Fade to Grey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Fade to Grey" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Visage | ||
| from the album Visage | ||
| B-side(s) | "The Steps" | |
| Released | November 10, 1980 | |
| Format | 7" single, 12" single | |
| Recorded | Genetic Sound Studios, 1980 | |
| Genre | New Romantic | |
| Length | 03:47 (Single edit) | |
| Label | Polydor | |
| Writer(s) | B. Currie/C. Payne/M. Ure | |
| Producer(s) | Midge Ure Visage |
|
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
| Visage singles chronology | ||
| "Tar" (1979) |
"Fade to Grey" (1980) |
"Mind Of A Toy" (1981) |
| "Fade to Grey (Bassheads mix)" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Visage | ||
| Released | August 16, 1993 | |
| Format | 12", 2x12", CD 5" | |
| Recorded | Genetic Sound Studios, 1980 | |
| Genre | Techno | |
| Length | 03:22 (Single edit) | |
| Label | Polydor | |
| Producer(s) | Midge Ure Visage |
|
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
| Visage singles chronology | ||
| "Beat Boy" (1984) |
"Fade to Grey (Bassheads mix)" (1993) |
|
| "Fade to Grey (Kama mix)" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Datura | ||
| Released | 1994 | |
| Format | CD 5" | |
| Recorded | ? | |
| Genre | Techno | |
| Length | 03:40 (Single edit) | |
| Label | XYZ Music | |
Fade to Grey is Visage's most successful single and considered as the most representative song of the New Romantic scene. This song was recorded in Genetic Sound Studios and released as a single on Polygram Records on November 10, 1980. It became a huge dancefloor hit and entered the singles charts in early 1981.
Contents |
[edit] History
The song's structure was primarily composed by Billy Currie and Christopher Payne. While setting the tracklisting of the Visage album, Midge Ure composed the song's lyics after Billy Currie suggested the use of the melody for the album. Steve Strange had singing lessons with Ure in order to maintain himself in tune and be recorded. Gary Numan commented in interview for the Numan Digest [1]: "As far as I'm concerned Chris and Billy were the driving force behind writing 'Fade to Grey'. They used to work on it during the sound checks on my '79 tour. Cedric [Sharpley - drummer of the Gary Numan's backing band] was also heavily involved. In those days it was called 'Toot City'". This song represented Visage's best moment in terms of popularity and sales.
Regarding the meaning of the lyrics, Steve Strange gave an explanation in an interview on Bravo magazine [2]: "Not long ago I have been in Berlin and I looked over "the wall" to East Berlin [...] a tristess overview. Everything appeared being grey for me, weird, threatening– the barbed wire, the Vopos. And then I saw an old, tired man moving with a stick. Tired, disappointed of life. And there in mind the picture of Fade to Grey came to me: getting into grey, in the old age, sinking into nothing. This mood should the song tell about." It should be noted that the song's lyrics were not written by Strange.
A remix by Bassheads/Andy Stevenson was released in 1993 to promote the "Best of Visage" compilation, becoming a modest Top 40 hit. Several other artists have made their own versions of this song.
[edit] Visage version's personnel
- Steve Strange (vocals)
- Brigitte/Bernadette/Ali (French vocals)
- Midge Ure (backing vocals)
- Billy Currie (synthesizer, electric violin)
- Christopher Payne (synthesizer, viola)
- Cedric Sharpley (drums, electronic drums programming)
- Rusty Egan (backing vocals)
[edit] The Datura version
The Italian electronic group Datura made what is considered by many Visage fans as the most unique version of Fade to Grey because it is the only cover version that instead of using the original 1980 vocal track, recorded Steve Strange singing the lyrics specifically for the version. This single is very hard-to-find.
[edit] Fade to Grey and One Word
In 2005, a copyright dispute arose over similarities between Fade to Grey and the Kelly Osbourne single, One Word. Billy Currie accused One Word writer Linda Perry of copyright abuse and had conversations with Midge Ure and Christopher Payne to seek legal actions; but the issue was resolved after Perry agreed to pay them royalties for each copy of the single sold. Visage's second incarnation has promised to release a One Word remix, but this has not materialised so far.
Ironically, Italian pop star Tiziano Ferro had a hit in Italy in 2006 with Stop! Dimentica, a song which is basically an unauthorized Italian version of the Kelly Osbourne single.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Visage single
12" version:
- "Fade to Grey" (Extended dance mix) – 6:14
- "The Steps" – 3:14
[edit] Visage 1993 Mixes
- Fade to Grey (Bassheads 7" edit) – 3:22 [remixed by Bassheads/Andy Stevenson]
- Fade to Grey (7" remix) – 3:37 [remixed by Tim Wedge/Daryl Stickley]
- Fade to Grey (original 7" mix) – 3:49
- Fade to Grey (Bassheads Dub) – 7:35 [remixed by Bassheads]
- Fade to Grey (Bassheads Trance) – 7:28 [remixed by Bassheads/Dave Ralph]
- Fade to Grey (Subliminal Mix) – 5:16 [remixed by Tim Wedge/Daryl Stickley]
- Fade to Grey (Wild Cat Mix) – 7:48 [remixed by Tim Wedge/Daryl Stickley]
[edit] Datura version
- Fade to Grey (Kama Edit) – 3:40
- Fade to Grey (Kama) – 4:40
- Fade to Grey (Lila Instrumental) – 4:26
- Eternity (Datura's Seed) – 4:30
- Eternity (Datura's Leaf) – 4:44
[edit] References
- Numan Digest, December 1995
- Fansite with Bravo magazine's quote
- Information on Datura's version of 'Fade to Grey'
| Visage |
|---|
| Steve Strange | Midge Ure | Rusty Egan Billy Currie | Dave Formula | Barry Adamson | Steven Young | Sandrine Gouriou | Rosie Harris | Ross Tregenza |
| Visage discography |
| Studio albums and extended plays: Visage | The Anvil | Beat Boy |
| Compilations: The Best of Visage | Master Series | The Damned Don't Cry |
| Singles: Tar | Fade to Grey | Mind Of A Toy | Visage | The Damned Don't Cry | Night Train | Pleasure Boys | Love Glove | Beat Boy |
| Related articles |
| Ultravox | Magazine |
