Kids all over were wearing “FRANKIE SAYS RELAX” tshirts everywhere for a good year after this came out! This was a VERY BIG Pop culture song.
@josephthomas39127 ай бұрын
Another Trevor Horn masterpiece is Pet Shop Boys' "LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES" from the album "Introspective". The boys had always wanted to combine classical music with dance music. So Trevor brought in a 40 piece orchestra and proceeded to deliver a track that is quite unlike anything else. Trevor has been playing bass since he was 16 -which you can hear him take the lead on in "CLOSE TO THE EDIT" by Art Of Noise.
@Owlstretchingtime787 ай бұрын
Their first three singles equals three number ones. Wicked production from Trevor Horn resulted in three bona fida classics. Great time to be alive!
@pobstrel7 ай бұрын
Trevor Horn wanted them to record Slave To The Rhythm as a third single but FGTH didn't think it suited them so Grace Jones was given it instead!
@terrykemp18767 ай бұрын
and the fourth hit Number 2!
@davidchaplain67487 ай бұрын
Banger. Some songs just take me right back to the 80's. "2 Tribes" and "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" are also great.
@joeyblowey1234567 ай бұрын
WttPD is such a great song. Best one on the album
@courtneywallace8717 ай бұрын
Is that what they’re really talking about? Yes. Yes it is. 🤣
@brucedillinger94487 ай бұрын
Why I never! At least not today. 😂
@courtneywallace8717 ай бұрын
@@brucedillinger9448 🤣
@vinsgraphics7 ай бұрын
It’s always fun watching reactors to this song, ESPECIALLY the music video! 😂
@Niecy707 ай бұрын
I feel like this would be a much different video had he been playing the official video of the song😂
@joebloggs3965 ай бұрын
The original video takes attention away from the great music.
@neil737 ай бұрын
This was the second single I ever bought, back in Feb 1984. The third was Two Tribes. Brilliant production by Trevor Horn that still sounds fresh today, 40 years later
@piershollott3397 ай бұрын
FGTH were a fantastic overlap between the greatness of Trevor Horn and the greatness of *everyone* who emerged from Big in Japan, which featured Holly Johnson, as well as Budgie, Bill Drummond, and Ian Broudie
@torstenjohann92047 ай бұрын
The 12" of "Rage Hard" is the best maxi single ever made.
@nomisnestral69567 ай бұрын
I really like your hot take.
@DerBomster7 ай бұрын
Frankie‘s 12“ were always worth listening to - Warriors of the Wasteland (both versions), Welcome to the Pleasuredome with the spoken intro. I do think that Power of Love is not the best song to start listening to FgtH - it worked best at the time as a surprise and counterpoint to people who had experienced their first few singles.
@timt96257 ай бұрын
Gotta say this song sounds way better with headphones, rather than on radio. Can hear the Trevor Horn production better.
@alancheatley43787 ай бұрын
Got to listen to Two Tribes 12" version, most played when we were at school 😁
@MrSinnerBOFH7 ай бұрын
This song was FIRE! Such a massive success on all dance floors, the t-shirt “Frankie Says” was the one to have. What a summer it was! Yeah, the 80’s were fun.
@torstenjohann92047 ай бұрын
Another great Trevor Horn production from that particular time is the album "A Secret Wish" by the german band "Propaganda". Definitely one of the best synth pop albums of the 1980s. I recommend the songs "Dream within a dream" (it's NOT an APP cover), "Frozen Faces", "P-Machinery" and, of course, "Dr. Mabuse" (take the 10 minute version from the 2010 re-release).
@richardgoddard377 ай бұрын
Trevor was too busy to produce Propaganda, and gave it to Steve Lipson who did a magnificent job.
@franckb82797 ай бұрын
I was hooked at the time, being adolescent when it came out. So much fun and energy. Danced so many times on it. Only realized later the meaning of the song. I was so naïve and ignorant at that time about other kind of sexuality than heterosexuality. Awesome music.
@joebloggs3967 ай бұрын
The meaning is mainly about being a great dance song.
@Nidels7 ай бұрын
I already knew you were going to like this topic hehehe. I really liked Glass Beams - Rattlesnake. Those light Arabic touches in their harmonies give the song a very fresh air. Maybe some voices could have been added to enrich it more but it's very good. Those sporadic appearances of the Indian sitar are a delight.
@delorangeade7 ай бұрын
This record made Frankie the most notorious band since the Sex Pistols. If you can remember their fairly disheveled performance on The Tube a while earlier you will know how much Trevor Horn brought to the table here. It really marked the ascent of the superstar producer as auteur for the 1980's.
@nomisnestral69567 ай бұрын
The Tube version is wicke d - Paula and Jools and some dirty bass.
@user-vn1zb9ov8d2 ай бұрын
Yup I remember the video and you're absolutely right, Trev had a go at it and voila, dance music as we now understand it. Genius and really nice bloke too.
@albedo0point397 ай бұрын
Genius production from Trevor Horn!
@robertjannush44037 ай бұрын
This particular Song was featured in the movie Body Double and there is at least one or two other video versions of this song as well.
@spawn45827 ай бұрын
Oh yes, I remember this song, it's been on my personal playlist for a long time, Holly Johnson is a wonderful vocalist and musician! RELAX! 😄😄😄
@davidpeters447 ай бұрын
Featured in the Brian DePalma film "Body Double" which I highly recommend.
@yannuku1237 ай бұрын
Suggestive lyrics. That was the clue. You hear what you want to hear.
@Niecy707 ай бұрын
FRANKIE SAY RELAX!!😂
@mrkitewine77007 ай бұрын
By a strange coincidence I was listening to my 2 Tribes 12” (annihilation mix) earlier today. 2 tribes is my favourite of theirs, but there are so many mixes and versions to choose from.
@bjw05157 ай бұрын
You got it right! Dance floor track for sure. This was the song when I was a senior in high school. Thanks for all your reactions and have a great new year!
@joannesmith7042Ай бұрын
Absolutely my g outage 80s band… it was the beginning of what they called the wall of sound… this was a master piece from the producer Trevor Horn and his production team experimenting with electronic sounds… they did not write the song but they created all the tracks to build up the sound …. Absolutely extraordinary… ..just like the 5th beatle…
@Dannyboy.7 ай бұрын
One of the two greatest songs of the 80's with Eurythmics' Sweet dreams (are made of this).
@SpaceCattttt7 ай бұрын
The naughtiest song you've reacted to thus far, Justin.
@jimtatro65507 ай бұрын
There is a great 80s movie from Brian De Palma called Body Double that incorporates this song in a very interesting way.
@vieella3897 ай бұрын
One of my favorite concerts ever. Oakland, CA...1985 or 86. I was in my mid-20s...5-10 yrs older than most of the audience. Astounding performance!
@alexchristianmusic7 ай бұрын
I literally was just listening to this album today, having no idea you would post this today 😄
@jerkedevries7 ай бұрын
I’m glad to have come to listen to this review. Great song
@brucedillinger94487 ай бұрын
I'm glad you came too. 😂
@terryroxburgh32767 ай бұрын
The track that launched a million T-Shirts! Glass Beams - Rattlesnake 7/10 personally.
@TimvanderLeeuw7 ай бұрын
Wow, Glass Beams, "Rattlesnake", wow, I really loved that track! More than I had ever expected! And those masks, wow, I love the alienating effect they give when watching the video. But the music is great on its own without watching. Wow, really love it. Thanks for sharing that!
@O_Towne_Bear7 ай бұрын
Big club song back in the day.
@user-vn1zb9ov8d2 ай бұрын
Banging Tune!!!!! When they were singing 'Relax' they weren't talking about dancing. And in my personal history, I stopped listening to pop-music after this. Thank God rave music turned up otherwise I'd still be stuck in the 70's.
@manhattenman60757 ай бұрын
This was a huge hit in the UK in 1983. According to my dad Everyone was singing it and their second number 1 ‘Two Tribes’ different times then… an 80s classic!
@Owlstretchingtime787 ай бұрын
A couple of points. It entered the lower reaches of the charts in November '83, but didn't crack it open until early 84.
@freudsigmund727 ай бұрын
of course with Two tribes, watching the music video for a first listen is mandatory
@joebloggs3967 ай бұрын
The 6th best selling single of all time in the UK (Two Tribes, also very recommended, is at 30th). Though you say it's very 80s when this came out it felt very different from other things in the charts. A good analysis of the production from some of those involved kzbin.info/www/bejne/poKsnYSenaaIqZYsi=kymg2qITXGcenQXB
@gaiaeternal51317 ай бұрын
Hi JP. DP from UK. Yes, could be about anything; maybe I'm just Dreaming In Metaphors! Great vocals by Holly Johnson, but as you say Trevor Horn is all over the sound, and he brought in his own musicians, including Yes buddy Steve Howe on the title track of the album. Another great 80s Horn produced act is the brilliant, soulful singer Seal. My song ref Dreaming In Metaphors is from the Seal II album. Really enjoyed the Rattlesnakes track - guitar instrumental with a terrific vibe - and I like the masks too. Australian band?
@viceroyzh7 ай бұрын
"Maximum Joy" and "Do you know the way to San Jose" and "For heaven's sake" and "Is anybody out there" are among my favourites by them.
@pentagrammaton67937 ай бұрын
Ya never heard this? This defines the term "80s pop"
@pentagrammaton67937 ай бұрын
@@jtenazsaying nothing, lol
@mrnaughtycat5 ай бұрын
Have you reacted to there other songs welcome to the pleasure dome and two tubes are my faves
@joelscottarnold32627 ай бұрын
This song is still the proverbial BUSINESS almost 40 years later!! If you have a chance check out the original video release- not the one they played on MTV. I still find it rather shocking and couldn’t imagine seeing it in the 80’s. There’s also a video featuring the band taken from the Brian De Palma film “Body Double” where it was the soundtrack in a suggestive ( porno )film featuring Melanie Griffin. I actually have the original artwork on the 12” sleeve, and it was VERY sexually provocative for the time.
@mickr14487 ай бұрын
As a punk rocker I was supposed to hate this new wave stuff, this particular song I loved but never admitted it, looking back Frankie were pretty awesome
@hotflesh667 ай бұрын
Both the original video is scandalous and the Body Double Version is quite HOT too!
@Manageode7 ай бұрын
The live version from a concert that is a tribute concert to Trevor Horn, is excellent fun. Holly Johnson didnt want to do it so they held auditions for a vocalist. That video about that step is a fun build-up, to then watching the concert version of the show.
@markferrett7007 ай бұрын
FGH.....we're an incredible "rock band".....check out their "Liverpool" album to hear what I mean!!!
@jimtatro65507 ай бұрын
Many fun times were had in the club when this played 😂
@jeffcappelletti19867 ай бұрын
The bass is a Fairlight C.M.I. IIx. Drums are a Linn Drum drum machine. J.J. from The Art Of Noise programmed and played the Fairlight. Only the vocals are real. Everything else was done by synthesizers and samplers
@whitneyjacobs78747 ай бұрын
Also check out the band's reunion concert in 2004 as part of a Trevor Horn-produced artist festival. Holly Johnson was unwilling to participate and was replaced by Ryan Malloy, who turned in an epic performance of singing and showmanship. There is also a video of the trials of various singers that led to Malloy's selection.
@davidbradley32547 ай бұрын
Just checked out GLASS BEAMS. One word WOW.
@groovytribemedia92317 ай бұрын
I have never heard any of Glass Beams work before, but I'm glad you recommended that track. It sounds just like the title suggests. Pull up a picture of a Rattlesnake and listen to the song at the same time. (LOL).
@Eduardo-Ferreira19827 ай бұрын
Justin in his eighties!! (at home)
@kenl20917 ай бұрын
This is all about the production as anyone who has heard the basic (very basic) original version will testify. (The video didn't hurt either) Same goes for the follow-up 'Two Tribes' where Trevor Horn was allowed to take a nursery rhyme track and turn it into a soundtrack for the apocalypse. At this remove, it does sound very eighties, but the best of the eighties before everyone got fed up with the Fairlight, slap bass and orchestral stabs.
@arthurkettle30107 ай бұрын
Nah - Horn's production is outstanding but the original isn't a million miles away from the finished article - Horn had a good foundation to build on...
@johnlawler86177 ай бұрын
The biggest selling track in Britain in the 80's...Amazing sound effects.
@derekhowes18107 ай бұрын
Check out the version from Brian de Palma's body double film
@callistoboy23487 ай бұрын
Excellent film
@Scatherfirst7 ай бұрын
HUge impact in its day, in regards its production and dance mixiness. Try Warriors of the Wasteland from their followup LP to hear Frankie get rocky and heavy. So Julian Cope, when's that happening?
@nomisnestral69567 ай бұрын
Relax is to I Feel Love what This Charming Man is to any Bowie song, really.
@williamschrom15847 ай бұрын
A big sweet "O"
@aldo347 ай бұрын
Banger - thank you!
@JustJP7 ай бұрын
Ty Aldo!
@brucer21527 ай бұрын
This song was banned on BBC radio
@devonvergiels5185Ай бұрын
Video says it all . . .
@ono1dij7 ай бұрын
Relax!!! Incredible and unfogettable hit, one of the most controversial video clips in history (they had to do another version because of that), but the song, the production of Trevor Horn, and the album "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" are gold... Oh, an thanks 4 the recomendation, Glass Beams great discovery!!!
@6581punk7 ай бұрын
Wow, another classic. My friend is a massive FGTH fan. I played a computer game based on the band around 1986 but never really bought any of their music until recently.
@AndyKing19637 ай бұрын
Great production by Stephen Lipson with some superb synth playing by Andy Richards
@aldo347 ай бұрын
Really nice breakdown of this track with Stephen on the 'Produce Like a Pro' KZbin channel
@bjwnashe55897 ай бұрын
Three a.m. bathhouse amyl nitrate vibe goes mainstream.
@heathcornbeef7 ай бұрын
Happy new year brother from Aotearoa New Zealand
@jono.pom-downunder7 ай бұрын
You really need to watch the official video to get the full experience. Unless you're easily offended by sexuality like many American's
@ignatzmuskrat30007 ай бұрын
Steve Howe played guitar on this track. Horn needed a solid go to guy. Who knew?
@Reuben.Aotearoa7 ай бұрын
Melbourne based band with weird outfits making tripped out jams about Rattlesnakes… where have I heard this before? Actually: Amyl and the Sniffers. Their song Snakes is probably my favourite. Not sure if that’s the best place to start with them (maybe Choices?) but if you want to experience some fantastic Punk rock look no further. And then we can’t mention Melbourne bands without He’ll Never Be An Ol’ Man River (I’m On The Drug That Killed River Phoenix) from TISM.
@AntonyFleck7 ай бұрын
C'mon people your never too old for an Eargasm !!...
@frankschlanker22 күн бұрын
Not one of the band played a note on this track!! This is Trevor Horn and his team of producers at their finest!!
@rained57577 ай бұрын
Great song - the video leaves nothing to the imagination.
@MJ17 ай бұрын
This sounds so much like YES it was inevitable the bands would join.
@MP-TheNewGuy7 ай бұрын
Thank you for the Rattlesnake recommendation! I enjoyed that.
@stephenwestland9427 ай бұрын
You really have to watch the video the song was released to in order to understand the furore over this release (pardon the pun). However, three tracks by this band (including this one) regularly feature in various selections for the best 10 tracks of the 1980s. They were massive.
@joebloggs3967 ай бұрын
The song was great on its own.
@warrenbutson3497 ай бұрын
Liked to 60s 70s psychedelic funky vibe of Glass Beams! Good recommendation. Will you be playing the side long track Pleasure dome? Hope so as the single is way too short. Best avoid the pre-track (World is my oyster) pointless sound effects and production noodling and go straight to the song but your choice
@josiepkat7 ай бұрын
This is one of the ultimate 80s dance tracks. Yes, as others have said those Frankie Says Relax t-shirts were everywhere. Also famous for being in a controversial scene in a controversial movie by Brian DePalma - Body Double. Two Tribes is probably my favorite from this album. As others have also said Trevor Horn's work with Pet Shop Boys is great - and there are some real gems from that band too - they had a much longer career than Frankie - who sadly kind of vanished after this album at least that's my memory of it. To Face The Truth by Pet Shop Boys on their 1990 album Behavior is one of my favorites but they have a lot of great songs.
@michaels64967 ай бұрын
Haha. You- " I have no idea what this is about". Change the spelling of "when you want to 'come'" and give it another try to deduce the meaning. I was in high school when this came out. Always has been a fun song for me. Great r3action as always.
@jon-paulfilkins78207 ай бұрын
Oh brace yourselves, no innuendo here, its all about kink! Two Tribes is also worth listening two, check out the video, 80's classic.
@sexpistol77127 ай бұрын
I believe relax went to number one twice in the same year.
@paulcollins55867 ай бұрын
80s classic.
@radman83217 ай бұрын
FGTH were very raw. The only member of the band that appear on the recordings is Holly Johnson. The rest were stood down and their parts played by session musicians.
@arthurkettle30107 ай бұрын
Absolute banger ...but dont dig too deep i to the lyrics if you dont want KZbin to remove this episode! 😁
@SequentialCircuitProphet57 ай бұрын
A masterpiece 😊
@jons.1057 ай бұрын
Suffuse=an appropriate word for this song! Great reaction!
@davidbull72107 ай бұрын
I think a lot of people suggested this for the pleasure of hearing you cheerfully reading out the lyrics😅
@JustJP7 ай бұрын
😅
@davepb57987 ай бұрын
Born to Run was a great cover!
@jeremyb56407 ай бұрын
Number one for several weeks, this was *the* sound of the summer of 1984, only supplanted, finally by their follow-up 'Two Tribes' which is also worth a listen and was also number one for a couple of months. Trevor Horn's policy of endlessly issuing new 12" remixes of both tracks also kept their chart sales buoyant as well You're very innocent, JP. Despite Johnson's protestations, this was intentionally a song about one thing and one thing only. EDIT: I love that Glass Beams track! Thanks for the recommendation!
@pairofpints7 ай бұрын
Great song. Two Tribes is their best though, along with the long version of Pleasuredome.
@Timoeltejano7 ай бұрын
Yeah... It's hard to ignore his hanging on the word "coooooooome" i mean as naiive as i was at 18, i still knew what this song was about. Another 80's gem The Eurythmics "Would I Lie To You?" It's a departure from their prior synth-driven new wave pop offerings and is straight up, balls-to-the-walls Rock and Roll. Give it a listen Tim in Texas Also. Glass Beam rocks. Just three guys? Wow. Amazing song Thanks for the recommendation
@andkat7 ай бұрын
Fun prog connection. Album produced by Trevor Horn who was in YES for the Drama album. Also Steve Howe makes an appearance.
@SpaceCattttt7 ай бұрын
Yeah, all the nice boys like sea men.
@pentagrammaton67937 ай бұрын
@@SpaceCattttt 😆
@sunjamm2227 ай бұрын
A good song. But got banned cause of the lyrics. So could only be heard on local radio in the UK.
@mightyV4447 ай бұрын
This should be interesting to watch... 😁
@richardgoddard377 ай бұрын
I have so many remixes of this.....
@ignatzmuskrat30007 ай бұрын
This was produced by Trevor and his two guys plus Howe. The band is not on this recording except vocals. It is an early digital production that DEFINED the 80's. This is where it began. If not for Yes' 90125 success, it would not have happened, imo.
@joeyblowey1234567 ай бұрын
The title track is SO GOOD! It's even better than Relax IMHO
@ivanoleg0547 ай бұрын
Now with FGTH from the cult label ZTT (Trevor Horn) you are already extremely close to my permanent recommendation - the real king product and the heart of ZTT and Trevor Horn - The Art Of Noise! The whole album 'daft' is best - or as individual tracks: Beat Box, Close to the Edit, Moments in Love.
@sspsfivefivefive7 ай бұрын
That was great.
@egapnala657 ай бұрын
You need to see the video and you will see why it was so controversial.
@davidthompson94957 ай бұрын
Dude, you have got to finish the RED NOISE album! Please! Thankyou!