Both Numan's music and his transgressive public image are known for his sense of alien coldness and embrace of avant-garde influences. Becoming of the founding fathers of electronic-based pop music, Numan's reach extends far beyond his lone American hit, “Cars,” which still stands as one of the defining new wave singles. That seminal track helped usher in the synthpop era on both sides of the Atlantic, especially his native England, where he was a genuine pop star and consistent hit-maker during the early 80s. Even after new wave had mostly petered out, Numan’s influence continued to make itself felt. His dark, paranoid vision, theatrically icy persona, and clinical, robotic sound were echoed strongly in the work of many goth rock and (especially) industrial artists during the past several decades. For his part, Numan just kept on recording, and, by the late 90s, he’d become a hip name to drop. Prominent alternative rock bands have covered his hits, with Numan himself playing live with Nine Inch Nails briefly to much acclaim, and a goth-flavored brand of industrial-type music christened darkwave looks to him as its mentor.
Numan was born Gary Anthony James Webb on March 8, 1958, in Hammersmith, West London, U.K. A shy child, music brought him out of his shell; he began playing guitar in his early teens and played in several short-lived bands. Inspired by the amateurism of the punk movement, he joined a punk rock group called "The Lasers" in 1976. The following year, he and bassist Paul Gardiner split off to form a new group, dubbed "Tubeway Army", with drummer Bob Simmonds. They recorded a couple of singles under futuristic pseudonyms (Valerium [or Valerian], Scarlett, and Rael, respectively) that attempted to match their new interest in synthesizers. Scrapping that idea, Webb rechristened himself Gary Numan and replaced Simmonds with his uncle Jess Lidyard. Thus constituted, "Tubeway Army" cut a set of "punk-meets-Kraftwerk" demos for Beggars Banquet in early 1978. That work ended up being released several years later as 'The Plan'.
That summer, Numan sang a TV commercial jingle for jeans, and toward the end of the year the group’s debut album, 'Tubeway Army', appeared. Chiefly influenced by Kraftwerk and David Bowie’s Berlin-era collaborations with Brian Eno, the album also displayed Numan’s fascination with the electronic, experimental side of glam rock (such as in some works by Roxy Music and Ultravox) and Krautrock (such as in some works by Can). He also drew much influence from transgressive science fiction writers such as Philip K. Dick, people who challenged conventional thinking through exploring the affects of new technology.
The group’s second album, 'Replicas', was released in early 1979. Its accompanying single, “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?", was a left-field smash, topping the UK charts and sending 'Replicas' to number one on the album listings as well. The record also included “Down in the Park", an oft-covered song that stands as one of Numan’s most 'gothic' outings.
Numan had become a star overnight, despite critical distaste for any music so heavily reliant on synthesizers, and he formed a larger backing band that replaced "Tubeway Army", keeping Gardiner on bass. "The Pleasure Principle" was released in the fall of 1979 and spawned Numan’s international hit “Cars”, which reached the American Top Ten and hit number one in the UK; the album also became Numan’s second straight British number one. He put together a hugely elaborate, futuristic stage show and went on a money-losing tour, and also began to indulge his hobby as an amateur pilot with his newfound wealth.
Numan returned in the fall of 1980 with "Telekon", his third straight chart-topping album in Britain, and scored two Top Ten hits with “We Are Glass” and “I Die: You Die”; “This Wreckage” later reached the Top 20.
In 1981, Numan announced his retirement from live performance, playing several farewell concerts just prior to the release of "Dance". While "Dance" and its lead single, “She’s Got Claws”, were both climbing into the British Top Ten, Numan attempted to fly around the world, but in a bizarre twist was arrested in India on suspicion of spying and smuggling. The charges were dropped, although authorities confiscated his plane. His retirement proved short-lived, but when he returned in 1982 with "I, Assassin", some of his popularity had dissipated - perhaps because of the retirement announcement, perhaps because the charts were overflowing with synthpop, much of which was already expanding on Numan’s early innovations (which were starting to sound repetitive). "I, Assassin" was another Top Ten album, and “We Take Mystery (To Bed)” another major hit, but in general Numan’s singles were starting to slip on the charts; the title track of 1983’s "Warriors" became his last British Top Twenty hit (excluding reissues and collaborations).
Numan and Beggars Banquet subsequently parted ways, and Numan formed his own Numa label, kicking things off with "Berserker" in late 1984. Sadly, longtime collaborator "Paul Gardiner" died earlier that year from a drug overdose. 1985’s "The Fury" became the final Numan album to reach the British Top 30. Over the next few years, Numan collaborated occasionally with "Shakatak’s" Bill Sharpe, releasing four singles and one album from 1985-1989.
Following 1986’s "Strange Charm", Numan signed with IRS, but the relationship was fraught with discord from the start. IRS forced Numan to change the title of 1988’s "Metal Rhythm" to "New Anger" for his first North American release since 1981 (and also remixed several tracks), refused to release his soundtrack for the film "The Unborn", and would not fund any supporting tours for "New Anger" or 1991’s "Outland". When his contract expired, Numan returned to Numa for 1992’s "Machine + Soul".
1994 brought the release of the industrial-tinged "Sacrifice", the first glimmering of Numan’s return to critical favor and underground hipness. Over the next few years, bands like "Hole", "The Foo Fighters", and "Smashing Pumpkins" covered Numan songs in concert, and Marilyn Manson recorded “Down in the Park” for the B-side of the “Lunchbox” single; moreover, "Nine Inch Nails" cited Numan as an important influence. With his fan base refreshed and expectations raised, Numan delved deeper into gothic, metal-tinged industrial dance on 1997’s "Exile". However, he didn’t truly hit his stride in this newly adopted style until 2000’s "Pure", which was acclaimed as his best work in years and expanded his cult following into new territory.
In 2003, Numan enjoyed fleeting chart success once again with the "Gary Numan vs Rico" single “Crazier”, reaching No.13 in the U.K. chart. Rico, who is an up and coming artist from Glasgow, also worked on the remix album "Hybrid" which featured reworkings of older songs in a more contemporary industrial style. In 2004 Numan took control of his own business affairs again, launching the label Mortal Records and releasing a series of live DVDs as a precursor to his highly anticipated new studio album, "Jagged" which was released on 13 March 2006. An album launch gig took place at "The Forum, London" on 18 March 2006. Numan announced a UK tour commencing in April 2006 and plans to tour other countries, including the USA, during the year in support of the release. Numan also to launched a "Jagged" website to showcase the new album.
Numan contributed vocals to four tracks on the April 2007 release of Ade Fenton’s debut solo album "Artificial Perfect" on his new industrial/electronic label Submission, including songs “The Leather Sea”, “Slide Away”, “Recall” and the first single to be taken from the album, “Healing”. The second single to be released in the UK was “The Leather Sea” on July 30, 2007.
In 2008, he released a double CD remix album "Jagged Edge", based around 2006’s critically acclaimed "Jagged", co-produced with Ade Fenton. The pair are currently in the studio working on Numan’s 18th studio album "Splinter", due for release in 2009.
While Numan is known for his electronic music innovations, he prefers real instruments. He explained in an interview with Songfacts: "I didn't go the technology route wholeheartedly, the way Kraftwerk had done. I considered it to be a layer. I added to what we already had, and I wanted to merge that. There's plenty of things about guitar players, and bass players, and songs I really love that I didn't particularly want to get rid of. The only time I did get rid of guitars was on Pleasure Principle, and that was in fact a reaction to the press. I got a huge amount of hostility from the British press, particularly, when I first became successful. And Pleasure Principle was the first album I made after that success happened. I became successful in the early part of '79 and Pleasure Principle came out in the end of '79, in the UK, anyway. And there was a lot of talk about electronic music being cold and weak and all that sort of stuff. So I made Pleasure Principle to try to prove a point, that you could make a contemporary album that didn't have guitar in it, but still had enough power and would stand up well. That's the only reason that album didn't have guitar in it. But apart from that one album they've all had guitars - that was the blueprint."
The official website can be found here: www.garynuman.co.uk
Emotion
Gary Numan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look down
I've seen it all before
I need emotion
Look left
Look right
I've tried it all before
Say nothing
It's over
I sold my soul
Forever
She's tempting
Sex tension
It could be the wrong move
One question
One answer
I don't need
Exposure
I don't know
The slogan
New fashion kills me
Fashion
Tear it up
It don't mean a thing so
Fashion
Tear it up good
Touch me
Picture this
It don't mean a thing so
Touch me
Life is cruel
How did this ever get serious?
One night
One touch
I've used them all before
I need emotion
One lie
Too much
I've heard it all before
I need emotion
I'll show you
Religion
Some people
Disgust me
Listen to
Opinion
I'm in a glass house
'I've been sick'
She whispers
Abandon
Nostalgia
Remember
My picture
I only work here
I need emotion
The song "Emotion" by Gary Numan reflects the frustration and anxiety of the singer, who is searching for something authentic and genuine in his life. The repeated use of "Look up, look down, look left, look right" indicates the singer's sense of restlessness and impatience with the world. He has tried everything before, yet he still feels empty and unfulfilled. He craves emotion, something that will make him feel alive and connect him to reality, even if it's fleeting.
The lyrics also express the singer's disillusionment with materialism and the superficiality of popular culture. He feels that the slogans and fashions of the day are all meaningless and ultimately unsatisfying. The line "I sold my soul forever" suggests that the singer has made compromises in his life, perhaps even compromising his own beliefs and values, to fit in and conform to society's expectations.
Despite this, the singer is still searching for something more. The references to religion, opinion, and nostalgia indicate that he is seeking a deeper connection with the world and with other people, but he is struggling to find it. Ultimately, the repetition of "I need emotion" underscores the urgency and desperation of the singer's quest for something authentic and meaningful in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look up
I have searched and looked high in life
Look down
I have searched and looked low in life
I've seen it all before
I have had a lot of experiences in my life and nothing seems to be new
I need emotion
What I have experienced so far lacks passion and feeling, which I crave for
Look left
I have explored and investigated the left part of life
Look right
I have explored and investigated the right part of life
I've tried it all before
I have made every possible effort to find meaning in life but to no avail
Say nothing
Silence is better than empty words or meaningless utterances
It's over
The chapter of life that once mattered is now closed and gone
I sold my soul
I may have compromised my values and beliefs for worldly gain or benefits
Forever
It is a permanent state, where there is no turning back
She's tempting
Someone or something is provoking me to act impulsively
Sex tension
There is a strong, palpable feeling of arousal or passion between two people
It could be the wrong move
It is uncertain if following this feeling would lead to a desirable outcome or a bad consequence
One question
I have a single inquiry or a doubt in my mind
One answer
I only need one response to clear my confusion or doubt
I don't need
I am content without something or someone, it doesn't bother me
Exposure
I don't want publicity or fame, it is unnecessary for me
I don't know
I am unaware or unsure of something, it is beyond my knowledge
The slogan
The catchphrase or motto of something is repetitive, and it annoys me
New fashion kills me
I despise new trends or styles of clothing, as they disgust me
Fashion
The concept of fashion itself is superficial and vapid to me
Tear it up
It is time to destroy, dismantle and discard something, as it holds no value
It don't mean a thing so
It is all meaningless, pointless, and a waste of time
Touch me
The sensation of feeling alive and the interaction with another person is what I crave for
Picture this
I want someone to envision the same thing or idea that I have in mind
Life is cruel
The world and its events are harsh and unforgiving, and it is hard to cope with it
How did this ever get serious?
I am surprised that something that did not seem important at first progressed into something significant
One night
I have experienced a brief moment of happiness, pleasure or passion
One touch
I have had a fleeting experience of intimacy, or a physical connection with someone
One lie
I have heard and believed a lot of false or misleading information before
Too much
It has become exhausting, repetitive, and exaggerated, and it is time to stop
I've heard it all before
I have listened to every viewpoint or opinion concerning something, and it is nothing new
I'll show you
I can demonstrate or prove to you something, to change your opinion or perception
Religion
The concept of religious faith and practices is not something I relate to or find appealing
Some people
A small fraction of people possess some traits, actions or opinions that disgust or surprise me
Disgust me
Their actions are so immoral or repulsive that the mere thought of it makes me lose my appetite
Listen to
Hear and pay attention to someone's viewpoint or perspective on something
Opinion
Every individual has their own unique take or belief on something, it is subjective
I'm in a glass house
I am in a fragile, transparent position where my actions or words can easily be criticized or judged
'I've been sick'
A person has confided in me that they are unwell, or something is not right in their life
She whispers
She speaks in a hushed tone or softly, perhaps due to secrecy or intimacy
Abandon
It is time to leave something behind, or to give up hope on something or someone
Nostalgia
A sentimental longing or longing for the past, for an event or person no longer present
Remember
Don't forget someone or something or an event in life that mattered to you
My picture
I have my own unique perspective or opinions on life, so don't assume or judge me
I only work here
I don't want to be defined by my work, it does not represent the whole of me
I need emotion
The only thing that is missing in my life is the feeling of passion or depth, which is essential for me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gary Anthony Webb, Gary Anthony James Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind