Over their career, the group has been very influential on American electropop and freestyle artists from both their music and their strident, colorful visuals, being best known for their 1988 self-titled album. The band was formed in Minneapolis in the early 80s, and they performed avant-garde electronic music with flourishes of hip-hop. In 1983, they independently released two albums, 'The InSoc EP' and 'Creatures Of Influence'. Two years later, they released "Running", their first single, which became a hit popular in New York City's Latino nightclubs and "put them on the map". That song, a 7-minute effort that touched on contemporary techno, was written and sung by Murat Konar, who left the band soon after. Their growing success led them from their native Minneapolis to NYC, and the ensuing revenues and contacts, as well as the addition of Amanda Kramer to the lineup, led them to record their proper debut album.
Their first major release album. 1988's 'Information Society', received critical acclaim, giving the group breakout commercial success as the album hiked up to #25 on the Billboard 200. In addition to "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (which hit #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart), the album also had other hits in "Walking Away" (#9 on that chart) and a cover of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me" (#12 on the Hot Dance Music chart). The disc was one of the few to use CD+G, which included digital graphics on the compact disc version in addition to the music. The audio samples from Star Trek were authorized for use on the album partially thanks to the efforts of Adam Nimoy, a fan of the band and son of Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy.
The second release, Hack (1990), wasn't as successful, but had small hits with Think and How Long but still managed to sell quite well in the fall of 1990.
Kurt was also the owner of the heavily-modified The Road Warrior-inspired art car named "Vector" featured on the cover of Hack. The car sported a functioning ranging laser, among other unusual features. Vector was eventually given to a friend at Burning Man in the mid-1990s.
The third release, Peace & Love, Inc. (1992), proved to be more powerful and critically acclaimed, although their label failed to do much to promote them. Their first single Peace & Love, Inc. reached #1 on the 'Billboard Dance Chart'. A music video was produced for the track, but MTV declined to play it. The album is also notable for being perhaps the first album ever produced to contain a track of modem tones, which when played into a telephone connected to a computer resulted in a bonus text message from the band.
The fourth album, Don't Be Afraid (1997), written and performed by Kurt Harland alone and produced by Steven Seibold, was more industrial-driven. Cleopatra Records released the album, but - like Tommy Boy Records - did little to promote it. Harland's love of computer-related materials continued to be evident, as the album included a CD-ROM filled with bonus material, not yet a common occurrence in 1997.
There was also a carefully-orchestrated digital scavenger hunt culminating in the discovery of a bonus track called White Roses. The scavenger hunt began with decoding a modem's signal recorded at the end of the audio CD, resulting in a text message from Kurt which pointed the way to a website where the search began. There is also a cover included of Gary Numan's Are 'Friends' Electric?. Also included is Ozar Midrashim, a track which was later used as the main theme for the videogame Legacy of Kain - Soul Reaver.
During the course of those four albums and about a dozen remix singles from them, Information Society's sound went from more electronic pop music to a darker industrial type, though they will always be remembered for their first hit song and the cardboard guitars they wielded in its music video.
However, in 2006 Paul Robb and James Cassidy announced their intention to re-form Information Society, and began working on a new album. They also performed live at several venues across the US with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist. The Ep "Oscillator" was released in early 2007 followed by the album Synthesizer in late 2007. Christopher Anton provided the vocals on Oscillator, and Synthesizer and was the co-writer on several of the tracks as well.
http://informationsociety.us/
The Prize
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just crawl inside
I always wear it like a second skin
It's the last place for me to hide
I obscure the self
To protect you from the din
If you're not feeling ok
I'm going back on my rails
I'm going to turn on the light
I'm going to be where I am
I'm going straight to the prize
I'm coming up from the ground
With my eyes on the Prize
I'm coming down from on High
With both hands on the Prize
I've never had her equal and I've never had it better
It's the best I've ever known
I'm never gonna make it with just good enough
I need to crash on through and hold on to the Prize
Suffering is not really noble
And crying doesn't make you cool
Breakdowns are not attractive
And honesty has to be cruel
I learn nothing from thinking
And crying doesn't cut through the gloom
I can feel myself talking
Now just who's caring for whom?
I'm going to find my center
I'm going to X all the Y
I'm going to run crash break that wall tumble down get up and push on to the prize
I'm coming up from the ground
With my eyes on the Prize
I'm coming down from on High
With both hands on the Prize
I'm coming up from the ground
With my eyes on the Prize
I'm coming down from on High
With both hands on the Prize
I've never had her equal and I've never had it better
It's the best I've ever known
I'm never gonna make it with just good enough
I need to crash on through and hold on to the Prize
The lyrics to Information Society's song The Prize are about the struggle to achieve something great while facing obstacles and self-doubt. The singer talks about constantly feeling what others feel and wearing their emotions like a second skin. They obscure their own feelings and thoughts to protect others from the noise and chaos of the world. The singer reflects on the fact that suffering and crying is not noble or attractive, but instead, honesty is what is needed to move forward. The goal is to find their center, break through barriers, and hold on to the prize.
The chorus emphasizes the determination and focus required to achieve one's goals. The singer talks about coming up from the ground and down from on high with their eyes and hands on the prize. They have never had anything better and are not willing to settle for just good enough. The prize is a symbol of the singer's ultimate objective, whether that be personal, professional, or emotional. The song is an anthem for those who strive for excellence in every area of their life.
One interpretation of the song is that the singer is struggling with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt while pursuing their dreams. They recognize that they will face setbacks and obstacles, but they remain committed to achieving their goal. The line "I need to crash on through and hold on to the prize" suggests that the singer is willing to take risks and make sacrifices to achieve what they desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm always feeling what you feel
I empathize with you, I feel your emotions from within
I just crawl inside
I get completely immersed in your feelings
I always wear it like a second skin
Your emotions have become a part of me, I can't shake them off
It's the last place for me to hide
I use your emotions to cover up my own, to avoid facing them
I obscure the self
I hide who I truly am
To protect you from the din
To shield you from the noise and chaos of the world
If you're not feeling ok
If you're not doing well emotionally
I never let the happiness in
I don't allow myself to be happy or experience positive emotions because I'm so focused on your feelings
I'm going back on my rails
I'm getting back on track
I'm going to turn on the light
I'm going to find clarity and enlightenment
I'm going to be where I am
I'm going to be present in the moment
I'm going straight to the prize
I'm going directly towards my goal, my ultimate desire
I'm coming up from the ground
I'm rising up from a low point
With my eyes on the Prize
With complete focus on my ultimate goal
I'm coming down from on High
I'm coming back down to reality from a state of delusion
With both hands on the Prize
Fully committed and determined to reach my goal
I've never had her equal and I've never had it better
I've never experienced anything as great as this before
It's the best I've ever known
This is the pinnacle of what I've experienced
I'm never gonna make it with just good enough
Settling for mediocrity won't get me where I want to be
I need to crash on through and hold on to the Prize
I need to push through any obstacles and persevere to reach my ultimate goal
Suffering is not really noble
Pain and hardship shouldn't be glorified or romanticized
And crying doesn't make you cool
Showing emotion doesn't make you more admirable or desirable
Breakdowns are not attractive
Breaking down emotionally isn't something to aspire towards
And honesty has to be cruel
Being brutally honest is sometimes necessary, even if it hurts
I learn nothing from thinking
Overthinking doesn't lead to any real progress or growth
And crying doesn't cut through the gloom
Crying won't solve anything or make things better
I can feel myself talking
I'm speaking, but I'm not sure anyone is really listening
Now just who's caring for whom?
I'm not sure who should be taking care of whom in this situation
I'm going to find my center
I'm going to discover my true essence or purpose
I'm going to X all the Y
I'm going to take care of all the details and make sure everything is in order
I'm going to run crash break that wall tumble down get up and push on to the prize
I'm going to overcome any obstacles or barriers, get back up when I fall down, and keep pushing towards my goal
Contributed by Gabriel O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
skeggjold gunnr
That 25 years went by so fast. I have always supported this band with my money. That's where we can make a difference. The vinyl is sweet.
Chaim Yamin
Very few dance-energy type bands from the 1980's evolved past the early new wave era. But Information Society is the big exception as this song exemplifies..
jorge 69
+Chaim Yamin Muy cierta tu opinión .Ellos son la gran excepción.saludos !!!
Ben's Brick Designs
I'm so happy they're still making music. Been listening since Think.
Daniela Francisca
Linda voz
Pablo Teixeira Ramalho
Muito bom! Espero ansioso por mais.
Fred Hollins
I love this track!
Joe Machos
The vocals on the verses sound like "I have been hurt, I will hurt others" !
sxxl khd
estos mens son los duros de la elecronica , awesome!!!
mrsparkle001
This is SO good, and I know the videogame. So good to hear new music from them.