Formed 1982 in Cardiff, Wales by Karl Hyde, Rick Smith (who previously released the single 'I Don't Like Cars' in 1981 as The Screen Gemz) and Alfie Thomas. The band originally had only a graphic 'squiggle' for a name. In 1983, after recruiting John Warwicker and drummer Bryn Burrows, they struck a recording deal with a major label, CBS Records, and met the label's insistence on a pronouncable name with the compromise that the squiggle was pronounced "Freur".
Their first and only hit (number 59 in the UK charts), Doot Doot (1983), was typically 80's pop, with drum machine, reverse live drums and phased vocal. It was recorded/co produced by Alex Burak at The Point studio in Victoria, London, which was controlled by Rupert Merton of Point Music Publishing. Merton (who also had an early version of the Thompson Twins on his roster of artists) signed Freur.
The band's look was a cross between goth, rock, glam and new romantic - something that 80's chart terrorists Sigue Sigue Sputnik pulled off to better effect, not long after Freur had failed with it.
The band released five further singles after Doot Doot, between 1983 and 1985: Matters of the Heart, Runaway, Riders in the Night, Devil and the Darkness and Look in the Back for Answers. All failed to dent the UK charts. Warwicker left the band in 1986 and Freur went into recess.
In total, the band released two albums: Doot Doot (1983) and Get Us Out of Here! (1985). The second LP was only released in Germany and Holland but was finally compiled with the debut on a single CD released in October 2009 on Cherry Red.
In 1987, Hyde, Smith, Thomas and keyboardist Baz Allen signed to Sire Records under a new name, Underworld, and found minor success with the single Underneath the Radar (1988) before folding in 1990 after releasing 2 albums. This incarnation is now referred to in fan circles as "Underworld Mk.1", in the shadow of Hyde and Smith's later worldwide fame under the Underworld moniker as a leading electronic dance music tour de force.
Doot Doot
Freur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Face on a stage
Where are you now?
Memory fades, you take a bow
Here in the dark
Watching the screen
Look at them fall
And we go doot
Doot doot
Look at them fall
Flicker and fade
Gone are the screams
I put them to bed, now they are dreams
And we go doot
Doot doot
The opening lines of Freur's song Doot-Doot pose the question 'What's in a name?' which immediately draws the listener into a state of introspection, asking themselves what their own name really signifies. The subsequent line speaks to the idea of fame, suggesting a juxtaposition between a name as a simple label, and the idea of a 'face on a stage' as a brand or a persona, created for entertainment purposes. The follow-up line, 'Where are you now?' gives the impression of a fleeting moment of fame, a spotlight that has been lost, conjuring up images of washed-up celebrities who have faded into obscurity. This is then reinforced by the line 'Memory fades, you take a bow,' suggesting that even the most sought-after stars eventually have to step back from the limelight, regardless of their level of success.
The second verse contrasts with the first, depicting a scene that is more physical and immediate, as the singer watches characters on a screen in a darkened room. They describe watching their demise, 'Look at them fall / Flicker and fade,' portraying a sense of resignation to their fate. The final line, 'I put them to bed, now they are dreams,' highlights the temporary nature of media, suggesting that these characters and their stories will only exist within the confines of the film or show.
Overall, the lyrics of Doot-Doot reveal themes of fleeting fame, the transitory nature of media, and the sense of detachment that comes with observing events from a distance. It is a song that speaks to the impermanence of entertainment in its ability to create a fictional world, only for it to dissolve again once the screen is switched off.
Line by Line Meaning
What's in a name?
What significance can a name really hold?
Face on a stage
Person performing in front of an audience
Where are you now?
Thinking about the past and wondering where that person is now
Memory fades, you take a bow
Time passes and memories fade away, leaving only the end result or final goodbye
Here in the dark
Alone and in the shadows
Watching the screen
Observing what appears on the screen in front of them, likely watching a movie or show
Look at them fall
The characters or plot, which were once flourishing and exciting, come crashing down or end
The final scene
The closing or end sequence of the story
And we go doot
Doot doot
Refrain of the song or melody
Flicker and fade
Slowly disappear or diminish, like a light flickering out
Gone are the screams
The energy or power behind the actions or events has disappeared or quieted down
I put them to bed, now they are dreams
The events or people being referred to are now just part of a memory or dreamlike state
And we go doot
Doot doot
Refrain of the song or melody
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Mute Song Limited
Written by: Karl Hyde, Ric Smith, Alfie Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NickB1967
@@davest123va The tone of the song is somber, and the lyrics? They are too:
What's in a name?
Face on a stage
Where are you now?
Memory fades, you take a bow
Here in the dark
Watching the screen
Look at them fall
The final scene
And we go doot
Doot doot
Look at them fall
Flicker and fade
Gone are the screams
I put them to bed, now they are dreams
And we go doot
Doot doot
@unclebenz5049
1983, I was 15 years old and got blown away by this song. Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories.
@antonioskoutsoyiannis6575
I was 17, saw them at the Marquee Club, 1983
@stunnedmulletblah9714
67 child eh? Me too
@missp543
And me too…
@antonioskoutsoyiannis6575
@@stunnedmulletblah9714
58, 1965 is my year.
@guillempascual
I was 17 too when I discovered this
@stevevandeman7984
I have loved this song for 30 years, just found it. so cool. And i am 77 yo.
@stevevandeman7984
Euphoria max.
@eddo_storyboard
Crazy how things work out later in life right
@mariawern3576
Oh yes...ist magical...now i am 50....great song...love it since 30 years