Souvenir (song)

"Souvenir" is a song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper of English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and released as the first single from the group's 1981 album ''Architecture & Morality''. Sung by Humphreys, the track is characterised by its use of slowed-down choral loops, and showcases OMD's early approach of utilising a synthesizer hook in place of a vocal chorus. The song has garnered praise from critics and fellow artists.

"Souvenir" became an international hit for the band. Peaking at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, it remains the group's highest-charting single in their home country, along with 1991's "Sailing on the Seven Seas". The song also reached the Top 10 in several European countries, including topping the charts in Spain and Portugal.

History

A tape consisting of slowed-down loops of a choir tuning up lent by ex-OMD member Dave Hughes had been the initial inspiration for the song. The composition was difficult, and the group was initially tempted to abandon the track. It was originally titled "The Choir Song" and the working title remained up until the final week for Peter Saville's artwork delivery.

Keyboard player Paul Humphreys provided lead vocals and had co-written the song with Martin Cooper who had played live with OMD and was becoming part of the group. A synthesizer hook substitutes for a vocal chorus, as with other OMD compositions. Frontman and co-founder Andy McCluskey was not a fan of the track. He said in 1987, "I think you can always make a better case for a song you've written on your own... But everyone seems to think I hated 'Souvenir' just because it was Paul's song – not so. I genuinely thought it was a bit soppy, and since I hadn't written it, I found it hard to relate to."

An extended version of Souvenir (with an additional verse) was released as a 10" single and was later included as a bonus on the digitally remastered copies of ''Architecture & Morality''. It was the second time the group had used this unusual release format, the first being the 10" single for " Messages" in May 1980.

Unlike successive hit singles "Joan of Arc" and " Maid of Orleans" from the ''Architecture & Morality'' album, "Souvenir" has never been reissued as a standalone CD single release.

The title of the track was used for a documentary DVD about the reformed OMD, released in 2007 by Aspect Television.

Reception

'' Cashbox'' named "Souvenir", and "Did It in a Minute" by Hall & Oates, as their top "singles picks" for the week of 20 March 1982. The magazine called "Souvenir" an "insidiously catchy and melodic synthesizer glissando", and OMD's "strongest U.S. bid yet". Sunie Fletcher of ''Record Mirror'' described the track as a "pleasant slowie" that is "very reminiscent of French movie music", while the ''Vancouver Sun''s Neal Hall said it "underscores the band's talent at writing subtle, intelligent pop songs". Peter Silverton of ''Smash Hits'' was less enthused, portraying the track as "ethereal but rather hollow". The magazine later expressed an alternate view, observing a "strong" single that features 1981's "intro of the year".

"Souvenir" entered the UK Singles Chart on 25 August 1981 at no. 41, reaching no. 23 the following week. It was featured for the first time on ''Top of the Pops'' two days later, helping the single to enter the Top 10 the next week, and then reach its peak of no. 3 on 15 September. "Souvenir" was the 28th best-selling single in the UK in 1981.

Retrospectively, Ned Raggett of AllMusic praised Humphreys' "warm and beautiful lead role" and described the mid-song instrumental break as "especially inspired". ''Classic Pop''s Mark Lindores called it a "shimmering synth-pop masterpiece", while ''Trouser Press'' hailed the track as "magnificent" and "one of the most majestic singles of the post-punk era". ''Music Week'' identified "Souvenir" as a "choral classic" and one of "the world's greatest songs".

Legacy

In ''Record Mirror'', critics Alf Martin and Daniela Soave each listed "Souvenir" as one of the 10 best singles of 1981; ''Smash Hits'' readers placed it fourth. ''Classic Pop'' later ranked the single as the 34th-greatest of the 1980s. Having gained limited mainstream airplay since its initial chart success, "Souvenir" was mentioned in the IPC Media special ''501 Lost Songs'' as a "classic piece of early '80s melancholy". It has nevertheless been featured on numerous 1980s compilation albums, as well as in the BBC
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