"Genetic Engineering" is a 1983 song by English

electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic co ...

band

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Wirral Peninsula, Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978. The group consists of co-founders Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboar ...

(OMD), released as the first single from their fourth studio album '' Dazzle Ships''. The synthesized speech featured on the track is taken from a Speak & Spell, an educational electronic toy developed by

Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is an American technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that designs and manufactures semiconductors and various integrated circuits, which it sells to electronics designers and manufacturers globall ...

in the 1970s intended to teach children spelling. "Genetic Engineering" reached number 20 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. It was also a Top 20 hit in several European territories, and peaked at number 5 in Spain. In the US it made number 32 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent the middle ground between classic rock and active rock ...

chart.

Reception and legacy

Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand fo ...

'' wrote, "Well worth the wait. OMD's knack of coming up with exhilarating singles has not been affected by their year off... a great tune." Jim Reid in ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...

'' said, "Madly infectious

hook A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...

-line propels a song absolutely dripping with 'moderne' references. A cold record, whose raison d'être lies in the application of studio technology and the manipulation of hackneyed gobbledegook. Should be massive – won't touch my turntable again."Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike. ''Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Messages''.

Sidgwick & Jackson Sidgwick & Jackson is an imprint of book publishing company Pan Macmillan. Formerly it was an independent publisher; as such it was founded in Britain in 1908. Its notable early authors include poet Rupert Brooke and novelist E.M. Forster. In mor ...

. 1987. . p. 115. In ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'', Paul Simper dismissed the track as "a load of old tosh". US critic Ned Raggett praised the "soaring", "enjoyable" single in a retrospective piece for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, asserting, "Why it wasn't a hit remains a mystery." Frontman

Andy McCluskey George Andrew McCluskey (born 24 June 1959) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of the electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), which he founded a ...

has noted that the song is not an attack on

genetic engineering Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including t ...

, as many assumed at the time, including radio presenter

Dave Lee Travis David Patrick Griffin (born 25 May 1945), known professionally as Dave Lee Travis, is an English disc jockey, radio presenter and television presenter. Travis began his broadcasting career on the pirate radio station Radio Caroline in 1965. He ...

upon playing the song on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

. McCluskey stated, "I was very positive about the subject." "People didn't listen to the lyrics... I think they automatically assumed it would be anti." Music journalists have suggested that the first 45 seconds of the song were a direct influence on

Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...

's "Fitter Happier", which appears on that band's 1997 album ''

OK Computer ''OK Computer'' is the third studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in Japan on 21 May 1997 and in the UK on 16 June 1997. Radiohead self-produced the album with Nigel Godrich, an arrangement they have used for their subsequ ...

''. Thoem Weber in ''

Stylus A stylus (plural styli or styluses) is a writing utensil or a small tool for some other form of marking or shaping, for example, in pottery. It can also be a computer accessory that is used to assist in navigating or providing more precision w ...

'' argued that the Radiohead track is "deeply indebted" to "Genetic Engineering". Covers of "Genetic Engineering" were released by

Another Sunny Day Another Sunny Day was an indie pop solo project of Harvey Williams, signed to Sarah Records. Williams later recorded two albums under his own name. History The band was a solo project for Harvey Williams (born in Newlyn, Cornwall), started whil ...

and

Eggs Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...

B-side

The song "4-Neu" was featured on the B-side of both the 7" and 12" versions. It was not included on the '' Dazzle Ships'' album and remained exclusive to this release until its inclusion on '' Navigation: The OMD B-Sides'' (2001), and then on the remastered special edition of ''Dazzle Ships'' in 2008. The song continues the band's tradition of including more experimental tracks as B-sides to singles. Its title is a tribute to German

krautrock Krautrock (also called , German for ) is a broad genre of experimental rock Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments ...

band

Neu! Neu! (; German for "New!"; styled in block capitals) were a West German krautrock band formed in Düsseldorf in 1971 by Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother following their departure from Kraftwerk. The group's albums were produced by Conny Plank, w ...

, who were an important influence on McCluskey and keyboardist

Paul Humphreys Paul David Humphreys (born 27 February 1960) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who is best known for his contributions to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), a new wave band which he founded alongside Andy McCluskey in 1978. ...

prior to OMD. "4-Neu" was never performed live until the special performance of ''Dazzle Ships'' at The Museum of Liverpool in November 2014 and at the ''Dazzle Ships / Architecture & Morality'' live performances in London and Germany in May 2016.

Track listing

7" vinyl single and 7" picture disc

* UK: Telegraph VS 527 Side one # "Genetic Engineering" – 3:37 Side two # "4-NEU" – 3:33

12" vinyl single

* UK: Telegraph VS 527-12 Side one # "Genetic Engineering" (312mm version) – 5:18 Side two # "4-NEU" – 3:33

Charts

Promo video

A promotional video for "Genetic Engineering" was directed by Steve Barron and is included on the '' Messages: Greatest Hits'' CD/DVD release (2008). The video features a number of genetics-related books, some of which McCluskey later borrowed. "Not my favourite video" he said, although it features a "couple of interesting moments, with Mally and

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

as the

Kray brothers Ronald Kray (24 October 193317 March 1995) and Reginald Kray (24 October 19331 October 2000) were identical twin brothers, gangsters and convicted criminals. They were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in the East End of London, Eng ...

!" The

Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to: * Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct Automobiles * Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...

used in the clip was owned by comedian

Mel Smith Melvyn Kenneth Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013) was an English comedian, actor and director. Smith worked on the sketch comedy shows ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' and ''Alas Smith and Jones'' with his comedy partner, Griff Rhys Jones. S ...

. The girl featured is the actress Joann Kenny.

Alternative versions and live performances

Apart from the extended '312mm version' the band also recorded the song for a

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

radio session in 1983. This version was made available on '' Peel Sessions 1979–1983'' (2000). OMD played the song live on '' The Tube'' during its first series in February 1983. The song was performed live during the ''Dazzle Ships'' promotional tour but rarely since then, until more recent performances in 2014 and 2016.

References

{{authority control 1983 singles Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark songs Songs written by Andy McCluskey Songs about science 1983 songs Songs written by Paul Humphreys Virgin Records singles