Geoffrey Deane and David Jaymes formed Modern Romance in 1980, having previously been the mainstays of the punk parody band the Leyton Buzzards which they formed in 1977.
The band split up in 1980 though Deane and Jaymes continued working together, embracing the burgeoning electronic style of dance music that was becoming popular in London clubs at the time. They found a new manager and created a limited company called Business Art Productions, and signed to WEA. In 1980, their first release, eponymously titled "Modern Romance", was unsuccessful. After a second unsuccessful single, "Tonight", the band then opted to lessen the predominantly electronic sound in favour of a Latin-American dance style with emphasis on bass, percussion and brass. They recruited trumpet player John Du Prez into their new line-up. The band released a new single, "Everybody Salsa" in summer 1981, which reached the UK Top 20. However, prior to the release, they recruited a new drummer, Andy Kyriacou, who began promoting the single with the band, and set up their first personal appearance in a club.
They followed this later in the year with similarly themed "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", which reached the UK Top 10. Despite these two hits, the band's debut album, Adventures in Clubland, was not a success. However, in the US they scored a number 2 hit on the Billboard Dance chart with "Can You Move", a mostly rap variation of "Everybody Salsa". After further UK Top 40 hits with "Queen of the Rapping Scene" and a cover of the 1955 hit "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White", Deane departed the band in 1982 to pursue solo projects.
Michael J. Mullins took over the mantle of lead vocalist, and their next release saw the band reach their highest UK chart position with "Best Years of Our Lives" in late 1982. Further hits followed in 1983: "High Life" (UK No. 8), "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm" (UK No. 14), and the ballad "Walking in the Rain" (UK No. 7). Both "Best Years of Our Lives" and "Walking in the Rain" earned Silver discs. Despite being regularly featured in teen pin-up magazines, the band's commercial hot streak waned and further singles were less successful. The band released a compilation album for the Christmas 1983 market entitled Party Tonight. Though it only peaked at No. 45 in the UK, it became their most successful album and was certified gold for sales in excess of 100,000 copies within six weeks of release.
John Du Prez then left the band, and after disagreements with their record company, WEA, the band signed with RCA in 1984. This brought about a change of image – from bright coloured suits and wedge hairstyles to long hair and leather jackets. The band released a new single, a cover of The Temptations' 1971 hit "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)", but the single was not a success. Modern Romance released a final album, Burn It!, in 1985. The album was received poorly and the band called it quits after releasing the stand-alone single "Tarzan Boy" – a cover of the Baltimora hit from earlier that year – and an anthology mix of their biggest selling songs titled "Best Mix of Our Lives" (also 1985).
After leaving Modern Romance, former lead vocalist Geoff Deane reappeared in 1983 as 'Geoff Deane & The Valley Girls' to release the single "Navy Lark", then again for the solo "What About Romance", and he also wrote "You Think You're A Man" for Divine. Deane later became a scriptwriter and television producer, scripting for television programmes such as Birds of a Feather, Babes in the Wood, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Chef!, Last Man Standing, and A Many-Splintered Thing. In 2005, he wrote the film Kinky Boots starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a year later It's a Boy Girl Thing for Elton John's Rocket Pictures.
David Jaymes has since moved into the management and consultancy side of the music industry. He worked as the music supervisor on the film Fascination (2004) starring Jacqueline Bisset and James Naughton. He has also worked again with John Du Prez, composing music for commercials and feature films. Jaymes has managed artists such as Sinéad O'Connor, Justin Adams, Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff, Republica and Drum Club. He has also worked as consultant for Harry Nilsson, Jimmy Webb, George Fenton, and Chuck Mangione. In 2010, he worked with a host of musicians on the Haiti earthquake disaster single (a cover version of "I Put a Spell on You"), including Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Chrissie Hynde and Johnny Depp.
In 1999, Andy Kyriacou reformed Modern Romance with a new line-up, joining the burgeoning British 1980s revival scene. The new line-up features no original band members (Kyriacou himself had first appeared on the Modern Romance single, "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", although he had remained their drummer until the band split in 1985). In 2002, the new line-up released the album Back on Track, which consisted mostly of re-recorded Modern Romance hits. Back on Track was also released as Moves 2 Fast, with a slightly different track listing. Kyriacou's Modern Romance continues to play the 1980s festival circuit and appeared as the opening act at the 2010 Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames, which also included Boy George, Rick Astley, Level 42, T'Pau, Kajagoogoo and Heaven 17.
2012 saw the band play Let's Rock the Moor!, a boutique festival in Cookham, Berkshire, with other 1980s acts including Go West, Toyah, Nick Heyward and Billy Ocean. During their set they aired one of their new songs, "Rhythm Is My Lover", from the forthcoming album The 7th Day (penned by Kyriacou and guitarist Peter J Pinto).
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
Modern Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
Reminds me of the night we met
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
I can't forget
Verse 1
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
Till break of day
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
Reminds me of the night we met
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
I can't forget
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
The tune the band would always play
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
Till break of day
The lyrics of Modern Romance's song "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" evoke a sense of nostalgia and romantic longing. The repeated phrase, "cherry pink and apple blossom white," serves as a symbol of the night the singer and their loved one first met. These natural imagery signify freshness, innocence, and beauty, emphasizing the enchantment and magic of that initial encounter.
The tune that the band would always play, mentioned multiple times in the lyrics, creates a sense of continuity and familiarity. It represents the soundtrack of their romance, the music that accompanied their journey together. The repetition of this line suggests that the memories associated with the song are deeply embedded in the singer's mind, evoking feelings of joy and longing.
The lyrics also speak to the lasting impact of that night, as the singer confesses, "I can't forget." The power of the memory lingers in their thoughts and emotions, suggesting that the connection forged on that night was significant and profound.
Overall, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" is a song that celebrates the enduring power of love and the ability of a single moment to shape and define a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
The vibrant colors of cherry pink and apple blossom white
Reminds me of the night we met
Evoke memories of the night we first encountered each other
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
The charming hues of cherry pink and apple blossom white
I can't forget
Unable to erase from memory
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
The delightful shades of cherry pink and apple blossom white
The tune the band would always play
The familiar melody that the band would perform incessantly
Oh cherry pink and apple blossom white
The enchanting colors of cherry pink and apple blossom white
Till break of day
Continuing until the early morning hours
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, SOROKA MUSIC LTD., BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Louiguy, Jacques Larue, Mack David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vennegoor10
When you consider the charts of the early 80s it was the variety of music that made them. There should be room in the charts and on tv for music like this.
Jason Latham
Magnificent rendition no wonder it's on the golden trumpet itself
san4tam
Great to hear the trumpeter hold the note on Chery Pink, as in the original. Beautiful tune.
Jeff Allinson
This fabulous cover brings back so many memories of Scarborough back in the early 80's. Fantastic music like this and much simpler times; Ahhh.
Angela Langford
Loved Modern Romance,the 80s was a great decade.
angela martin
Loved modern romance version.
The Q-Continuum
John du Prez with Eddie Calvert's original golden trumpet ! Not heard this since it was last In the charts, songs like this never get played on the Golden Oldie radio stations !
Julie Luckin
I totally loved that version x
Colum Rogers
Claaaaaaaassic!! Love Modern Romance :)
mightymag9
what a great great summer this was and a great song to go with it :) even if i was 12 lol