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.
Point of Know Return
Alphaville Lyrics
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The captains tell they pay you well
And they say they need sailing men to
Show the way and leave today
Was it you that said, "How long?"
They say the sea turns so dark that
You know it's time, you see the sign
An ocean grave for all the brave
Was it you that said, "How long, how long
How long to the point of know return?"
Your father, he said he needs you
Your mother, she said she loves you
Your brothers, they echo the words
"How far to the point of know return?"
"Well, how long?"
Today I found a message floating
In the sea from you to me
You wrote that when you could see it
You cried with fear, the point was near
Was it you that said
"How long to the point of know return?"
The lyrics to Alphaville's song, "Point of Know Return" discusses leaving the comforts of land to embark on a dangerous sea voyage. The singer hears about a crew of sailors who are being offered good pay to lead the way, but he also hears that the sea will turn dark and treacherous. The song suggests that the journey to the point of no return will be perilous and potentially fatal. The singer reflects on the loved ones left behind and wonders how far they must go before they reach the point of no return.
The point of no return is a metaphorical notion given in the song that refers to a dangerous and significant point that once crossed, there is no turning back. It is a moment that causes significant changes in one's life, and there is no way to return to what once was. The song's lyrics indicate that the sailors are willing to take the risk and push themselves to the limit, even with the possibility of not surviving. The singer wonders how long this journey will last and how close they are to the point of no return.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the men saying something
The singer overheard a conversation among some men.
The captains tell they pay you well
The singer suggests that captains give good payment for their service.
And they say they need sailing men to
Show the way and leave today
The captains were recruiting sailors for an immediate departure.
Was it you that said, "How long?"
The artist asks if one of the men in the conversation asked about the length of a voyage.
They say the sea turns so dark that
You know it's time, you see the sign
There is a sign that tells sailors it's time to turn back when the sea becomes dark.
They say the point demons guard is
An ocean grave for all the brave
The point that demons guard is believed to be a very dangerous place where even brave sailors could perish.
Was it you that said, "How long, how long
How long to the point of know return?"
The singer repeats their question about the length of the voyage and when they will reach the dangerous point that demons guard.
Your father, he said he needs you
Your mother, she said she loves you
Your brothers, they echo the words
"How far to the point of know return?"
"Well, how long?"
The artist mentions that the sailor's family wants to know when they will return and how long it will take to reach the dangerous point.
Today I found a message floating
In the sea from you to me
You wrote that when you could see it
You cried with fear, the point was near
The artist found a message from the sailor, who was fearful because they were close to the dangerous point that demons guard.
Was it you that said
"How long to the point of know return?"
The artist repeats their question about the length of the voyage and when they will reach the dangerous point.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EHART PHIL, ROBERT STEINHARDT, STEVE WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind