Underpass
John Foxx
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Standing in the dark Watching you glow Lifting a receiver Nobody I know Underpass Underpass Well I used to remember Now it's all gone... World War something... We were somebody's sons Underpass Underpass Over all the bridges Echoes in rows Talking at the same time Click-click drone... Underpass Underpass Misty on the glass now Rusty on the door Here for years now Click-click drone Click-click drone Click-click drone Click-click drone Click-click... Underpass Underpass Underpass Underpass Underpass Underpass Underpass Underpass
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: DENNIS LEIGH
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
27 facts about this song
Genre"Underpass" is a new wave, synth-pop song that showcases 80's electronic music style. It is characterized by a strong beat, catchy melody, and synthesizer-driven sound.
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Artist InformationThe song is by John Foxx, a British musician known as a pioneer of electronic music in the 70s and 80s. Before pursuing a solo career, Foxx was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox.
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Release Year"Underpass" was released on 15th January 1980. It was John Foxx's first solo single after leaving his band Ultravox.
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Album DetailsThe song comes from Foxx's debut studio album, "Metamatic," which is considered a classic in the genre of electronic music. The album reached number 18 in the UK Albums Chart.
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Chart Performance"Underpass" was very popular in various European countries. In the UK, it reached number 31 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming John Foxx's highest-charting solo single.
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Influence and ImpactThe production of "Underpass" influenced many other genres such as techno, industrial, and electronic dance music (EDM), and it has been cited as an influence on acts like The Soft Moon.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Underpass" was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who is known for his distinctive style and for directing many popular music videos during the 1980s.
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Song Meaning"Underpass" is said to reflect Foxx's feelings of isolation and alienation in the urban environment, which he expressed through stark electronic sounds and robotic vocals.
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Re-releases"Underpass" was re-released in 2009 and again in 2010 as part of the album "Metatronic," a compilation of Foxx's most popular tracks remixed with some previously unreleased material.
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Live PerformancesDespite being his most successful song, Foxx rarely performs "Underpass" live - a fact often lamented by fans.
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SamplingThe song has been sampled by other artists, most notably by Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins in his track "Techno Music."
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Cover VersionsThere have been several cover versions of "Underpass," including ones by Adult., And One, and DarkWhite.
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Song Genre"Underpass" is classified as a New Wave electronic music track. New Wave is a genre that emerged in the late 1970s to the mid-1980s and is a derivative of the 1960s rock 'n roll.
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Artistic EvolutionThis song was John Foxx's first solo work after leaving the band Ultravox.
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Release Date"Underpass" was released as a single in 1980.
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AlbumThe song is from John Foxx's debut solo album "Metamatic".
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Chart Performance"Underpass" is John Foxx's most successful song, reaching No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Song OriginsThe song was inspired by J.G. Ballard's dystopian novel "Concrete Island" and reflects Foxx's image of a deeply uncaring urban society.
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Unique SoundsInstead of using traditional instruments, the song features synthetic soundscapes, making it groundbreaking for its time.
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Inspirational Impact"Underpass" is often recognized as one of the pioneering tracks that helped shape the sound of modern synth-pop music.
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In Popular CultureThe song has been sampled by various artists, including the electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers for their track "Leave Home".
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RemixesOver the years, "Underpass" has had multiple remixes, including those by the likes of Mark Reeder and John Foxx himself.
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Video ThemeThe music video for the song features an urban landscape, ambient noises, and John Foxx alone in an underpass, showcasing the isolation and dehumanization themes of the song.
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Musical DescriptionThis song is noted for its mechanical yet lush sound and its cold, robotic and monotonous vocals, which enhanced the dystopian and futuristic theme.
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Preservation"Underpass" was part of a reissue of "Metamatic" in 2014, preserving the song for future audiences.
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Critical ReceptionMusic critics generally praised "Underpass" for its innovative and original sound, and for its darkness, which set a new trend in the electronic music of the early 1980s.
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Foxx's ViewJohn Foxx cited "Underpass" as a song where he was able to achieve the sound he envisioned and described it as a 'template' for his future work.
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Citation
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"Underpass Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5138356/John+Foxx/Underpass>.
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