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
What's Your Problem
Blancmange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never wanted to let go-o-oh
And now you're falling apart, apart
Your situation strikes me
Right on my heart
Your situation strikes me
Ummm, ummm
Ummm
And when you were flying high
You never wanted to look down-a-awn
Now with your feet on the ground, the ground
Your situation strikes me
Right on my heart
Your situation, that is
Strikes me, Right on my heart
Indecisions they left me a long, long, long, long, long, long, time ago
And now I know that a mad mans poison is another mans food
Indecisions they left me a long, long, long, long, long, long, time ago
And now I know that a mad mans poison is another mans fo-ood
When you used to be attached
You never wanted to let go-o-oh
And now you're falling apart, apart
Your situation strikes me
Right on my heart
Your situation, that is
Strikes me, Right on my heart
What's your problem?
What's your name?
Lost your tongue, cat took it away
What's your problem?
What's your name?
Lost your tongue, cat took it away
Indecisions they left me a long, long, long, long, long, long, time ago
And now I know that a mad mans poison is another mans food
Indecisions they left me a long, long, long, long, long, long, time ago
And now I know that a mad mans poison is another mans food
The lyrics of "What's Your Problem" by Blancmange seem to be commenting on the nature of change in human behavior and emotion. The first verse seems to be a commentary on attachment and detachment, noting that when one is attached to something, they never want to let it go, while someone who is falling apart now may have been indifferent to attachment previously. The chorus emphasizes the emotional impact of situations and how they can affect a person, and the subsequent verse links change to indecision, suggesting that making difficult choices can lead to a certain level of emotional stability.
The bridge repeats the line "Indecisions they left me a long time ago," emphasizing that the singer has learned to make decisions and move on. The final chorus brings the focus back to the idea of personal problems, seeking to identify and address them. The repetition of the question "What's your problem?" highlights the importance of understanding and tackling one's own issues.
Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the importance of emotional awareness and understanding, as well as the need to confront and address personal problems. It uses a mix of poetically abstract and straightforward language to create a sense of introspection and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
When you used to be attached
Back when you were emotionally invested in something or someone,
You never wanted to let go-o-oh
You never wanted to give it up or let them leave,
And now you're falling apart, apart
But now, things are coming undone, and you're struggling to hold yourself together.
Your situation strikes me
Your circumstances affect me,
Right on my heart
And it feels like it's weighing down on my feelings
And when you were flying high
When you were on top of the world,
You never wanted to look down-a-awn
You never wanted to acknowledge the possibility of falling,
Now with your feet on the ground, the ground
But now that you've hit rock bottom,
Your situation strikes me
Your circumstances affect me,
Your situation, that is
The difficulty you're in,
Strikes me, Right on my heart
Is causing me pain and worry
Indecisions they left me a long, long, long, long, long, long, time ago
I made up my mind ages ago and haven't struggled with indecision since then,
And now I know that a mad mans poison is another mans food
I learned that different people have different preferences, and what may be harmful to one person may be suitable for another
What's your problem?
What's bothering you?
What's your name?
Who are you?
Lost your tongue, cat took it away
Did you lose your ability to speak? Cat got your tongue?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL ARTHUR, STEPHEN ALFRED LUSCOMBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisfox2890
It's August going into September 1985. I hear this on the radio. I tape it. I'm about to start Sixth Form. I'm 16, nearly 17. What a FANTASTIC song from an underated 80s band.
@danieladams9950
The last Blancmange song... and the best.
@Cureboy2325
This is unacceptable! There needs to be more likes for this band.
@lhair02
Believe you Me is underrated as a whole! songs like this one, why don't they leave things alone and lose your love really showcase it's pure synth pop beauty
@gilesl
yep, I remember buying the CD(rare) not long after it came out in Woolworths for about a fiver! I think it's their best album
@cnfuzz
Anyone noticed how much talking heads there is in the music of Blancmange
@aminmalik4086
Not as good as their first two Albums.
@evb62
I've been listening to this song since the eighties, now I "see" it for the first time.
@shinyphil87
Just brilliant ❤
@seanlongleyresellerdaduk
Love this song!