Space Age Love Song

Album: A Flock Of Seagulls (1982)
Charted: 34 30
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In a Songfacts interview with Mike Score, the Flock frontman revealed the meaning behind this song. "'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.'"
  • The title doesn't appear in the lyric. When they were working on it, someone mentioned that it sounded "space age," and that it was "like a space age love song." They wrote down "Space Age Love Song" as a working title, and it stuck. It's far more memorable than anything they could have culled from the lyric, like "I Saw Your Eyes" or "I Was Falling In Love."
  • A Flock Of Seagulls reached great heights with a mix of synthesizer and guitar that sounded futuristic. They embraced a space theme, leading off US versions of their self-titled debut album with "I Ran (So Far Away)," which includes an alien abduction. That was their first hit in America and by far their best-known song in that country. "Space Age Love Song" came next and made a respectable showing at #30 but didn't get the MTV airplay of "I Ran," which limited its success. Their next single, "Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)," reached #26.

    In their native UK (they're from Liverpool), "I Ran" was the worst-performing of the three, and "Wishing" was their big hit.
  • The music video was directed by Anthony Van Den Ende, who also did "I Ran." Unlike that one, which featured mirrors, a rotating camera, and girls, the "Space Age Love Song" video was just the band performing in the fog - a competent effort, but not enough to engage the MTV audience. It did, however, feature Mike Score's fascinating hairdo, which resembled a bird in flight.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.