In todays issue the german newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung presents the NewOrder Song "Regret" as song of 1993. The paper publishes weekly a very nice small book for each of the 50years in pop-music, including a compilation Cd with 20 songs. This week it also features a article on Björk and that guy Kurt from Seattle. You can find the online section with a tracklist and wma files at: sueddeutsche.de then look for discothek.
Here is a rough translation for the Regret review by author Johannes Waechter
" In Popmusic lies eternal truth. But which ? This week we look at "Regret" by NewOrder, our Song of the Year 1993 -
There is someone dreaming of Spaghetti with tomato sauce for all his life - suddenly he is not liking this dish anymore. Even the smell gets sickening ! Whats happening with me, this man is asking, how could I change that much ? Who is this " I " that in my body? Difficult enough, understand oneself, real tricky when a second comes into play. Can you know a human - even one of the other sex - realy,ever ? Or are we damned, to go blind und lonely through everydays life? Thats what "Regret" is about.
The song discusses this question in the frame of a scenario in which it most often occurs: Love.
Shadowlike a problematic relation is sketched, obviously a hurt and confused person is singing. Its about trust and attention and the wish to be recognized and accepted in ones uniqueness.
"look at me, I'm not you."
But this plead is unfullfilled und the alienation not to be bridged.
"you used to be a stranger, but now you are mine."
You are still a stranger is the unspoken but thought subtext.
The situation is so miserable, culminating in the seemingly harmless line:
"Have a conversation on the telephone"
The phone illustrating the restriction of communicating:
Even when we are not speaking through the phone, but sit in front of each other, we are far away from each other and dont recognize us. ---
(c) sueddeutsche Zeitung / Johannes Waechter
