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).
Walking In The Rain
Modern Romance Lyrics
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Today I saw you walking in the rain, I could feel the sadness in your eyes
Somehow I just had to know your name, cause I've been lonely
I know what it's like to be afraid, sometimes it's hard to understand
Life just ain't worth living's what you said, I don't believe you
Bridge
So listen to me girl 'cause I've been there
Next time you go walking in the rain
Remember me
Chorus
There's no use in pretending, it really doesn't matter to me
It's you that I believe in
You owe it to yourself and that's the way it's got to be
Verse 2
Life's too short you've often heard it said, Oh I really know the way you feel
Mixed emotions gather in your head, Or am I dreaming
Remember all the good times that you had, All those friends and what they think of you
Learn to live together good and bad, Or am I dreaming
Bridge & chorus
The lyrics to Modern Romance's song Walking In The Rain tell a story of an encounter in the rain between the singer and someone who appears to be sad and lonely. The singer is moved by the sadness in the other person's eyes and feels a connection. The song's first verse sets the scene and establishes the mood of the encounter, as well as the singer's empathy and desire to help the other person. The second verse offers some advice and encourages the other person to remember the good times and learn to live with the good and bad together. The song's chorus emphasizes the singer's belief in the other person and the importance of being true to oneself.
The bridge of the song serves as a turning point, where the singer speaks from personal experience and encourages the other person to cast aside feelings of despair. The bridge offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer urges the other person to remember them the next time they go walking in the rain. This creates a sense of connection and community, and implies that the two may be able to help each other and provide mutual support.
Overall, the lyrics to Walking In The Rain are empathetic and hopeful, highlighting the importance of connection, self-belief, and perseverance in the face of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
Today I saw you walking in the rain, I could feel the sadness in your eyes
I noticed you walking in the rain, and I could sense that you were feeling down.
Somehow I just had to know your name, cause I've been lonely
I felt a strong urge to learn your name, because I've also experienced loneliness.
I know what it's like to be afraid, sometimes it's hard to understand
I am familiar with the feeling of fear, and how it can be difficult to comprehend.
Life just ain't worth living's what you said, I don't believe you
You claimed that life isn't worth living, but I don't agree with you.
So listen to me girl 'cause I've been there
Please pay attention to me, because I have experienced something similar.
And cast aside those feelings of despair
Try to push away those feelings of hopelessness and sorrow.
Next time you go walking in the rain
When you find yourself walking in the rain again
Remember me
Think of me.
There's no use in pretending, it really doesn't matter to me
There's no point in pretending, because it doesn't affect me either way.
It's you that I believe in
I have faith in you.
You owe it to yourself and that's the way it's got to be
You have a responsibility to yourself, and that's how it should be.
Life's too short you've often heard it said, Oh I really know the way you feel
People often say life is short, and I can truly empathize with how you're feeling.
Mixed emotions gather in your head, Or am I dreaming
You're experiencing conflicting emotions, or is this just a dream?
Remember all the good times that you had, All those friends and what they think of you
Recall all the positive experiences you've had, and what your friends think of you.
Learn to live together good and bad, Or am I dreaming
Try to embrace both the good and the bad, or is this still part of a dream?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID JAYMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind