Peter Cox of Go West.
In the summer of 2008, ABC toured the US as part of the 2008 Regeneration Tour, which also featured The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls, and Naked Eyes.
In April 2009, ABC performed the Lexicon Of Love album live at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Anne Dudley of Art of Noise, who arranged and played keyboards on the original record, conducted the performance. A music review in the 13 April 2009 edition of The Independent newspaper, described the performance as a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums back near the top of the pop pantheon".
In 2009 ABC toured the US as the headliner of the 2009 'Regeneration Tour', which also featured Terri Nunn of Berlin, Wang Chung, and the Cutting Crew.
Another Artist:
ABC also known as Grupa ABC was a Polish band playing funk, r&b and blues. It was formed in 1969 in Warsaw and disbanded in 1973.
How to Be a Zillionaire
ABC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me the truth sir, someone just bought it
Say mr. whispers! here come the click of dice
Roulette and blackjacks - gonna build us a paradise
If we have to live there, you'll have to drug me
Maybe these luxuries can only compensate
For all the cards you were dealt at the hands of fate
So tell me
Tell me! tell me! how to be a millionaire
Tell me! tell me! how to be a millionaire!
Millionaire! billionaire! trillionaire!
Hardly surprising if you might consider
Loyalties go to the highest of bidders
What's my opinion? i'd give you ten to one
Give me a million, a franchise on fun
But there are millions who often get nowhere
And there's just one secret i think you should share
Maybe these luxuries can only compensate
For all the cards you were dealt at the hands of fate
So tell me
Tell me! tell me! how to be a millionaire
Tell me! tell me! how to be a millionaire!
Who wants to be millionaire?
I do! - i don't! - i do!
Who wants to be millionaire?
I do! - i don't!
I've seen the future and i can't afford it
The lyrics of ABC's song How to Be a Zillionaire allude to the idea of wealth and prosperity being the ultimate goal in life. The tone of the song is sarcastic and skeptical, with the lyrics being an ironic commentary on the pursuit of wealth and the idea that money can buy happiness.
The first verse of the song sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer mentions that they have seen the future, but cannot afford it, indicating that the future they see is one of luxury and opulence that is only available to the wealthy. The mention of someone just buying the future implies that wealth is a prerequisite to success, and the singer is skeptical about the possibility of attaining it.
The second verse of the song is perhaps the most critical of the whole idea of wealth being the ultimate goal. The singer mentions that they need to be drugged to live in a paradise that is larger than life and twice as ugly, indicating that even if one has all the luxuries, they may not find happiness. The line "Maybe these luxuries can only compensate for all the cards you were dealt at the hands of fate" suggests that sometimes, people need to seek out wealth to compensate for their misfortunes, but it isn't always enough.
Overall, the song's lyrics provide a poignant critique of how society views wealth as an essential factor in achieving success and fulfillment in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the future, i can't afford it
I'm aware of the future, but I don't have the means to afford it.
Tell me the truth sir, someone just bought it
Can you confirm if someone has already bought it?
Say mr. whispers! here come the click of dice
Listen closely! You can hear the sound of chance.
Roulette and blackjacks - gonna build us a paradise
We can make our paradise through gambling with games like roulette and blackjack.
Larger than life and twice as ugly
Although glamorous, the reality is not as appealing.
If we have to live there, you'll have to drug me
I'd rather be unconscious than live in such an environment.
Maybe these luxuries can only compensate
Perhaps these lavish lifestyles only serve as compensation.
For all the cards you were dealt at the hands of fate
For all the unfortunate events that occurred in your life through no fault of your own.
Tell me! tell me! how to be a millionaire
Please let me know! How does one become a millionaire?
Millionaire! billionaire! trillionaire!
Someone with millions, billions, or trillions of dollars.
Hardly surprising if you might consider
It's not shocking when you think about it.
Loyalties go to the highest of bidders
People are loyal to those who pay the most money.
What's my opinion? i'd give you ten to one
Here's what I think. I'm willing to bet on it 10 to 1.
Give me a million, a franchise on fun
If you give me a million dollars, I'll use it to start a fun franchise.
But there are millions who often get nowhere
There are many people who are not successful despite their efforts.
And there's just one secret i think you should share
I believe you should share the one secret to success.
Who wants to be millionaire?
Who desires to be a millionaire?
I do! - i don't! - i do!
Some people want to be millionaires, while others don't.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, EMI Music Publishing
Written by: MARK WHITE, MARTIN FRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OgreTheGreenGuy
The Fabulous Sound of extented 80
Kevin Morin
OgreTheGreenGuy twitch
Todd River
I've loved ABC since the beginning. But after hearing this re-mix, I totally fell in love!!! You just don't get re-mixes like this anymore.....where you take an original and only make it better. This mix is pure XTC!!!
Dan Nájera
XTC was a great band too.
Captain Freedom
They were only making plans for Nigel.
Olivia 73captain73
Sgt Rock helped them... but Dear God, they were The Disappointed before they made it big.
Scruffy and Leo The cutest
Right, that 1984 big beat sound enjoyed by Art of Noise, fellow Sheffield-ers Caberet Voltaire, even the odd Pet Shop Boys and Tears for Fears song. Beats hell out of any repetitive house remix like that infuriating resurrection mix of this awesome song.
elston howard
Ya know ! Well said and the lyrics have substance mixed with smashing percussion! The part about "I ve seen the future if we have to live there you will have to drug me" alive today lol!!
Chris Erickson
Best ABC song ever! I've been listening to this since 1985, a classic none better. Will stand the test of time
antunivanovic
This is what you'd call precision. The album version is superb, the mixes are superb and this one speaks volumes in favour of bombastic superiority! What a mix. Pure ace.