… Read Full Bio ↴New Musik were a London based Synthpop group active from 1979 to 1982.
The lead singer and frontman was songwriter/producer Tony Mansfield, who was also a former member of the Nick Straker Band. New Musik first appeared on the BBC TV pop programme, Top Of The Pops in October 1979 with their debut hit single "Straight Lines" which received airplay on BBC Radio 1 from special guesting DJ Frank Zappa.
Their debut album "From A To B" (1980) reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart and contained four UK chart hit singles; "Straight Lines", "Living By Numbers", "This World Of Water" and "Sanctuary". New Musik also topped the French singles chart with "On Islands" from this album.
Touring the UK in 1980, New Musik performed at both the Oxford and Cambridge Balls (with Elvis Costello) and at the Rotterdam New Pop festival in the Netherlands, and did a second UK tour in 1981.
Their second album, Anywhere (1981) reached #68 in the chart, but despite gaining international acclaim, neither of its singles "Luxury" or "While You Wait" charted in the UK.
In 1981 a compilation album, Sanctuary, was released in the U.S., consisting of four tracks from From A To B and eight from Anywhere. Previous to this release, there had also been a four song 10" vinyl Straight Lines released by CBS Records in the U.S. as part of their short-lived Epic "Nu-Disk" series, which had also included The Clash's Black Market Clash.
After the demise of GTO Records, New Musik released their third and final album, Warp (1982) which was more experimental. Oddly, it featured a synth version of The Beatles "All You Need Is Love", alongside an identically titled track of their own. Tracks such as "Hunting", "A Train On Twisted Tracks" and "Kingdoms For Horses" showed much promise, but without promotion and with limited record company support, the group disbanded shortly after.
Known for their originality and innovative approach to recording, New Musik specialised in catchy synth-pop with clever, often thought-provoking lyrical content. Tracks such as "Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home)" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind" highlighted environmental issues, still a minority interest in the early 1980s.
Several artists have covered tracks by New Musik, including Camouflage who did a version of "On Islands" in 1989.
Mansfield went on to achieve considerable success in the field of production for the likes of After The Fire, A-Ha, Aztec Camera, The B-52s, The Damned, Captain Sensible, Naked Eyes, Mari Wilson, Jean Paul Gaultier, Miguel Bose and Ana Torroja, some of his most successful projects.
From A To B and Anywhere were released on CD in 1994, and again in 2001, remastered and with bonus tracks. Warp was also released (with bonus tracks) on CD for the first time in 2001, in Japan. This remains its only CD release.
Sad Films
New Musik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't know what it is I've seen
I only know that it made me cry
Some connection from another time
I lost control and I lost my mind
I only know that it turned me round
It's alright now
It's just a sad film
A sad film
A sad film crossed my mind
I saw the names and the faces change
Like moving targets out of range
I only know that it changed my mind
Then other forces were stepping in
Reminding me of way back when
I only know that it changed my mind
But it's alright now
It's alright now
It's just a sad film
A sad film
A sad film crossed my mind
But it's alright now
It's alright now
It's just a sad film
A sad film
A sad film crossed my mind
The lyrics to New Musik's "Sad Films" are enigmatic and introspective, touching on themes of loss, nostalgia, and the power of film to move us emotionally. The first verse sets the scene, with the singer looking up at a "silver screen" - presumably a movie theater or perhaps a TV screen. They don't know exactly what they've seen, but they know it made them cry. There's a sense of being transported to another time, perhaps through the film itself or through memories it evokes.
The second verse explores this idea further, with the singer describing how the film changed their mind and caused them to lose control. There's a sense of being overwhelmed by emotions and memories, as if the film catalyzed a flood of past experiences and feelings. The chorus reassures the listener that "it's alright now" and that what they experienced was "just a sad film." But of course, the implication is that even though the film was just a piece of art, its impact on the singer was real and visceral.
Overall, "Sad Films" is a deeply introspective song that speaks to the emotional power of cinema and the ways in which it can shape our memories and feelings. The lyrics are poetic and open-ended, allowing listeners to interpret them based on their own experiences and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking up it's a silver screen
The singer is looking up at the movie screen and realizing the film is in black and white, evoking nostalgia for old films.
And I don't know what it is I've seen
The singer is unable to describe the feeling and message of the movie but knows it was emotionally powerful.
I only know that it made me cry
The singer only knows the emotional effect of the movie: it made them cry.
Some connection from another time
The artist feels a connection to the past or a distant memory while watching the movie.
I lost control and I lost my mind
The artist became so caught up in the film that they lost the sense of their surroundings and became fully immersed in the story.
I only know that it turned me round
The singer is not entirely sure how they were affected by the film, but feels that it dramatically altered their perspective or state of mind.
But it's alright now
The singer has now recovered from the intense emotion the film caused and is feeling calm.
It's just a sad film
The artist acknowledges that the movie was simply a work of fiction designed to evoke strong emotions.
A sad film crossed my mind
The artist is reflecting on the movie's impact on their thoughts and feelings.
I saw the names and the faces change
The artist noticed how the characters in the movie evolved and changed throughout the story.
Like moving targets out of range
The singer was unable to fully understand or anticipate the characters' actions and motivations, as in trying to target something that is moving out of reach.
Then other forces were stepping in
The artist was likely distracted by external factors while watching the film, which impacted their interpretation of the story.
Reminding me of way back when
These external factors triggered a memory for the singer, making them reflect on something from their past.
I only know that it changed my mind
Like before, the singer is unsure of the specifics, but knows the film dramatically altered their perspective or thought process.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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