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 third single from their fifth studio album, ''
Junk Culture
''Junk Culture'' is the fifth studio album by English electronic music, electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 30 April 1984 by Virgin Records. After the commercial disappointment of the Experimental music, experime ...
'' (1984). It peaked at No. 21 in the UK and Ireland, and No. 8 on the Dutch Top 40. Although only moderately successful on the charts, it became one of the group's biggest
club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a '' Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises ...
Martha Ladly
Martha Jane Ladly is a Canadian academic, designer and musician. She is a professor of design at OCAD University. Ladly also has had a long career as a musician and achieved international fame as part of rock band Martha and the Muffins. She ha ...
, who had also suggested the title of their third studio album ''
Architecture & Morality
''Architecture & Morality'' is the third studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 6 November 1981 by Dindisc. Inspired by religious music, the group sought to broaden their musical palette by u ...
'' (1981). Tesla is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern
alternating current
Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in whic ...
(AC) electricity supply system. "The references to
electric chair
An electric chair is a device used to execute an individual by electrocution. When used, the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes fastened on the head and leg. This execution method, ...
s and
dynamo
file:DynamoElectricMachinesEndViewPartlySection USP284110.png, "Dynamo Electric Machine" (end view, partly section, )
A dynamo is an electrical generator that creates direct current using a commutator (electric), commutator. Dynamos were the f ...
s is actually a reference to dynamos which was essential for the use of the alternating current and anything electrical basically," said
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 ...
in an online Q&A session in 1998.
Critical reception and legacy
"Tesla Girls" met with a few detractors on release. Singer
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, 18 November 1960) is an English pop singer, DJ and television presenter. She first saw success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which peaked at No. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award f ...
, whose work had been influenced by OMD, called the song "inane and monotonous". On the other hand, ''
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 ...
'' categorised the single as "recommended", while observing "nervous electronics and obscure lyrics by one of the new wave's trendsetting bands".
In retrospective articles, critics have directed praise toward the track's "witty" and "clever" lyrics, as well as its scratch production; favourable comparisons have been made to American rock duo Sparks.Raggett, Ned ''Junk Culture'' review
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 ...
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 ...
commended the song's melody and "brilliant, hyperactive intro", identifying it as "the group's high point when it comes to sheer sprightly pop". Music journalist Dave Thompson described the track as "anthemic" and "a quintessential dance number". ''
Louder Than War
''Louder Than War'' is a music and culture website and magazine focusing on mainly alternative arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication that was started by journalist John Robb in 2010 and is now ru ...
'' critic Paul Scott-Bates wrote that "'Tesla Girls' is as perfect as pop singles get".
The song became one of OMD's biggest
club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a '' Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises ...
hits, and appeared in
KROQ
KROQ-FM (106.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Pasadena, California, serving Greater Los Angeles. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock format known as "The World Famous KROQ" (pronounced "kay-rock").
The st ...
and ''
Slicing Up Eyeballs
''Slicing Up Eyeballs'' is an American website dedicated to rock music, in particular 1980s college rock. Founded in 2009 by journalist and music critic Matt Sebastian, the site publishes content including news, interviews, and polls. It has been ...
'' rankings of 1984's best tracks.
Versions
Several versions of the song exist in recorded form, including two new versions coming to light on the deluxe re-issue of the ''Junk Culture'' album in 2015.
* original ''Junk Culture'' album version (1984) — 3:51
* 7" edit (1984) — 3.26
* 12" version (1984) — 4.25
* 12" 'extra remix' (1984) — 3.37
* 12" (US only) 'specially remixed version' (1984) 5.03 — also includes an instrumental version (4.43) and a 'video version' (3.26)
* compilation album version — 3.34 (used on compilation albums such as The Best of OMD and
The OMD Singles
''The OMD Singles'' is a singles compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1998. It reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. Originally, the compilation was to include a second disc of new remixes; however, this idea ...
)
* 'extended mix' — 4.44, as featured on the ''So80s OMD'' remix compilation album (2011)
* ''Junk Culture'' Deluxe re-issue version (2015) — 3.36 (replacing the original album track)
* Highland Studios Demo (1983) — 4.01, bonus track featured on ''Junk Culture'' deluxe re-issue (2015)
An early live version from 1983 also exists in
bootleg
Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to:
* Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially
* Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence:
** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...
form.
B-sides
The 7" release features a live version of the '' Dazzle Ships'' track and single "
Telegraph
Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas p ...
" recorded in 1983 at the
Hammersmith Odeon
The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. The intro to another ''Dazzle Ships'' track, "Radio Waves", can be heard in the fade-out.
The 12" and cassette releases feature a new song, "Garden City", which remained exclusive to this release until it was featured on the B-sides album '' Navigation: The OMD B-Sides'', released in 2001.
Track listing
7" and 7" picture disc
# "Tesla Girls" – 3:26
# "Telegraph" (live) – 3:57
First 12"
# "Tesla Girls" (extended version) – 4:35
# "Garden City" – 4:05
# "Telegraph" (live) – 3:57
Second 12" and cassette
# "Tesla Girls" (Extra Remix) – 3:37
# "Garden City" – 4:05
# "Telegraph" (live) – 3:57
# "Tesla Girls" (extended version) – 4:35
US 12" (A&M Records – SP-12120)
# Tesla Girls (Specially Remixed Version) – 5:03
# Tesla Girls (Instrumental Version) – 4:43
# Tesla Girls (Video Version) – 3:26