“Love is the reason, Faith or treason, Playing a part
End concealing, Try revealing, Open your heart
Dare to feel, Take the chance, Make the deal
But if you can stand the test, You know your worst is better, Than their best”
Released 28th September 1981, ‘Open Your Heart’ was written by Phil Oakey and Jo Callis. Produced by the late Martin Rushent, it’s impossible not to whistle along to Jo’s analogue synth – ‘Playing a part [toot toot toot]…‘. The song was a huge h...
“Love is the reason, Faith or treason, Playing a part
End concealing, Try revealing, Open your heart
Dare to feel, Take the chance, Make the deal
But if you can stand the test, You know your worst is better, Than their best”
Released 28th September 1981, ‘Open Your Heart’ was written by Phil Oakey and Jo Callis. Produced by the late Martin Rushent, it’s impossible not to whistle along to Jo’s analogue synth – ‘Playing a part [toot toot toot]…‘. The song was a huge hit for the Sheffield synth-pop pioneers written specifically for the number one album ‘Dare’ aside it’s other big hits – ‘Don’t You Want Me’ and ‘Love Action’. Released on Virgin Records, it reached number six in the UK singles chart and raised the band’s profile to the highest it had been to that point.
“I had started to work out both those tunes on guitar, playing along to an early drum machine which had about six preset drum patterns, Open Your Heart did translate better on the keyboard and I think we used the same drum machine with the same preset on the original demo which was done in the League’s old 8 track studio in Sheffield“.
Credited with changing the face of British pop, the Human League had the biggest record sales of any act for five years. Their poignant, tongue in cheek lyrics and pioneering sound influenced bands like Pet Shop Boys. Their gender fluid look without compromising their authenticity and Sheffield roots has never been more relevant than it is today.
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