"Space Age Love Song" is a 1982 single released by the British band A Flock of Seagulls. It was their fourth single. Lead guitarist Paul Reynolds remarked on their 1984 video album Through the Looking Glass that, as the band could not come up with a title for the track, he suggested "Space Age Love Song" because he thought it sounded like a space age love song. The song reached the top 30 in the UK and the US in June 1982 and February 1983 respectively.
| "Space Age Love Song" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
| from the album A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 28 May 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Studio | Battery, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:45 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Mike Howlett | |||
| A Flock of Seagulls singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Space Age Love Song" on YouTube | ||||
Background and release
editLead singer Mike Score has said of the song's meaning, ""Space Age" was just about intimacy, if you'd like. When you meet somebody there is an instant eye contact if the chemistry is right. If everything is right, you catch their eye... that whole "across the crowded room/caught your eye" thing. The lyrics explain that: 'I saw your eyes and you made me smile.'"[4]
A music video of the song was produced in 1982 and featured the band miming a performance of the song. The 1982 music video also took place on top of the Danceteria nightclub in New York City.[4] The band made another video in 2018 to coincide with the release of Ascension.[5]
In 2018, a re-recorded version of the song, featuring the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, was released as a 5-track and 8-track special edition EP. It is the first single from the band's sixth album, Ascension.[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Age Love Song" | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Windows" | 3:28 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Age Love Song" (orchestral version) | 5:12 |
| 2. | "Space Age Love Song" (dub version) | 5:45 |
| 3. | "Space Age Love Song" (Tiny Magnetic Pets Remix) | 6:57 |
| 4. | "Space Age Love Song" (Tiny Magnetic Pets Broken Wing Remix) | 6:57 |
| 5. | "Space Age Love Song" (Orcapella One) | 5:13 |
| 6. | "Space Age Love Song" (Orcapella Two) | 5:13 |
| 7. | "Space Age Love Song" (Orchestral Radio Edit) | 3:26 |
| 8. | "Space Age Love Song" (Orchestral Video Edit) | 4:12 |
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1982–1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 68 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 31 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 34 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 30 |
| US Billboard Top Tracks[11] | 59 |
| US Cash Box[12] | 35 |
References
edit- ^ Mella, Alfie (31 July 2019). "A Flock of Seagulls - Inflight (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
"Space Age Love Song" and "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" summed up synth-pop's spaced-out loneliness, dreamy confections imagining absent lovers from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. A Flock of Seagulls - The Best of A Flock of Seagulls (1987): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Prato, Greg (4 June 2018). "Mike Score of A Flock of Seagulls". Songfacts. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Magnet Exclusive: Premiere Of A Flock Of Seagulls' 'Space Age Love Song' Video." Magnet. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ Gray, Julia (7 June 2018). "A Flock of Seagulls' Original Lineup Remade Their Best Song for First Recording in 34 Years". Stereogum. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b "A Flock of Seagulls – Space Age Love Song". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ Space Age Love Song (liner notes). A Flock of Seagulls. Zomba Music Publishers. 2018. ADAY039.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ a b "A Flock of Seagulls – Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 29, 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.