What Is Your League Affiliation?

[Edgy MD]

For many British synthpop outfits, what is presented as a band — or at least a collective — is really just two, or even one, figures, making studio music, surrounding themselves with a rotating cast of characters, some of whom may or may not be actual musicians, but rather scenesters with an interesting look that adds some balance to the photo shoots. They may have started as a collective, but over time, if the face of the band is also the primary composer, there's little left for others to do, and little reason to carry them. Thus, Martin Fry has been the only permanent member of ABC, Andy McCluskey is the only continuing member of OMD, etc.

Similarly, it's tempting to look at the Human League as being Phil Oakey, and little more than a concept. But to his credit, he's shared the vocals and musical vision, and to some folks' surprise, he kept most of the outfit together, and Joanne Catheral and Susan Ann Sulley, originally recruited mostly to be dancers for a single 1980 European tour, remain to this day.

Less surprising is that Oakley's signature curtain of long fringe hanging down one side of his face couldn't stand the test of time.

Whether that is enough to consider The Human League more than just a disposable artifact from the eighties is in the eye and ear of the beholder. They went through several phases, producing music that was often programmed as much as performed, landed a huge #1 in the States, and to this day, it's hard to go to the pharmacy without hearing their music — incredibly hooky, but not always human enough, ironically, even if more human than some others.

Sent to a desert island, you get one Human League track to take with you. If you do not take one, the constant soundtrack to your stay on the island will be Suzyn Waldman broadcasts, so choose wisely.

1)"Rock and Roll" (1980)

Joan Jett will tell you that there was a time when you couldn't go wrong by launching your career by covering Gary Glitter. This would be, of course, insane to do today.





2) "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" (1981)

A semi-autobiographical account of Phil Oakey's love life, he references Iggy Pop (the lyric "this is Phil talking" was inspired by Iggy's line "Jesus, this is Iggy"), who they had just toured in support of, as well as Lou Reed, whose song "I Believe in Love" appeared on his 1976 album Rock and Roll Heart.





3) "Don't You Want Me" (1981)

A synth-pop retelling of A Star Is Born, "DYWM?" became an international chartbuster, despite being the fourth single from the album Dare. Susan Ann Sulley, by luck of the draw, took the other voice in the dialogue lead vocal, and when the hit when big-big-BIG, she and Catheral became a permanent part of the band's identity.

Sadly, despite cocktail waitressing being a lucrative occupation, this song has badly damaged the self-esteem of the entire cocktail waitress industry over the ensuing 43 years.




4) "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of"

Only released as a single in South Africa, "TTTDAMO" nonetheless became a radio and dancefloor favorite, earning THL a grudging respect with Oakey's humble shoutout to the Ramones in the bridge section.





5) "Mirror Man"

The odd thing about British synth pop is that the creators of it, to the last man and woman, swear their allegiance and love to American soul, and yet you rarely hear the influence in the records. "MM," on the other hand, jumps with Motown elements, from the tambourine keeping the beat through the opening to the echoey "Oooh! AHHHH!" girl-group backup vocals to the Four Topsy 4/4 stomp on the snare drum.




6) "(Keep Feeling) Fascination"


Oakey not only shares the vocals here not only with Sulley and Catherall, but also reserves a lead vocal role for bassist/keyboardist/guitarist Jo Callis — because that sort of thing mattered to him. The high-concept video features all the band members playing as well as singing, as a direct response to US criticism, with Oakey pissily stating, "This should help us in America where they believe we are a manufactured item mainly because we've never been live on TV there."



7) "The Lebanon"

Under label pressure to follow up the massive pop success of his earlier singles, Oakey totally pulled a Bono, grew some stubble, and did a song about the Lebanese Civil War. Fuck you, record label!!





8) "Human"

A melodramatic song featuring Oakey confessing infidelity, this big hit was helmed by superstar producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and despite being THL's second US #1, was pretty much the swan song of their run on the pop charts. This won't stop it from from coming through the overhead speakers every time you wait on line to refill your kid's Adderall prescription.

[CitiFieldPornRoom]

National obviously, though I don't harbor much disdain for American. They're the same really.

[kcmets]

They had a couple of good songs. Luckily no one has ever put gun to my
head and said name one band member or even a correct title of one of the
songs or *BANG* I'm dead.

The Euro-gay/Euro-bi schtick era kinda sucked. Just my humble opinion...

[kcmets]

Oh and I took 3) "Don't You Want Me" (1981)

[Edgy MD]

I don't see that vote tabulated.

They had a couple of good songs. Luckily no one has ever put gun to my
head and said name one band member or even a correct title of one of the
songs or *BANG* I'm dead.

I have to say, though, that would be an interestingly weird way to die.

[kcmets]

No weirder than this thread.

[metirish]

(Keep feeling). Fascination , a really great song

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I love Human League!

I voted for “Other.” “Heart Like a Wheel” is my fave Human League song. But many of these are great.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I thought "Lebanon" was about baloney. It's my pick. Cooler than what we used to inappropriately call Eurofag music.

[Fman99]

Wait, they had more than two songs in their repertoire? Well honk my hooters

[TransMonk]

(Keep feeling). Fascination , a really great song

This is the way.

[Edgy MD]

Give "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" a tumble. Everybody needs love and adventure.

[MFS62]

The Euro-gay/Euro-bi schtick era kinda sucked. Just my humble opinion...

Not just your opinion. The early days of MTV were teeming with them. My friends and I called them "FEGWIs".
It stood for Fey English Guys with Earrings.

Later

[Bob Alpacadaca]

“Human” is a great song! Lots of good college memories.

[Edgy MD]

I sing that song every year when it's sweltering in July.

　　It's really hu...mid!
　　I'm sweating ponds and lakes!
　　It's really hu...mid!
　　Please rain, for Heaven's SAKES!

[Frayed Knot]

The only HL song I Knew was DYWM
That said, there are several up there I recognize but never knew (or cared to know) who did them.
Then there's 'FASCINATION' which I never heard until a few years ago when it seemed to be inserted into the playlists of those DJ-less radio stations
and supermarket/store background noise which feature only material which becomes available in bulk due to low royalty rates. So never having heard
it before, it sounded so archaic to me when I finally did hear it just because it so reeked of the the '80s that I knew at least when it was popular even
if I still didn't know who.