Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order

"Bizarre Love Triangle" is one of my favorite songs of all time, as it happens. And although it certainly lives up to its title in terms of being bizarre, I can't tell that it has anything whatsoever to do with a love triangle. Indeed, like many New Order songs, it's a toss-up whether or not the lyrics are deep and full of some kind of artistic meaning, or merely inane and silly. (Frankly, I'm leaning towards the latter.) The track failed to chart very high when released as a single in both the UK and the US, but gradually climbed for literally years afterward, and even hit Billboard again in 1995; nearly ten years after it was first released.

Over time, it's become pretty emblematic of New Order; almost like their signature song, as it were. It's also been covered by a number of artists who were influenced by New Order, including Stabbing Westward, Apoptygma Berzerk and Frente! (I've included those three versions as well as the 1987 Substance remix) and is even part of The Killers live set in an acoustic piano version that's not unlike the APB cover below.

Pompeji by Camouflage

I mentioned earlier that Camouflage's "Pompeji" was almost a better example of their melancholy, ethereal take on the Depeche Mode sound, in spite of the fact that it was really just an instrumental b-side. I also mentioned that I couldn't find any versions of the longer 12" version that I had on my "The Great Commandment" 12" single. That is no longer true, so here it is.

I like that this fan-made video has a bunch of images of the Serengeti on it. Although Pompeji is the German spelling of Pompeii, and therefore presumably this has an ancient Roman type theme or something like that, it always reminded me sharply of the opening credits to the movie Hatari! by Henry Mancini. Just for fun, I attached a youtube clip of that, too.

It helps, perhaps, that Hatari! is one of my favorite movies.

I Love My Radio (Midnight Radio) by Taffy

Not all italo-disco was Italian, and in fact Taffy was from New York. While her impact in the US was essentially non-existant, "I Love My Radio" was a one-hit wonder in the UK and in other markets where it slotted nicely into the italo-disco countries and markets.

The video is notable, if you can call it that, for highlighting some of the worst 80s clothes I have ever had the misfortune of having seen. The cars are pretty cool, though.