That Was Then But This Is Now by ABC

Album: Beauty Stab (1983)

Charted: 18 89

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

The lyrics, "Can't complain, mustn't grumble, help yourself to another piece of crumble" was criticized by Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera as embodying all that was bad in modern pop. In a 2007 poll conducted by the radio station BBC 6Music, this came out on top as the worst ever lyric.

Please sign in or register to post comments.

Comments: 1

Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 31st 1983, ABC performed "That Was Then, But This Is Now” on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Just under a month later on January 29th, 1984 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #95; though it only peaked at #89 it did reach #13 in Ireland...
On the same 'Bandstand' show the British quartet also performed "S.O.S."; it reached #39 in the United Kingdom but didn't chart in the U.S.A.

see more comments

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.