This led to them signing a deal with London Records. Blancmange supported Nash the Slash on a London club tour in October and November 1980. Nash introduced the band to the Virgin subsidiary record label DinDisc, but they were ultimately signed by London Records, in 1982.
Their first success was the "Talking Heads" influenced single "Feel Me", a minor hit in 1982, but later that year they broke through with the single "Living on the Ceiling", which made Number 7 in the UK singles chart. Their debut album, "Happy Families" (which featured a sleeve painting in the style of Louis Wain) also reached the top 30.
Further hits followed with "Waves", "Blind Vision", "That's Love That It Is" and "Don't Tell Me", all of which reached the top 40, with "Don't Tell Me" even making no.8 in the UK, while their second album "Mange Tout" reached the top 10.
In 1984, Blancmange covered "ABBA's" single "The Day Before You Came", which reached No 22 in the UK (slightly higher than Abba's original less than two years earlier). The bands' 1985 single and video for "Lose Your Love" featured in the 1986 Walt Disney film "Flight of the Navigator".
Eventually, as synthpop became less fashionable, the band's fortunes declined. The 1985 single "What's Your Problem" only reached No. 40, and the subsequent album "Believe You Me" spent only two weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at no.54. Blancmange formally split up in 1987.
Luscombe later released an album of Indian influenced music, "New Demons", with Pandit Dinesh, under the name The West India Company, in 1989. Arthur meanwhile released his solo album "Suitcase", in 1994.
As stated on the bands' MySpace page, as of 2006 Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe have reformed Blancmange and are writing material for a new album called "Blanc Burn", which was released on 7th March 2011 with a support tour.
On March 23rd 2015 Blancmange released their fifth studio album "Semi Detached", the first to be produced without the involvement of Stephen Luscombe who left the band due to ill health.
Blancmange's official website is at: http://www.blancmange.co.uk
Waves
Blancmange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live in a wafer thin dream
I, I can cry
You know that time, time''s not kind
But I remember the way we were
Slow, slow sad love
I wonder do you miss my love
It''s just a wave passing over me
What are these waves?
They''re coming over me
It must be my destiny
Waves, coming by
Goodbye, goodbye
What are these waves?
They''re coming over me
It must be my destiny
The song "Waves" by Blancmange is a melancholic track that speaks of a heartbroken person living in a fragile dream world. The lyrics suggest that time is not always kind and memories of past love still linger on, even though it has ended. The song starts by talking about waves and the need to say goodbye, which is a metaphor for letting go and moving on. The lines "I live in a wafer-thin dream/I, I can cry" gives the impression that the singer is in a state of vulnerability and is just holding on to their dream world.
Line by Line Meaning
Waves, then goodbye
The singer is acknowledging the presence of waves and the inevitability of goodbyes.
I live in a wafer thin dream
The singer's reality is fragile and delicate, resembling a wafer which could easily crumble.
I, I can cry
The singer is expressing their emotions and acknowledging their ability to feel vulnerable.
You know that time, time's not kind
The artist acknowledges the harsh reality that time does not always heal wounds, and can sometimes make things worse.
But I remember the way we were
The artist is reminiscing about the past and the way things used to be between them and another person.
Slow, slow sad love
The love the singer experienced was slow and melancholy, which perhaps contributed to its demise.
I wonder do you miss my love
The singer is questioning if the other person still thinks about and yearns for the love they once shared.
I know you can't
The artist acknowledges that the other person can't miss their love, either due to their own emotional detachment or the passage of time.
It's just a wave passing over me
The emotions the artist is feeling are temporary and will eventually pass, much like the way waves in the ocean come and go.
What are these waves?
The artist is questioning the source of their emotional turbulence.
They're coming over me
The singer is acknowledging the overwhelming nature of their emotions.
It must be my destiny
The artist is attributing the waves and emotional turmoil they are experiencing to their fate or destiny.
Waves, coming by
The singer is reiterating the presence of the waves and their ongoing nature.
Goodbye, goodbye
The singer is saying goodbye to the past and to the love they once shared.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AXEL RONDEAU, VINCENT TEOULE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alanwilson7561
Grown man in his 50s here. Am I soft for finding this a beautiful song? 80s music was just wow!
@Meowbay
Almost 58 here, and no, you're simply a man with great taste. 80s music was indeed amazing. I'm busy collecting a list: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1StK4aSSWe4iDlLf7kQpAkiIK5ijtIc7
@alanwilson7561
@@Meowbay Thanks, had a quick look and some crackers there. Some that I do not recognise but that is the 80s - the gift that keeps on giving. I will have a listen.
@bornabear72
Not a tall my friend,I'm 52 and listening to it👍
@waynestewart2461
Couldn’t agree more !! Glad I’m not alone 😉
@redcropuk
If you love this track Alan check out the song Ocean Rain, the title track of the 1984 Echo and the Bunnymen album.
@paulmca8514
I never understood why they weren`t more successful, a brilliant band with a sense of humour, and great songs.
@OphelieFontaine
Probably one of the most beautiful & melancholy songs
of ALL time ❤😢
@5threelborn
i'm 61 and this song was 1 of my favourites from the 80's Even today i find myself humming the words from this Song
@robertlopez5866
A song to die to.. utterly gorgeous>