The definitive New Order song

I bet some of you probably think it should be Blue Monday or Regret or something, but actually my choice would be "Sooner Than You Think", off of 1985's Low Life.

The song came at a time when New Order had mastered their eclectic style, and this song is a culmination of everything. Sweet Jangle Pop, Hooky's drugged up bass riff, more groove oriented electronics, a danceable beat during the verse, and lyrics which seem like they could be very deep and painful but covered up in vague afterthoughts- "oh you know what I mean, yes you do!"...The "we had a party in our hotel last night" line is so visual, you could just imagine the scene almost, but the lyrics don't make a whole lot of sense, which is kind of the point but there's something under the surface that Barney is a little too bashful to bring out....Classic New Order aesthetic...

Plus, a great jam section part with Barney sort of riff-soloing while all the electronics and Hook are right there with him. An unexplainable sadness underlies the song, but it's not too overt, and not meloncholic at all....One of the group's finest compositions, and so well arranged musically.

No Holiday Jay

Fine choice, and it's from their best album. I am inclined to concur. That whole album IS their finest moment...every track is killer. Oh you know, what I mean, yes you do!

We all have our own definitive New Order song. Mine just also happens to be my favourite New Order song.

Which one is your favorite, NOOLigan??

Jon Murphy wrote: Which one is your favorite, NOOLigan??

Open my profile, or read the lyrics below my avatar. LOL. I can't believe that some people here still don't know this.

My bad...see, I don't think I've heard that tune. Honest. What album is it off of?

Nevermind, I do have it on the Best of CD...I've only been here at the New order site for a hot minute so forgive me for not recognizing your fav. song.

My fave track is True Faith but for definitive, I might have to nominate Dream Attack - the closer of my favourite album ever.

In fact - I'm gonna put it on right now. :)

Dreams never end...for obvious reasons

The full length version of "Perfect Kiss", probably.
Says it all.

DandruffyPerson wrote: The full length version of "Perfect Kiss", probably.
Says it all.

Altho' not my favourite,it sums up N.O. completely.Everything is there

Anyone for a bit of Jetstream ?

Probably Regret for me, it isn't my favourite one but it does encapsulate all the necessary great NO ingredients.

oldmonkey wrote: Probably Regret for me, it isn't my favourite one but it does encapsulate all the necessary great NO ingredients.

yes.DNE and Regret - once again for obvious reasons :)

Well, New Order are both a rock and dance group, so for that reason I nominate True Faith and Crystal. True Faith is what got me into the band to begin with, and Crystal was such an insanely strong comeback song, and probably tyhe most recognised track by people outside of NOOL, other than Blue Monday.

The definitive NO song!? Good grievances...

There are so many of them, in my opinion, but I think I'll narrow it down to 5, from 5 to 1, explaining my top choice...

5] Regret. 4] Someone Like You. 3] Procession. 2] Ceremony.

...and at the top is my favorite, and I'll tell y'all why.

When you've got some extremely quirky lyrics [come on, 'Tonight I should've stayed at home/playing with my pleasure zone' is probably the most jawdropping chuckle-worthy quirky lyrics I've ever heard!], pair it with a killer bass from Hooky, one very addictive drumbeat from the human drumming machine, and with the help of Gillian an amazing eclecto-electronic crash-up of guitars, cowbell, drumpad, synths and bass...

it results in one Helen of Troy of an awesome 9 and a half minutes of pure bliss.

And that's why in my opinion 'The Perfect Kiss' is the definitive NO song.

DNE is my Fav New Order song....it's like their intro to their whole career...sums up what they are all about....I don't think it is their definitive tune....I still consider Ceremony as a Joy Division song...

Dracula's Castle

I really love True Faith. But this has all been done before.But my votes for True Faith.

Yeah, I also agree with the BLT and Temptation choices, too. Because with New Order, there's so many dimensions to their music and style that really no one single song could really summarize it all up. So, I say Perfect Kiss/BLT/Temptation/Regret/Blue Monday. :D That'll cover most... or all bases to a decent point.

Spotnick wrote: It has to be Bizarre Love Triangle.

The album version as all the elements of a song you need to find for any New Order "trademark", and it ended up being the best dance remix as well.

I still wonder how Armand Van Helden managed to create a monster with his remix while all other remixes did it justice (Shep, Richard X and Crystal Method).

But for sentimental reasons, you could also pick Bernard's favorite... Temptation.

yeahh...Temptation would be the definitive NO song for me too!. In Second place Ceremony!!

Temptation or Regret. Temptation probably, an absolute classic.

I would say Temptation is the definitive New Order song....

Although temptation is my fave IO'd have to say that Perfect Kiss is the definining NO song IMHO.

For me it has to be 'Age Of Consent'.This track kind of marks the end of Joy Division and well......... a New Order.

TPK 12"

and if you disagree, go fuck yourself.

Always have been "Ceremony"!

I love Bizzare love traingle, ceremony and temptation-they define the band for me - but think my favourite is sub-culture!

I'd probably have to say either Procession or TPK 12" Their different types of song, but both encapsulate the NO 'sound'

I think Sirens' comes quite close as well, especially cos of Barney's vocals

Temptation '87

The choice of song here depends on what exactly is meant by "definitive". If you mean the song that set the template for the band's sound, you'd have to opt for 'Blue Monday' or 'The Perfect Kiss'. If it means a kind of "text book" New Order song, that has all the typical elements that define their sound, I'd actually have to go for 'Primitive Notion' - quite late on in their career, but to me that has everything you'd expect of a New Order record, including that dreamy melancholic chorus.

Other than that, we're once more talking about what our "favourite" NO song is!

Andy

Good point Mr D

We all have your personal favourites but to be honest it would be difficult to look beyond Blue Monday, True Faith, BLT, Temptation, or Perfect Kiss as THE New Order track.

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: TPK 12"

and if you disagree, go fuck yourself.

...hehehehe - I agree - absofcukenlutely infcukencredible !...

Rosie wrote: I love Bizzare love traingle, ceremony and temptation-they define the band for me - but think my favourite is sub-culture!

oldmonkey wrote: Probably Regret for me, it isn't my favourite one but it does encapsulate all the necessary great NO ingredients.

Ditto!

Or Crystal.............

"we break easy........ i'm a poor man if you leave me.." New Order splitting up...........

:bag:

Sunrise has everything. The live at the hacienda version is the best though.

I first heard it live at Womad 85 - Just blew me away favorite band ever since.

If it was possible to choose. Just one song as definitive to give someone. Whether they'd ever heard the Band or not. Temptation. Live from the mid- late 80s.

Just for the record, Sooner Than You Think is not my favorite New Order song. But it is in the vicinity of some of my many favorite New Order songs, which include Everythings Gone Green, Temptation 87, True Faith, Everyone Everywhere, Vanishing Point, Weirdo, This Time Of Night, Crystal, Confusion, and Guilt Is A Useless Emotion.

Sooner Than You Think, however, I feel personally is definitive because if you played the song for anyone they would get a risk of what New Order really is and see and hear multiple sides of them blended into a flowing masterwork.

J

Boatraceface wrote: Anyone for a bit of Jetstream ?

& how can you have a definitive N.O. song sung by Hooky??!!

He sings on 2 out of over a 100,& that can be classed as definitive!!! Some people don't get these posts do they & just put their fav'!! & surely,considering their influence in melding rock,dance & electronics,it has to be a song containing these rather than a pure guitar track?? Hence TPK,Temptation,EGG etc.? :\ohwell:

HURT

Easy...Murder or Fine time:D

Just kidding. I would pick Regret. Its got a sunny yet meloncholy feel to it. A trademark Hooky bass riff, keyboards, guitar and drums all present and a decent vocal with usual obscure lyrics.

'BLUE MONDAY' for very obvious reasons.

One of my very favs too !

Otherwise : 'Here to stay !' because you've got everything there : a very catchy tune, ultra danceable , quirky lyrics + lots from both Joy Divsion/NewOrder... In my humble opinion.

the perfect kiss,,,,,seem to remember barney writing lyrics to that on the spot at nottingham 84..

its just a massive song with all the band having something to add to the mix..

when you are alone at night..

Probably EGG.

Hurt is my favorite though.

kel wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Anyone for a bit of Jetstream ?

& how can you have a definitive N.O. song sung by Hooky??!!

He sings on 2 out of over a 100,& that can be classed as definitive!!! Some people don't get these posts do they & just put their fav'!! & surely,considering their influence in melding rock,dance & electronics,it has to be a song containing these rather than a pure guitar track?? Hence TPK,Temptation,EGG etc.? :\ohwell:

HOOKY??! I take it you're tongue-in-cheekily referring to Ana Matronic?

Andy

perfect kiss

this thread is bollocks! No such thing as a definative song.......maybe an album or a compilation, but a song....pah!

Mr Discography wrote:

kel wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Anyone for a bit of Jetstream ?

& how can you have a definitive N.O. song sung by Hooky??!!

He sings on 2 out of over a 100,& that can be classed as definitive!!! Some people don't get these posts do they & just put their fav'!! & surely,considering their influence in melding rock,dance & electronics,it has to be a song containing these rather than a pure guitar track?? Hence TPK,Temptation,EGG etc.? :\ohwell:

HOOKY??! I take it you're tongue-in-cheekily referring to Ana Matronic?

Andy

I wasn't referencing Hooky as singing on Jetstream,merely just using that quote to start my post as laughing at it.I was referring to an earlier post as DNE being a definitive N.O. tune,which Hooky sings.I fail to see how a pure guitar tune & without Barny singing it could be their definitive song.Christ,if you were to play DNE & then TPK to someone unfamiliar to the band & their sound,they would think they were listening to two different bands!!!

kel wrote:

Mr Discography wrote:

kel wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Anyone for a bit of Jetstream ?

& how can you have a definitive N.O. song sung by Hooky??!!

He sings on 2 out of over a 100,& that can be classed as definitive!!! Some people don't get these posts do they & just put their fav'!! & surely,considering their influence in melding rock,dance & electronics,it has to be a song containing these rather than a pure guitar track?? Hence TPK,Temptation,EGG etc.? :\ohwell:

HOOKY??! I take it you're tongue-in-cheekily referring to Ana Matronic?

Andy

I wasn't referencing Hooky as singing on Jetstream,merely just using that quote to start my post as laughing at it.I was referring to an earlier post as DNE being a definitive N.O. tune,which Hooky sings.I fail to see how a pure guitar tune & without Barny singing it could be their definitive song.Christ,if you were to play DNE & then TPK to someone unfamiliar to the band & their sound,they would think they were listening to two different bands!!!

Actually, allow me to disagree with you there.

Mr. Hooky doesn't sing very much, but in my humble opinion his voice is as underrated as it's gonna get. DNE signaled the starting of a new beginning for NO when Movement started.

I just started listening to it again this morning, and I probably could rank it up there with TPK as a strong definitive track. You've got Gillian's smart synths, Hooky's catch-tastic bass, Steve's massively recognizable workings with the drums [set, machine, and/or otherwise!], Barney's very-necessary guitars...

The only difference is that Hooky sings and Barney shuts up. :p