The beautifully-realized atmosphere of “Vienna” is crafted in part by lyrics that suggest emotions instead of outlining hard details. This does not just apply to execution of the music. The song’s restraint of composition is its strength, keeping its more sensational moments from coming off as overblown melodrama. “Vienna” excels at creating a mood suggestive of reflection, despair, and longing. Oddly enough, it was kept from the top slot first by a pair of singles by then-recently slain ex-Beatle John Lennon, then by Joe Dolce’s novelty hit “Shaddup You Face”.Īlthough it never reached the top of the charts, “Vienna” is nonetheless Ultravox’s greatest triumph. Released in January 1981, “Vienna” hovered at number two on the UK Singles Chart in the early part of the year. In fact, the song was so strong that Ultravox’s record label, Chrysalis, changed the band’s fourth album title name to Vienna from the less straightforward Torque Point. “Vienna” proved Ultravox was ready for another shot. Not long before the song was recorded, original frontman John Foxx had departed the group, and his replacement, Midge Ure, arrived in the middle of a group whose chance at stardom was widely considered to be long past. At the dawn of the 1980s, the group was in a precarious situation. The single “Vienna” was an affirmation for struggling synthpop pioneers Ultravox. The song is nothing less than poised grandeur, mourning a deep loss in a somber, moving fashion. It smolders for a while then, as keyboards enter like rays of sunlight, the voice bursts out into full force in a cry verging on the operatic, punctuated by delicate piano keys. A synthesizer whines as a voice wafts in like a cold wind over the sparse backdrop. It begins with a drumbeat that pulses like a human heart but sounds more like shutters flapping in an empty manor. Thursday, Oct 29, 2009by AJ Ramirez posted in PopMatters The songs famous line `this means nothing to me, Oh Vienna` is teased out and explained eloquently by Ramirez and is a searching description of a song that defined the feeling of a musical genre.įull Text shared below, original text location PopMattes here. `Vienna` excels at creating a mood suggestive of reflection, despair, and longing. “The feeling is gone / Only you and I / It means nothing to me / This means nothing to me / Oh, Vienna”ĪJ Ramirez writing for PopMatters, describes synth pop pioneers Ultravox`s decade defining post punk song `Vienna` as their greatest triumph.
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