Bucks Fizz was formed in the U.K. to win the Eurovision contest. That's exactly what they did in the 1981 contest in Dublin with Making Your Mind Up which went on to become a huge pop hit everywhere but the United States. Apparently their gimmick was they were two blond couples, not too Abba! Their campy performance at the contest included a section midway through where the guys ripped off the girls skirts.
They went on to have three #1 singles in the U.K. and to sell over 15 million records. Their single Land of Make Believe was so huge it actually pushed Human League's Don't You Want Me out of the #1 position in the U.K. It's widely considered to be their best release.
They had a few other hits, but the one which really sent me over the rainbow was I Hear Talk from their fourth l.p. It was huge in clubs like The Saint and out on Fire Island which is where I first heard it. In fact on the 12" sleeve it looks like they are sitting in the area just behind the beach and forest between Cherry Grove and The Pines. But it's highly unlikely that they are.
Since again I Hear Talk made no murmurs on the pop charts in the states it's not like I could have heard it on Top 40 radio. Nor was it one of their bigger international singles. But in December 1984 when it was released soon enough it made it's way around. But who judges validity by pop success?
Unfortunately the group got into an accident in their tour bus coming back from a show in Newcastle and so they were not available to give promotion for the release. So it only peaked at #34 in the U.K. and #29 in Ireland even though it was a perfect pop record and could have gone much farther.
What a brilliant idea anyway a song about gossip. Whoever Pete Sinfield or Andy Filed is my hats off to to them for writing a camp classic.
I hear talk is deeply cheerful and chirpy so if you don't feel like being happy don't bother to download. But if you're like me then this song sends you reeling with joy!
It’s never been easy living with you
Dish of the season fishing for truth
But we got it rolling right on the track
Here’s to the future with no turning back
We’re taking half and half in mystery
We’re making love to love so easily
And still I can’t believe what’s going round
I don’t believe you’d ever let me down
I hear talk, I hear the writings on the wall
Too many private eyes and party lines
Secret signs friends who seem to know it all
I hear talk, I hear talk
Talk
I look in your eyes and what do I see
Everything I needed looking at me
Beyond all suspicion dreams on the side
Hold that position ticket to ride
So when it’s all wrapped up
Like it’s meant to be
The only trap that’s left is jealousy
And still I can’t believe what’s going round
I don’t believe you’d ever let me down
I hear talk, I hear the writings on the wall
Too many private eyes and party lines
Secret signs friends who seem to know it all
I hear talk, I hear talk
Chinese whispers circulate
There’s a news man leaning on the garden gate
If you don’t wanna headline better use your head
‘Cause I heard someone say something you said
I hear talk, I hear the writings on the wall
Too many private eyes and party lines
Secret signs friends who seem to know it all
I hear talk, I hear talk
Talk talk talk
New Beginning, which was not one of their hit singles, is really quite fantastic too but I was just not up to writing an entire Bucks Fizz discography but here's the Mamba Seyra extended version. Check out the choral work. It's rather over the top. This use of world music vocals was also essential to the Hazel Dean classic They Say it's Gonna Rain.
When We Were Young
Crying softly on to a clean white pillow
Watch the clock as it slowly crawls around
Rolls around
Is she sleeping? no
Is she dreaming?
Time, it passes without that familiar touch
Familiar touch
Love has gone, tears are here, nothing left
Life has changed, remember when we were young
Were young
When we were young
When we were young
When we were young
She pours a coffee and looks in the mirror
Suddenly she's glad he can't see her face
Can't see her face
Youth, it passes while age is collected
Disappears from behind the wires without trace
Without trace
Love has gone, tears are here, nothing left
Life has changed, remember when we were young
Were young
When we were young
When we were young
When we were young
Love has gone, tears are here
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Life has changed, remember when we were young
Were young
When we were young
When we were young
When we were young...
Another of their big pop hits, this one from 1983.
In 2010 a jazzy reworking of I hear Talk was released.
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