ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Let this wonderful '80s classic soothe you...
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[@aethertag1530]

I respect Todd's acknowledgement that calling Blur a one hit wonder is basically just a declaration of war

[@sevinPackage]

The US Pop chart mattered way too much before other metrics were adopted as legitimate ranking methods. I wished the UK charts mattered more in the US in the '80s, but by the 2000s there was no excuse for American charts to downgrade such a successful band into such status. Perhaps there are foreign language critics that treat some foreign bands the same way in their country, but most of us would never know.

[@Cooe.]

And it's not like Blur was unpopular in America either. Their self-titled record was huge over here and Song 2 got MASSIVE radio play. They just weren't nearly as big as they were in Britain, where they were up there with juggernauts like Oasis as far as sales success.

[@StormyKopaAMVs]

@@Cooe.Really? Call me an oblivious outsider cause I'm Canadian, but according to the BPI, Blur peaked at 4x Platinum while Oasis more than quadrupled that figure. Oasis' third most successful album, which Todd covered as a Trainwreckord, received two more platinum certifications than Blur's highest-selling album. Is there something I'm missing?

[@pofruin]

@@StormyKopaAMVs Is it overall? The competition took place at specific moment in time. Oasis won (not overhealmingly but still). Then afterwards Blur was on hiatus. The frontman of Blur got high/drunk with roommate and as a joke made virtual band. How many platinums Gorillaz has?

[@annaphallactic]

​@@StormyKopaAMVs The British press made a lot of hay out of an imagined rivalry between the two bands. That's why they tend to get mentioned in the same breath as though they were equally successful.

[@karrihart1]

I had a professor who said her and her friends back in the ‘80s didn’t think Boy George was gay. They just thought he was British. Her exact words.

[@bossfan49]

Reminds me of: That is one crazy getup, fella Are you with the show? - No, I'm English, actually. (Austin Powers)

[@GamerTowerDX]

Is He Gay Or European Flashbacks

[@Glasshouse828]

“I feel like I’m trapped in Boy George’s pants” -Gex

[@xangarvey]

This comment is one of the best things I've read.

[@Dino23968]

I got an idea for another episode of One Hit Wonderland:Break My Stride by Mathew Wilder from 1983. Imagine it going like this DID HE EVER DO ANYTHING ELSE? Todd:Oh, he did do something fantastic about 15 years later. Disney executive:Alright, Mathew. We need you to write and produce some songs for this animated movie called Mulan. It doesn’t have to be too deep or too epic. It’s just about this Chinese girl who dresses up as a guy and goes off to war in order to save her sick father, okay? Mathew Wilder:Okay, got it. Disney executive:Great. Let me know how it goes. (Mathew Wilder writes Reflection and I’ll Make A Man Out Of You and it turns out to be deep and epic) Any comments?

[@bwagner23]

between Frankie and Pet Shop Boys, love that Britain had more than one gay pop star that looked like an accountant.

[@guardianeris]

I am screaming, you're so right.

[@kumachan9311]

Points to The Communards/Erasure

[@andrewryan1500]

@@kumachan9311 Andy Bell dressed pretty gay, TBH - I never got accountant vibes off him.

[@bobross4449]

+ a gay metal song that wore gay leather on stage and nobody realized until he said so in the 1990s aka ROB MOTHERFUCKIN HALFORD 🤟

[@cutthr0atjake]

​@bobross4449 It seemed pretty obvious to us in the UK that Rob Halford was gay. ...just like Freddie Mercury.

[@dont_take_it_personal]

'Relax' walked to 'Unholy' could stumble

[@ohnoitsdominoes5393]

I think it’s so funny how the most “controversial” music and musicians of the late 2010s and this decade are such weak sauce when compared to the trailblazers in the late 70s and 80s. People have no concept of actual transgressive art anymore and “Unholy” is a perfect example as the artists (a non-binary and trans musician) cook up the most inoffensive shite masquerading as edgy. Compare it to the fallout when Prince sang about how he knew a girl named Nikki for example, no juice at all

[@SawdustMusic-rd8mj]

Unholy is honestly better than people give it credit for, it’s too short for its own good though.

[@jovanreid6782]

​@@SawdustMusic-rd8mj idk I think it anticlimactic given the subject matter.

[@IsiahTomas]

It's barely a real song compositionally speaking. Wouldn't have hurt to at least add 20 seconds.

[@StudioScarecrow]

@@SawdustMusic-rd8mjI gotta admit I really like Unholy. The lyrics are pretty bad but musically it’s great

[@shoxy-the-pinecone6113]

I’m Irish and I live pretty near an Indian restaurant and cinema, whenever there’s an Indian film showing they sell an bundle offer called ‘Paddy Goes To Bollywood’ that includes a cinema ticket and a curry dinner. So far as I’m concerned that’s their legacy For additional context, ‘meal and a movie’ deals are pretty common for mid priced restaurants near cinemas in Ireland

[@jdwrink]

I want someone to bring this concept to America.

[@Planag7]

Ooo I love it!

[@AndrewBehm]

I’m very envious! What a great idea

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

You can eat curry at a cinema?

[@scottlemiere2024]

Is it good curry?

[@GriffinPilgrim]

"We're very busy splitting up at the moment" has just become one of my favourite interview answers.

[@pt008]

Fun fact, the CD total length was 70:09 (according to my Sony Discman) - which is 69 minutes and 69 seconds 🤔

[@press_x_tojason]

So THAT'S why they cut out the "In Heaven, everything is fine" part of "Relax", now everything makes sense.

[@slackerdc]

Big in Japan is probably one of the greatest band names I've ever heard of.

[@ssbohio]

It's right up there with Barenaked Ladies

[@stevethepocket]

In the discontinued webcomic _Band_ by Mason Williams (of _1/0_ fame), there are a couple strips where the band tries to come up with a name for themselves, and that was one of the suggestions. I love that it turned out to be taken!

[@tomflorio3639]

It's the name of a pretty good Alphaville tune, too

[@prenticeclark1454]

@@tomflorio3639 Tom Waits has a fun song called Big In Japan too

[@JeonardShadby505]

Seeing Trevor Horn in here from your Buggles episode is like the One Hit Wonderland equivalent of seeing a cameo from an Avenger in another Avenger's solo movie.

[@brendanb2982]

@CapraObscura Is Trevor Horn the Neil Cicierega of the 80s?

[@bronzeandsteel3344]

​@CapraObscura other perspective: Trevor Horn is Stan Lee

[@medes5597]

@@brendanb2982 Trevor Horn, if you know music, is more like Nicholas Cage. Prolific to the point of madness, and either a genius or a mad man.

[@ltbq]

as a british child Trevor Horn was literally the first music producer i knew the name of. the influence and reach he's had is incalculable.

[@thomasxl200]

I'll never get over his stint as the lead singer of Yes

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

The fact that they managed to get a song who's only real lyric is "Relax, don't do it, when you want to suck it, chew it, relax, don't do it, when you want to come" on the Radio during the Reagan and Thatcher administrations is quite frankly astonishing. EDIT: I'm surprised you didn't mention the "when you want to suck it, chew it" line, aka, one of the most misheard lines in pop music history

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

Also impressive is it came out during the year of the PMRC hearings.

[@chaseywoot]

Yooo you're that guy with the community things about billboard songs

[@tylerhackner9731]

The 80s was certainly a time

[@VicDealio]

A risque song? In the 80s? Unfathomable!

[@Betta66]

Hi Sean

[@dimplesd8931]

Old black nerd here…. 1985 high school graduate and Relax was a huge hit in America. Everyone had the t-shirt and it was on constant rotation on MTV. It played in every club. I promise you any 80’s kid regardless of race knows Relax.

[@sennaka]

Black nerd here too. My third grade self was going “who didn’t know this song? It was danced to on Solid Gold, for heavens sake.” …and yes, we all knew what that song was about, although I didn’t go”oh THAT kind of sex!” Until some years later. :)

[@jovanreid6782]

Yup. Black guy here born in 81, I remember this song from my childhood.

[@mxgonzo]

Yeah. It was one of those songs you just heard EVERYWHERE! You couldn't escape it. Everyone heard it weather you wanted to or not. I'm just surprised it wasn't a #1 hit being played so much.

[@ajorsomething4935]

I mean how many other songs resulted in a shirt with a slogan? Sure bands and albums got t-shirts, but a t-shirt referencing an individual song is not common.

[@rogerdodger6025]

Public Enemy referenced Frankie when they named their album Welcome to the Terror Dome.

[@hiimemily]

The fucking wave of relief I felt when you revealed that Holly was still alive and flourishing cannot be overstated. Thank fuck.

[@hamesmck5061]

Came here to say this too, so much relief!

[@Lotselance]

It's so sad that with like 90% of gay artists and actors from the 80s, you expect their story to end with dying from AIDS somewhere in the 90s

[@map04wormhole]

Indeed. It feels like such a blessing when a queer artist from that period is still living, let alone after having been diagnosed HIV positive.

[@foxesofautumn]

When the other members of Queen said Freddie would probably still be alive if he’d been diagnosed a couple of years later… they were probably right.

[@jeffreywillstewart]

I wonder how politics have been shaped by a huge chunk of gays ( who would have voted Democrat most likely) dying of aids. Did AIDS usher in a Trump era?

[@jakubvotypka3746]

In 1987 in the communist Czechoslovakia, there was a movie called Bony a klid (a wordplay on Bonnie and Clyde, it's hard to explain). The filmmakers asked Frankie Goes to Hollywood if they could give them two songs - Relax and Power of Love. The band was generous enough to give them both songs for 1 Czk, basically for free. And the filmmakers surely used it - Relax plays in the movie roughly 40 times (not kidding). At that time, it was unheard of to have western music played in the Czechoslovak movie. The movie was banned by censors at first, but became hugely popular on the VHS black market, and the presence of Frankie's music was one of the main reasons why, hence the commies gave up and allowed it to play in the theatres. Long live Frankie Goes to Hollywood!

[@sandequation2653]

Having a currency called "Czk" is probably the most eastern European thing I have ever heard of.

[@helenkord6244]

@@sandequation2653 in what way? its just shortening for "ceska koruna" aka czech crown? how is that different from literally any other currency name

[@jeanclaudevanswag]

the eastern bloc looooved their British post punk and new wave

[@argo9750]

Btw bony were 'points' that allowed you to buy things imported from the west (like denim jeans), people sold them on black market. Klid is basically personal peace. It can also mean 'chill' if you say it to someone. Not sure which meaning is relevant to the movie since I have never actually watched it lol.

[@TrekkieChannel]

Not CZK but KCS :-) Koruna Ceskoslovenska. And yes, Bony a Klid was a pretty good movie, it's been a while since I've seen it, I wonder if it can be streamed somewhere

[@matthewbrotman2907]

Quick history note: the guy fighting with Reagan is Konstantin Chernenko, the Soviet leader right before Gorbachev. He basically was in charge just long enough to get portrayed in this video.

[@gregorywiederecht]

That's the most fun kind of being dated: when it's so of a specific moment that you can pinpoint the exact moment it was made. Like carbon dating for culture!

[@MaggieKeizai]

Yeah, I mean Andropov didn't last too long but Chernenko you blinked and missed him.

[@maxresdefault_]

The Liz Truss of Russia

[@kidwaryodproduction]

@@maxresdefault_ At first I read Liz Truss as Liz Phair 😅 "Funstyle Goes to the Hollywood"

[@AdamBlack]

dead in Days.

[@nomercyformayhem2506]

An older guy at work told me a story about how he was in a car crash and got flipped on his roof. And Relax was playing right in that moment

[@fossilfighters101]

+

[@aeddiefarmer]

He relaxed too much while driving! :(

[@pacificostudios]

I remember the announcement when Holly said he had AIDS, but then I never heard of him again. In 1993, the year of the film "Philadelphia," "I have AIDS!" was kind of your "Last Words." I'm super-glad to know he's one of the survivors and that's he's at peace with his creative drive.

[@ionlawrence4401]

It has never been a terminal disease, but don´t tell Africa, I guess?

[@Jabbersac]

@@ionlawrence4401 in the 80s and early 90s, it very much was a terminal disease for many if not most of the people who caught it. Holly and others like Magic Johnson only survived because they got access to the effective ARV drugs right after they became available - without that (expensive) medication HIV is absolutely a death sentence. But I think you know that, everyone who knows anything about HIV/AIDS knows that, so why are you playing dumb?

[@StudioScarecrow]

@@ionlawrence4401but everybody thought it was & it was so taboo that a lot of people couldn’t get the treatment they needed

[@Kinitawowi]

"And the deciding factor for me was that, even if they're not really One-Hit Wonders... at the very least I can introduce people to Two Tribes." I'll allow it.

[@Cyberzombie23]

Ok, if it mentions Two Tribes I won't get pissed off and I'll actually watch it.

[@angelainamarie9656]

That's what I came here to say

[@JJ-fg2wd]

VICE CITY

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Yeah. I wrote my "2 Tribes tho" comment at the start of the video & was pleased as punch that was the twist. Honestly, I expected a bigger focus on the label conflict, bc that legit tied up a lot of people + money for a lot of years, so much energy + money wasted. In the end, Todd prob decided it was pointless confusing BS & just stuffed it into one line & stayed with a tighter narrative. Which was a good choice.

[@ChadParenteau]

I was wondering about this!

[@AndrewBehm]

So this is why my sister had a shirt that said “Frankie says relax” in middle school. In 2007…

[@Uhohlisa]

Frankie say*** Relax

[@Gingerm0nster]

I thought it was because of Zoolander making the song a meme 😅

[@peterstangl8295]

sounds like your sister was pretty cool in middleschool

[@WaterAce168]

It might be because of Friends! There's a pretty iconic picture of Ross wearing it

[@PedroBenolielBonito]

It's one of those shirts people wear without knowing where it originated.

[@proxyperoxy2102]

We Mexicans have the slang "Relaja la raja" (Relax the crack) which is about being motivated to take things easily and flowing with adversity...So it could be about both butt shenanigans and motivation somehow.

[@santiagobauza4257]

Yeah, I think the origin of that saying has something in common with "relaxing" though

[@xeon0998]

I love the fact that after playing an interview where this man said "it's about buggery, relax and it won't hurt", Todd follows up a minute later with the BBC had to back down

[@deniseb.4656]

"This man" is Boy George

[@Nukle0n]

@@deniseb.4656convicted kidnapper Boy George.

[@kazombie9784]

“Straight about not being straight” is my new favourite Todd line

[@redwaytoo]

12:07 oh god this is so specifically made in late 1984, because the USSR is represented by one of those guys who were so sick and old, they died after a year of taking power, and now nobody even knows what their names were

[@johns3106]

Yuri Andropov

[@redwaytoo]

@@johns3106 no this is Chernenko

[@rikk319]

@@redwaytoo Yep, Konstantin Chernenko. Was a short-time Premier like Yuri Andropov.

[@Fyrdman]

It was more to do with the fact he was a chain smoker since he was a kid

[@CashelOConnolly]

Ronald Reagan

[@Mirokuofnite]

To quote Butthead of Beavis and Butthead fame. "He's Lemmy. He can walk into any damn video he wants!" Lemmy was always showing up in music videos in the 80s

[@gangrene11]

This just made my day. I remember when it was reported on MTV that Holly Johnson was “Struggling” with HIV. Being American, I did not hear much about it after that. I assumed he passed away. I am so thrilled to learn that he made it past the hump. It always broke my heart that so many people passed away before we were able to develop this incredible life saving medicine. So many were my fellow members if the queer community. Klaus Nomi and Baltimora are among them. Thank you, good sir. This made me so happy.

[@kidwaryodproduction]

Fun Fact that in late 90s. There's american guys who named themselves "New Frankie Goes To Hollywood" and lead singer claimed that he was Holly Johnson brother. Turned out to be imposter.

[@MLBlue30]

Im so sorry you lost so many friends and had to deal with religious nutcases who hated you. Odd how the wrath of God was defeated by medicine.

[@1SaG]

Him and Magic Johnson made me feel a little less paranoid about HIV/AIDS, seeing how both of them got infected pretty early on and are still alive today.

[@SitaraAleu]

Seriously. A close relative of mine contracted it after being assaulted, so to anyone who claims it’s purely a “gay” problem they brought on themselves, it’s NOT IN THE EFFING SLIGHTEST. It’s a societal problem that deserves respect and care and it’s a fight these people are forced to deal with forever

[@thegeecyproject]

Finally, a new OHW entry in the Trevor Horn-verse! Perhaps we will get an All The Things She Said video to complete the trilogy?

[@cullenn2100]

Buffalo Gals maybe?

[@Flamingbro69]

I definitely feel like we could get a OHW on t.A.T.u. one day, as ATTSS was their only Top 40 hit in 2003. They were a much bigger deal in Europe, and they even represented Russia in Eurovision in 2003. They were also a bit of a controversial act at that time too for how they were marketed.

[@defeatstatistics7413]

@@Flamingbro69 there has never been a more queerbait band than t.A.T.u

[@Flamingbro69]

@@defeatstatistics7413 Probably not. But I can definitely see Todd talking about the queerbait, although one of the members, Julia Volkova did come out as Bi. Unfortunately, they infamously said something that was homophobic towards gay males a few years back.

[@ronan-outoftime]

wait trevor horn produced that song??

[@RonnieBarzel]

Between FGTH’s “Two Tribes” and Flock of Seagulls’ “Space Age Love Song,” Todd has a habit of surprisingly loving Liverpudlian bands’ lesser-known failed second singles.

[@Jabbersac]

you just can't call "Two Tribes" a failed single when it also hit number 1 in the UK

[@eddiebanks5907]

My sister had a FGTH T-shirt and we were bouncing down the main drag in Rochester, Minnesota - in the 80s, we stood out with her t shirt and me head to foot in leather. A drop dead gorgeous guy ran up and begged info where to get the t - my sister pulled it up and off, handed it to the kid and i gave her my jacket to get home in. Different time, amazing music...oh, and I miss you, Bo. :)

[@w.a.seaver4335]

Broadway is a much different strip these days…

[@thevirtualtraveler]

*I* grew up in Rochester! It was a good time and place to grow up.

[@eddiebanks5907]

We were there for a year or so, I do recall the small town feel I noted in my comment. And yep, I would go back in a heartbeat. Peace -

[@djbeema]

Legend

[@allisonwonchoba]

My mom grew up in Rochester in the '80s! What a weird, small world

[@bewilderbeestie]

As someone who was 10 in the UK when _Relax_ came out, I cannot now hear it without the phrase 'Relax, don't do it, pick your nose and chew it' running through my mind.

[@rmkw4291]

Big in Japan was a building block band that not only started Holly Johnson's music career but also the guitarist Bill Drummond (KLF), fellow guitarist Ian Broudie (Lightning Seeds), and drummer Peter "Budgie" Clarke (Siouxsie and the Banshees).

[@kidwaryodproduction]

I remember Holly also released solo single on that time too, It was named "Yankee Rose" and "Hobo Joe"

[@arianrhodhyde7482]

Budgie also drummed on the Slits album "Cut".

[@JackGD1991]

Big In Japan are definitely one of those bands you find out about as a budding British music nerd like ‘I’ll save that for later’. Am I right in thinking Ian McCollough also had some involvement?

[@Saintnick90]

The timing could not have been more perfect. I just went on a Beatles tour in Liverpool, and the guide was Holly Johnson's brother. Also, Blur's popularity on American alternative stations throughout the '90s effectively erases their one hit wonder status over here too.

[@ChromeDestiny]

Much Music in Canada plugged Parklife and Great Escape pretty hard. I liked their stuff better than Oasis at the time, now I actually like both. Now that I'm not bombarded by Oasis' music it's a bit easier to listen to it.

[@Belgand]

It must depend on your local alt rock station because Blur wasn't on mine in the Midwest.

[@Saintnick90]

@@Belgand “There’s No Other Way” and “Girls & Boys” were both top 5 alternative hits, so I assume the majority of alternative stations played them, except those that were averse to the whole Britpop scene.

[@michaelthomas7481]

The magical mystery tour?

[@Saintnick90]

@@michaelthomas7481 Indeed.

[@junolysses]

never really knew holly's story but i was absolutely delighted to hear that he's still alive and well, it actually put a smile on my face.

[@Carloshache]

Welcome to the Pleasuredome (the song) was an extremely huge track in Chicago House music. DJ Ron Hardy started each set playing it, so it helped transform modern Dance music in a big way.

[@theslyphooka]

The brilliance of The Power of Love is that it is technically a Christmas song - meaning people can play it and still feel festive (not to mention getting that lucrative December radio play) - but it doesn't sound like a Christmas song - meaning that everyone who is getting tired of the same old Christmas records can listen to something a bit different.

[@BaBaBaBenny]

Its funny how the uk has those, Stay Another Day by East 17 being another one!

[@ericshippie1563]

The video is really cheap looking though. They should have hired Russell Mulcahy.

[@maxresdefault_]

Stop the Cavalry was never meant to be a Christmas song, but that line about being home for Christmas ​made it so iirc

[@leonconnelly5303]

It sounds like a Christmas song lol

[@keithparker1346]

​@@BaBaBaBennyI would also add The Pretenders 2000 Miles as it hardly mentions Christmas

[@gianthogweedvideo]

Fun fact. Steve Howe of Yes plays the weird little guitar solo in the middle of Welcome to the Pleasuredome. A little Trevor Horn Yes callback.

[@textnumbers22]

It was apparently Chris Squires idea to sign them

[@gianthogweedvideo]

Yes. And there's been rumors that Trevor Rabin played guitar on some of the songs uncredited. Trevor Horn never admitted it but supposedly he was one of many session musicians on the record. @@textnumbers22

[@wolfgangervin2582]

​@@textnumbers22 I guess Chris *held out his hand*? ...I still miss him.

[@heathercameron1485]

Two Tribes 12" extended mix deserves a shout out! It starts out with a siren and samples the Protect and Survive PSA about what to do during a nuclear attack. Its dark, but such a jam.

[@VinchVolt]

I remember reading somewhere that the 12" version (officially known as the Annihilation Mix) is widely considered one of the best 12" remixes of the '80s, and having heard it myself I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. It doesn't just make the song longer, it emphatically expands upon the base version's themes, like seeing a short story get expanded into a full novel.

[@racheldare.]

I’m glad Todd is committed to not covering Song 2 because I’m pretty sure if he called Blur a one hit wonder I’d actually lose my mind

[@JoGrant-dq8ob]

As an Australian I lost my mind when he did a OHW on Midnight Oil! Those guys are a big deal here.

[@aeddiefarmer]

It's a shame because I kind of just want to hear him talk about Song 2, it's such a departure from their usual sound.

[@credenzamostro]

​​@@JoGrant-dq8ob As an Italian I understand why Eiffel 65 are OHW to everyone else, but in my country one of the members is to this day one of the most famous DJs and electronic musicians of all time, and whenever they hold reunion concerts tickets sell out within a minute

[@DanJackson1977]

Lemmy being in the Relax video is fitting because theres a KZbin song mashup of Relax and Motorhead's OVERKILL... and the two songs fit together perfectly.

[@LongLiveRockAnRoll]

Well, I know what I'm watching after this 😄

[@SneedyKetler]

@@LongLiveRockAnRollthrow us a link if y’all find it!

[@LongLiveRockAnRoll]

@SneedyKetler kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpiZh6lnj9yth5Isi=6O1vt2kg-dbhfT6p hopefully this works

[@anthonydeadman]

@@SneedyKetler They might not be able to. KZbin's garbage bots think links are spam so they delete those as soon as they get posted.

[@LongLiveRockAnRoll]

@SneedyKetler I posted the link earlier but it appears to have been deleted. The video title is Frankie Goes to Hollywood vs Motörhead :: mashup by MadMixMustang

[@lost_limey]

As a Brit living in the US, it's always cool to see what didn't make it across the Atlantic from my childhood.

[@blupunk01]

As an 80's teen who regularly just left MTV on as background, I still remember Two Tribes really well because there was a period where the video was in pretty heavy rotation on the channel. There are actually a fair number of songs from that era that I didn't find out until years later were not the big chart hits I thought they were because I and most of my friends knew them from MTV.

[@fromthehaven94]

"I Melt With You" by Modern English, that surprised me

[@infernicide666]

Damn dude! I had no idea lol. How often was two tribes in heavy rotation would you say? I figured it might have only been just a minor hit but are you saying it was actually pretty popular? Also another follow up to a one hit wonder (or supposed one hit wonder) was Shannon and her big hit was Let the music play. Her follow up was Give me tonight. I’m wondering if you might remember that and if that video was in heavy rotation and maybe an example of a song you didn’t know that was more popular til years later (it stalled at 46 on the hit 100).

[@JenSell1626]

@@fromthehaven94and the movie Valley Girl, the sing is practically a character. It’s interesting what’s still easily available and what’s less so.

[@lorddalek]

Any band that throws out a full double album as their debut deserves more love. Especially something as insane as Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

[@DanielGalioto]

Absolutely, positively one of my favorite albums of all time. I loved it from start to finish 40 years ago. I love it just the same now. It still sounds completely bonkers in all the right ways, thanks to the mighty Trevor Horn.

[@valley_robot]

One of the greatest produced albums of all time, still sounds great

[@jennifertomaiolo]

I used to put this album on and just dance my ass off - loved it. Always kinda wondered what happened to them, I just had the one album.

[@bullmonty764]

Every once in a while, Todd does an episode on a song that many, many people have requested for years on end. This is one of those times *So I swear to God if Steal My Sunshine’s day does not come by 2026-*

[@nickrustyson8124]

Or shit if he never do Vixen I would be pissed

[@louisduarte8763]

I'm still waiting for his takes on Living Colour's "Cult of Personality", Fishbone's "Sunless Saturday", Chris de Burge's "A Spaceman Came Travelling", and whatever was The Sisters of Mercy's biggest hit

[@ppp3093]

Were TSOM one hit wonders in america anyway?

[@Kinitawowi]

@@louisduarte8763 A Spaceman Came Travelling? For real? That's the big American hit?! The Lady In Red is the absolute monster in the UK.

[@georgeharrison5753]

Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a monster of a song. It incorporates Pink Floyd-like passages (with a direct nod to Welcome to the Machine), an insane bassline by Trevor Horn, and such maximalist production that you can't help but marvel. Imo, one of the most underrated songs of the 80s.

[@Astertane]

Welcome to the Pleasuredome is such an indulgent track, it just oozes with charm and character.

[@80sandretrogubbins25]

The excellent album "Fabrique" (1982), by the horribly underrated Fashion, almost seems to foreshadow the sound and style of Frankie as of the WTTP album.

[@petlod]

The Power Of Love is a gorgeous ballad, especially the extended 12” version, and nicely used in the recent film All Of Us Strangers as mentioned by others here. It’s also worth mentioning that the first FGTH cd was used by many electronics dealers to show off new equipment in showrooms in the mid-80s. It’s that well recorded and mixed. It’s worth a listen as a whole.

[@tcn1961]

One thing Todd didn't mention in his fine video is that "Relax" took almost a year to become a hit in the USA. It was first released with a shorter mix in March 1984; it got only to #67 the first time. After "Two Tribes" almost made the top 40 after that, Island Records re-released "Relax" with a longer mix. It debuted right after the first of the year in 1985, and only on this second chart run did it finally make the top 10. In all, in the USA, "Relax" had two different mixes, two different picture sleeves (or no picture sleeve, the most common 45 rpm variant) and even two different Island label designs.

[@JenSell1626]

Yeah, I had a pretty steady MTV diet, and the laser version of the video is the one that stuck in my memory. But when I went back to the original version, it was familiar. I am now realizing my memory latched on to my confusion, then anger when I saw the video had changed. It made the legend of “the dirty version” more fun.

[@alternativebassist]

As a Brit who immediately bristled seeing the video title, all I have to say for 0:30 is: well played.

[@kingbolo4579]

Well, exactly. I came on here expressly for the purpose of venting my displeasure, and here I am, undercut.

[@lewisb85]

Having bill drummond (ex big in japan, later the KLF) as your contact at the label helped greatly with things, Holly said how bill helped them greatly as he let them do what they want and not tone things down. Considering what Bill did later in his career, im not surprised.

[@neesi1570]

In a weird way, it's too bad the KLF isn't a one hit wonder. Todd could get a hell of an episode out of them.

[@lewisb85]

@@neesi1570 He could do one on the shamen however considering "move any mountain" was their only big hit in the US. And they were bills mates from scotland!

[@Zereniti77]

I maintain that The KLF is probably the most interesting band there has been.

[@iamathousandapples]

The first disc of Welcome To The Pleasuredome might just be some of the best synthpop known to man. Thanks Todd!

[@Corrupted-file]

Holy F’ing shiz…Lemy in the ‘Relax’ video is blowing my MF’ing mind. Who knew, leather-appreciation is all the world needed to get along! 🤘🏼

[@zombiedodge1426]

Lemmy was also in the video for "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" by Boys Don't Cry, for which I presume Todd is working on a OHW episode.

[@Corrupted-file]

@@zombiedodge1426 Just watched it; never knew Lemmy was makin’ the rounds, in 80’s music videos…love it. 🤘🏼

[@bkgrila]

@@Corrupted-file I remember an old Beavis and Butthead episode where they were watching a video where Lemmy made a guest appearance, and one of them said something like, "He's Lemmy. He can show up in whatever video he wants."

[@Corrupted-file]

@@bkgrila 😆 I can hear them saying it. 🤘🏼

[@CravingBeer]

On FGTH 1984 tour, Lemmy joined them on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon during Relax as well.

[@clem1776]

GTA Vice City memories flooding back real hard when you played Two Tribes, god such a simpler times that was

[@jmp01a24]

Frankie can be summed up: Trevor Horn, the studio equipment used in his studio AND all the re-mixes. Some of them are 20-30 min long.

[@cfredtmbg]

The second I saw this video title I immediately thought, “wait, I would have expected this video to be about Two Tribes, not Relax.”

[@SaintPhoenixx]

I was expecting Power of Love.

[@coyoteartist]

I love the story that the song that replaces Relax on the German singles chart at #1 was Big In Japan and it was actually inspired by the name of Johnson's old band.

[@davidcauley9400]

The Power of Love is pretty much the best ballad ever recorded.

[@joemc9683]

It’s ok

[@beatjackoutofdoors153]

Always been one of my favourites. The album is a masterpiece. The production is epic.

[@tonk82]

"Relax", "Two Tribes", "Welcome to the pleasuredome"... that entire album is a masterpiece from start to finish. And they had some of the best remixes of their songs ever.

[@svenjansen2134]

Love the last side of the album. Krisco Kisses, Black Night White Light, Only Star in Heaven into Power of Love. Great album!

[@chrislail3824]

Body Double is such a good movie, that’s one of my favorite film genres

[@glitchycharlizard5324]

These one hit wonderlands make me wonder what on earth christmas even sounds like in America. If I'm not hearing "The Power of Love" and "Don't let the bells end" by the Darkness several times an hour, it's not Christmas.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

They don't even have Fairytale of New York over there... heathens, I tell thee!

[@JorWat25]

From what I can tell, the US is still mostly stuck in the 40s and 50s for their Christmas songs. Stuff like 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' and 'Jingle Bell Rock'.

[@patrickflanagan862]

​@@JorWat25 We have those for sure, but there's newer stuff too. And by "newer" I mean the '80s-'90s, like "All I want for Christmas is Youuuuu," "Last Christmas I gave you my heart" and of course "Simply Havin' a Wonderful Christmastime."

[@carolinecorban2541]

@@patrickflanagan862 there’s also even more recent stuff from Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande

[@lawrencescales9864]

@@JorWat25The biggest Christmas hit in the US as far as I’m concerned is Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You” which is a pop/RnB crossover hit from the late 90s/early 2000s. Then there’s a mix of 80s songs, the 40s and 50s stuff, and then covers and remixes of it all by new artists. Wham is also a staple on Christmas.

[@darylcastillo1439]

Relax, Two Tribes and Power of Love is an artistic holy trinity full of provocation, sincerity and catchiness. I'm so glad Frankie Goes to Hollywood existed to challenge the rampant homophobia that permeated popular UK culture in the 80's.

[@mrnoahlott]

I was unaware of the lead singer's stage-name. So now, thanks to Todd, I will know them forevermore as Holly Goes to Frankiewood.

[@captaintrips2017]

I'm Canadian but I spent the summer of 1984 in Liverpool, England. There were lineups around the corner at the record shops to buy this.

[@benjaminmaier7257]

Given that The Power of Love mentions Penelope Pitstop's nemesis The Hooded Claw, it's probably fair to surmise it was at least partially tongue in cheek. Great video btw

[@lancerutt9936]

I was SHOCKED he didn’t mention it

[@aeddiefarmer]

Wait, THAT'S what the Hooded Claw is referincing?? I thought it was an artful description of an unknown sinister menace. That's so funny, omg.

[@RattlesnakeJakey]

Frankie says: I've come to hate my body (of work) and all that it requires in this world.

[@debdeb327]

I went on a Beatles tour in Liverpool about a decade ago (one of the most wonderfully touristy experiences of my life) and the tour guide's brother was one of the members of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, no idea which one unfortunately. We were all very surprised to be welcomed to the tour by this song.

[@Saintnick90]

It was Holly Johnson's brother Jay. I went on that same tour a few months ago.

[@user-pc9du2hv4k]

Todd does not lie. During 84-85 Frankie were the biggest band in Britain, bigger than Wham or Duran Duran.

[@amandabarnes1781]

0:54 ok but Todd actually can sing I love it!!

[@skyllalafey]

I love hearing Todd get so into this song that he has to belt it out at the beginning.

[@parvanaturalia]

Power of Love is my parents' wedding song, apparently it played on the radio during their first date. Been a Frankie Goes to Hollywood enjoyer since early age. Loved this look into their careers!

[@ricford6816]

"One hit wonder!" I'm about to rage. Then Todd does his intro. 👏Well played fella, well played👏

[@redwaytoo]

11:03 it's so 80's it even has underground theme from Super Mario in it

[@ericshippie1563]

Soooooo Happy that Todd came on my feed again!! And he is featuring the 80s. Many thanks sir. keep it up!? I was 11 in 84 and I first vocalized that I was gay. Frankie was part of the zeitgeist even in Marlborough, Massachusetts. I didn't have cable, but my buddy from England showed me the back of Frankie's (Double )Premiere album, which features a Giant Assssss with people underneath. (Like Kandor.) --hence the title "Welcome to the Pleasure DOME". I remember this much. As a virgin, who did not even know how to masturbate, I did not understand any of Frankie's imagery, But I eagerly awaited my future ! ! !

[@idahomike4254]

Wow, this brings back memories. In the mid-80s, I was a line cook in Billings, MT where they only had top-40 radio stations. Does anyone here remember radio? F**k, I'm old. Anyhoo, Relax was played in heavy rotation and the MTV video was great. We'd crank it up and just enjoy the musical spectral that it was. Yeah, the sound was awesome and the lyrics were edgy at the time. I thought it was amazing and I thank you for reminding me of a simpler time in my life. Cheers!

[@ashasalany]

That Two Tribes song is incredible and totally should have been a US hit.

[@Neflhim]

I love Two Tribes. Hearing it mashed with Xanadu in WW84, at a Smithsonian formal event, killed any disbelief I'd managed to suspend.

[@krokiatonon]

Just wanna note that "The Power of Love" is used in the end credit sequence of the movie "All of us strangers" - and that I must not be the only one who discovered the song with the movie - which means it has gained a veeeery different connotation for a whole bunch of people (*heartbreaking)

[@aeddiefarmer]

I've not seen the film but it's always been a sad song in my eyes, not sure how to explain why. Makes perfect sense that it could be used in that context.

[@flzrian3623]

The Power of Love is also a christmas classic in Germany. I love that song and it's probably the only song that I'm looking forward to being on the radio every christmas

[@70Jack90]

Really love the music from Frankie Goes to Hollywood. They're underrated here in America! Also, I love seeing those stylized title cards themed to the subject (Before the hit, The big hit, etc.) I hope to see that more often!

[@LeePresson]

Trevor Horn is a GENIUS. This band, Pet Shop Boys, Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet, Grace Jones, even that Yes album. They all sound great.

[@sennaka]

Art of Noise. God I miss them.

[@LeePresson]

@@sennaka Art of Noise was pretty much Trevor's band.

[@VinchVolt]

@@LeePresson And he only ended up being in the group for one year plus an end-of-millennium reunion.

[@lewisb85]

​@@LeePressonAnne and jj fired him so they would disagree.

[@LeePresson]

@@lewisb85 They sucked after he left. Dragnet? Come on.

[@polygonvvitch]

Relax walked so Around The World could run.

[@Belgand]

"There She Goes" by The La's also does the "chorus in search of a song" thing.

[@ajconstantine3593]

I just know the great Godley & Creme directed “Two Tribes.” Goddamn geniuses.

[@henryjamesnigel]

War? TwoTribes? The Power of Love?

[@TheAntiSanta]

You know, I'd seen "Frankie Says Relax" T-Shirts used as a signifier to indicate the decade a movie was taking place in, but never knew it was about this song or that the music video was about Frankie dealing with a Gay Bar Caligula.

[@michaelguccione6865]

Firmly agree with the entire video. I discovered them about 15 years ago and they're fantastic, extremely underrated. Holly is a great performer. Thanks for shining a light!

[@Maxwel_Rodrigues]

When I think about this song the only thing that comes to mind is Body Double (1984). Great movie btw

[@LordPichuPal]

It took me so long to find out about the original song, because I'd only heard of it from Weird Al's polkas before. Hearing the full thing was such a blast with how great the bassline is and just being such a simple but really well put together banger. Never knew any other song from Frankie Goes to Hollywood or their story at all, making it all the cooler to see them highlighted even on technicality. Really glad that Holly survived his bout with HIV and cancer to keep on going strong all these years later, too. Full credit to him for always being himself even during such a dangerous time to do it, absolutely deserves more praise for that.

[@j.c.b.4872]

Thanks for featuring Brian De Palma's Body Double in the video. A lot of people are still surprised the song was included so prominently in the film. However, it was because of the film that Relax officially became a hit in America, peaking at No.10 on the Billboard singles chart in early 1985, well after the smash success of the song in the UK and several months after the otherwise disastrous theatrical release of Body Double. To ironically quote Sly Stone: "Time, they say, is the answer..."

[@robricloc5663]

The Power of Love was used recently in the drama film All of Us Strangers and that was a pivotal use of a song that matches the haunting themes and main character’s 80s fandom. The song’s gonna be harder to listen to as a result

[@2buxaslice]

Welcome to the Pleasuredome is one of my favorite 80's songs. More people need to hear it.

[@antichicmusic]

Thank god, you put Trevor Horn in to the right equal perspective of how the band met the right producer at the right time to create such epic hits in the 80s. Another favourite producer of mine is Tony Mansfield, they both helped push the 80s and shape such a diverse catalogue of fantastic music among others. So glad I grew up with such a musical variety, where copying was not of the essence back then.

[@ekmad]

I'm glad Todd did this because, just like him, I was waiting for Two Tribes to come up from the first second. I absolutely love that song.

[@bookaufman9643]

I saw FGTH live in 1984 I think and it was amazing. It was a mix of being at a concert and being at a Broadway show. Awesome awesome experience.

[@mjwc97]

The Power Of Love was recently featured in the movie All Of Us Strangers and the way they used it... is emotionally heart-shattering

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

I think when comparing British pop charts and American the level of difference between here(In America) and the UK is a massive, MASSIVE difference! Bands like The Sex Pistols, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and other pretty niche bands in the US at the time had MULTIPLE top 10 songs in the UK charts. There are whole genres of music on the UK charts that never even got a whiff of the radio or MTV that enjoyed pretty massive attention in the UK. The tastes of the masses are very very different in UK, and Europe at large, when compared to the US, especially in the 80s and 90s.

[@aeddiefarmer]

As a kid who came of age in the UK in the 2000s I completely missed Frankie Goes to Hollywood in their heyday. Instead I was introduced to them through the Relax video being featured on a documentary I saw on TV called X-Rated Videos (the phrase 'simulated buggary' was used when describing it), and then through Jimmy Rabbitte in the Commitments (the novel) calling them 'Frankie goes to me arse'. Which seems....pretty homophobic to me now. :/ There was also a kid in my school who did a version of The Power of Love at our Christmas concert one year, I've loved the song ever since. Thanks for filling in the blanks of their career for me with this video! I'm not huge on music history so a lot of bands from before my time are quite mysterious to me. I'm glad that so many people in the comments have such great memories of FGtH, and I'm so glad Holly is still alive and thriving.

[@Etrigan2112]

Couple points that should have been touched on... While you did hint at their sound being largely produced in studio by Trevor Horn, it may actually be more substantial than that where it's rumored that Horn almost completely took over. He had his set of studio ringers so to say, that allegedly contributed the performances that we hear on the record. Can't say for sure that's the case, but listening to the difference between their first and second albums, well, that story seems to fit. Also, there was a Frankie goes to Hollywood reunion without Holly Johnson, that happened back in 2004 for a massive Trevor Horn tribute concert. It's very much worth watching.

[@PaBa1984]

I’m not going to get mad. I’m an American, I know they were bigger in the UK. All I want to say is Two Tribes is their #1 all time best. The opening would be my entrance theme if I was a wrestler.

[@benoitbrown9400]

Excellent, a new T.I.T.S video for my viewing pleasure.

[@grahamkristensen9301]

I wasn't alive in the 80's, but to me, Frankie Says Relax T-shirts always seemed to be to that era what Vote For Pedro shirts were to the 2000's.

[@iwasanangryyoungman]

Or the Keep Calm and “fill in the blank” in the succeeding decade

[@DannyBeans]

I always thought it had an Art of Noise feel, so learning about the Trevor Horn connection makes perfect sense.

[@lewisb85]

Anne dudley and JJ also played on several of their songs, JJ on all three and anne on two tribes and the power of love, they were essentially art of noise songs with holly doing lead vocals.

[@haidynwendlandt2479]

Todd shows off his singing skills for a short moment about every other video

[@MarceloOmegaAGDM]

That power of love is the only one i knew since i was a kid.

[@judydo_om]

thank you for helping me understand the context for the final shot of all of us strangers a little better