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Always (Erasure song)

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"Always"
Single by Erasure
from the album I Say I Say I Say
B-side"Tragic"
Released11 April 1994 (1994-04-11)[1]
Genre
Length3:57
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Martyn Ware
Erasure singles chronology
"Who Needs Love Like That" (Hamburg Mix)
(1992) 		"Always"
(1994) 		"Run to the Sun"
(1994)
Erasure singles chronology
"Storm in a Teacup"
(2007) 		"Always" (2009 Remix)
(2009) 		"Phantom Bride" (2009 Remaster)
(2009)
Music video
"Always" on YouTube

"Always" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure. The ballad was released on 11 April 1994 as the first single from their sixth studio album, I Say I Say I Say (1994). Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it was produced by Martyn Ware. Mute Records issued the single in the United Kingdom, and Elektra Records released it in the United States.

The song became Erasure's 14th top-10 single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four. In the United States, the single became Erasure's third top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 20—six years after their last major US pop hit. On the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, the single climbed to number six. In Europe, "Always" reached number two in Austria and Sweden, number three in Finland, number four in Iceland, and number five in Germany. Its music video was directed by Jan Kounen.

Composition

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The song is built on synthesized instruments and with Clarke and Bell's subdued vocals and lyrics. The song's chorus features an unusual time signature change from 4/4 to 5/4 for the final line (in which the lyrics are "Harmony, harmony, oh love").

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard stated that the song "glides along at a slick, compu-hip pace. Andy Bell has rarely sounded as good as he does here, contrasting the icy-smooth synth nature of Martyn Ware's production with a warm, well-shaded vocal. The tune is embellished with faster trance beats that fit current trends extremely well, without sacrificing the catchy hook."[5] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box felt that "flamboyant frontman Bell's voice is as smooth and bittersweet as ever, a nifty companion to Clarke's upbeat programming and producer Martyn Ware’s almost industrial style."[6] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly called it a "lament" and a "moving declaration of undying love." He noted Bell's "pained, naked wisp of a voice dips upward in the chorus ("I want to be with you")."[7] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said the song is "execeptional, mid-tempo Euro-pop".[3] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian viewed it as "timeless".[8] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "One of the best singles they have released for years, the anthemic pop song is sure to hang around the upper reaches for a few weeks yet."[9] Peter Paphides from Melody Maker commented, "A bittersweet feast of feelings, with Andy Bell's ethereally lachrymose moan tantalising and trapping you forever with a chorus so ravishing that even The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" sounds like The Toy Dolls by comparison. Truly the work of angels."[10]

Mario Tarradell for The Miami Herald deemed it as "bouncy fun" and "ideal summer fare – light, bubbly and innocuous."[11] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Nobody can continue the early '80s like them. Flashbacks of the prototypes of synthesisers come to mind when receiving these Martian sounds bleeping through a prosaic pop song."[12] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it five out of five, describing it as "busy, perky pop with the deftest of touches, this is another hugely commercial and nicely understated piece enlivened by Vince Clarke's tickering synths and Andy Bell's warm contralto."[13] John Kilgo from The Network Forty deemed it "an interesting techno pop number".[14] Keith Cameron of NME was negative in his review, writing that the "inconsequential Martyn Ware-produced tinkle-plop has all the allure of a Eurovision Song Contest entry circa 1982".[15] A reviewer from People Magazine felt that Bell's "quasi-operatic vocals continue to lend color and depth to Clarke's effete synthetic grooves".[16] Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, calling it "a nice catchy tune with strange squiggly bits and electronic noises. The annoying thing is that this could have been one of their great records if they had upped the pace and really gone for it."[17] Dardy Chang from Stanford Daily described it as "cheesy yet pretty", noting that the song "begs you to sing along".[18]

Retrospective response

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AllMusic editor Ned Raggett described "Always" as a "wonderful ballad" with a "slightly quirky opening, strong verses both musically and lyrically, and a flat-out brilliant chorus, Bell's impassioned delivery one of his finest moments."[19] John Hamilton from Idolator ranked the song among "The 50 Best Pop Singles of 1994" in 2014, describing it as a "bleep-bloopy disco ballad featuring some of Andy Bell’s most delicate vocals to-date."[2] Same year, Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly stated, "They made a triumphant return with "Always", a divine synth-pop ballad that proved irresistible to pop radio."[4] In 2009, Darren Lee from The Quietus called it a "surefooted day-glo" pop anthem, "which fitted seamlessly into the canon".[20]

Chart performance

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"Always" entered the top 10 in Austria (2), Denmark (5), Finland (3), Germany (5), Iceland (4), Ireland (7), Spain (8), Sweden (2), and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where the single reached number four in May 1994. In the UK, it peaked at number four during its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on 17 April 1994.[21] It became Erasure's 13th top-10 single on the chart and spent two weeks at that position. Additionally, "Always" was a top-20 hit in Belgium (19) and a top-30 hit in both Italy (23) and Switzerland (23). Outside Europe, the song reached number six on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart and number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 17 on the US Cash Box Top 100, number 19 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and number 78 in Australia.

"Always" earned a gold record in Germany, after 250,000 singles were shipped, and a silver record in the United Kingdom, with sales and streams of 200,000 units.

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Always" features Andy Bell in a Chinese scroll painting-inspired backdrop; it was directed by the Dutch-French filmmaker Jan Kounen. The singer appears as a mystical figure flying into a wintery garden, where he finds a woman standing in the cold by a pavilion. She is covered with snow and her eyes are closed. He uses his magical abilities, throws a magic ball in the air. Suddenly flowers are blooming and it becomes summer in the garden. The woman wakes up. Bell picks flowers for her and combs her hair. Suddenly, a dark dragon-like creature appears and it gets dark and wintery in the garden. Bell must defend the woman against the creature, who now has the magic ball and makes a huge snowball that the two are being caught in. Frozen in the snow, Bell manages to use the magic ball, so that it becomes summer again. The creature is fought and falls to the ground. The video ends with Bell flying away from the woman in the summery garden.[22]

"Always" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe[23] and was A-listed on Germany's VIVA.[24]

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Always"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[70] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

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The song has been covered live as an intro piece by synthpop musician MNDR. In 2012 the experimental rock band Xiu Xiu covered the song for a Record Store Day single.

[edit]

The 2009 mix of the song (found on Pop! Remixed and on Total Pop! The First 40 Hits) is featured in the Robot Unicorn Attack video game.[72]

References

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  1. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 9 April 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hamilton, John (20 November 2014). "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1994 (Featuring New Interviews With Ace Of Base, TLC, Lisa Loeb, Real McCoy & Haddaway)". Idolator. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b Sholin, Dave (8 April 1994). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 50. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Gerard, Chris (17 September 2014). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (16 April 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  6. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (23 April 1994). "Pop Singles: Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  7. ^ Browne, David (29 July 1994). "Top Summer Singles". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  8. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (20 May 1994). "Music: What a drag! - Pop/rock". The Guardian.
  9. ^ Masterton, James (17 April 1994). "Week Ending April 23rd 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  10. ^ Paphides, Peter (9 April 1994). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 27. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  11. ^ Tarradell, Mario (6 July 1994). "Album Reviews: Erasure, I Say I Say I Say". p. 7E. The Miami Herald.
  12. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 April 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  13. ^ Jones, Alan (26 March 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  14. ^ Kilgo, John (1 July 1994). "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 22. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  15. ^ Cameron, Keith (9 April 1994). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 43.
  16. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: I Say, I Say, I Say". People. 20 June 1994. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  17. ^ Frith, Mark (13 April 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 59. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  18. ^ Chang, Dardy (26 May 1994). "spins". Stanford Daily. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  19. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Erasure - I Say, I Say, I Say". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  20. ^ Lee, Darren (27 February 2009). "Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Erasure - Always (Official HD Music Video)". YouTube. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 June 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne" (PDF). Music & Media. 28 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  25. ^ Always (UK CD1 liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. CD Mute 152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Always (Australian CD1 liner notes). Erasure. Liberation Records, Mute Records. 1994. D11710.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Always (Australian cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Liberation Records, Mute Records. 1994. C11710.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Always (Japanese CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. PCCY-00563.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Always (UK CD2 liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. LCD Mute 152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ Always (Australian CD2 liner notes). Erasure. Liberation Records, Mute Records. 1994. D11796.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ Always (Australian remix cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Liberation Records, Mute Records. 1994. C11796.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ Always (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. Mute 152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ Always (UK cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. C Mute 152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ Always (US cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records, Elektra Records. 1994. 64552-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ^ Always (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. 12 Mute 152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  36. ^ Always (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records, Elektra Records. 1994. 66225-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. ^ Always (US 12-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records, Elektra Records. 1994. 0-66225.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  39. ^ "Erasure – Always" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  40. ^ "Erasure – Always" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2557." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  42. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 19. 7 May 1994. p. 13. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  43. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 19. 7 May 1994. p. 11. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 June 1994. p. 30. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  45. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-31-2503-5.
  46. ^ "Erasure – Always" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  47. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40". DV (in Icelandic). 7 July 1994. p. 16. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  48. ^ 12 April 1994 (#1 two weeks)
  49. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Erasure" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  50. ^ "Latvian Airplay Top 20". lanet.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  51. ^ "M-1 TOP 40". M-1.fm. 15 May 1994. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  52. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  53. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  54. ^ "Erasure – Always". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  55. ^ "Erasure – Always". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  56. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 2 April 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  57. ^ "Erasure Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  58. ^ "Erasure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  59. ^ "Erasure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  60. ^ "Erasure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  61. ^ "Erasure Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  62. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  63. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1994". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  64. ^ "1994 in Review Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  65. ^ "Top 100 Singles-Jahrescharts – 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  66. ^ "Árslistinn 1994". DV (in Icelandic). 2 January 1995. p. 16. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  67. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  68. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 9. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  69. ^ "The Year in Music 1994 – Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. YE-26. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  70. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Erasure; 'Always')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  71. ^ "British single certifications – Erasure – Always". British Phonographic Industry. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  72. ^ Gillen, Kieron (30 December 2010). "Page 2 | Games of 2010: Robot Unicorn Attack". Eurogamer.
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