Hi all, I've been lurking around here for awhile, but decided it was time to contribute to this fine and entertaining group! While I'm generally a fan of New Order's music and usually couldn't care less about their personal lives, I have been wondering about something for a long time and perhaps a few of you could enlighten me. It's my understanding that all of the angry, bitter lyrics penned by Barney from about 1987 forward were fueled by a divorce he experienced. Question is: what kind of a f***ed-up relationship was he involved in that caused him to spew fourth album after album of pure unadulterated venom?! For at least four years it seems that he was only capable of writing two types of songs: 1. drugs and 2. "I love you but you hate me so I hate you back even though I still love you in some twisted way." Comments?
Barney's rage
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Danimal wrote: Hi all, I've been lurking around here for awhile, but decided it was time to contribute to this fine and entertaining group! While I'm generally a fan of New Order's music and usually couldn't care less about their personal lives, I have been wondering about something for a long time and perhaps a few of you could enlighten me. It's my understanding that all of the angry, bitter lyrics penned by Barney from about 1987 forward were fueled by a divorce he experienced. Question is: what kind of a f***ed-up relationship was he involved in that caused him to spew fourth album after album of pure unadulterated venom?! For at least four years it seems that he was only capable of writing two types of songs: 1. drugs and 2. "I love you but you hate me so I hate you back even though I still love you in some twisted way." Comments?
What else do you want him to write about? Working in a factory, yacht-sailing, or enviroment crap like Bono?
OK, you have me on the Bono stuff. See, that's why I joined this community; I've looked long and hard for a group of people that hate Bono as much as as I do...
bLuE oRdEr wrote: I like the environment. And Bononos. :)
But I hate 70s smiley faces.
Sure you do :)
Achtung, this is a provocateur!
Danimal wrote: Hi all, I've been lurking around here for awhile, but decided it was time to contribute to this fine and entertaining group! While I'm generally a fan of New Order's music and usually couldn't care less about their personal lives, I have been wondering about something for a long time and perhaps a few of you could enlighten me. It's my understanding that all of the angry, bitter lyrics penned by Barney from about 1987 forward were fueled by a divorce he experienced. Question is: what kind of a f***ed-up relationship was he involved in that caused him to spew fourth album after album of pure unadulterated venom?! For at least four years it seems that he was only capable of writing two types of songs: 1. drugs and 2. "I love you but you hate me so I hate you back even though I still love you in some twisted way." Comments?
I started a similar thread titled (Barneys lyrics. What if...). Check it out!!!
I agree that most of his songwriting comes from whinging, complaining, bitter frustration about failed relationships. Did every new girlfriend that Barney have after his marriage realise that they would get a whole loads of songs written about them???!!
Whats the most complimentary line Barney has written about anyone? Most to me to be nice on the surface but a dig underneath.
"Ive never met anyone like you before"
"Oh I cannot bear the thought of you"
so his lyrics are shite now cos he's happy? Well much as I miss the old ones, i wouldn't wish unhappiness on anyone just so I could hear some good lyrics. I think.
sugarcane wrote: so his lyrics are shite now cos he's happy? Well much as I miss the old ones, i wouldn't wish unhappiness on anyone just so I could hear some good lyrics. I think.
quite yer lying...you would be the first one lined up to kick Barney in the bits if you thought it would get us another True Faith.... 
Shit...I need another lager!
Yes it's true, Barney seems like a tormented soul listening to his lyrics. Now now though, it all stopped in the 90's wouldn't you say?
There was some interview I heard and it was Bernard talking about his lyrics and how they are no longer angry and sad, he said that he only used to whinge in his lyrics but now writes about things outside in the world and not all thoughts from his head, I'm sure there's a few out there that have that interview.
Adam R wrote: Yes it's true, Barney seems like a tormented soul listening to his lyrics. Now now though, it all stopped in the 90's wouldn't you say?
I agree. One may notice the difference starting with "Get ready."
who the fuck writes happy happy joy joy lyrics all the time?... the universal condition of mankind is to be stressed out over something, all life is the process of conflict, unless you are totally braindead or have no aspirations whatsoever.
even if you life finally gets as damn near perfect as you could realistically expect... no matter what you get older
at least Barney tries not to be so melodramatic as most pop/rock... but is also uncomfortable with being to personal, so you often get vague hard to decipher lyrics
Digital Mike Binoche wrote: Barney was at his best when he was on the Pernod, circa 83-84 !
Probably 86-93
Let's get him back on it. You know what to buy him for Christmas.
Danimal wrote: Hi all, I've been lurking around here for awhile, but decided it was time to contribute to this fine and entertaining group! While I'm generally a fan of New Order's music and usually couldn't care less about their personal lives, I have been wondering about something for a long time and perhaps a few of you could enlighten me. It's my understanding that all of the angry, bitter lyrics penned by Barney from about 1987 forward were fueled by a divorce he experienced. Question is: what kind of a f***ed-up relationship was he involved in that caused him to spew fourth album after album of pure unadulterated venom?! For at least four years it seems that he was only capable of writing two types of songs: 1. drugs and 2. "I love you but you hate me so I hate you back even though I still love you in some twisted way." Comments?
I think Bernard's bitter lyrics are some of his best. About his divorce, I think I read somewhere that it was caused by (or at least the last straw was) something Sue had read in an interview Bernard had given. Did any one else read this?
Well, "new girl", it wasn't really an interview which caused all the commotion at the Sumner house back in 1986 but an article in Smash Hits about NO doing some tourdates in the States. The band weren't too keen on talking to the female journalist (only Steve was it appears...), avoided her, so she sort of hit back by detailing Barney's "illicit escapades" (as the NME put it) in LA . Complete with colour pictures of "two American foxtresses pilfering Barney's shorts".
Bit of a low thing to do (to use an understatement). (According to the NME it was "a malevolent piece of scandal") B's wife was obviously not amused and apparently I suppose it resulted in the divorce and all this rage...
Like any person who's inwardly shy or insecure, Barney is capable of an incredible vicious streak. Just look at the legendary "Don't break your fuckin' back, Gillian." onstage comment along with the near-legendary "If I never saw you again it would still be too soon." directed towards Hooky either in '89 during the U.S. tour or near the end of the Republic recordings. Not to mention being an only-child and short of stature, not that any of that really matters 
Oh and 
that dog does not look pleased.
What can I say, it was Halloween and his body is shaped like a loaf of Wonderbread. All my wife's doing...
