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 the Time?
Blancmange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The best child you ever bore?
The worst crash you ever saw?
The worst famine you endured?
Lists of things to pass the time
While everything else is moving on
At speed I, you or they can't comprehend
Lists of lists on until the end.
What′s your favourite crime?
If you lost everything, is there a plan in mind?
When you vote do you have an image in view?
Does the cross represent anything to you?
What's the best indie record of all time?
Oh, you mean in the nineties or can I rewind – Byzantine?
Who's the ugliest person, the most obese
The thinnest, the tallest, the most invisible.
List all the things you′ve never owned
List all the things you′ve never said
What's the worst moment?
The best feeling?
What′s the time?
What's the best dog you ever had?
What′s the best dog you ever had?
What's the best dog you ever had?
What′s the best dog you ever had?
What's the best dog you ever had?
The lyrics to Blancmange's song "What's The Time?" appear to be a litany of random questions that the singer is asking either himself or someone else in an attempt to pass the time. The lyrics are full of eccentric musings, ranging from the best dog one has had to the worst famine one has endured. These obscure queries seem to reflect the singer's attempt to fill the void around him with meaningless trivia, despite the fact that everything else seems to be moving at a speed beyond his comprehension. The song's kaleidoscope of questions and the notion of a never-ending list, give the impression of someone who is lost and trying to make sense of their existence.
In many ways, "What's The Time?" can be seen as a commentary on modern life and the way in which we navigate our increasingly complex world. The song may be suggesting that in our globalized, information-rich world, we often find ourselves consumed by trivialities and disconnected from the wider world around us. The song seems to be asking us to reflect on the things that really matter in life and to question whether our priorities are in the right place.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the best dog you ever had?
What is something you have experienced or had that was the absolute best?
The best child you ever bore?
What is something you have created that you are most proud of?
The worst crash you ever saw?
What is the most traumatic event you have witnessed?
The worst famine you endured?
What is the hardest thing you have had to endure?
Lists of things to pass the time
Compiling lists is a way to pass time when everything else is moving too quickly
While everything else is moving on
While everything else is too fast-paced to keep up with
At speed I, you or they can't comprehend
The speed is incomprehensible to all, no matter who is experiencing it
Lists of lists on until the end.
Lists continue to be compiled endlessly, without any specific goal in mind
What's your favorite crime?
What is your favorite form of rebellion or rule-breaking?
If you lost everything, is there a plan in mind?
Have you considered what you would do if you lost everything you had?
When you vote do you have an image in view?
Do you have a specific person or cause in mind when you cast your vote?
Does the cross represent anything to you?
Does the Christian symbol of the cross hold any personal significance for you?
What's the best indie record of all time?
What is the best independently produced album in history?
Oh, you mean in the nineties or can I rewind – Byzantine?
Is there a specific time period you are referring to or can I choose a more obscure and overlooked option?
Who's the ugliest person, the most obese
Who do you consider to be physically unattractive or overweight?
The thinnest, the tallest, the most invisible.
Who do you consider to be the thinnest, tallest, or most overlooked in society?
List all the things you've never owned
Write a list of all the possessions you have never had in your life
List all the things you've never said
Write a list of all the things you have wanted to say but never have
What's the worst moment?
What is the most traumatic or painful moment you have ever experienced?
The best feeling?
What is the most euphoric feeling you have ever had?
What's the time?
A refrain asking the time, as a way to check in and anchor oneself in the present moment
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@julianvickery8341
A song that positively crackles with inventiveness, humour and intelligence... hints of John Cooper Clarke meets Underworld with Blancmange's usual witty verbal interplay...
"What's the Time?" from 'Unfurnished Rooms' (2017) by British electronic band Blancmange. https://youtu.be/PCxkxC5qMkg
Lyrics:
What′s the best dog you ever had?
The best child you ever bore?
The worst crash you ever saw?
The worst famine you endured?
Lists of things to pass the time
While everything else is moving on
At a speed I, you or they can't ever comprehend
Lists of lists, on until the end.
What′s your favourite crime?
If you lost everything, is there a plan in mind?
When you vote do you have an image in view?
Does the cross represent anything to you?
What's the best indie record of all time?
Oh, you mean in the nineties or can I rewind – Byzantine?
Who's the ugliest person, the most obese
The thinnest, the tallest, the most invisible?
List all the things you′ve never owned
List all the things you′ve never said
What's the worst moment?
The best feeling?
What′s the time?
What's the best dog you ever had?
What′s the best dog you ever had?
What's the best dog you ever had?
What′s the best dog you ever had?
What's the best dog you ever had?
@lynarajohnson4175
Compelling lyrics and hypnotic musical arrangements, unlike anything I've ever heard. I like it a lot. Peace to you Blancmange & the world.
@JaniceLalla
Best everything I have ever heard is anything by you!!!
@JaniceLalla
The time is all the time for Blancmange
@user-er9fx9kc2s
Μοναδικά χορευτικό!!
@danmaftei7633
that beat is killer, hits so hard
@loobycarroll
Another top tune from the wonderful Mr Arthur & Co - He never lets us down - 😉👌💜🎶💜🌟✨✨
@richardbroughton7169
This is just awesome live - better than I could ever imagine!
@sarahwhiteification
Love this...Cant wait to see them in November!
@richardbroughton7169
Well...what is the best dog you ever had?
@leetwigg
probs first time I've actually shazamed a tune, cool as F***