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.
In The Mood
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's in the mood to touch everything you are
He's in the mood to touch the fire
Touch the fire, touch the fire
Jacky's locked in a silent dream
He's watching movies on the TV-screen
He feels unsteady lights a cigarette
In his cabinet
Oh Jacky, when everything goes wrong
Get ready, for you've got to be so strong
It's so supersensual, so sentimental
Dial that cipher in your tears
The number to the golden years
You've got to touch the fire
Wake up, little boy
You've got to play with fire
Wake up
You've got to touch the fire
Wake up, little boy
You've got to play with fire
You've got to play with fire
Jacky hears it, is it her or not?
His eyes are burning 'cause the brain's too hot
He's sitting calmly on a swivel chair
(Talk to me, talk to me)
There's something coming from the upper stairs
From the upper stairs
Oh Jacky, when everything goes wrong
Get ready, for you've got to be so strong
It's so supersensual, so sentimental
Dial that cipher in your tears
The number to the golden years
Oh Jacky, when everything goes wrong
Get ready, for you've got to be, you've got to be so strong
It's so sensual, so sentimental
Dial that cipher in your tears
The number to the golden years
(Oh oh, Jacky) now listen to me Jacky
You were always so lonesome in that quiet lonely house
High on the hill (oh Jacky)
Just come, come and meet me
You know where and we'll take a nice holiday
Back in the old, old days (oh Jacky) of happiness
When everything goes wrong
Get ready, for you've got to be so strong
It's so sensual, so sentimental
Dial that cipher in your tears
Dial that cipher in your tears
In your tears
In your tears
Alphaville's "In the Mood" is a song about a person named Jacky who is locked in a silent dream, perhaps a state of depression, and is seeking some kind of stimulation to awaken his senses. The lyrics suggest that Jacky is feeling unsteady and bored, but still has the desire to touch the fire and play with fire. This metaphorical fire represents the passion and excitement that Jacky feels is missing from his life, but is hesitant to pursue due to the risks involved. The song encourages Jacky to be strong and seek out what he truly desires, even if it may be challenging.
The lyrics also mention the concept of golden years, a time of happiness and prosperity that Jacky longs for. The repetition of the phrase "dial that cipher in your tears" implies that Jacky needs to confront his inner emotions and find the courage to pursue his dreams. The song ends with an invitation for Jacky to come and meet the singer, where they can reminisce about happier times.
Overall, "In the Mood" is a song about taking risks and pursuing one's desires, even in the face of uncertainty and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
He's in the mood to touch the fire
He desires to indulge himself in something he knows is dangerous
He's in the mood to touch everything you are
He wants to experience all facets of your being
Jacky's locked in a silent dream
Jacky is trapped in a dream state where he cannot speak
He's watching movies on the TV-screen
He is passively consuming media on the television
He feels unsteady lights a cigarette
He is nervous and uses smoking to calm himself
He's getting mellow in his cabinet
He is settling into a comfortable state in his space
Oh Jacky, when everything goes wrong
Jacky is prone to things not going as planned
Get ready, for you've got to be so strong
Jacky must be emotionally resilient
It's so supersensual, so sentimental
The situation is highly emotional and evokes memories
Dial that cipher in your tears
Express the complex feelings you are experiencing
The number to the golden years
The memories of a happier time
You've got to touch the fire
You must take a risk to experience something new
Wake up, little boy
Embrace your bravery to face the unknown
You've got to play with fire
You must explore dangerous ideas and experiences
Jacky hears it, is it her or not?
Jacky is unsure of what he is hearing
His eyes are burning 'cause the brain's too hot
He is overthinking and causing himself mental distress
He's sitting calmly on a swivel chair
He appears composed on the surface, but is unsettled underneath
There's something coming from the upper stairs
He is sensing something moving from above him
Just come, come and meet me
Come see me and escape your loneliness
You know where and we'll take a nice holiday
We can go somewhere fun and relaxing
When everything goes wrong
Things can easily go awry
Dial that cipher in your tears
Open yourself up to expressing deep emotions
In your tears
Through your crying and expression of sadness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: B. LLOYD, F. MORTONS, M. GOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind