Let this wonderful ’80s classic soothe you…
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Next for your Trainwrecord segment you should discuss Kraftwerk’s Electric Cafe.
…why did I think that Frankie was an indie group from 2004?
18:33 I’m sorry, is that a Riddler suit there?
as a kid i had the frankie goes to hollywood best of from my parents, honestly insane album worth a listen even if you dont want to do the entire discography, relax is one of the weakest songs on that album
My sister had a FGTH T-shirt and we were bouncing down the main drag in Rochester, Minnesota – in the 80s, we stood out with her t shirt and me head to foot in leather. A drop dead gorgeous guy ran up and begged info where to get the t – my sister pulled it up and off, handed it to the kid and i gave her my jacket to get home in. Different time, amazing music…oh, and I miss you, Bo. 🙂
thank you for helping me understand the context for the final shot of all of us strangers a little better
This song as just as punk as Anarchy in the UK, inasmuch as it strikes a undeniably strong chord in its culture at its time. Sometimes you gotta shake things up, push the envelope and whatnot, but Frankie somehow got the airplay in the US that the Sex Pistols never would.
Side note: The original version wasn't ready for 1984 because it needed a fresher, synth-filled sound to match the era, but I enjoy it now – chances are I wouldn't hear it at all if it were the finished piece because it wasn't "the style of the time" and it wouldn't have charted (especially in the funk charts, which probably would've hated what the song was about).
springsteen is so gay what are you talking about
I love that I can Relax to Todd in The Shadows. Just do it!
Man still simping for Lindsey Ellis, you are the ultimate simp dude.
I’ve literally been waiting for Todd to do this song
The Frankie Goes To Hollywood video game was a classic. No, really! Denton Design were given the Frankie licence and rather than do what everybody else would have, and have Holly jump around collecting gold records or similar nonsense, they actually created something abstract and original that repurposed the band's iconography in clever ways.
Hah, "Two Tribes" charted higher in Canada than "Relax". Suck on that, American scrubs from America.
You can already be deleting this video, in no way can you consider them a hit wonder, their single "two tribes" was the best-selling in the UK in the 80s (9 weeks number 1) and one of the best-selling worldwide, in addition , they had a few more hits
In "Liverpool" album. "Lunar Bay" always my favorite song ever from FGTH. Good synth sound. Peter Gill drum part was explosive and wonderful, And Holly voice was at his best.
Oh, And although Holly second solo album "Dreams That Money Can't Buy" sounds very dated today. It was very good space-pop album, Get a physical format and with a good stereo. It's heaven 🙂
And "Love and Hate" Song that he featured in Ryuichi Sakamoto album in 1994 was very good.
As a Brit, seeing FGTH on One Hit Wonderland made me go "Wait, which hit?"
I heard Relax a million times growing up, but only knew Power of Love from an episode of Misfits. I didn't even realize they were by the same band
0:56 holy shit that's impressive
3 years was pretty good
remix albums and single varients was huge
banned in Queensland was a big selling point in australia
as teens post village ppl we had no idea was gay
their video game in 80s was amazing
the first album is a fantastic trip
they foreshadowed klf
For any non catholics in the comments, fun fact, people in catholic youth circles kept using the slogan "Frankie says Relax" in reference to Pope Francis upon his election to head pontiff
I hope you all appreciate the irony of this
Todd, you need to check out the performance from 2004 when the band reformed for Trevor Horn's 25th anniversary Princes Trust concert. Holly didn't want to take part so they auditioned numerous singers and discovered the brilliant Ryan Molloy, who later went on to play Frankie Valli in the early days of the Jersey Boys stage show. It's a great video and easy to find
As a British fan I've been waiting ages for you to cover Blur. I still think it would be an amazing video and open the eyes of your American counterparts.
I was 12 and watched all videos back then due to Friday night videos. Made me such an open minded person as I am today I believe.
two tribes wasnt a hit there?
MY favourite thing about Frankie goes to Hollywood is that they have 2 studio albums, 3 no 1s, 5 top 10s and THIRTEEN Compilation/Best of Albums…
As someone who was 10 in the UK when Relax came out, I cannot now hear it without the phrase 'Relax, don't do it, pick your nose and chew it' running through my mind.
I remember the video which used only the laser beam footage. European MTV was pretty liberal way back then, but not THAT liberal. Two Tribes was all-but-officially banned in Finland becauce we really really wanted to be friends with Soviet Union.
you know after Frankie Goes To Hollywood called it quits I thought that Hollie founded the British Italian restaurant chain Frankie & Benny's
Relax is a great case of more is less
Was NIN seriously influenced by FGTH?
While I can't be 100% sure, because memory is a tricky thing, I think the original song and video ran in Germany with no issue whatsoever, probably because no-one had any idea wht it was about, and as the video was not overtly explicit (no genital nudity, no actual sex) – it ran at daytime. Like any other video.
And yeah, until I was well into early adulthood, I also thought the "come" was referring to….physically arriving somewhere. So literally I thought it was some sort of a motivational song. It took me even quite a bit longer to get what it was that is supposed to be "relaxed".
Why didn't they make it in America?
Too gay, especially for the 80's. 2 tribes is a fucking banger though.
Sometimes I forget that Todd does do this show from an american point of view. Like I am from Austria and when he covered 99 Red Balloons it was like, I don't think of Nena as One Hit Wonder, I mean I don't know too much of her music, but you know of Nena. She is a little bit before my generation, but hell she was in a movie with Germany's biggest punk band… and at this point I realize how little that metric means to the overall world of music
Welcome to the Pleasuredome (the song) was an extremely huge track in Chicago House music. DJ Ron Hardy started each set playing it, so it helped transform modern Dance music in a big way.
they were ok. they were very good showmen and very good at marketing. the Body Double placement in the movie was good and it's a great movie. too.
Im gonna listen to Todd’s “give it to me one time noooOOOOW” on repeat for the next hour
As a Brit, it's funny seeing this band on here. Power of Love was big enough here that despite not being born till the mid 90s, I recognised it instantly.
I know you joke about how this series must annoy us, but honestly its cool seeing how different our charts were
The Beatles might've had one more in them, like if they came back in '72-'73 to do one after they all got to put out a solo record or two. but we def got enough from them to last, and Abbey Road was as good a swan song as any artist has given us.
My first exposure to this song was as the finale to one of Weird Al's polkas. I think that's about the only time my parents worried about their 12 and 9 year old children singing Weird Al in public 😂
But, very good episode again Todd. Definitely the part of the 80s soundscape I like so I'll check them out.
One hit wonder? Americans know nowt. Seriously though, you are correct that Two Tribes is by far the better song, even though Relax is also immense.
Now if Todd really wants to start a war he'd choose Kate Bush as his next one.
Oooh Jeezuz Christ! Mr Slave's moonlighting band.
I was going to comment about the mention in the Bloodhound Gang's song, Mope. But I'm struck by the fact the lead singer looks like Ryan Gosling. Maybe if they make a biopic about the band, they could Ryan to have the lead.
"Relax", "Two Tribes", "Welcome to the pleasuredome"… that entire album is a masterpiece from start to finish. And they had some of the best remixes of their songs ever.
Pleasure Dome has amazing production values
I paid 12.00 for this cassette when you could get 1 for 5.00.
I absolutely loved the album
They probably banned Two Tribes in 'Murica. I can't be arsed googling it if this dude can't be arsed doing his research!
Power of Love is my parents' wedding song, apparently it played on the radio during their first date. Been a Frankie Goes to Hollywood enjoyer since early age. Loved this look into their careers!
Where have you been my friend!!!?!?
So when will Todd make an episode on Alphaville's Big In Japan? Or do they not count because they had two hits?
I Want to Break Free by Queen was too gay for america, I'm not shocked that Frankie Goes to Hollywood was too gay.