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.
Viva Love
ABC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a certain spring in your stride
You face the future like a heat-seeking missile
You've got yourself a smile a mile wide
(Yes, you have)
Viva love
Viva love
Viva, viva
Viva love
When lightning strikes you don't look for shelter
You're floating free, gravity defied
It's hell for leather on a helter skelter
Just steel your nerves for a bright white knuckle ride
Viva love
Viva love, viva love, viva love
Viva love
Viva, viva
Viva love
Viva love, viva love, viva love
Viva love
Viva, viva
Viva love
In the battle of the sexes
Victory's denied
I'm charging your tanks
With slingshots and knives
My troops they retreat
And run for their lives
I'm facing defeat
But somehow love survives
Viva love
Viva love, viva love, viva love
Viva love
Viva, viva
Viva love
Viva love, viva love, viva love
Viva love
Viva, viva
Viva love
Viva love
The song Viva Love by ABC is an upbeat and empowering love song that speaks to the power and resilience of love. The lyrics of the song point to the idea that love is a force to be reckoned with and that it has the power to overcome even the most challenging circumstances. The first stanza of the song speaks to the confidence and optimism of the singer's love interest. They portray the person as someone who believes that they can take on the world with their positive attitude and their unstoppable energy. The line "You face the future like a heat-seeking missile" is particularly powerful because it suggests that this person is moving toward their goals with laser-focused precision and determination.
The second stanza of the song takes this idea further by suggesting that love can help us overcome our fears and take risks that we might not otherwise take. The image of "It's hell for leather on a helter skelter" is both thrilling and terrifying, and it captures the idea that love can be both exciting and scary at the same time. When lightning strikes, we might feel like we want to find shelter, but this person is willing to dance in the rain and take on whatever comes their way. The chorus of the song repeats the title phrase "Viva Love" multiple times, emphasizing the idea that love is something to be celebrated and cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
You think the world will melt if you whistle
You have an exaggerated sense of power and influence, as you believe that small actions on your part can have dramatic, even apocalyptic results.
There's a certain spring in your stride
You are confident, energetic and forward-looking.
You face the future like a heat-seeking missile
You are focused, determined and goal-oriented as you pursue your objectives with an unwavering commitment.
You've got yourself a smile a mile wide
You are optimistic and joyful, radiating positivity and happiness to everyone around you.
Viva love
Celebrate love and all its joys!
When lightning strikes you don't look for shelter
You are fearless in the face of danger, unwilling to back down or retreat when under pressure.
You're floating free, gravity defied
You are buoyant and light-hearted, unencumbered by the weight of the world and its many problems.
It's hell for leather on a helter skelter
You are prepared to take risks and engage in thrilling, albeit dangerous, activities. You live life to the fullest, embracing all its challenges and opportunities.
Just steel your nerves for a bright white knuckle ride
You need to brace yourself for a wild ride, full of excitement, thrills and unexpected twists and turns. But, ultimately, it will be worth it!
In the battle of the sexes, victory's denied
You recognize that love is not a competition, and that male and female partners should work together, rather than against each other, if they want to succeed in love.
I'm charging your tanks with slingshots and knives
Your partner is taking unconventional, non-threatening measures to fight for your love, using creativity and innovation instead of brute force and aggression.
My troops they retreat and run for their lives
Your partner's allies may flee or abandon their cause, but your partner remains steadfast, fighting for your love against all odds.
I'm facing defeat but somehow love survives
Your partner may be losing the battle, but not the war. Despite setbacks and disappointments, love endures and prevails.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND
Written by: Martin David Fry, Charlie Mole, Marcus Vere
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alan Newbury
Such class martin frys vocals r as unique as ever nice to b able to go back and realise there is still some real music in this world musically production perfection fm one of our great british bands of that golden era and still sounding so good even now 👍👍sheer class
Steve Augello
This song is absolutely fantastic. Listen to the live version w/ the orchestra from 2023, amazing.
Heather Whelan
I've been singing this all day!
The Ringmaster
What a sequel album perfection in every cut and sound and bit of style x
Andy Field
I have this on CD and love it as much as the first, best one since Alphabet City !
FCKBL E
Great song ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Tony Meehan
this track would have fit right in with the fist album easily
Give it up for Jackson Hts. own, Mr. Randy Watson
Awesome.
Jimmie Vinson
Found this cd on ebay now its in my cd player In the car.
DJL
Gorgeous