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.
Whales
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't we communicate
Their lifestyle is floating
Remember, they're like us
They're coming from afar
Remember, they're astral
What is wrong with their orientation
Where is the error??
Tell me why do whales run ashore??
We're living like islands
No neighbours to talk or play with
The ocean is endless
There's liquid forever
Our race is so lonely
We're stranded, they landed, tell me..
What is wrong with our orientation
Where is the error??
What do we know of our orientation..
We're stranded, they landed..
We need someone to talk to!!!
WHAT IS LOVE ?
Lyrics & music: Gold
What is love ?
I'm getting closer to her
And the closer I get
The more I lose my fear of loneliness
A step outside in the rain,
They just close the cinemas
I'm lightyears away from you as I drive in my car
And your love shines like a neon sign,
It ain't so far
But the distance is unbelievable
What is love: unbelievable
What is freedom ?
I guess that I'm free again
I'm so fucking free to decide
Whether I'm wrong or right, to win or lose
I love you, I feel like a little boy
Too little to take all your burning love
And toyland is melting away in the heat
WISHFUL THINKING
Lyrics: Gold/music: Gold-Lloyd-Echolette
Into the night
Still falls the rain
Even the dogs stay home tonight
Out on the streets
Going nowhere
Just one direction in my thoughts
Love can be magic
It can be a game
Sometimes it's tragic
And sometimes a shame
Words were my bullits
Emotion my gun
I was a runner
Now I'm on the run
Sometimes I wish that you were dead
That is because you haunt me so
I wasn't right to let you go away
I try to kill the pain inside
But you are always on my mind
No matter where I go or stay
Sometimes I dream my time away
And we're together again
But I know that can never be
And all my hopes are in vain
You were my treasure
But I didn't know
You were the sun in my life
Thought I was dying
When I realized
There's just one chance to survive...
The lyrics to Alphaville's song Whales is a reflection of the human condition, as the band explores feelings of loneliness and isolation in a crowded world. The song draws parallels between the lives of humans and whales, highlighting that both lead solitary existences, and yet are not that different from each other. The lyrics evoke a sense of empathy for these majestic creatures, as the band urges listeners to ponder on the reasons behind whales running ashore. The question of what is wrong with their orientation is a rhetorical one, as the band suggests that the problem might lie with humans themselves, who in their quest for material wealth, have lost touch with the natural world.
The lyrics also serve as a call to action, urging people to connect with one another and with the environment. Humans are described as living like islands, cut off from each other and from nature. The band urges people to break free from this pattern, to reach out and connect with others. The song highlights the need for meaningful relationships and a sense of community. As the song comes to a close, the band expresses a desire for someone to talk to, encapsulating the need for human connection that underpins the song.
Line by Line Meaning
They're singing songs like us
Whales are communicating with each other through their songs, just like humans do.
Why don't we communicate
The singer wonders why humans and whales have not communicated with each other even though they both have the capability to do so.
Their lifestyle is floating
Whales spend their life in the ocean, constantly swimming and floating in the water.
Remember, they're like us
The artist reminds the listener that even though whales seem different, they are living beings like humans.
They're coming from afar
The whales are traveling a long distance to reach somewhere.
Remember, they're astral
The singer reminds the listener that whales are from another world and their existence is very different and mysterious to us.
What is wrong with their orientation
The singer wonders what could be the reason for the strange behavior of whales, which seems like an error in their orientation.
Where is the error??
The artist questions where the error is in the whales' orientation, causing them to act in this way.
What do we know of their orientation
The artist highlights the idea that humans do not have much knowledge about the orientation and behavior of whales.
Tell me why do whales run ashore??
The artist is puzzled and wants to know why whales are found stranded on the shore.
We're living like islands
The singer is metaphorically comparing humans to islands where they live their life feeling isolated and disconnected from the surroundings.
No neighbours to talk or play with
The artist feels like they have nobody around to talk or interact with.
The ocean is endless
The ocean is vast and never-ending, which is a metaphor for the vastness of human emotions and experiences.
There's liquid forever
The water in the ocean seems to be never-ending, just like the deep emotions that humans possess.
Our race is so lonely
The singer feels that the human race is lonely, and there is a need for communication and interaction with others.
We're stranded, they landed, tell me..
The artist is metaphorically comparing the situation of humans and whales, where humans are stranded and lonely on the land while whales are able to explore the vast ocean.
What is wrong with our orientation
The artist questions the behavior of humans and wonders if there is something wrong with their orientation and way of living their life.
Where is the error??
The singer is searching for the error that is causing humans to feel disconnected and lonely in their lives.
We need someone to talk to!!!
The singer emphasizes the need for human communication and interaction, which is necessary for a healthy and happy life.
What is love ?
The artist is asking a rhetorical question about the meaning and nature of love.
I'm getting closer to her
The artist is attracted to someone and is moving closer to them.
And the closer I get
The artist is emphasizing the idea that the closer they get to the person they're attracted to, the more they open up to them.
The more I lose my fear of loneliness
The singer is saying that their attraction towards someone else is making them feel less lonely and isolated.
A step outside in the rain,
The artist is describing an outdoor experience, where they are walking in the rain.
They just close the cinemas
The singer is frustrated that the cinemas are closed, which is a metaphor for the missed opportunities in life.
I'm lightyears away from you as I drive in my car
The singer feels distant from the person they are attracted to even though they are physically moving towards them.
And your love shines like a neon sign,
The singer is saying that the person's love towards them is very visible and bright, just like a neon sign.
It ain't so far
The artist is emphasizing the idea that the distance between them and the person they're attracted to is not very far.
But the distance is unbelievable
The distance between the artist and the person they like seems insurmountable, even though it is not too far.
What is love: unbelievable
The singer is questioning and describing the incredibility of love and its power over humans.
What is freedom ?
The singer is asking a rhetorical question about the meaning and nature of freedom.
I guess that I'm free again
The artist is saying that they feel free and liberated to make their own choices again.
I'm so fucking free to decide
The artist is expressing excitement and joy in their newfound freedom to make their own decisions.
Whether I'm wrong or right, to win or lose
The artist is saying that they are free to take chances and make decisions, whether it's for the better or worse.
I love you, I feel like a little boy
The singer expresses their love for someone, and how it makes them feel vulnerable yet happy like a child.
Too little to take all your burning love
The artist feels like they are too small and inadequate to accept and handle the intense love of the person they like.
And toyland is melting away in the heat
The singer is making a metaphorical comparison of their happy and idyllic life, which is starting to change under the pressure of love.
Into the night
The singer is starting to feel lost and hopeless about their situation.
Still falls the rain
The singer is expressing the idea that even though they feel sad and hopeless, life goes on and does not wait for them to feel better.
Even the dogs stay home tonight
The artist notices that everything around them is calm and quiet, even the usually busy and active dogs are staying inside today.
Out on the streets
The artist is feeling lost and wandering on the streets, with no particular direction or destination.
Going nowhere
The singer feels that their life is aimless and pointless.
Just one direction in my thoughts
The singer has only one thing on their mind, which is consuming their thoughts and attention.
Love can be magic
The artist is describing the enchanting and mystical nature of love and its impact on humans.
It can be a game
The artist is saying that love can be unpredictable and tricky, just like a game.
Sometimes it's tragic
The artist is acknowledging that love can be incredibly sad and hurtful at times.
And sometimes a shame
The singer suggests that love can be shameful and embarrassing, especially if it's unrequited.
Words were my bullets
The artist is saying that they used to be very good with words, which were like their weapons.
Emotion my gun
The singer is emphasizing the idea that their feelings and emotions were their most powerful weapon.
I was a runner
The singer is admitting that they used to run away from their problems and situations.
Now I'm on the run
The singer is currently running away from their problems and trying to find a solution.
Sometimes I wish that you were dead
The artist has intense negative feelings towards someone that they wish they were no longer alive.
That is because you haunt me so
The reason for the artist's negative feelings is because the person in question is a constant reminder of something unpleasant.
I wasn't right to let you go away
The singer is regretting their past actions and decisions that led to the current situation.
I try to kill the pain inside
The singer is using different methods to cope with their emotional pain and distress.
But you are always on my mind
The artist cannot stop thinking about the person that they have negative feelings towards.
No matter where I go or stay
The artist feels like the person they dislike is always present, no matter where they go.
Sometimes I dream my time away
The artist is living in a fantasy world in their dreams, where they can escape from their reality.
And we're together again
The singer's dreams are about being with the person or people they miss and having a happy life, which is not possible in reality.
But I know that can never be
The artist is aware that their dreams are unrealistic and will never come true in reality.
And all my hopes are in vain
The singer is feeling hopeless and disillusioned about their future and life.
You were my treasure
The singer used to hold the person they dislike in high regard and valued them like a treasure.
But I didn't know
The singer is admitting that they were unaware of certain things about the person they dislike.
You were the sun in my life
The person the artist dislikes used to be a significant and positive influence in their life.
Thought I was dying
The artist's life feels like it's ending, with no hope for a positive change.
When I realized
The singer has had a revelation or realization about their life and situation.
There's just one chance to survive...
The singer is saying that there is only one option or way to survive the current situation or problem.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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