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

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.