The Story of 'Relax' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

[@Agent_86_]

We will never have a music generation as vibrant and evolutionary as the 80's. So glad I was there for it!

[@Hoppy_is_a_bunny]

SAME!!!!🙌🏻❤️

[@airzillarocks]

Bast decade ever, lived it completely and thoroughly, spent way too much money, and way too much fun - Best times of my life, friends, music, dance, clubs, etc.... \m/

[@alisonrutherford3725]

Me too!

[@ArthurShedsJackson]

"Relax" is still revolutionary/evolutionary/timeless 40 years later.

[@axidhaus]

@@ArthurShedsJackson this generation should try it

[@bigdog6598]

2023 and still song still rocks! Best club song in the 80's!

[@kwimms]

Garbage song by garbage actors playing musicians. Clubs are for luzers...

[@julesfalcone]

Relax is probably the Best song ever.

[@williamh4172]

The best? I guess everyone has their opinion...

[@julesfalcone]

@@williamh4172 Thanks for chiming in with yours.

[@kitty-cee]

Relax, Willie 😉 😊

[@PopularMonsterUSA]

In '84 I had no idea what the song was saying but I LOVED it!!!! Still do.

[@davids736]

Do you know what they're singing about now? Hee hee 😉👍😊❤️

[@PopularMonsterUSA]

@@davids736 Oh, I figured it out. Ha ha ha

[@gregstevens2917]

Welcome to the Pleasuredome is an epic journey...absolutely incredible work.

[@juliandavies1974]

Probably the best album ever.

[@marcblum5348]

Trevor Horn!

[@sarahmarsh5320]

​@@juliandavies1974totally agree, still have it

[@blaster-zy7xx]

Those who said they only heard it from a movie must be pretty young. This song was played all the time on the radio back in the 80’s. You couldn’t miss it!

[@ScottieWallace]

And 90's

[@NelsonStJames]

It might have played a lot back then, but wasn’t that memorable for me until I saw it in the context of Depalma’s film. Also the movie came out in 1984. I don’t know about these other comments, but I saw Body Double when it was released in theaters and I was in college in film school. I might have even heard the song first in the film; I certainly don’t remember seeing a video for it on MTV until after the movie came out.

[@blaster-zy7xx]

@@NelsonStJames There were also other acts at the time that got alot of radio play and MTV play too in case you missed them such as Madonna, the Police or Michael Jackson in the 80's.

[@tuxitalk4-tuxipolitixpage772]

​​​​​​@@NelsonStJamesBecause the line "when you wanna come..." kept it off the MTV video playlist and radio playlists for quite a while. Of course George Michael was celebrated for his lyrics and videos, but Holly Robinson got cheated by word exposure (pun intended). MTV and radio always had 2 sets of rules, and it was always noticeable. When I first came upon this "controversy" about this line, I was like, "You gotta be f**king kidding me?!!!". I guess they never paid attention to other lyrics in 1983.

[@JoJoGranum]

I heard it as a teen. Sex ed wasn’t mentioned then and neither was LGBTQ in my school in the 80s

[@PaulOfCreation]

I'm so happy I lived through this time.

[@davids736]

Same here....same here.... 👍😊❤️

[@davelordy]

Gotta' say, listening back to this after all these years . . . the one thing that hits me about the song is that it sounds so fucking massive, everything is just monstrous !

[@leopoldbluesky]

I "found" a copy of the multitracks online a while ago and the interesting thing is none of the individual tracks sound massive themselves, and some of the tracks - like the "dunka dunka" bassline - have no low end and are very '"dry" with no reverb or echo. But put them all together and it adds up to a massive glorious noise! Trevor Horn knew exactly what he was doing.

[@Dr-Curious]

Yes. It's the space in between the notes that allows a sense of cavernous size. Trev was a total master at this. He made the bass the centrepiece and then threw away the distracting embellishments. then when the synths and effects hit, it's like a release. Genius.

[@lilybond6485]

@davelordy: Kind of like “One Night in Bangkok”.

[@capitalt3977]

@@leopoldbluesky Let's give Steve Lipson his due here, as well.

[@Jasonkenny-]

I was 14 when it came out, just the right year for this song. Saw them live at the Manchester Apollo...was quite a concert. Kids... go see bands, one day you'll look back and be amazed you were there at a moment in history.

[@EllaJay]

Music's hardly the same now though, keep it real..

[@edlines1742]

the 78@@EllaJay 6

[@mathieutyler8745]

No one cares about your lil story. This isn't about you.

[@Cormac-jd2kx]

Live 😂

[@stonedsasquatch]

Not only has the music gone down in quality but ticketmaster puts concerts out of range for most teens

[@babymammoth34]

"I remember thinking to myself, 'I have no idea what they're talking about...It Seems Like It Could Be filth...I Hope So...'" LOL!

[@BrianRPaterson]

Same with "Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen. I believe the FBI spent colossal amounts of money investigating whether it was, in fact, filth. But they never found anything!

[@philc8703]

Take me back to the 80s

[@kylesanders9]

It was the best time to be a teenager EVER! We were lucky.

[@lilybond6485]

@philc8703: I would like to stop there on my way back to the 60s. : )

[@diverdave4056]

i was at a disco when the DJ cranked this song up ! the dance floor was packed

[@rvlaar]

God, I love KZbin... 40 years on, I get to know all of this....

[@jonbettson7435]

I love that comment!

[@silaslizzie43]

Oh, yes, the censorship is amazing. Best their is.

[@luispiros]

Here in Texas nobody knew except their community. Amazing open secret!

[@kerph1324]

There was actually one more version of the video which came from Brian De Palma‘s movie version in “Body Double”

[@SirBuzz]

Anal

[@conradbo1]

What a song. What an experience. What a time. Thanks a lot to all that contributed.

[@timothyhilton3408]

3 tracks were essential in the evolution of electronic dance music at the time: Relax by Frankie goes to Hollywood, Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat and Blue Monday by New Order..........all coming out of the tale wind of Donna Summer's monster electronic dance influence culminating in 1979 through the early 80's.

[@dondo6787]

Right

[@FrankButterfield]

And by Donna Summer, you mean Giorgio Moroder.

[@timothyhilton3408]

@@FrankButterfield For sure!!!

[@endlessnameless6494]

Drunk driving kills. Distracted driving kills. Please... be safe out there, guys.

[@katkrauze4250]

gary newman

[@masterfactchecker5541]

Driving your first car, with your first installed car stereo, and cranking this tune !!

[@StrawberrySunday212]

This has to be the most iconic song of the 80's

[@dougjastremski9087]

I was 13 when the song came out. I had just bought a boom box with a dual cassette player. I would wait for the song to play on the local radio station. When it did, I would record it. I did this multiple times until I had filled both sides of a 90 min tape. I listened to this tape with “Relax” playing over and over again. I guess I really liked the song! Haha!

[@Doug-nr3gh]

Music to ' relax ' to... Ha ha

[@carolewalker2039]

I first heard the song Relax on the soundtrack of Brian DePalmas movie Body Double with Melanie Griffith. I was so blown away I immediately sat through another showing to hear it again. Then I saw it a 3rd time. For many years after my favorite nightclub played it. Viva Frankie!

[@ronaldKOESTLINGER]

You neglected to mention how hitchkockian the movie was.

[@brokl26]

Great flick, or at least I still love the movie. Frankie only made it better.

[@rahsaanthomas7030]

It was also featured in Police Academy..

[@Mirror1973]

1984 was a revolutionary year for music

[@wangson]

Purple Rain came out that year, no?

[@crnkmnky]

​@@wangson Revolution-ary, indeed 😸

[@lindafleming3907]

White wedding also rocked!

[@IgorSklyarov-wz1gs]

Интересно, почему FGTH не участвовали в проекте Гелдофа Band Aid?

[@NelsonStJames]

I discovered the song from the movie 'Body Double'. That song and those visuals sold it for me.

[@williamhuey3205]

I just put the same comment but I was 14 when I saw that movie 🤯 I had a crush on Melanie Griffith for a while American actress

[@NelsonStJames]

@@williamhuey3205 Melanie Griffith was gorgeous back then, and that character was great, she was another plus for that film that makes it memorable to this day.

[@cherylb5680]

HUGE club song in 1984, I so miss all the great bands of that era. Relax was, and is still a kick ass song ❤

[@andregonsalvez9244]

I am getting goosebumps , takes me back to my teenage years Ahh the memories .

[@royyogi2352]

When this song was played in the night club the floor would be packed with people dancing and requesting it to be played again. Man those were good times

[@JakePurches-Base2music]

Today you have Taylor Swift - corporate bland pop music. We had Frankie and Relax.. I can't tell you what an incredible experience it was then. And it still is.

[@sroevukasroevuka]

Frankie says relax.

[@thomastom888]

Can imagine 80s without frankie Just amazing music and so powerful ❤

[@erikj.gonzalez4101]

Trevor horn it's a genius, no doubt about it

[@Gimenez528Hz]

home grown in Liverpool .. one of the best tunes of the 80's

[@dipeshlall]

This song defined a decade. 80s were the best.

[@GP-2000]

I'm 54 now and still have it in multiple playlists. My have from the 80s. ❤

[@stargazer3284]

The whole album was a masterpiece!

[@Melchersson]

Comparable with the Beatles

[@MGrayl-ib5fo]

@@Melchersson nope.

[@kwimms]

Garbage song by garbage actors playing musicians. Who cares about these losers?

[@sistasoler77]

Welcome to the Pleasuredome still bangs!

[@Invisableme39]

I still love Frankie to this day! Great times….and what a musical revolution…..so fun

[@stephenrafter1980]

We used to sing it in primary school. Had no idea what it ment lol😅 great song to this day. It's played everywhere now.

[@ajs41]

Same with Male Stripper by Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish.

[@stevedallas4942]

It's funny to look back and laugh at the stuff that went over your head when you were a kid. Remember Melanie Safka's "Brand New Key?" I'd never really thought about it until about 15/16 years ago when my oldies station did a whole set of "songs you didn't know were inuendo." But your comment reminded me of a fun conversation at a school reunion... Small town, we grew up with the same classmates from grade school through highschool. Two black girls I'd known since fourth grade were seated at my table and music like this was the conversation... Shirrelle (and yes, named for her Mom's favorite 1960s girl group) was laughing about "Lady Marmalade"... "We sang that thinking 'yeah, we can speak French! ' Then when that Nicole Kidman movie came out we heard it again and went " Oh hell no! " I won't even go there about the 50s song " Rammalammadingdong" or just the name of the British girl group, " Banana Ramma"

[@romy4858]

I was a fifteen yo Aussie country girl busting every limb to the beat at my high school gym disco night. It felt so vibrant and alive. It's only now I am hearing the meaning of the words. I'm half drunk and laughing my arse off!

[@ericbitzer5247]

Cool!

[@billde4825]

Easily the most graphic, yet disguised lyric of sexual innuendo of all time... "Hit me, hit me, hit me, hit me, hit me with your laser beams!". What a great song.

[@PJL7095]

Yeaaa…. I think we all knew what the lyrics meant. And now watching this video pretty much nails it that we were correct

[@billde4825]

@@PJL7095 Try this version. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqO7c3Z7g8mFd6c

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

Good times

[@nickwyatt9498]

@cricketexplained8526 Fists of fun?

[@KimberlyLetsGo]

Highlight of the night at the dance clubs when this song played. I had a Relax: Frankie Goes To Hollywood shirt and loved it!!!

[@CrystalBrown-xt8xs]

So did I. My sister and I also had Wham’s,Wake me up before you go go t-shirts!

[@DaveDFX]

Had all the records and 12" singles ! Their songs hits hard in the clubs. Trevor Horn is a genius producer. I loved Art of Noise too!

[@pamelatoal6890]

Art of Noise another brilliant group

[@final_mile_music9713]

He didn’t just produce. He replaced ALL of the original band members instrumentation with his own for this and the album. All that was left were Holly’s vocals. The other lads didn’t play at all.

[@markosolo]

I seem to remember they released different mixes every week just to keep it at the top of the charts, just to take the piss out of the BBC.

[@singlecatt]

I love frankie goes to Hollywood and this song. First time I heard it, I thought Wow! Someone did what I had in my head. Thanks!

[@Jojo247rightnow]

I was 13 when I won FGTH concert tickets in the radio. My first concert.

[@emillion4470]

I was a sweet young innocent thing back in Catholic University in '84 when my friend had to patiently explain "Relax" to me.

[@goudagirl6095]

Dance club 1984 in Milwaukee: they showed the naughty "R Rated" video version in the club, and it's one of those things that I still recall to this day!

[@uncooldispatch5438]

Dahmer might have been there ?

[@EricaMeeee]

@@uncooldispatch5438 you're right! Yikes!

[@ih8utbe]

I saw the r rated version once. Liked it!

[@don.richard8823]

Relax song was playing everywere in the 80s non stop 😎 Great times the 80s And so were alot of other music that ruled in the 80s !🎙️🎸

[@UnderPresser]

Nonstop throughout the 80s?. It was big for it's time, then it faded away like all pop music does. I doubt it was on the U.S. charts for 2 months tops. Damn good album, tho!

[@RITAD1]

Summer of 84 this was the song of the summer. You would hear it played every 3 hours. 84 was the best for music. Adam Ant, Bannanrama, Madonna and so many more! It was the kick off to genres!❤❤❤

[@ermannogallo9774]

È incredibile se penso che all' epoca, quando uscì questo brano musicalmente rivoluzionario, frequentavo il ginnasio.Oggi, ho 57 anni e ancora mi emoziono quando ascolto la musica di Fgth.Simply Number One!👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️💪💪💪🙏🙏🙏

[@MikeyYaYa]

I played the shit out of this song 🎵 so much (I had to rebuy the cassette 5 times over!!). 😘👌😎👍

[@manchaple]

A small kid walking around with Frankie says relax🤣🤣🤣. God I miss the 80s

[@user-ef7wk6gb4k]

This may be Mandela Effect but I remember the shirt reading "Frankie Say Relax"...

[@AutPen38]

The slogan t-shirts were inspired by fashion designer Katherine Hamnett's political statements (mostly anti-nuclear weapons) on catwalk runways, but in Britain they took on a life of their own. I had a cheap "RELAX" vest from the market (text in dayglo pink, as dayglo colours were briefly very popular) while Wham had "CHOOSE LIFE" shirts in the "Wake me up before you go-go" video. Slogan t-shirts were the meme of the day. "Frankie says..." was everywhere in 1984-85.

[@londonroulette]

What a great insight into An amazing record, that intro. Trevor Horn was spot on in everything he did. Got to be one of the UKs best producers

[@carlacourtois5905]

Love it savage and saucy I cant get enough still today!!!!

[@50gary]

We covered this in the '80s and it would blow the roof off the building. lt rocked hard, major energy song, primal. Then there's XTC, and Joy Division/New Order, Depeche Mode.Tears for Fears, and so many other great bands and songs . '80s> the second sixties, way too much fun.

[@chanelfallon5248]

I still have an XTC vinyl single ❤

[@Alan-megan]

Love these docos

[@CathyKitson]

That ban was the best thing that could ever have happened to that song. We were sniggering at school, whispering, "They said _'come!'_" That was how innocent we were.

[@UnderPresser]

They smarted off to some MTV bigwig on camera as soon as they arrived in the U.S. The guy immediately kicked them out of the building and off MTV forever just like that. I doubt it mattered one bit to Frankie

[@CathyKitson]

@@UnderPresser I bet it didn't. If it hadn't been for all that infamy and banning they probably wouldn't have got to number 1. At my seventeenth birthday party at a club this was the very first song we had on.

[@albertocabezas282]

Yesterday I digitized my WTTPD cassette. I purchased it almost a decade ago at a flea market and it sounds fantastic. This song is really powerful.

[@markleon411]

Welcome To The Pleasuredome was a brilliant concept album.

[@IgorSklyarov-wz1gs]

Однозначно, без всяких сомнений.

[@Stormpriest]

I love how about halfway through the video, you can hear in the background, The art of noise. Love it!

[@stephenbarrette610]

Simply one of the best songs ever made. The production and songwriting was brilliant.

[@kwimms]

Crap Garbage song by garbage actors playing musicians. Who cares about these losers?

[@curlymyhero]

All of the '80's are incredible. Music & movies. Sheer genius on everyone's part.

[@luigiperrone8169]

I remember being in High School in suburban Chicago and this song being played in our gymnasium as we ran. I don't think the teachers realized what they were playing for us on those mixes...lol

[@dianelipson5420]

I had two sort of Frankie shirts? One said “Neil says who the hell is Frankie?” And the other said, “Vyvyan says piss off!” 😂

[@audreyharalambos2592]

The best songs of the 80s was by this amazing band, and still sound as good today in 2024 brilliant dance tune although my knees are dodgy now lol loved them in the old days and still listen to at 68 love them xx

[@erikguidi8230]

I am italian. I loved Frankie... I ❤️ Frankie goes to Hollywood ❤️

[@aegrotattoo9018]

Their live show was amazing, the energy never let up. Def one of my fondest live performances.

[@tantraman93]

Frankie was the soundtrack to my coming out.

[@carinawills5157]

Good on you Janice long I'm glad you played it god rest her soul

[@ghost84429]

I still love this song.

[@evinchester7820]

I remember when the played the original video on Nightflight here in the USA. it was WOW! And then it got banned. After a few years, it was out again. Still think it is a great video. And song.

[@ironeagle6447]

I was 21 when tis come out butt now still got itt 2023

[@PJL7095]

I love shit like this. The making of a band…. Just good interesting stuff

[@0liverfarfan65]

In Guatemala, it was played on the radio every weekend night. We learn English words, too.

[@tiasara5967]

At college mixers we would go INSANNNNNE when this song came on!!! The memories come RUSHING back!! Box tee shirts and blunt cut perms❤❤❤

[@BettyHaywood-g5t]

I saw them in Oakland California at the Civic auditorium , way back in the ‘ 80s…one of the most fun and high energy concerts I’ve ever attended ❤️❤️

[@luispiros]

I remember being a naive young 23 yr old man in 1998 and a cashier at Best Buy. Back when they sold CD’s, cassettes and vinyl and other tangible media. Older men would buy this CD and only men and back then it was sort of Taboo to be openly gay. Many of these men were married and some even brought their kids. After a while I put two and two together but I never told anyone and now my suspicions are validated. Just took almost 30 yrs.

[@Juan800PimpBot]

What are you yammering about

[@shinobirising8196]

I first heard this in Brian De Palmas Body Double, that scene where the main character enters a club looking for a stripper/dancer played by Melanie Griffith. Epic track.

[@tangogrrl]

Holly Body! she was grand

[@Jas17025]

I always think of Body Double when I hear this song. Love it!

[@greatdaneacdc]

I remember when it came out Great for loud Parties !

[@j.w.r3730]

Remember that year,they shook it big,what a time it was!

[@ryelandvincent3144]

Ì remember dancing up a Strom on the dance floor to this song and I still love it

[@seanart1508]

My all time number ONE song!

[@PJL7095]

Not a bad choice. Hope you put a good pair of headphones on & push that volume dial up several notches …

[@erwinstada1811]

Correction:" number 1 Toto=Africa, number 2 The blue nile=Tinseltown in the rain,finally number 3 Pearl Jam=black. 💥💣💥

[@LenovoLenovo-g2f]

Iconic song ever!

[@Greylin]

I was in London in the summer of ‘84, and the streets were packed with people mostly all wearing t-shirts with a quote from Relax or from Tina Turners tracks. Quite rad

[@margaretlumley1648]

Thank you for this delightful video ❤

[@Ziduche]

The first CD I ever bought was FGTH, in 1984. CDs were just starting to be sold. That sound was incredible, no one had heard digital before. I remember the sleeve contained fascinating technical detail such as sampling rates, SMPTE code track location, etc. Way over my 16 yr old head, but a mention was saying "for those with an eye for detail, we salute you". Few months fast forward I saw their concert, in Bordeaux. Most people there remember it as the best concert they ever attended, for the impression it left on them, and that includes myself.

[@michelescott739]

FANTASTIC!❤

[@davidevans3227]

there was some wicked techno in the eighties 🙂 x

[@BionicRusty]

I was 15 and on the school bus when Mike Reid had his little outburst. When we got to school, it was hot news and before we knew it, it was the top song in all the clubs. Of course, at that age, we only drank soft drinks. 🙄 😉 Great video bringing back many happy memories. 👏🫶👏🫶👏🫶👏🫶👏🫶👏🫶

[@Genehunt7]

It wasn’t banned by Mike read, he didn’t even play the record, he decided not to play it due to strict timmings, it was Radio One and the BBC who banned it….Paul Morley capitalised on it and told everyone it was banned, Mike read and his then Radio One producer have actually stated what had happened, even holly Johnson has admitted it had nothing to do with Mike Read. Having said that it’s a gr8 record and all credit must go to Trevor horn of the buggles fame!

[@PaulChapman1bz]

Trevor Horn is a bit of a genius really

[@toms7671]

Jean Paul Gaultiers Fashion Freakshow production summed this track up perfectly in the SM act. I worked a few of the tours of this tour and this act was amazing. If you can find it online...give it a watch!

[@thenewstuff3377]

It was 1985. I was 10. I saw the video on Friday Night Videos and heard it on my Walkman a million times. My dad was carrying me and my chickens to a 4H judging event in the afternoon. This song came on and he shook his head and talked about how horrible it was. I didn't get the reference. Daddy did. I said "Frankie Says Relax." He did the same thing when he caught me watching Dead Or Alive's 'You Spin Me (Rise Round)' video. He rook one look at that and he said "The stuff they are playing now is horrible." Music was much better when I was 10 than it is now. He probably thought that about CCR and Three Dog Night.

[@ronnie73072]

I loved watching Friday night videos

[@bullyakker]

@@ronnie73072 I'm 51 and like it all! Frankie was fun to have parties to. CCR was great to drink beers while your buddies smoked a doob on the porch contemplating your lack of fun in life.... I Live but I'm a wild one of my age. Strictly chickly but hey... we weren't exactly prudent.... Just hoped our kids wouldn't do the shit we did! lol

[@robinw8047]

@@bullyakker - and they did more... and then some. We must deal with the way we raised them. It’s fully on us. I did tell my kids about the music and indoctrination,,, so they were prepared. I hope the same for others. ❤

[@jasonsmith1158]

ORGASMIC !!!! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@brendan1522]

Just frigging awesome band who have never been equalled

[@w.stevenvincent6536]

I was in my early 20's when Relax came out and I and everyone else knew what they were singing about. As far as we were concerned it was a terrific topic to sing about. Lol.

[@LorelLa22]

Have probably heard this song in my entire life several hundred times at least - but somehow missed out on ever seeing the music video, even as a 1980's teenager - was too young to get the lyrics - or just too clueless - love that funk version!!!

[@alexjohan204]

Great group, with a lot of great songs

[@paulatreanor5566]

Love 💕 frankie forever.

[@owenmcgheeandbdawg]

FGTH changed my life. ZTT were an absolute game changer.

[@SeaOfMadness]

I'd never seen the live video - That's brilliant. Remember this coming out - I was only 12 but there were so many versions of the record that we were all sharing them with each other at school. Still listen to the album too as it's got some outstanding songs on there (along with the odd turkey).

[@YummyBaer]

Good GOD!!! My Grams, my aunties and uncles were singing this song with us when we were kids. OMFGFML 😂😅

[@ihaveinsomnia1]

😂😂😂😂😂 I was 17 when this song came out. It was pretty funny back then too.

[@marccarter1350]

Reminds me of being in school, hating pop music. We all got in to Rap in about 1983

[@davebellamy4867]

0:17 "It seems like it could be filth."🤣😅😂

[@govinda102000]

It did come a great year in music1983.

[@jonnyvt6602]

We didn't know wtf they were singing about; we just liked the song; that's it

[@ppgedez]

Great song great band great album