Tainted L-O-V-E (and Soft Cell)
Copyright © 2021
Soft Cell is a British musical band/electronic duo consisting from:
- Mark Almond (Peter Mark Sinclair Almond) – vocals
- Dave Ball (David James Ball) – keyboards and programing
besides their highly important contribution to music, and specifically 80S-music~Dance-Music, both Dave and Mark had other musical projects which they are also famous for.
Most of the band lyrics are about love and affection as well as dark subjects for life, like: nightlife, kinky sex, transvestism, drugs and murder.
The band is notably remembered for hitting the number #1 chart of the UK.
According to ‘top of the pops’ this song was best selling single-record of 1980-1981.
This song was a worldwide hit at that time (which is the main reason for the band’s success onwards), and to this day this song still is a very popular song.
The single ‘Tainted Love – Soft Cell’ has been printed in world-wide distribution, on over 100+ issues of that record (112 issues if to be accurate).
The single’s “sibling version” entitled: ‘Tainted Love/Memorabilia’ has made even a bigger effect over the proceeding music scene, both of these longer tracks were founding ground stone for dance music, especially electronic dance music like techno and electro.
The song was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964. It was composed by Ed Cobb (American musician formerly known for his work with the group ‘The Four Preps’).
I think that the two versions of the song, both by Gloria Jones and Soft Cell, represent the time they were created. Meaning, whereas the Original version of Gloria Jones bringing the sound evolvement of the late 50S-early 60S; Swing and Big Beat. The Soft Cell’s version is a time capsule to the time of early eighties.
If to compare the composition – the two songs are not highly different from each other, but the Soft Cell’s version is much more danceable and ecstatic. Definitely, the main ingredient in this song is the, sophisticated and exciting, use of synthesizers and drum machines.
Both of the singers are epic, and the way they manipulated their voice to fit into the ‘song needs’ takes it to higher levels of sympathy.
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
1) IT JUST SOUNDS GOOD!
Nothing to say rather than that is song speaks for itself – It sounds good. All instruments are equalized and balanced, nothing interrupts each other.
In the documentary movie about the movement of the early synthpop genre ‘Synth Britania’: Soft Cell explained they worked long hours in the studio to improve the sound of the track. Changing, tuning and readjusting – on the way to constantly improving… I think it yielded an excellent result!
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
2) Catchy Lyrics.
The song simply has catchy, repetitive and likable lyrics. (especially in the chorus)
“once I ran to you (I ran)
now I’ll run from you,
this tainted love you’ve given
i gave you all a buy can give you,
take my tears and that’s not nearly all
(clap clap) ohhh’ tainted love….”
I’m sure we all clapped when recognized the moment and sang out loud the rest…
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
3) Video Clips.
The song has two official video clips, which is for that time (again the beginning of the 80S) was another factor of success.
At that time video clips were literally “THE FUTURE”; for a person then, to see a video running on the screen and listen to the song synchronically – it was fascinating.
the second video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZVpR3Pk-r8&ab_channel=SoftCellVEVO
(the first one was attached before)
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
4) The ‘Hook’.
personally, for me the base-line of the song is the ‘Hook’ of the song. Although there are a few ‘Hooks’ for the song like: the claps beginning every 48 bars, the repeated chorus, the backing vocals…
The base-line just gives this song interpretation a funky loosy rhythm, which is maybe the reason it got to be so successful. Surely it is the reason for it to be danceability.
instrumental cover:
live at “Tops Of The Pops” :
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
5) The Record Label.
Soft Cell is one of the leading bands of “Some Bizzar Records”. “Some Bizzare” is a Sub-Label of “Sire” records, but it is an independent record label regarding all artisticcreative-activity decisions.
This is important because at the time record label were a major factor of expotion. Labels are used to identify themselves around certain artists and musical style, so that people can explore and uncover more and more vinyl records they like into their collection.
Some other notable artists in this label are: The The, B-Movie, blancmange, and illustrations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Bizzare_Album
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
6) Emotions.
Apart from the catchy lyrics of this song, which is another part of the ‘Hook’, the story of this song is very emotional.
Although it might seem a bit ambiguous from the lyrics, still it is certain that someone is hurt by a tragic love tale. I think that even beyond the danceability beating drums and the ‘movin’ base-line, a person can have empathy with the lyrics as even if it was a ballad song.
For me, the most symbolic phrase will be:
“… once I ran to you, now I run from you…” – this shifting change in the attitude of the singer towards the lover must have made the listeners to be emphatic and sympathetic with the singer but mostly with the story
SO WHAT MAKES THIS VERSION MEMORABLE?!
7) Covers.
True this song for itself is a cover-song, as I already mentioned earlier…
BUT! this song definitely stands on its own, and has created a new “staple” for other covers. Meaning from now on when artists are covering the song ‘Tainted Love’ they actually cover Soft Cell’s version of the song and not the original one.
Among these artists are: Coil, Marilyn Manson, Black Rainbow, and Pomplamoose, etc.
A cover by Marilyn Manson:
Lastly, as a personal comment, I think this song is a throwback to the 80S. As a fan of 80S music, especially synthpop and new-wave music, this song represents a certain moment in the music scene worldwide. Not only that it also represents a certain type of thinking in producing music – placing the keyboards and synths upfront and having this sound as the lead of the music.
Moreover, beyond this song examination, Soft Cell is a very good symbol and even a model for the musical groups of that time. The way they produced music was unique and innovative, but they were not the only ones. As I said Music-Labels had something to do with this movement (grouping similar bands under the same title). Even more important for that matter is the collaborations and correspondence of musical groups who worked with each other, regardless of genre.
Like: Human League, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Blancmange, Coil, Heaven 17, A-ha, Flock Of Seagulls, Ultravox, Duranduran, and so on… These people were friends and worked with each other to create something; else, different, unique, for that time.
Another cover by Black Rainbow:
(Some pictures to illustrate how the people looked & dressed, and what sort of outbreaking style that was at the time)
1) Soft Cell outside their studio (maybe around 1980-81)
2) New Order – a second formation of the early new-wave band ‘Joy Division’
3) Talking Head – representing the synthpop~groovey-alternative-rock of the New York scene.
4) Duranduran – another British brother to Soft Cell. Duranduran had also many top hits on the billboard of that time. (songs like Save A Prayer lasted on top position long weeks)
5) Adam And The Ants – how brought theatric vibes into the music and performance.
6) Yazoo – also known as Yaz – a musical duo who simply made fusion between synthpop approach and soul vocals-singing.
personally, they are one of my favorite bands of that genre, especially because of the usage and programing-ability that this band brought, which changed the music scene worldwide onwards.
Just another classic picture of Soft Cell to finish with…
Published: Dec 14, 2021
Latest Revision: Dec 14, 2021
Ourboox Unique Identifier: OB-1246464
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