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.
Soul Messiah
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Much too much impact of obscene terror
I wonder why I'm still surfing on this wave of obsession
Is there a reason to stay any longer
Waiting for some cool messiah
Give me a reason to stay here forever
Waiting for something to come
Is it my soul
Or is it you, some kind of angel
That keeps me in waiting forever
There's too much war on the outside
Much too much impact of symbols and meanings
I wonder why I'm still fighting in this ocean of questions
Is there a reason to stay any longer
Waiting for something to come
Give me a reason to stay on this island
Waiting for something to come
The lyrics of Alphaville's song Soul Messiah reflect the singer's inner turmoil and confusion about their place in the world. The repeated phrase "too much" emphasizes the singer's feeling of being overwhelmed by the chaos and violence that surrounds them. The references to "obscene terror" and "war on the outside" suggest that the singer is grappling with larger societal issues beyond their personal struggles.
The chorus reveals the singer's hope for a savior, a "cool messiah" who will provide them with a reason to keep going. This messiah could be a spiritual guide or a person who will bring peace and meaning to their life. The uncertainty about whether this messiah is the singer's own soul or an external force adds to the sense of existential questioning and searching in the lyrics.
Overall, the song's themes of confusion and longing for guidance resonate with anyone who has felt lost or overwhelmed in the face of the world's problems.
Line by Line Meaning
There is too much confusion
The current situation is very chaotic and unclear.
Much too much impact of obscene terror
The disturbing events are having a strong negative effect.
I wonder why I'm still surfing on this wave of obsession
I question why I am still consumed by this intense interest or feeling.
Is there a reason to stay any longer
I am unsure if there is a valid justification to continue being in this situation.
Waiting for some cool messiah
I am waiting for a miraculous savior to come and make things better.
Give me a reason to stay here forever
Provide me with a compelling cause to never leave this place or situation.
Waiting for something to come
I am anticipating for something to arrive or happen.
Is it my soul
I am wondering if it is my inner self or essence that I am waiting for.
Is it that glimpse of light I never forget to expect
I am wondering if it is that hope or inspiration that I always anticipate.
Or is it you, some kind of angel
I am questioning if it is another person, perhaps someone with a divine or otherworldly quality.
That keeps me in waiting forever
This person is keeping me in a state of continual anticipation.
There's too much war on the outside
There is too much conflict and strife happening in the external world.
Much too much impact of symbols and meanings
The messaging and symbolism around us are having a profound effect.
I wonder why I'm still fighting in this ocean of questions
I question why I am still struggling in this vast sea of uncertainty.
Is there a reason to stay any longer
I am uncertain if it is necessary for me to continue being involved in this conflict.
Waiting for something to come
I am still waiting for something to happen or come about.
Give me a reason to stay on this island
Provide me with a satisfactory justification to remain in this isolated or trapped state.
Waiting for something to come
I am still waiting for a change or solution to present itself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERND GOESSLING, HARTWIG SCHIERBAUM, WOLFGANG MICHAEL NEUHAUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind