Both Marc Almond and Dave Ball grew up in seaside towns (the former, Southport, and the latter, Blackpool), and later met while students at the Leeds Polytechnic Fine Arts University (now Leeds Metropolitan University). Almond, a performance artist, collaborated with Ball on a few avant-garde multi-media performances at the university. Although Ball's musical background consisted of guitar, he had access to the university studio and was experimenting with the nascent synthesizer technology at the time. The two students became the prototypical synth duo and were initially associated with other New Wave scenesters dubbed "New Romantics" by the British Press. Other bands associated with this scene included Visage, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet.
Marc Almond had a productive career as a solo artist later in the 80s and 90s and with Marc & the Mambas and other collaborations. Dave Ball has done a few solo productions with other British new wave acts in the early 80s. He also later was involved in the electronic dance act The Grid with Richard Norris.
Almond and Ball's reunion as Soft Cell became official with well-received initial concerts - they performed at the opening of the Ocean nightclub in London in March 2001 to strong reviews, and a mini tour followed later in the year. The track "God Shaped Hole" featured on the Some Bizzare compilation titled "I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo than Kid Someone's Listening", released in 2001. The album Cruelty Without Beauty was released in late 2002, followed by a European tour and a partial US tour in early 2003. The new album featured their first new songs together in almost twenty years. One of those songs was their 2003 single "The Night" (UK #39). Interestingly, Soft Cell had considered recording "The Night" in place of "Tainted Love" back in 1981 as their last-ditch attempt to score a chart hit. In a 2003 interview with BBC's Top of the Pops, keyboardist David Ball asserted, "I think history has kind of shown that we did make the right choice [in 1981]."
In August 2007, the band announced they were working on a remix album, "Heat - The Remixes". The remix album is expected to be released in May 2008 and will include classic Soft Cell tracks remixed by such acts as Manhattan Clique, Cicada, Richard X, Ladytron, MHC, Mark Moore, Kinky Roland, Spektrum, George Demure, Yer Man and many more.
Facility Girls
Soft Cell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A modern Venus
On the eighth floor
She's a secretary in the daytime
A bright young thing
With a promising career
She's got the facilities
She's got the ability
She's got the facilities
She's a secretary in the daytime
A model beauty
At the typewriter
She's a secretary in the daytime
A smile at the boss
And she's doing fine
She's got the ability
She's got the facilities
She's got the ability
She's got the facilities
She's a secretary in the daytime
She's a secretary in the daytime
The song "Facility Girls" by Soft Cell is a commentary on the expectations and limitations placed on women in the workplace. The lyrics describe a secretary who is portrayed as a modern Venus. This could be interpreted as an allusion to the Greek goddess of love and beauty, who was often depicted as a symbol of femininity and desire. In this sense, the secretary serves as an embodiment of the societal expectations placed on women.
The chorus of the song reinforces the message of the lyrics: "She's got the ability / She's got the facilities." While the secretary is portrayed as a capable and intelligent woman, her potential is ultimately limited because of the societal structures that restrict her. The repetition of the phrase "She's a secretary in the daytime" reinforces the idea that the woman's identity is defined solely by her profession, rather than her individual talents and ambitions.
Overall, "Facility Girls" is a commentary on the restrictive nature of gender roles and the limitations placed on women in the workplace. While the secretary in the song is portrayed as talented and capable, her potential is ultimately limited by societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a secretary in the daytime
A woman who works as an assistant or aid in an office during the day
A modern Venus
Describing the woman as a modern day goddess of beauty and love
On the eighth floor
The location in a high-rise building where her office is located
She's got the ability
She has the necessary skills and talent for her job
She's got the facilities
She has access to the necessary tools and resources for her job
She's a bright young thing
A young woman with potential and promise
With a promising career
A future full of opportunity and success in her chosen profession
At the typewriter
When she is typing or doing administrative work on the computer
A model beauty
A highly attractive woman, perhaps like a fashion model
A smile at the boss
A positive attitude towards her supervisor or manager
And she's doing fine
She is performing her job duties and responsibilities well
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BALL, DAVID JAMES BALL, MARC ALMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leealexander1
One of the few bands that made an extended single interesting both musically and lyrically.
@chopchung
ABSOLUTELY!.
@stevepettit2064
never was they an act who could make perfect 12 versions like these guys some 80s acts were SO bad at it and they were way more famous.
@crockerboym
Exactly 30 years ago! I always thought it was "...with a promise in her ear" :) All their 12" discs were brilliant. They didn't just add a couple of minutes of instrumental to the end. They respected their fans too much. AND Marc somehow found time for the marvelous Mambas. Incredible.
@chopchung
EASILY my fav soft cell 12" single!. EXCELLENT and well thaught out versions of BOTH A side and B side together with superb sleeve. surprised that Fabian Dee thaught the long version of FG inferior to the 7" version.I went straight to the 12" when this came out at the end of '81 so never realised till years later that the 7" version was so short. I thaught.."they don't know what they're missing!".
@MrWitchtrials
Magnificent! Much respect for the extra effort involved in these extended versions.
Well beyond the call of duty and much loved by fans.
@leejt101
One of the best 12" ever. You get the full story! 2022 through the 🎧 sounds even better! Absolutely Awesome! ❤🎶
@Max1baL
He sido admirador de este duo de electro-pop de vanguardia por más 30 años, y nunca escuché esta gran versión... ¡muchas gracias scorbieholic! / I've been an admirer of this electro pop avant garde duet for over 30 years, but never listened this great version... thanks a lot scorbieholic!
@GarryShepherdDreamGazePostPunk
So dreamy...a classic 🎶 🎵 🎹
@rachelpullen2012
Agreed, thank you uploader. What a nostalgia trip. I still remember all the lyrics.