In 1984 the re-named Alphaville released their debut single "Big in Japan", followed by "Sounds Like a Melody" and "Forever Young", quickly followed by the album Forever Young. Despite its success Frank Mertens left the band in the same year and was replaced by Ricky Echolette (born Wolfgang Neuhaus, in Cologne, August 6, 1960) in January 1985.
"Big In Japan" was their biggest U.S. success, shooting to #1 on Billboard's Dance chart. While they never again had a Top 20 U.S. Dance hit, several of their releases went Top 40 and Top 30 on the Dance charts. They were less successful at mainstream U.S. radio, reflected by their showing on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts, where "Big" only reached #66. The first U.S. release of "Forever Young" failed to scale the charts. In 1985, amid reports pop star Laura Branigan was featuring the song on her next album, Hold Me, Alphaville's "Forever Young" was re-released as a single in the U.S., and again floundered in the lower recesses of the chart. Branigan's version, though promoted on stickers adorning the album, subsequently remained an album cut in the U.S., though it was released to radio in South America. She would go on to perform the song as an encore at nearly every concert she performed, from her 1985 tour until her death in 2004. The Alphaville version was released a third time in the U.S. in 1988, to promote Alphaville: The Singles Collection, and peaked this time at #65. Their highest U.S. Singles chart showing, it was also their last. International re-releases of Alphaville's "Forever Young" followed in 1989, 1996, and 2001. Several covers have been recorded and remixed, featuring male or female vocalists often erroneously attributed to be Alphaville's Marian Gold, or Laura Branigan.
In 1986 the second album Afternoons In Utopia was released, followed in 1989 by The Breathtaking Blue. As an alternative to individual music videos, the band enlisted nine producers, among them Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi), to create a film entitled Songlines based on the album's tracks.
The next album, Prostitute, was not released until 1994. In 1996 Ricky Echolette left the band. Salvation followed in 1997. Stark Naked and Absolutely Live was released in 2000, followed by the remix album Forever Pop in 2001. A DVD was released in 2001 documenting two concerts performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two box-sets have also been released; rather than being collections of previously released album tracks they are actually 12 unique albums, several live, several rarities and outtakes, and several newly recorded. The first box, of eight discs, was released in 1999 (called Dreamscapes) and the second in 2003 (called CrazyShow or Dreamscapes 9-12). All the material in CrazyShow is newly recorded.
Bernhard Lloyd did not contribute to the CrazyShow album, and shortly after its release, on March 18, 2003 he officially left the group. The current core members of Alphaville are Marian Gold (vocals), Martin Lister (keyboards), David Goodes (guitars) and Pierson Grange (drums).
" Just a note to say Bernhard Lloyd is/has/recently played live with Alphaville. I saw him at the Esbjerg Rock Festival in June of this year. They sounded absoutely brilliant. Check out the Alphaville website, it's worth a look. Added by Fletchie, 02.11.07"
Marian Gold has released two solo albums (So Long Celeste, 1992 and United, 1996) alongside his work in the band. Bernhard Lloyd also worked on a project named Atlantic Popes with singer Max Holler. In 1996 Frank Mertens started on a musical project called Maelstrom which was a combination of ambient-style music, impressionistic and colorful art in the form of paintings and sculptures, and etheric poetry. This project seems now to have been by far abandoned, though, as Mertens has not been visibly active with it. In 2006 and 2007, Alphaville appeared on the "ELEKTRISCH" vol.1 and 2 album compilations with "From Germany With Love" and "Guardian Angel".
There is another artist with the same name:
2) A spanish Synthpop/dark/post punk group born in 1981 in Madrid by José Luis F. Abel (guitar & vocal), Mendi (bass), José Carlos ‘Charles’ Sánchez (keyboards), Jose Luis Orfanel (guitar) and Juan Antonio ‘Rep’ Nieto (drums).
The independent label DRO released their first EP in April 1982, "Paisajes nocturnos", which included four tracks. Their first hit arrived some months later with the 4-tracks 12'' "Palacio de invierno". In 1983 they released the album Despues De La Derrota.
Around The Universe
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At a starting aeroplane
On a faded photograph from long ago
And I wondered who he was
And who was on the plane
And where the flight was going to
And I felt kind of homesick
Although you were with me
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
When will I ever come back again?
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
When will I ever come back, come back again?
When the circle is fulfilled
When the planes are coming back
Then I'll be there to welcome you home
And it will be my turn
And nothing shall be left
But memories and fading photographs
You see, I'm on my way
Some have to go, some have to stay
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
When will I ever come back again?
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
When will I ever come back, come back again?
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
When will I ever come back again?
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
When will I ever come back, come back?
When will I ever come back again?
In "Around The Universe" by Alphaville, the lyrics express a sense of longing, nostalgia, and uncertainty. The song opens with the singer looking at a faded photograph of a man waving his hat at a departing airplane, prompting thoughts about the identity of the man and those on the plane, as well as where the flight was headed. Despite being accompanied by someone, the singer feels a strange homesickness, which suggests a deeper longing for something or someone else.
The chorus plea for a prayer is a cry for reassurance and support. The singer asks for prayers to guide them on their journey and to bring them back again. There is a sense of anticipation and uncertainty regarding the future and whether they will be reunited with their loved ones. The lyrics evoke a feeling of being adrift in the vastness of the universe, captivated by memories and fading photographs.
The second verse introduces the idea of a circle being fulfilled and planes coming back, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the hope for a homecoming. The singer expresses the desire to be there to welcome their loved ones home, but also acknowledges that some must depart while others remain. The lyrics hint at the transient nature of life and the bittersweet moments of departure and reunion.
Overall, "Around The Universe" captures the universal themes of longing, uncertainty, and the desire for connection. It explores the complexities of human emotions and the longing for a sense of belonging and home.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a man waving his hat
In this photo, there is a man happily bidding farewell.
At a starting aeroplane
He is standing near an airplane that is about to depart.
On a faded photograph from long ago
This picture is old and the colors have washed out over time.
And I wondered who he was
I pondered the identity and significance of the man waving.
And who was on the plane
I also questioned who the passengers were on that aircraft.
And where the flight was going to
Additionally, I was curious about the destination of the flight.
And I felt kind of homesick
Despite being in your company, I experienced a longing for home.
Although you were with me
Even though I have your companionship.
Save a prayer, a prayer for me
Please offer a prayer on my behalf.
When will I ever come back again?
I question when I will return once more.
When the circle is fulfilled
Once the cycle is complete,
When the planes are coming back
When the airplanes are returning,
Then I'll be there to welcome you home
I will be present to greet you upon your homecoming.
And it will be my turn
At that moment, it will be my opportunity.
And nothing shall be left
Nothing will remain.
But memories and fading photographs
Except for memories and photographs that are losing their vividness.
You see, I'm on my way
You understand, I am currently en route.
Some have to go, some have to stay
Certain individuals must depart while others must remain.
When will I ever come back, come back again?
When will I have the opportunity to return once more?
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Marian Gold, Martin Ian Lister
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind