They followed up with an ultra-slow cover of "Rock Around the Clock", a hilariously relaxed and dispassionate version of one-hit-wonder Plastic Bertrand's punk song "Ça Plane Pour Moi", and a perversely mechanical cover of "Dance to the Music", originally by Sly Stone.
Like Kraftwerk, Telex built their music entirely from electronic instruments, and the sounds of the two groups have a certain similarity. However, unlike Kraftwerk's studied Teutonic irony, Telex favour a more joyously irreverent humour.
Their debut album, "Looking for Saint Tropez", featured the worldwide hit single "Moskow Diskow", one of the first ever electronic dance/pop songs.
In 1980 Telex's manager asked them to enter for the Eurovision Song Contest. They entered, and were eventually sent to the finals, although they apparently hoped to come last: "We had hoped to finish last, but Portugal decided otherwise. We got ten points from them and finished on the 19th spot." (Marc Moulin)
Their song "Euro-Vision" was a cheerful bleepy song with deliberately banal lyrics about the contest itself.
The Eurovision audience seemed unsure how to react to the performance, and after the band stopped playing there was mostly stunned silence, with scattered polite applause; Michel Moers took a photograph of the bewildered audience. A mark of the confusion caused by the performance was when vote-counting began, and Greece awarded Belgium three points, the announcer thought she had misheard and tried to award the points to The Netherlands.
All of this was clearly bad news for the band's English record label, Virgin Records, who were trying to pass them off as part of the New Romantic movement. The self-mockery of tracks like "We Are All Getting Old" didn't help either.
For their third album, Sex, Telex enlisted the suddenly hip US group Sparks to help write the lyrics. However, the band still refused to play live and preferred to remain anonymous — common practice in the techno music artists they later inspired, but unusual in 1981. The fourth Telex album, Wonderful World, was barely distributed.
In 1986, Atlantic Records, perhaps surprisingly, signed Telex and released Looney Tunes. By then, the band's earlier sound had influenced many other groups, but they had abandoned it in favor of sampling and a more up-tempo humorous style. "Temporary Chicken", for example, was a strange joke track about a man so desperate for work that he accepts a part time job in a chicken costume.
In 1989, Telex revisited all of their old tracks and remixed them to resemble the house music and other genres that had followed in the wake of Telex and others' early pioneering work in electronic pop. The result was Les Rhythmes Automatiques, which apparently inspired Kraftwerk to do the same for their album The Mix in 1991.
After almost two decades of silence, Telex made a come-back in March 2006 with How Do You Dance on EMI. It comprised five original compositions as well as five covers. Their last release, as of 2006, is a cover of "On the Road Again", originally by Canned Heat. They also began producing remixes for other artists' single releases, including "A Pain that I'm Used To" by Depeche Mode and "Minimal" by the Pet Shop Boys.
There are other artists ith the same name:
2. A Turkish Heavy Metal band from Istanbul.
3. Telex is also a Czech oldschool punk band from Strakonice. They were one of the first bands playing punkrock in former Czechoslovakia. Their songs such as Skateboardova Ruzena show (in late 80s in eastern Europe!) a strong hardcore influence as well. The band never became a commercial or a major label band, so their fan audience is still very strong and they are one of the most respected rare punk bands in CZ.
My Time
Telex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
my thoughts are in perfect array
My life runs smooth like a highway
billboards show me the way
My way of life has the glamour
of an artificial neon ad
I need overwhelming information
for a complete shopping list
Acrylic colours oscillate my eyes
when I wal down a drugstore aisle
My time my time I love my time
My time has something more
My time's the best there's ever been
My time I love my time
Thank you my time
Stored on the shelves of my memory
my thoughts are in perfect array
I learn do it yourself cybernetics
while I'm jogging on a rolling tray
I love my weekends in the pure air
on the heights of the Eiffel tower
My time my time I love my time
My time has something more
My time's the best there's ever been
My time I love my time
Thank you my time
My life runs smooth like a highway
billboards show me the way
My love stories have the flavour
of a swiss made digital watch
When I have to know what to love
I recall my stored data
My time my time I love my time
My time has something more
My time's the best there's ever been
My time I love my time
Thank you my time
My thoughts are still like a photo
in the hall of a Hilton Hotel
My reflex actions are mechanized
like japanese camera tourists
happily milling in Bloomingdales
shooting at beautiful symbols
My time my time I love my time
My time has something more
My time's the best there's ever been
My time I love my time
Thank you my time
The song "My Time" by Telex showcases a futuristic and mechanized vision of life. The singer expresses admiration for the orderliness and convenience of their life, which they compare to a "smooth highway" where billboards lead the way. It seems that they have access to all the commodities and knowledge they desire in a world where cybernetics and artificial intelligence are the norm. They remark how their memories are neatly organized on the shelves of their mind, and they can recall any information they need at any given moment. They also mention how they enjoy learning about the latest technologies as they go for a jog on a rolling tray.
The sense of detachment and artificiality is evident throughout the lyrics. The singer's life seems to be devoid of any emotional depth or human connection. Their love stories are compared to the flavor of a "swiss made digital watch," which reflects the impersonal and calculated nature of their experiences. They are also happy to shoot at beautiful symbols, which further emphasizes the superficiality of the world they live in. Yet, they express a genuine love of their time, thanking it as though it is a person or a deity.
In a way, the song seems to be a sarcastic commentary on the dehumanizing effects of modern technology and consumerism. The mechanical rhythm of the song, with its repetitive structure and robotic vocals, reinforces this idea. The singer is caught up in a system that values efficiency and productivity over creativity and compassion. In the end, the song leaves a sense of emptiness and coldness, reminding us that we should not lose sight of our humanity in the pursuit of progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Stored on the shelves of my memory
My memories are perfectly organized and easily accessible.
my thoughts are in perfect array
My thoughts are well-organized and easily accessible, like items on a shelf.
My life runs smooth like a highway
I live a straightforward, predictable life and feel in control of my destiny.
billboards show me the way
I rely on advertising and external messaging to guide my decisions and choices.
My way of life has the glamour
My lifestyle is superficially attractive and alluring, but ultimately lacks substance or depth.
of an artificial neon ad
Like a bright and flashy advertisement, my life may be eye-catching, but it lacks authenticity.
I need overwhelming information
I crave an immense amount of information to feel fully informed and prepared.
for a complete shopping list
This information is necessary to create a comprehensive list of desired items.
Acrylic colours oscillate my eyes
The bright colors in a drugstore aisle attract and dazzle me.
when I walk down a drugstore aisle
I feel easily distracted or swept away by mundane consumer goods.
My time my time I love my time
I am satisfied with my life and appreciate the freedom and opportunities it affords me.
My time has something more
I have a sense that my life holds greater purpose or hidden potential.
My time's the best there's ever been
My life is fulfilling and enjoyable, and I feel lucky to have been born in this era.
Thank you my time
I am grateful for the things I have accomplished and the enjoyment I have derived from my life thus far.
I learn do it yourself cybernetics
I enjoy immersing myself in a variety of innovative, technologically advanced hobbies.
while I'm jogging on a rolling tray
I manage to balance my busy, technology-driven lifestyle with healthy physical pursuits.
I love my weekends in the pure air
I value and cherish the opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spend time in peaceful, outdoor environments.
on the heights of the Eiffel tower
I enjoy opportunities to experience beauty and awe-inspiring sights from elevated locations.
My love stories have the flavour
My romantic experiences are reminiscent of high-quality, reliable Swiss-made watches.
of a swiss made digital watch
My relationships are dependable, high-functioning, and precisely calibrated.
When I have to know what to love
When I need guidance on making choices, particularly romantic ones, I rely on my stored data and past experiences.
I recall my stored data
I rely on memories and past experiences to inform my current decisions.
My thoughts are still like a photo
Some of my memories are particularly vivid or sentimental, and hold a special place in my heart.
in the hall of a Hilton Hotel
These memories are like a cherished memento displayed prominently in a glamorous setting.
My reflex actions are mechanized
My automatic responses to certain stimuli are nearly mechanical or robotic in nature.
like japanese camera tourists
My actions may be reminiscent of foreign tourists' enthusiasm for photographing or documenting every moment.
happily milling in Bloomingdales
I enjoy mingling with crowds of shoppers in high-end department stores.
shooting at beautiful symbols
I enjoy capturing images or experiences of beautiful or exclusive luxury items.
Writer(s): Roberto Cacciapaglia, Villahermosa Manca Di
Contributed by Adeline Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@horamichal7118
1980 !!! Great, great, great. At that time I was studying classical musicology 🙂Nowadays I study history of pop electronic music 🙂 and its milestones. And this is sophisti and excellent music with HUMOUR. TELEX thank you. From Prague Michal.
@franciscogallegogallego5865
cuantas veces me dormi, escuchando esta canción...
@BarbieChaite
thank you my time
@Alix777.
Tiens voilà Barbie, bonne année chef
@alvsnu
The kind of music we all miss today !
@lean79
Roland CR 78!!
@geoffolehane
This was the first version I ever heard of this song back in the day. But since the, I have heard and loved the original Ann Steel version. But I love Telex.
@jeffchapman35
hello, united states here
absolutely love listening to this song when i'm travelling in the underground subway in buffalo, NY.
@kinggreen5424
Sounds like Yellow Magic Orchestra. Absolutely beautiful cover of a classic tune.
@NToneSki
There's something about it...