Anyone Here Like The Human League?

Its been rumoured that The Human League are (finally) returning to Australia in December, although it hasn't been confirmed by the band.

My favourite 10 songs of theirs.

Note: even though they often play Together In Electric Dreams, it was released as a Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder single...and it wouldn't have made the top 10 anyway.

#10 - The Things That Dreams Are Made Of (1981) - not released as a single at the time. Re-released in 2008 but didn't chart.

The opening song on Dare and is the song that gives the album it's name.

Is also the song that (briefly) gets played on The Young Ones.

Best part: A great start to a truly remarkable album, Musically interesting and some great lyrics

Take a lift to the top of the Empire State
Take a drive across the Golden Gate
March, march, march across Red Square
Do all the things you've ever dared

Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs two or three friends

#9 - Life on Your Own (1984) - Hysteria #16 (UK)

Musically not overly interesting but poppy enough. An interesting take on a person who seems to be struggling after ending a relationship and who seems in dark & lonely place literally and figuratively.

#8 - (Keep Feeling) Fascination (1983) - Fascination! - #2 (UK) & #8 (Aust)

The title track from Fascination!

Also gives a chance to include this take on the Spanish Inquisition.

Best part: Musically quite good and I like the use of the 4 different voices.

#7 - Darkness (1981) - Dare - Not released as a single

Not released as a single, but was on an album with a load of songs that were good enough to be released as singles (five were eventually)

Best part: Musically a very good song and the way it builds up towards the end is fantastic.

#6 - Mirror Man (1982) - Fascination! #2 (UK) & #4 (UK)

The first single from Fascination! I wasn't a huge fan of this when this was released, (a bit too poppy and some parts musically let it down). However I've come to appreciate the lyrics over the years and besides a few parts musically it's pretty good.

Best part:

The water shines, a pebble skips across the face
A dozen times, then disappears, not a trace left behind
The thrower turns and walks away
A change of mind, another start a brand new day

You know I'll change
If change is what you require
Your every wish
Your every dream, hope, desire

#5 - Empire State Human (1979) - Didn't chart on release. Re-released in 1980 #62 (UK).

Recorded and released before the Human League/Heaven 17 split. Like Being Boiled has a great dance beat.

Best part: Musically has a great beat and Phil's voice adds to this. The repeating of lyrics adds to the rhythm.

#4 - Being Boiled (1978) - Didn't chart on release. =in 1982 #6 (UK)

Their first ever single. The lyrics are Phil Oakey's with the music from Martin Ware and Ian Marsh, with it sounding very much like a Heaven 17 song.

Best part: How musically dark it is whilst maintaining a dance beat.

#3 - The Lebanon (1984) - Hysteria - #11 (UK) & #23 (Aust)

The most political of their singles. Also probably their most rock 'n' roll and very different from their previous sounds.  Released during Lebanon's civil war. It's hard to believe now that Beirut was called the Paris of the Middle East and Lebanon was the democratic beacon in the Arab world. Too long a story to get into what happened and who was to blame, but what a bloody mess.

Best part: Musically this is fantastic and most of the song really rocks.

#2 - Sound Of The Crowd (1981)- Dare - #12 (UK)

The first single from Dare. Musically this is my favourite song of theirs.

Best part: The music. Synthpop at it's best. A (mainly) instrumental version.

#1 - Open Your Heart (1981) - Dare - #6 (UK) & #33 (Aust)

The third single from Dare.

Easily my favourite song of theirs. A great song about love, dealing with heartbreak and negative friends.

Best part: I like the music but this is more about the lyrics. The opening verse is fantastic.

And when it hurts you know they love to tell you
How they warned you
They say "Don't be surprised at someone's lies"
They think they taunt you
But if you can stand the test
You know your worst is better than their best

I also loved Phil's ear ring in this video. Always wanted one of those, but never went past a boring ring.

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No spot for Don't You Want Me. It is obviously their biggest hit (it was the Christmas #1 in 1981) and in ITV poll in 2015 it was voted as the UK's 7th best #1 from the 1980s.

It was the 4th single from Dare and Phil Oakey didn't want it released and allegedly thought it was little more than filler, although he is now apparently proud of the song although thinks it is over rated.

It's a nasty song about a man who is threatening a woman who is ending their relationship. He's made her a star and he can put her back in her place. She'd better change her mind of they will both be sorry.

A song writer doesn't always have to support what they write and they can be written from a different perspective. I don't hate it and it does have a great pop beat, but I like plenty of their other songs more than this.