Secret (OMD song)

"Secret"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Crush
B-side	Drift
Released	July 8, 1985
Format	7" single, 12" single
Recorded	The Manor, 1984
Genre	New Wave
Length	3:56
Label	Virgin Records
Writer(s)	Andy McCluskey Paul Humphreys
Producer(s)	Stephen Hague Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"So in Love" (1985) "Secret" (1985) "La Femme Accident" (1985)

"Secret" is a single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released as a single from their 1985 album Crush. It is sung by Paul Humphreys, who most often functions as keyboard player and backing vocalist. The single became their second US Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at #63. It also made the top 40 in the UK at #34.

The song was also featured in the movie Arthur 2: On the Rocks and on its soundtrack album.

Critic Dave Thompson in Allmusic gave a negative review, in which he opined that a promising song had been hampered by excessive production: "['Secret' is] an emotive love song buried in an over-produced behemoth of a backing...although all the right elements are there -- the childish backing vocal, the bubbly synths, and the toytown keyboards -- the song's production is so slick and heavy that it smashes the song's delicate aura to bits."^[1]

B-side

The B-side (Drift) was an instrumental song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper. 'Drift' has never been released on CD.

Music video

The video for "Secret", directed by Kenneth Price, shows black and white scenes and usually cuts out to colour scenes of Humphreys singing the song. The theme is that a woman deserts her current love interest (McCluskey) to return to the arms of her true love (Humphreys). McCluskey's character observes the two lovers together and, though despondent, gallantly accepts that his love interest should instead be with Humphreys' character, before walking into the distance along the shore.

Track listing

7": Virgin / VS 796 (UK)

1. "Secret" - 3.54
2. "Drift"

12": Virgin / VS 796-12 (UK)

1. "Secret (Extended Mix)" - 6.14
2. "Drift"

Initial releases had a bonus disc with:

1. "Red Frame/White Light"
2. "I Betray My Friends"

Chart positions

Cover versions

A cover of the song by Laura Watling appeared on the 2001 compilation Pretending To See The Future: A Tribute To OMD.

References in other media

The hit Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming each episode after an 80s hit song, named a two-part episode after this song.

References