This was maybe the first Electric song ever, Tubeway Army were labelled as punk as nothing else matched their music in 1979, I was a punk and when i heard it I ran straight to the music shop to buy it, still an absolute classic and still unique
@TerryNutkins33 ай бұрын
It was the first synth based song to reach number 1 in the UK however Delia Derbyshire was pioneering electronic music back in the sixties with the "Theme from Doctor Who", Kraftwerk had been around experimenting with electronica for nearly 10 years by the time this track came out though it wasn't until '75 when their first single Autobahn was a hit outside of Germany that inspired countless others to move in that direction
@davidcopson58003 ай бұрын
Ultravox! were doing this in 1977.
@SeanGavin-rf5vd3 ай бұрын
Brad you really need to react to the original. It was a fantastic hit that was ahead of its time when it came out.
@markjohnson42172 ай бұрын
Wow, Gary changed it up from the 1979 version, but it's cool. The spooky dynamic with the piano works well. The theme of this song is part of Numan's fictional future shock dystopia that winds through the 1979 release 'Replicas'. It is a world of AI and very advanced robotics wherein the machines can experience complex emotions and intimate affection, but humans begin to lose their sense of empathy and become cold and detached. (Truly scary shit and not so unfamiliar to us now) The verses of the song switch from the human who is inside his room, paranoid about an agent hanging around outside. He has forgotten his robot 'friend' out in the hallway. The spoken verses are the robot 'friend' feeling rejected snd hurt by the man's indifference. The man asks the question 'Are friends electric?? Because my friend is broken and needs repair and now I have no one to love... In this world their are three different types of robots ; Mach-Men, designed as an aggressive martial caste to keep law and order, 'friends' which are either close companions or sexual partners, 'Machines' which have many functions, some of which are disturbing and violent. There are also Agents, but I am not sure if they are replicants or humans serving some Totalitarian agenda. I highly recommend the album 'Replicas', it is by far Numan's greatest masterpiece. It almost single handedly pioneered the style and sounds of the synthetic pop music of the video era that would span the entire decade of the 80s..
@exile220ify2 ай бұрын
What is the song about? Robot prostitutes. The funny part of that is: I'm seriously not kidding. It is. The 'Friends' referenced in the title are robot call girls.
@Bluemusic662 ай бұрын
It’s fkn brilliant for its time.
@SharmanSomerset3 ай бұрын
One of my earliest memories is hearing this song in a car, I must have been 3 or 4 years old, a wet motorway in Somerset, red and white lights flying past, the pylons strobing as we traveled and Tubeway Army sounding like it was the pylons making the song- it still sounds like it’s from some dystopian future today x
@erickent35573 ай бұрын
I find this a cool re-presentation of the song... it's hard to keep a 45 year old cut feeling fresh. But, yes, this song is important for how it shifted sounds when it first came out. I do kinda miss the flange-tastic guitar stabs though.
@DavidF-y4t3 ай бұрын
Never heard this version - I approve! Sugababes used the original version as the basis for Freak Like Me, and it *really* worked.
@robertpetre93783 ай бұрын
Definitely a more darker and Gothic twist on the original Tubeway Army song
@thesoundlikechameleons20823 ай бұрын
Amazing version. Dark and gloomy meets eighties electro pop. Legendary musician is Mr Numan. ~ C 28 - 09 - 2024
@yesh32 ай бұрын
From a concept album about a future with android companions.
@bryanforis18393 ай бұрын
46 years later when I first heard great
@StoneShards2 ай бұрын
My favorite version is the one from the Hybrid album. And there are some cool covers out there, too.
@dipsydoodle79883 ай бұрын
This is very interesting and cool. I think you should check out the original version. It seems more light and happy. The lyrics definitely don't come across as happy no matter what.
@exile220ify2 ай бұрын
I agree with others: go back and listen to the ORIGINAL version - either studio, or one of the TV appearances (Top Of The Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test). What you're watching here is an ENTIRELY different take and doesn't really capture the spirit of the time the song was created and released. Alternately, there's a version of this song on KZbin of Gary performing this live with the Skaparis Orchestra. It's AMAZING!
@djmull633 ай бұрын
Although this is an interesting adaptation the Original from 1979 has to be heard as it was a Landmark recording of it's time.
@thunderspike18923 ай бұрын
The original Tubeway Army (Gary Numan's band before going solo) version are the best.
@Eric-te6sk3 ай бұрын
Thanks Brad, had never heard this version.Sort of an “analog “sound.Much fuller than I recall.BTW the answer is no.Friends are not electric.
@Muso6662 ай бұрын
Listen to the original and read the lyrics. The original was a long time ago
@harryrabbit28703 ай бұрын
Lol...not the best version of this song but glad you enjoyed it regardless. Numan said this was 2 unfinished songs he welded together. Maybe check out some of his newer music, if you haven't already, "My Name Is Ruin" (that one he recorded with his daughter charted at #2) or " Intruder". Enjoyed your reaction.
@stacehansen314016 күн бұрын
I highly suggest you pull up the lyrics so you can reference them, even if only after the song. Thank you for doing a song from Mr. Numan.
@paulyearley10843 ай бұрын
Gary Numan is a seriously underrated treasure of a musician. He's been cranking out music and touring since the 70s, and just keeps outdoing himself. I got to see him live a few years ago, and the man puts on a fantastic show. See him live if you get the chance. Listen to his newer music.
@Bluemusic662 ай бұрын
Saw him 10 years in Australia. I love Aussie 80s rock like AC/DC, oils, icehouse, etc. He was doing punk, big synth, metal. He’s an underrated God.
@outpost317372 ай бұрын
He isn't underrated I hear this virtually every week. Gary's received various awards including the Ivor Novella award and he's been name checked by his peers. Besides Gary admits he's not the best musician and he's right.
@Bluemusic662 ай бұрын
@@outpost31737 from a mainstream sense he is underrated. Most people just know ‘Cars’ and think he was a one hit wonder. I’m in the ‘alternative’ music scene and it is even prevalent there, although less so.
@hollinlange95043 ай бұрын
Yeah, you'll have a better appreciation for the original version.
@jimmycranier36682 ай бұрын
I never heard this version before , its different , i like it but the original is the best.
@joerenaud8292Ай бұрын
I prefer the original 1980's version that can be found on a BBC top of the pops showing, this is a revamped, revised version which is quite different than the original and I highly recommend listening to the original by yourself to understand the difference. This song is basically about the future where humans become so distance from each other they'd rather pay for a robot prostitute to find love.
@sierra69363 ай бұрын
I missed you tonite so it's time to leave ... Very haunting version . Some deep lyrics hmm. Love it tho it's fabulous to me those keyboards are rocking 👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🙌🙌🔥🖤🖤✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ symphony✨✨🙌🎹🔥🖤🖤 friends are electric ⚡
@outpost317372 ай бұрын
Why do you post so many emojis? Are you ten or something? Pathetic.
@MDFMKisKMFDM3 ай бұрын
Um lets go back to the original version...... i love Gary (have done for about 40 years) and this is great but nothing touches the earlier versions
@paranormalinpdx3 ай бұрын
This is a weird bersion of this song..... its a good song still but missing some of the magic, Try fad gadget collapsing new people
@stevewebb71263 ай бұрын
This is is ruined version, NIN style. The far superior is the Electronic 79 version.
@jameshunter73033 ай бұрын
Wtf is this? React to the real version!
@johnpomfret51463 ай бұрын
Sorry but this is nowhere near as good as the original! Gary give your head a wobble