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.
Summer Rain
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heartbeat of the heat above the harbor
Lazy day lies dazed upon the shelf
Atomic lizard's lick
At the blaze of the light that last forever
No move in the solid sky
No gleaming metal out of
The breathtaking blue
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Whoever breaks the seven seals
And lets the angry angels free
I do not know, just waiting here
For summer rain
For summer rain
Or anything else in the world
Prophet, hold your head up
Into a cluster of bees and listen
Love of my life, here is all our honey
Yes, so we can change the world together
And if we're still invited
To walk in this party
I'd go for a saucerful of secrets or more
But last thing I heard of was
That god had left the skies
For a brand new universe
He was supposed to say
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Whoever breaks the seven seals
And lets the angry angels free
I do not know, just waiting over there
For summer rain
For summer rain
For summer rain
For summer rain
I'm singing in the rain
I'm singing in the rain
What a glorious feeling
I'm happy again
The lyrics of Alphaville's Summer Rain evoke a sense of loneliness and isolation amidst a seemingly apocalyptic world where the usual beauty and vibrancy of summer have faded away. The absence of wind and movement in the "solid sky" creates a stagnant and suffocating atmosphere that reflects the singer's feelings of being stuck and helpless. The comparisons to a "lazy day lies dazed upon the shelf" and an "atomic lizard's lick" add a sense of surrealism and otherworldliness to the scene.
The second half of the song introduces the idea of trying to find hope and meaning amidst the chaos. The singer speaks of a desire to change the world with their loved one "here is all our honey/ Yes, so we can change the world together." However, there is a sense of uncertainty and resignation in the lines "Whoever breaks the seven seals/ And lets the angry angels free/ I do not know, just waiting here" which suggests that the path to redemption is unclear or even impossible.
Overall, Summer Rain is a poignant and thought-provoking song that explores themes of existentialism, love, and hope in a world that seems to have lost its way.
Line by Line Meaning
World without a breeze
The surroundings are still and stagnant, without a breath of fresh air.
Heartbeat of the heat above the harbor
The heat is pulsing and overwhelming in the harbor area.
Lazy day lies dazed upon the shelf
The day is slow and uneventful, lying dormant and unproductive.
Atomic lizard's lick
The intense and destructive power of an atomic blast is hinted at.
At the blaze of the light that last forever
Implying an explosion or other bright, long-lasting light source.
No move in the solid sky
The sky, devoid of movement and change, indicates a lack of progress or forward momentum.
No gleaming metal out of The breathtaking blue
There is no sign of the modern world or advanced technological developments in the beautiful natural surroundings.
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The joys and excitement of life have left, and things are now dull and lifeless.
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Dangerous and thrilling activities or events are no longer happening.
Whoever breaks the seven seals And lets the angry angels free I do not know, just waiting here For summer rain
There is a sense of uncertainty or impending doom, but the artist is uncertain what will take place and can only wait for the future.
Prophet, hold your head up Into a cluster of bees and listen
The singer is urging someone wise or prophetic to pay close attention and listen amid the chaos.
Love of my life, here is all our honey
The artist is offering all they have to their loved one, with an implication of a desire for a simple and pure existence with them.
Yes, so we can change the world together
They hope to make the world a better place with their loved one's help.
And if we're still invited To walk in this party I'd go for a saucerful of secrets or more
If there is still the chance of enjoying life and participating in society's festivities, the singer would take every opportunity to do so.
But last thing I heard of was That god had left the skies For a brand new universe He was supposed to say
There is a sense of disillusionment and loss as the idea of a higher power or guiding force has been abandoned for the great unknown.
For summer rain Or anything else in the world
The artist is just waiting and hoping for something, anything to bring excitement, joy, and purpose back into their life.
I'm singing in the rain I'm singing in the rain What a glorious feeling I'm happy again
The artist is happy to celebrate even a small victory, to feel alive and connected to the world once more.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH
Written by: Bernhard Lloyd, Marian Gold, Ricky Echolette
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eva RKF
Lyrics:
World without a breeze
Heartbeat of the heat above the harbour
Lazy day lies dazed upon the shelf
Atomic lizards lick at the blaze of a light that is forever
No move in the solid skies
No gleaming metal out of the breathtaking blue
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Whoever breaks the Seven Seals
And lets the angry angels free
I do not know
Just waiting here
For summer rain
For summer rain
Or anything else
Prophet hold your head up
Into a cluster of bees and listen
"Love of my life
Here is all our honey
Yes, we can change the world, together"
And if we're still invited to walk in this party
I'd go for a saucerful of secrets or more
But the last thing I heard of was that GOD had left the lines
For a brand new universe
HE was supposed to say
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Whoever breaks the Seven Seals and lets the angry angels free
I do not know
Just waiting over there
For summer rain
For summer rain
What a glorious feeling
I'm happy again
Just cool rain
Paulo jose souza maximo Maximo
Música de rock romântico divinal
Valmir da Silva
sim, é linda! e eu não conhecia!
Adilea Corsi De Paiva
Música maravilhosa!
Olaf de Vries
absolutly underrated song of one of the best pop bands of germany
Евгений Труляля
Agree! When I listened this album for the first time I thought, "meh" )) But the more I listened the more I began to love it. Great music, fantastic lyrics. Bravo Alphaville!
Springformband
How about calling them the best band in the world?
Rob Trent
Totally agree my friend
Eva RKF
Lyrics:
World without a breeze
Heartbeat of the heat above the harbour
Lazy day lies dazed upon the shelf
Atomic lizards lick at the blaze of a light that is forever
No move in the solid skies
No gleaming metal out of the breathtaking blue
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Whoever breaks the Seven Seals
And lets the angry angels free
I do not know
Just waiting here
For summer rain
For summer rain
Or anything else
Prophet hold your head up
Into a cluster of bees and listen
"Love of my life
Here is all our honey
Yes, we can change the world, together"
And if we're still invited to walk in this party
I'd go for a saucerful of secrets or more
But the last thing I heard of was that GOD had left the lines
For a brand new universe
HE was supposed to say
My golden circus girls all sailed away
The lion tamers are no longer due to play
Whoever breaks the Seven Seals and lets the angry angels free
I do not know
Just waiting over there
For summer rain
For summer rain
What a glorious feeling
I'm happy again
Just cool rain
Preiya Dovel
My favourite song… the lyrics are dreamy, the melody is a bliss and the atmosphere is as soft as a sweet summer rain.
This song is the depiction of the summer essence, love, the smell of the lemons and flowers in the countryside, the wind in my hair, a will to change the world while enjoying life to the fullest.
Rob Trent
Wow! I still get chills over 30+ years later. That's good music