The group was founded in 1978 by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, after they had been involved in several bands, including The Id. Later drummer Malcolm Holmes and saxophonist Martin Cooper joined. McCluskey and Humphreys formed the core of the outfit until 1989, when the group split in two. McCluskey retained the name and continued to record and tour as OMD with a new line-up until 1996, while Humphreys, Holmes, and Cooper formed "The Listening Pool".
According to Songfacts, Enola Gay was the first of 7 Top 10 UK singles for the group; their only US hit was If You Leave, which was written for the 1985 movie Pretty In Pink.
In late December 2005, OMD's official website announced a 2006 reformation, for both live performances and a new album, with rehearsals beginning in summer 2006. The line up features the original 1980's members (Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper). The "Architecture & Morality" tour for late 2006 was postponed until the beginning of 2007.
The tour finally took place in the spring of 2007 featuring "Architecture & Morality" played in its entirety plus a 'greatest hits' set, although each concert famously ended with stirring rendition of B side/album track and fan favourite "The Romance of the Telescope".
Plans are now ahead for the release of a documentary DVD (since released and available here), a live DVD of the 2007 tour (release postponed until 2008) and a new studio album released in 2010, entitled "History of Modern".
The group's 12th studio album, English Electric, was released on 5 April 2013. The group's 13th studio album, The Punishment Of Luxury, was released on 1 September 2017. The group's 14th studio album, Bauhaus Staircase, was released on 27 October 2023.
Official OMD website: http://www.omd.uk.com
Annex
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need everything I can take
Division of everything
All you have
Principles never worked before
I want everything I can take
Everything I can take
The lyrics to "Annex" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are essentially a plea to be given all the singer desires. The repetition of "Give me what I want" and "I need everything I can take" highlights their desperation for more. They express a desire to have everything divided and a sense of entitlement to "all you have." This desire is juxtaposed against the idea that "principles never worked before," suggesting that the singer has tried to live by certain principles but has been unable to satisfy their desires through that means.
There is a sense of greed and selfishness in the lyrics. The singer seems willing to take everything they can, without regard for the consequences or impact on others. They are focused solely on their own desires and needs, which is emphasized by the repetition of "everything I can take." The lyrics suggest a lack of contentment with what they have, and a belief that they will only be satisfied with more.
In analyzing the lyrics, it is important to remember that they are open to interpretation. It's possible that the singer is not meant to be taken literally, but rather represents a broader societal desire for more, fueled by the belief that one can never have enough.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me what I want
I demand to receive exactly what I desire
I need everything I can take
I require every possible item that is available for me to acquire
Division of everything
Separation of all possessions to be claimed individually
All you have
All of your possessions which I choose to take for myself
Principles never worked before
I have disregarded moral or ethical codes in the past and have been successful in acquiring what I desire
I want everything I can take
I desire to obtain every possible possession that is accessible to me
Everything I can take
All of the possessions I can acquire for myself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW MC CLUSKEY, PAUL DAVID HUMPHREYS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind