Goodbye '70s

Album: Upstairs at Eric's (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Alison Moyet was a 17-year-old punk rocker when she wrote "Goodbye '70s" in 1978. She ended up recording it for Upstairs at Eric's, the 1982 debut album by Yazoo, her duo with Vince Clarke, formerly of Depeche Mode.

    "When I was a punk I believed I'd always be a punk," Moyet explained. "'Goodbye '70's was my 17-year-old self reacting to the wake up call that everything will change. It will."

    In England, where she was based, this was a time of tribalism in music and fashion as punk rock was ceding ground to the New Romantic movement. Note the line, "I'm tired of fighting in your fashion war." Somewhat ironic that her punk screed ended up becoming a new wave song.
  • Yazoo (known as Yaz in America, where there was already a group called Yazoo) were an unlikely pairing, with Vince Clarke bringing his synth-pop expertise and Moyet steeped in blues music. The pairing worked very well; they were supposed to record just one single ("Only You") but ended up making two albums. They didn't get along particularly well and did their songwriting separately, but did come together in 2008 for a reunion tour. Post Yazoo, Clarke formed Erasure and Moyet went solo; her debut album, Alf, was released in 1984 and went to #1 in the UK.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New Words

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."