Boris Blank / Yello | The Story Behind The Song

Boris Blank, the creative engine behind the Swiss electronica band Yello, tells the story how he came to his working method and about the song 'Oh Yeah'.
This is an interview from 2015.

[@squareleg5757]

Like many great artists, I’m not sure Boris really knows how great he actually is. But we do. Thank you, Boris.

[@alunjones2550]

Yello albums have some of the finest production quality I've ever listened to and Boris Blank should be lauded for that. I had the pleasure of meeting Dieter Meier at an album signing at HMV in Manchester. Not many bands can truly be called "influential" but Yello are one of them.

[@xenorac]

Agreed, Yello always sounds perfect from the low bass to the highest high. If you want to impress someone with your sound system then just demo them some Yello!

[@repairitdontreplaceit]

planet dada is used at many hifi shows

[@harrywix]

Ian Tregoning has often engineered for Yello too :)

[@ericjamieson]

Yeah most of their songs are deceptively simple but you can tell they do an endless amount of meticulous tinkering to make sure every individual sound and then the overall mix is exactly the way they want it. You can tell when he's talking about reverb and echoes and different recording spaces how much time he's spent thinking about and experimenting with sound.

[@dvdny]

The mastering on ALL their albums is incredible. This guy should own *all* the awards. Hell, even DJ Tennis played a long version of La Habanera at the Panther Room (Output) a couple of years back.

[@arothmanmusic]

These guys and Art of Noise were the most subversive and amazing music of my youth.

[@matthewronson5218]

I spun their discs on college radio back when they were brand new.

[@pouetepremier5793]

and the sparks

[@rreennoo1]

oh yeah

[@rreennoo1]

@Awesome Welles damn, you"re right

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

Yello and AoN were my two favorite artists, growing up in the 80s.

[@oxiigen]

Boris is a living legend! Thank you!

[@gary-kr7dm]

I’m nearly 70 and really love their music and videos.

[@markyoung01maccom]

What a genius and an absolute pleasure to hear him speak about his process. He and Meier are so important to modern electronic music.

[@stuartsutherbaker]

I met a man when I worked in Switzerland in 1990 that knew Boris and he said he wasn't really a proficient musician by any standard but created sounds on the fly. I always wondered if this was true, 30 years later this is confirmed by Boris himself. Well done Boris, you are one creative genius 🙂

[@Britspence381]

I've been following Boris and Dieter since I heard 'Oh Yeah' in 1985. Such refreshing and unique artists.

[@SuperBC1975]

First heard the music of Yello when I saw "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and heard "Oh Yeah." Been a fan ever since.

[@Music-tg5is]

"Save Ferris!"

[@ChilliCheezdog]

@@Music-tg5is GRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rogerpattube]

Rooney Eats It

[@Music-tg5is]

@@ChilliCheezdog _"Oh, he's very popular, Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude."_

[@SuperRitchas]

Exactly the same here! Their music is timeless.

[@docutainment1852]

1982 I heard "Bostich" for the first time and was immediately flashed. Wow! What a track! Boris is a genius. "Live at the Roxy" is one of my vinyl treasures. And I absolutely love "Ciel Ouvert"!

[@Enevan1968]

Nearly 40 years old and still sounds like the future!

[@Dnrothx]

I'm just happy he and Dieter are still bringing so much whimsy into the world through their music.

[@Matt_Aquila]

Boris seems like the kind of guy you'd happily share a martini or two with on a sunny afternoon.

[@195Bucks]

Could sit and listen to Boris all day!.. 😊

[@merseyviking]

Oh yeah!

[@ChilliCheezdog]

Oh Yeah is a track on the album Stella. If you like Oh Yeah, you must listen to Stella. Every track is as brilliant and as distintive as Oh Yeah.

[@Action_Slacks]

That was the first album I bought by them! I was looking for You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess (for Heavy Whispers in particular) but my local record store only had a couple of copies of Stella. I was like, "Hey, why not?" and bought it (this was before Ferris Bueller). It's been one of my favorites ever since.

[@rovingenglishman]

Stella was AMAZING

[@MeowEwowE]

Mine too... Zebra is my favorite tho. I've worn out two Zebra CD's LOL!

[@stevenbaker7696]

What a treat to see the 'quiet man' speak!

[@EastyyBlogspot]

I really liked The Race, had a load of little cool riffs

[@grantmackenzie8616]

Billy Mackenzie wrote the race with them

[@alvon911]

Absolutely! So many fantastic horn parts

[@dvdny]

He speaks!! Been listening to this guy for 40 years. Timeless toons.

[@tanyaboerhave7364]

Always been a fairly ignored but great band. I couldn't believe it when I heard Oh Yeah on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I liked that he had a Caberet Voltaire poster on his wall too. Ferris had good taste.

[@gewglesux]

Not ignored by me that's for sure.

[@MickeyGee73]

Also a Smiths poster 👍❤

[@markyoung01maccom]

I started listening to Yello when I was 13, now at 52 still listening… love these guys. Boris and Dieter are geniuses

[@jazvock1366]

I got into these two geniuses in about 1982 when BBC Radio 1 DJ David "Kid" Jensen played their masterpiece single "I love you" on his evening show. Loved them ever single. I recommend the album "The new mix in one go" along with all their earlier stuff.

[@imdjc4]

Thank you Yello for being there through my own transition period....being uncool back then for liking music like Yello. Then thirty years later as a dj to currently hosting 2 radio shows and years throughout radio.... to being respected today for liking Yello as a trail blazer. Great role models, teachers and visionaries.

[@rovingenglishman]

Genius. Was already into Kraftwerk, JMJ, Art of Noise and early electronic, but these guys had a unique thing going on. Had every album on tape and a couple of vinyls. Very cinematic, avante garde, experimental, funny, whacky, compelling, inventive, with a Euro chic. Didn’t know anyone else who was into them haha

[@swebigmac100]

Came in to a store to buy some new speakers back in the mid 90’s The sales guy played ”Jungle Bill” to demonstrate the speakers capability. I did not buy the speakers, but i went straight to the store and bought the record Essential Yello. I played it to obliteration. I actually had to buy it a second time after 6-7 years. Haha still have it.

[@tecnoprofet]

There are no others like THOSE GUYS. Pure life transformed into sound , unrepeatable.

[@Kevinfordsynthesizers]

I occasionally forget how forty years ago they achieved the position of being incredibly sophisticated and futuristic at the same time - as a kid in a coal dirty area of England, it was an incredible, and forty years later, timeless and unique sound.

[@junglie]

Well ahead of their time

[@TheWarrrenator]

One of the most iconic tracks of the 1980’s and it was just “a lucky punch.” Incredible!

[@gemtwo3453]

This Guy have changed my life , i was 13, 38 years ago.

[@ulalaFrugilega]

Oh Yeah is the perfect soundscape, that's for sure. I have a lot of Yello Albums and listen to them once in awhile, enjoying them, really loving Tiger Dust, or Si Senor, the hairy grill… and so many others, but when O Yeah comes along, it sure is something special. Every time.

[@BlackWhirlies]

After all this time, what a pleasure to hear Boris speak.

[@frontwing67]

Also used in the movie: "The secret of my succes" , in the scene where Michael J. Fox as a limo driver, is driving his aunt to her house.

[@timmmahhhh]

This was my first year of college and thanks to my strange schedule I saw this movie before I saw Ferris so this was my first time hearing Oh Yeah.

[@visionsinblue-2330]

yeah! And it was simply perfect for that scene!

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

And Ferris Buellers day off

[@daeryxaqueryx]

Actually, it was used *twice* in the movie: The first time when he drove his hot aunt to her house, the second time when he, his girlfriend, his aunt, and his uncle were all sneaking around the house at night. Talk about squeezing maximum mileage from one song.

[@gregretro]

"Leave the jungle of the Amazonas full of piranhas... and follow... Father Excess... ..." "Yello Live at the Roxy" was the first track I heard from them, and I was obsessed with finding it (in 1984 - back when it was often HARD to find music) and buying it, but it was "Great Mission/Another Excess" that took my preconceptions about what music sounded like and what it represented, and threw them into the sun. Yello forever.

[@bearclawgirl6866]

This song was so mindblowing when it came out. Still sounds amazing.

[@theravedaddy]

Boris shows up out of the blue in my recommendation..... Now off to blast YELLO out all day....

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

One of the masters of weird, yet he could not be more non-bizarre in conversation.

[@humanerror3139]

Yello are my favourite of all time and the unsung hero's of electronic music. Originators. Listen and you'll find every kind of music. They deserve more recognition. If you don't know Yello, know Yello. Bostich.... 1980.... house music..... long after. Nuff said. 😍

[@user-hn3ms3bs7g]

Доброго времени суток Как запал в 12 лет(сейчас 51), та и слушаю с удовольствием... Музыка на все времена.. Респект Дитеру и Борису!!!

[@DrCrabfingers]

Well that was an interesting interview!! I've been listening to Yello for 30 years....and I've always thought they were German....but here we are, they are Swiss!!! I have many of their CDs. These guys are just so awesome. If people don't know, Yello consists of two wealthy guys that make music that they like, with no control from music labels. The result is very unusual uncontrollable music!!

[@Dr.Quarex]

Boris' huge solo album set is definitely worth picking up, too. But yes, Yello are indescribably good.

[@georgec2126]

Terrific music. And for years and years! My favourite has always been 'Otto di Catania'. Long live Yello!

[@alvon911]

That song was played as dinner music at my wedding reception

[@tonytg9099]

If there was ever hidden gems of bands , Yello are surely at the top. Thanks Boris for giving me years of thrills of your music.

[@benpatana7664]

One of the true innovators in music. Little known, hugely influential!

[@003kimo]

Boris Blank is a genius 👍

[@johndutchman]

One of my all-time favorite bands. I lived in Germany in the mid-80s and walked into my favorite little record shop and bought New Mix In One Go one day because of the cool-looking fingerpainting cover .. WOW .. never heard anything like it. Of course ... I'm lying.

[@tednorton5150]

I ADORE this man and his moods. HE invented the working method that is now (post studio) the industry standard

[@WillCrazie]

Would LOVE to hear the (so I've been told) album and a half worth of unreleased tracks done with the Voice of Velvet... Billy MacKenzie. apparently to painful for Boris to go back to :(

[@djmips]

There's probably a lot more that will never be heard. I mean Dieter wanted to erase 'Oh Yeah' !

[@195Bucks]

Boris = Musical Genius!! 😊

[@greatpoochini1]

Top band, Yello. I like the sense of humour they bring to their music. Also not just sounds, but some great melodies.

[@cranzzst]

I was listening to these guys with Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Tones on Tail, Shriekback and others long before I heard their song in Ferris Bueller. Love it. Thanks for the music!

[@Craig_Spurlock]

I love how far Yello has reached. In the 1990's, there was a sketch comedy show on Fox TV here is the U.S called "The Edge". They used a re-recorded instrumental version of "Si Señor, The Hairy Grill" as their opening theme song.

[@timmmahhhh]

I had MTV from the start and loved watching I Love You every chance I could. Mesmerizing sound and video both!

[@hqlion]

And they released a new track! Yello have been my favourite band for over thirty years. Legends.

[@yourfunnyuncle4784]

Great interview. Yello are cult! Like art on some sort of sonic canvas. One of the best things coming from Switzerland. Even better than cheese, chocolate and watches ;-)

[@LarryKingUndead]

Great video. I first heard Yello thanks to movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Secret of My Success, but it wasn't until many years later that I could truly appreciate the music of Yello thanks to a good friend. This friend also shared the knowledge that the Manga Entertainment dub of the anime Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie featured a Yello score. Which very much makes it the best dub out there.

[@BrianSmith-vl7xu]

Up there with Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder and Jean Michel Jarre

[@LordMarlle]

I was going to say that XD True sonic masters

[@tesla1961]

Donna Summer.

[@Angel-rq3pi]

Ok. You're now my bff. No one EVER knows who I'm talking abt when I meantion JMJ

[@heerodevries944]

Jan Hammer?

[@-Joyfull]

I've been listening to JMJ since I was 8 years old, and listening to Yello since I was 10, and listening to Kraftwerk since I was 11. But I don't know who Giorgio Moroder is, sorry.

[@alvon911]

I've been loving their music since 1982!!

[@ilpezkato]

Underrated geniuses

[@IrateTurkey]

Early electronic musicians are always extremely insightful, Boris reminds me of Wolfgang flur a gentleman and very interesting to listen to.

[@joydivisionboy1]

What a dude, loved the first 3 albums and played them to bits.

[@webbstar303]

love yello from 85 to infinity, so hope to see them live somewhere anywhere oneday soon!

[@josbrugman6253]

Wonderfull music I still like to listen to it. Once infected undetected in the 1980s. This is thanks to a large local disco (The Box in Arnhem) where music by Yello was often played During a spectacular laser and light show for that time.

[@supercharel]

Cool Guy,i love hear him speak about his work..I love it,oh yeah..

[@johnpetty9310]

Another great great SUPER GREAT documentary on this genre is (I forget the name of the docus) but it's on the group YAZOO , very interesting and like this one informative into the music we LOVE and grew up listening and DANCING TO.

[@weeverob]

Geniuses, have loved their music since the early 80’s, so propulsive and alive even today

[@SavageBeastChronicles]

Amazing Boris & Dieter ! Listen to "Vicious Games" ... or "The Rhythm Divine"... Not forgetting "On Track" just amazing !

[@MrFoxy125]

I could listen to him all day.

[@BMan100]

The Race....13+ minutes of awesome....

[@nashavelli9508]

Maestros of Electronica .!!!!

[@Bu7asoOon]

If "The Race" doesn't get you excited with your heart racing please check with your doctor

[@Bends95]

Oh Yeah..absolutely timeless!!!

[@howardsimpson489]

As soon as you put on a Yello CD, the crystalline quality of the soundscape hits. Very few artists get this, especially those keen on lofi. 10CC had a similar quality, if you were concerned that your needle was dirty or worn when playing vinyl, either Yello or 10 CC would give you a reference. My old system, a pair of Quad 11 monobloc amps with 57ESL speakers picked holes in most recordings, now many systems are that good.

[@boudewijnmeijer]

nog nooit van gehoord , maar wat een zeldzame geweldig

[@Phantom-hy2ix]

I have always wandered how the song came about. When I ask people, have you heard of Yello? Most would say no. I then say, yeah you have. Puts on Oh Yeah. Yes, I have heard it before. Well that's Yello 😊

[@juliebabygirl]

I have SOOOOOO much respect for this man!

[@rickshearer]

Yello has always brought a smile to my face. 😄

[@Ianzandvoort]

The race was a great song and video and so different as anything else out there

[@Patrick_PD2ET]

cooool.. in that time..i had 'i love you' on tape.. ..and put it on my pirate Fm radio transmitter on air ..great times

[@danielthommen8243]

Eifach super genial Herr Blank wie Sie das alles kreativ umsetzet! Thank you YELLO!...

[@clark5401]

I love their new album. I listen to it on Tidal in Dolby Atmos Music. The fidelity is incredible. It is like my headphones are directly connected to Boris's Apple Mac Pro.

[@davewright9313]

I loved yello, I remember playing it on a huge speaker stack system before a festival gig.

[@vladimirvladimirov8313]

Yello - живые Боги электронной музыки))

[@martinharris5017]

Yello are not so much musicians as sound sculptors. Love the vast spatial sound of their tracks. In the early 80s I was into both punk and electronic but the two rarely mixed. I first heard "Domingo" on a mix tape and my jaw dropped: I had to know who composed that piece! Needless to say I was hooked and still am!

[@junglie]

Domingo was life changing for me too.

[@josbrugman6253]

Heerlijke aparte muziek Ik luister er nog steeds graag na. Ooit in de jaren 80 ongemerkt mee besmet geraakt. Dit dankzij een grote lokale discotheek (The Box in Arnhem) waar vaak muziek van Yello werdt gebruik om een voor die tijd spectaculaire lazer lichtshow te ondersteunen die hier volledig op geprogrammeerd werd Dit was tevens het hoogtepunt van de avond rond een uur of 11. Pas veel later kwam ik erachter dat dit muziek van Yello was nadat ze een radiohit scoorden met The Race.

[@jimbokay5696]

Boris and Dieter are two cool dudes. Listen to them all the time! Still "rockin' it" with their newer stuff!

[@brianspenst1374]

I have the 12" single of Oh Yeah. I love playing it at 45 instead of 33. You get to heard Dieter just talking into the microphone. Kinda funny.

[@therealjohnreeves]

I've loved yello for years ❤

[@Jsmith2024]

Oh Yeah is the song that helped me discover this group. I like it a lot!

[@mrrolandlawrence]

this was one of the 1st CD's i ever bought... when CD's were a new thing still ;)

[@friedookiehil]

AAAAAHHHhhhh!! Eventually he's talking to us. Thank you for entertaining us. Your music still rings out in our houses and cars! Excellent!

[@Datsun510zen]

My introduction to Yello was via Kraftwerks. I was at a car show in 1983, and Numbers was playing on a high end car stereo demonstration. I made a mad rush to Tower Records to get Computer World, and came across You Gotta Say Yes in the same section. When I got home and dropped the needle... Saweeeet heaven on Earth, my cup runneth over.

[@airforcemax]

*¡enjoyed at 10:22 pm Pacific Standard Time on Friday, 23 December 2022!*

[@iqi616]

I have to thank the late great John Peel for introducing me to Yello with the release of I Love You. The B side Rubber West is a favourite.

[@StefanTravis]

For years, this guy pretended he couldn't speak English, to avoid giving interviews :-).

[@StefanTravis]

@ Yep, in the 80s and 90s I saw several mini-documentaries on pop magazine shows, showing Dieter Meier being flamboyant and rich and eccentric and talkative ... and the interviewer mentioning as an aside that "Boris Blank speaks no english, so lets Dieter do the talking".

[@MichelLinschoten]

Yello I grewup on them, his album electrified is also amazing

[@warweezil2802]

For me it’s Vicious Games that introduces me to Yello.... to me it’s a track with great atmosphere

[@deepchillzone]

Beautiful!

[@djclabbe88]

LOVE YELLO! So unique and still timeless :)

[@lambertcusson593]

Always been a fan since '82. Bought all their records. Love the cinematic atmosphere of The solid pleasure, Claro que si and You gotta say yes to another excess albums . But always had a slight penchant for the more discoesque Stella album (Desire and Vicious games song). Their whole discography has always been ahead of their time. As someone said in comments, Yello is underated despite the fact of their influence and creativity on the electronica genre. Great upload, thanks for the share as they were always very privy about their life. Fun to hear Boris.

[@rob3125]

Actually the first time I heard the song (Oh Yeah) was around 2002 or 2003. It was in a Danish TV commercial for the oil company Hydro Texaco. Back then I didn't know the band (Yello) and the song. I think in the same year, I saw the movie (Ferris Bueller's day off) on TV, and I heard the song again in the movie. Then I got curious and tried to look up for the song in the movie soundtrack, and I finally found the song and the band. Since then I have become a fan of the band. My personal favorite songs of the band are: OH Yeah The Race Gold Rush

[@victors3803]

That was very interesting to listen to! Thanks! I’m placing Yellow to my playlist to listen to much more of there songs.

[@patjackmanesq]

Ye are a wonderful resource for music history. I'd love to see longer versions of many of your videos. Fascinating and brilliant. Thank you!

[@jedidorn]

He still got the same moustache.