Pioneers of dance music in the 1980s and one of the first bands to effectively and popularly synthesize keyboard- and guitar-based music, New Order's members hailed from Salford and Macclesfield, England out of the ashes of Joy Division, are noted as being one of the first bands to bridge the gap between Post-Punk and Dancefloor. They were Factory Records' highest selling artist. They also funded Factory's famous Manchester club, The Haçienda. The band partnered with Quincy Jones's American label Qwest, recorded with legendary hip-hop producer Arthur Baker (on 1983's single "Confusion" and 1984's "Thieves Like Us"), and they embraced Ibizan club culture on the album, Technique.
The band was formed in 1980 by the three surviving members, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris of Joy Division after the lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide. Morris' girlfriend (and later wife) Gillian Gilbert joined in October 1980 on keyboards and occasional guitar shortly after contributing guitar to the second release of New Order's first single "Ceremony". Their early music followed in the same vein as Joy Division, most notably on debut album Movement. This is mostly seen now as a 'transitional' album where the new 4-piece band was trying to find a new identity.
They continued to develop their music and their identity with tracks such as "Procession" and "Temptation" until 1983 when, under the influence of early electro funk and Italo-Disco tracks (most notably Klein & MBO's Dirty Talk), they released "Blue Monday", arguably their most famous song and the biggest-selling 12" single of all time. This came in such a detailed Peter Saville-designed sleeve (replicating a floppy disc) that it is claimed by some that the band's record company, Factory, lost money on every copy sold.
The release of "Blue Monday" coincided with the album Power, Corruption & Lies which further developed their dance/rock crossover. Other albums followed in 1985 (Low-Life), 1986 (Brotherhood) and 1989 (Technique, influenced heavily by Ibiza's acid house scene). In 1990 the band scored their sole number 1 hit with a song written by Keith Allen and performed with the England football team, "World in Motion", the official England World Cup song. One more album, Republic followed in May 1993, which was released by London Records after the collapse of Factory in November 1992.
The band effectively split in 1993 to pursue solo projects, but returned with a triumphant gig at the Reading Festival in 1998. After the recording of 2001's Get Ready album Gillian Gilbert left the band amicably for family reasons - her and Stephen's daughter Grace had been diagnosed with Transverse myelitis and she came to the decision that it would be easier for the band to replace her than her husband. They have since gone on to produce one more album with the help of Phil Cunningham of Marion when they released their last album, Waiting For The Sirens' Call.
Hook left acrimoniously in 2007 and according to him, the band has effectively broken up. However, Sumner, Cunningham and Morris repeatedly denied that the band was over, and that if Hook no longer wanted to be in the band, that was his choice. Hook has since threatened to take legal action if they attempt to continue as New Order. In 2009, Sumner, Morris and Cunningham announced that they did not plan on continuing on as New Order without Hook. However, in September 2011 it was announced that they will reform as New Order for two concerts in October (Brussels and Paris), without Hook but with Gillian Gilbert. Hook's replacement is Tom Chapman, who is also in Bad Lieutenant with Sumner, Morris and Cunningham. The charity gigs in Brussels and Paris were very successful and New Order decided to go on tour in 2012. They played various concerts all over the world and also some big festivals in the summer.
Discography (studio albums):
Movement (1981)
Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
Low-Life (1985)
Brotherhood (1986)
Technique (1989)
Republic (1993)
Get Ready (2001)
Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005)
Lost Sirens (2013)
Music Complete (2015)
Collaborations and other projects:
Shortly after the split, Sumner and Cunningham formed Bad Lieutenant. The band's debut album Never Cry Another Tear, released in 2009, features Morris on drums on several tracks, although he is not an official member of the band and has committed to continue musical projects with Gillian Gilbert. The band's various solo projects understandably seemed to contain elements of the New Order 'sound', and gave some clues as to each member's contribution to the band.
Bernard Sumner worked with Johnny Marr (formerly of The Smiths) and Neil Tennant (of The Pet Shop Boys) in the 'supergroup', Electronic. Peter Hook formed the bands Revenge and, later, Monaco. These projects gained some commercial success. Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert recorded two albums of songs as The Other Two, and also did scoring work for film and television.
Each of New Order's four original members have, at various times, acted as producers and/or guest musicians under the moniker of Be Music for a myriad of Factory labelmates and other artists, including: Section 25, A Certain Ratio, Happy Mondays, Paul Haig, The Stockholm Monsters, The Stone Roses, and Stanton Miranda.
The Game
New Order Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In this empty space, in which we live
We will not have, we will not give
We're waiting for one raising kiss
It's so clear, but we can't see it
It's in the air that we breathe in
It's so near, but we can't touch it
For life is good, and it's forever
It's in our blood, and our endeavor
Higher than the sky, taller than a man can reach
And if we break up, we are not here
These are the times in which we live
Higher than the sky, taller than a man can reach
And if we break up, we are not here
These are the times in which we live
Higher than the sky, taller than a man can reach
And if we break up, we are not here
These are the times in which we live
It's so clear, but we can't see it
It's in the air that we breathe in
It's so near, but we can't touch it
But it is here, and we love it
For life is good, and it is special
I want more precious metal
It's not over, and it's not hopeful
For this is light and it's immortal
The lyrics to New Order's "The Game" describe the struggle of trying to find a deeper meaning in life and in relationships, and the pain that comes with that search. The opening line, "How much we tried, but how we hurt?" sets the tone for the song, implying that the singer has put forth a lot of effort but has yet to find what they are looking for. The reference to an "empty space" in which they live suggests a feeling of isolation or disconnection from others. They are also waiting for "one raising kiss," which could be interpreted as a catalyst for the change they are seeking.
The chorus of "The Game" emphasizes the elusiveness of the thing they are searching for, which is characterized as something intangible and just out of reach. The lines "It's so clear, but we can't see it / It's so near, but we can't touch it" suggest that the answer they seek is right in front of them, yet somehow out of reach. The repetition of the phrase "higher than the sky, taller than a man can reach" reinforces this idea that what they seek is beyond their grasp. The final line, "For this is light and it's immortal," implies that whatever it is they are searching for is something that will always be out of reach.
Overall, "The Game" is a contemplative and introspective song that speaks to the human experience of searching for meaning and connection in a world that can often feel cold and empty.
Line by Line Meaning
How much we tried, but how we hurt?
Despite our efforts, we continue to experience pain.
In this empty space, in which we live
We exist in a void or a world devoid of meaning.
We will not have, we will not give
We refuse to accept or offer anything.
We're waiting for one raising kiss
We long for a passionate, uplifting kiss.
It's so clear, but we can't see it
We fail to recognize something obvious.
It's in the air that we breathe in
It's all around us, permeating our environment.
It's so near, but we can't touch it
It seems close but remains elusive.
But it is here, and we love it
Despite its intangibility, we cherish its presence.
For life is good, and it's forever
Life is infinite, and its goodness endures.
It's in our blood, and our endeavor
Our pursuit of life's goodness is innate and unwavering.
Higher than the sky, taller than a man can reach
This idea or concept is beyond our grasp.
And if we break up, we are not here
If we fall apart, we cease to exist.
These are the times in which we live
This is the era in which we reside.
It's so clear, but we can't see it
We fail to recognize something obvious.
It's in the air that we breathe in
It's all around us, permeating our environment.
It's so near, but we can't touch it
It seems close but remains elusive.
But it is here, and we love it
Despite its intangibility, we cherish its presence.
For life is good, and it is special
Life is precious and unique.
I want more precious metal
The desire for tangible wealth or value.
It's not over, and it's not hopeful
Explanation unknown.
For this is light and it's immortal
This thing or concept is everlasting and eternal.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD SUMNER, GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PHILLIP CUNNINGHAM, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, THOMAS LOUIS CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PeterBrownscouts
Starts off okay, but if you stick it out and give it a few turns, the chorus is brilliant, and turns it all around, builds, and builds, and finishes so strong that I think I've gone to heaven.
@williamstringfellow3754
I think its one of the best songs on the album.
@EcoTechCarpetCleanLancaster
So far this song is overlooked. But it has everything. So great.
@frankieashworth6942
+EcoTech Carpet Clean it was only just released tho
@CaptainOatwright
Totally agree, this is a cracking song from the new album
@reneleon4968
Great song, New Order doing it again (for decades).
@zenildosilva3228
muito bom esse som,vai ser single com certeza!
@Murilo991
não foi :(
@howellperson8642
the singer has got his vocal phrasing back - the melancholy tone that is new order
@Pascualegea
Muy buena esta cancion, mezcla de ritmos y la voz de Sumner es genial, me gustaria desacargarla en Groove Music