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.
Caroline
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you really sure that you know me
I never met you before, can I trust you
But she's never cautious, no, never, will she ever learn
Wil she always send her dreams and poems to imaginary people
And she's tough, yes, real tough
Standing right in front of the revelation
And caroline's eyes show feelings not from this world
And if some one asks her, where do you come from
She thinks for a while before she answers
I don't know, I really don't know
And she says, there's no destination on this spiral highway
I don't know, I really don't know
And she says, I can give you names but I can never give you answers
And she says, listen to the music of your soul
Follow where it's telling you to go, follow in the footsteps of your soul
Listen to the music, don't you know, it'll lead you where you what to be
It's playing there for you and me
Caroline says while looking at the polaroid in her hands
Isn't it strange to remember
And when she's out, she never locks the door, she is always like that
She could never ever cope with the real life of the ordinary people
And she says, hey, listen to this, I should be leaving here tomorrow
It's so cold in this city and there's not enough money in the streets
And caroline's eyes show feelings not from this world
And if some one asks her
Where do you go to, she thinks for a while before she answers
I don't know...
The lyrics of Alphaville's song "Caroline" paint a picture of a mysterious and enigmatic woman who seems to live in her own world. Caroline questions whether or not the person speaking to her truly knows her, as she's never met them before. This indicates her guardedness and reluctance to trust others. Despite her cautious nature, she sends her dreams and poems to imaginary people, indicating that she has a rich inner world. Caroline is tough and unflinching, even in the face of profound revelations. She resides in a big city, where the bright lights shine on her endlessly. Her eyes betray feelings that are out of this world, suggesting that she's in touch with otherworldly realms. When asked where she comes from, Caroline pauses before answering, she doesn't know. She can give names, but not answers, indicating a sense of existential uncertainty.
Caroline advises the listener to listen to the music of their soul, follow it where it leads them, and follow in the footsteps of their soul. She insists that the music is playing for them and everyone, guiding them to where they want to be. Caroline looks at a Polaroid in her hands, reminiscing on memories that are strange to remember. She never locks the door and is always like that when she's out, indicating a sense of carelessness for her personal safety. Caroline cannot cope with the reality of ordinary people, and she says that she should leave the city, where it's cold and there isn't enough money on the streets. When asked where she goes, Caroline thinks for a while before answering, indicating that her destination is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Caroline says
Introducing Caroline, the subject of the song
Are you really sure that you know me
Caroline questions whether the other person really knows her
I never met you before, can I trust you
Caroline hasn't met the other person before and questions whether she can trust them
But she's never cautious, no, never, will she ever learn
Despite her questions, Caroline never seems cautious and never seems to learn from her mistakes
Will she always send her dreams and poems to imaginary people
Caroline may be sending her creative work to imaginary people instead of real ones
And she's tough, yes, real tough
Despite her naivety, Caroline is portrayed as tough
Standing right in front of the revelation
Caroline is in a pivotal moment of realization or understanding about herself
All of the big city lights may shine on her eternally
Caroline may be constantly surrounded by the bright, exciting lights of the city
And caroline's eyes show feelings not from this world
Caroline's otherworldly eyes suggest that she is somewhat detached from reality
And if some one asks her, where do you come from
Others may wonder about Caroline's background and origins
She thinks for a while before she answers
Taking a moment to consider, Caroline is unsure where she comes from
I don't know, I really don't know
Caroline honestly does not know the answer to where she comes from
And she says, there's no destination on this spiral highway
Caroline believes that life is a spiral without a clear destination
I can give you names but I can never give you answers
Caroline may know the names of places, but she doesn't have any definitive answers for the big questions
Listen to the music of your soul
Caroline advises the listener to connect with their innermost being
Follow where it's telling you to go, follow in the footsteps of your soul
Caroline encourages the listener to trust themselves and their soul's path
Listen to the music, don't you know, it'll lead you where you what to be
The music of your soul is a guiding force that can lead you to where you want to be
It's playing there for you and me
The music of the soul is accessible to anyone who is willing to listen
Isn't it strange to remember
Caroline finds it strange to remember past events
And when she's out, she never locks the door, she is always like that
Caroline never locks her door, perhaps showing an aversion to closed-off spaces and confinement
She could never ever cope with the real life of the ordinary people
Caroline seems unable or unwilling to live a conventional, ordinary life
And she says, hey, listen to this, I should be leaving here tomorrow
Caroline announces her departure from where she is
It's so cold in this city and there's not enough money in the streets
Perhaps the city has been oppressive or unfulfilling for Caroline
Where do you go to, she thinks for a while before she answers
Others ask Caroline where she is going, prompting her to consider before responding
I don't know...
Caroline genuinely doesn't know where she is going next
Contributed by Leo M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.