Unexpected revelation: Gary Numan topped charts with a tune centered on a mechanical sex worker, leaves listeners in awe of his creativity
In May 1979, a groundbreaking song was released, marking a significant shift in the music industry. "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan, then fronting the band Tubeway Army, became an instant hit, selling a million copies.
The song, a synth-pop anthem with a mid-tempo feel, deviated from the traditional verse and chorus structure. Instead, it showcased a unique approach to harmony and construction that would become synonymous with Numan's music.
Numan, having had his first encounter with a synthesiser in the late 1970s, was one of the first to kickstart the use of synths in mainstream pop. He used a Minimoog synthesiser to embellish existing songs with all-new synth parts, creating a distinct sound that would define his music.
The main synth riff in "Are 'Friends' Electric?" emphasises the harmony using open chords or 5ths, shifting from a C and G, to a Bb and F, and ending with a high Bb and E played as 1/8th notes quavers. This rhythmic pattern provides the driving force of the song.
The bridge section, a standout part of the song, relies on arpeggiated synth lines that endorse the harmony. Implied chords in this section include G minor 7, D minor 7, F major 7, and C major 7. The upper synth line in the second 'instrumental chorus' section implies a harmony of C/F, which resolves to F.
The bass in "Are 'Friends' Electric?" plays a basic rhythmic part, alternating between C and Bb every two beats, providing the foundation for the song. The bass line pins down the harmony, and the song is closest to the key of C major.
During the second 'instrumental chorus' section, there is a seismic shift to a pedal note in the bass part, sustaining an F. This pedal note adds a sense of tension and anticipation, building up to the final E in the synth riff that pre-empts the return to a chord of C and endorses the major tonality.
The punk era was in full swing in the UK during the mid-1970s, but "Are 'Friends' Electric?" stood out as a unique blend of punk's raw energy and synth-pop's futuristic sound. The band Tubeway Army, fronted by Numan, was part of the punk new wave. After the release of "Are 'Friends' Electric?", the band dropped the name Tubeway Army, and Numan went on to release more successful songs, including "Cars."
The approach to harmony and construction in "Are 'Friends' Electric?" could be construed as simplistic, but it's precisely this that gives the song its strength. The song's catchy riff, combined with its unique structure and use of synths, made it a hit and cemented Gary Numan's place as a synth pioneer in the music industry.
Read also:
- Exploring Harry Potter's Lineage: Decoding the Enigma of His Half-Blood Ancestry
- Elon Musk Acquires 26,400 Megawatt Gas Turbines for Powering His AI Project, Overlooks Necessary Permits for Operation!
- U Power's strategic collaborator UNEX EV has inked a Letter of Intent with Didi Mobility to deploy UOTTA(TM) battery-swapping electric vehicles in Mexico.
- Commercial-grade hydrogen enhancement systems manufacturing initiated by H2i Technology
