Soft Cell - Memorabilia

[gayandblackin1985]

marc let us know we weren't alone, and i love him for that. nine inch nails version is weak in my opinion. soft cell poppy? no way, this is dark electro-proto house...still sounds fresh!

[dorkytheurgist93]

cindy ecstasy's rap is pretty cool. i wonder what year this came out. it couldn't have been too far off from blondie's rapture.

[poolboyinla]

If this isn't gay I don't know what is.

I am so glad I barely remember the 80's.

[nekofucker]

i think this guy in the video's coming on to me...make him stop 0.0 =D! lol great song

[ny5280]

Both versions are good, they are both diff sounding, but Trents version is more crazy and up beat, but its a great song??

[mrnoiz23]

This isn't even close to the original release.

[godman1234567890]

I think it's pretty unfair to say that this version is better than NIN's. Trent put a much more sinister and sexual spin on his version and personally I much prefer the raw emotion and power that Trent gave his version.

[twinflame93]

Brilliant and better then the NIN version,Soft Cell are more talented IMHO and much more ahead of their time. And yes this is one of the first techno songs but not the first,check out early Human League such as "Empire State Human"

[naterino]

this comment is blowing it.

[hatfisc]

More ahead of their time than Trent? Uh, no!  Soft Cell sounds poppy and is poppy. The downward spiral 15 years later sounds timeless. Dont get me wrong, I love this original version of memoribilia but lets not get perverted ideas about who is more talented.

[DrRocky666]

back to the eighties

[mozman64]

superb

[natesot]

great song , and how funny were they to have there drug dealer do a "rap" in the song.

[SomeMick34]

can't tell they were doing e at the time can ya?

[jchris]

Don't forget the Nine Inch Nails version on the Closer to God EP

[Wildsea320]

could never forget it....I think it's much better, haha

[rosario508]

Man.  I forgot this song and how great it is.

[1tomone111]

NOT ONE OF HIS BEST

[sparklingdark]

keychains and snowstorms

[powrxplor69]

is this the "non-stop ecstatic dancing" version? I always listened to the vers that's

on the B-side to the US 12" of tainted love

It's better than this one IMO

[odebipooh]

It never feel old it,there synthesizer sound is never tired! Is it NO.1 techno sound look around in music history?

[properbo65]

fucking classic

[infantcidelust]

This is so good

[futuristfood]

favorite! thank you.. hello everyone!

o x o futurist o x o

[steveallen808909]

i feel like a memory anyone got cindys number last time they gave me the blue oyster bars number anyone know any clubs that play this kinda music london area?

[ryanloves]

I know "The Cock" at Ghetto (which play I think every Friday, or used to?), play underground 80's electronic and electro similar to this track! Sometimes it's abit cheesy too,the Dj sets can be short, but its never too much.

Also, try the George & Dragon in Shoreditch, which again can be cheesy but not always, usually 80's records playing to various degrees! Thurs-Sun...

Hope this helps :)

[steveallen808909]

thanks for that ryan its a top tune used to go atomic at charring cross but it closed down now take care .

[Alexm799]

is this the first dance song ever?,it predates anything i can think of.

[NiGGeRWithaDICK]

cindy ecstasy!!!

[kmfdm52]

reznor remixed this *looks confused*

[liasonswithlions]

Yes. Trenty did a lovely cover of this. Personally, I like the noise he put into his.

[kmfdm52]

yeah i like trents version better , because of its trippyness

[amityvilletoaster1]

me too!

[thrh66]

it's great to see two leeds lads so visibly exited to be in New York. Wonder what the moustachiod dave's pouring out of his baggy.

[salival91]

i didnt realise how much reznor remixed the ass out of it

[taksraven2007]

This is ok. Pretty experimental of the time. Trent's version is much better though. The NIN version is one of the best songs I have ever heard.

[hatfisc]

Trent did not "cover" this song, he re-made it. Linkin Park "covered" wish by just playing it exactely the way trent did. I didnt hear soft cells version of this song until two years after trents. I think both are amazing, but i give trent extra props for what he did with it and not just being another linkin park copy machine.

[LittleFrock]

apparently Marc loves that necklace!

[HippieLaLaLaura]

yeah i noticed that he wears it alot

[idaproject]

take e and you'll see

[greenfairyga]

isnt it i collect i reject

[GOPpersona]

They're probably referring to the echo of that word.

[mikkifly]

it`s got nothing to do with drugs

this song is way before that

although marc does look off his face...lol

[Mishiana]

To mikkifly extasy the drug became mainstream in the late 70's to early 80's before it was banned. This is an 80's song so you can't really say it was around before extasy or most other drugs. You have issues if you think the 80 were ancient prudish times lol.

[beatingu666]

This song is gay compared to the Nine Inch Nails remix. This song is not serious at all.

[HarryUpHarry]

Knobhead

[jero0909]

drugadict song :) try LSD

[iceyice11]

this song is amazing. this song has to be about drugs.

[HarryUpHarry]

It's a remix of an early Soft Cell track - and yes, it has been Ibiza'd

[BlackIceSwirl]

wtf is goin on with his eyes?! lmao

[loppeglia]

very shit fucking house

[trendydelquendy]

Ace song - early Acieed?

Soft Cell and their entourage were the first Brits to enjoy the benefits of Ecstacy - they even brought their dealer, Cindy Ecstacy, over from New York to be in the band.

As positive songs about drugs go, this is pretty nice.

[machineanimalhit]

just think about it but what if gorillzas made a remix of this like nin that be awsome

[DjLatinSpy]

It's obvious that Trent was influenced by Soft Cell and therefore did the remake...It's not better just different..Soft Cell was ground breaking and way ahead of their time..So much so that no one new how to react to the erotic sounds that were Taboo for even the liberal 80's...Trent too is an awesome ground breaking artist in his own right...

[TaintedLove14]

People....stop being ignorant. NIN and Soft Cell's version rock.But, in my opinion,I think Soft Cell's version is better.(JUST my opinion)=P!

[miccipigen]

do anyone know if soft cell is still together after marc accident..?

[miccipigen]

this version with cindy is better than the one without.. what happend to cindy anyway..?

[redindustrial]

It's Stevo at 02.10 and 04.31 (having a dance)

[JustAdam7817]

Great to hear this at last after hearing NIN's version first. Of course I am a fan of the cover version, but it's fascinating to hear the original.

[dompeace123]

i love the beat and the music with it.thanz

[XTR3M3akaKPAK]

hear nine inch nails version. trent made it way better.

[wildenfree]

Bring back Cyndi Ecstacy

[adrasteax]

Without*

[adrasteax]

I prefer Nine Inch Nails's version. But this one is good too... After all whithout this there would be no NIN's version.

[jimmyThePiep]

Lol, at 3.38 the guy steals the women's hat!

[bipolarmike]

Nine Inch Nails's version is better :)

[AnnieLennox1954]

Don't be a betch.

[jimmyThePiep]

Is it just me?, or is creepy that the singer says he follows a stranger (whom he has never had sex with) around and collects stuff this person leaves behind, so the singer can have a keepsake, or a 'memory'.

[avapepper]

No, honey, it's not just you! Isn't it great?

[popesuckaIV]

I love your bit in the parenthesis. It implies that if he DID have sex with the stranger, it would be far less creepy.

[subcultureshock]

ree 78 good post!!! theres another song by them...somthing about a girl with a leather face its not a popular song but its good try to find it.

[miccipigen]

i've got it on my youtube playlist.. called te best of soft cell..

[snosage]

Acid House in 1980. Look at the way Marc rolls his eyelids back in his head. Short term memory loss. Noone else was making MDMA inspired songs like this until eight years later.

[subcultureshock]

yes this is. somone should cover this.a few remix's house version and a electro version

[halusky]

Well, Nine Inch Nails did do a cover of this that actually wasn't bad. It was on the Closer To God halo.

[jimmyThePiep]

"Wasn't bad." !?! It's a farcry better than this original. I mean, did you hear the white girl rap halfway through the song? Complete bad.

[XTR3M3akaKPAK]

hahahahahh yea xD

[Mystirey]

It would be difficult to improve on this (imho). The old technology which is being brought back by several new retro groups (Killers, etc...) still sounds fresh. Not only that, the sound has more character than the new stuff.. like it was crafted rather than looped and sampled. Marc's seedy voice fits the sound well also. Anyone concure? Thanks.

[XTR3M3akaKPAK]

make some research wtf!

Nine Inch Nails DID cover it and it's way better than this shit.

[jimmyThePiep]

You have successfully repeated exactly what I said, only with grammar mistakes. Conglaturations!

[redvsbluefanman]

lol congLatuRations..

[redvsbluefanman]

lol make some research...

[jonnydoggz]

cor cambden palace with eddie richards and colin faver on z dex dont think the house scene woz better than that on asaturday night and poppers ona sunday choon my dear

[Jarren202]

Classic record, the 12" version sounds like it could have been made last year. Tiga must love this tune, it has all his trademarks (or vice versa of course).

The b-side "Persuasion" is pretty cool too, and a definite influence on The Horrorist.

[challengecorruption]

but i still respect the original...

[challengecorruption]

the original version and nine inch nails version sound like two completely different songs... as a nine inch nail fan i do like their cover better than an the original maybe because i haven't listened to this one enough...

[HDok]

althought I'm a great NIN fan, I find this version quite better, even if reznor's one is nice too.

[jimmyThePiep]

Blasphemy.

[miccipigen]

why..? you have to ekplain it when you say somthing like that!

[jimmyThePiep]

A- No I don't. It's called an opinion, and needs no explanation.

B- It is spelt 'explain', not 'ekplain'.

C- HDok said this song is better than the Nin version. I believe this is Blasphemy because it's not better. This song is okay, but it's definitely inferior.

Jazz vs Rock; Rock always wins. Especially with Trent in charge.

D- you happy..?

[XTR3M3akaKPAK]

i so much agree :D

NIN rocks with any song. trent made this song cool, sexy and gave it some fucking rhythm so fuck soft cells version.

[redvsbluefanman]

Jazz vs Rock; Rock always wins. Especially with Trent in charge.

really depends on the person but Trent definitely dominates soft cell.

[marioCustomMade]

totaly :D

plus, like someone said before, i can't recall his/her name, this is more like a jazz-house-rap music xD

when trent touches something, he makes it godly ^^

[Crazd09]

AH! I like NIN's version way more than this one!!

[jimmyThePiep]

Yea, Trent is a lot trippier, because -he knew how to be trippy and -he had the hardware needed.

This is techno-jazz. It's alrite, but I like the NIN cover better.

[jimmyThePiep]

Wait, I missed the part with the girl. This is techno-jazz-rap.

[Crazd09]

AH! I like NIN's cover better. . .just my opinion ;D

[dstdvl]

he still sounds like he's singing around a big cock with lots of foreskin crammed in his mouth

[mellobbello]

why writing, or why even thinking something so stupid? maybe because you are stupid...

[miccipigen]

plaese..? grow up!!

[LeeGeeGee]

Absolutely fierce. Many memories... many, many.

GOT TO HAVE PASSION!

And Marc's a sweet baby face in NYC.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

[miccipigen]

Everywhere I go you know I'd like you all to know

That I'm the one for having fun, just send the bad times on the run

To move around to the softest sound, ecstatic dancing all around

I'm on the town, I'll give you hell, if you don't put me in my cell.

I may be soft, I made the top, I like my cabaret non-stop,

[miccipigen]

It may be erotic, it may be ecstatic

With it down on your floor or in your attic.

We can take a pill and shut our eyes, and let our love materialise,

And I don't mean love on a chocolate box, I mean the love that really rocks

Coz they call me the baby, the good time lady,

Just look at me and it's easy to see why they call me Cindy Ecstasy.

Because I've got the eyes, the where's, the why's

to make your love thing really rise,

[miccipigen]

You don't need your speed or your pair of wheels.

You've got the prize that will brighten your skies.

So look me up and I'll tell no lies,

Coz I'm the lady with the hot surprise,

If you don't believe me, ask Soft Cell, because I shook them up and I gave them hell.

So Call up Cindy Ecstasy if you're looking for a memory

[miccipigen]

never heart this song before, but it's great!!

[luckycat3]

2007 and this song still works. They were far ahead of their time.

[TheGodParticle]

Yeh... cindy extasy in on this video she sings at the end of the song, man i used to fancy her bad, anyway she used to be mark's and dave's drug dealer

[aliensatemybrain]

yeah man id still give her a going over!

[hela2000]

I've only heard NIN's version of this

[aceaca]

first techno single ever

[aliensatemybrain]

very true!

[jorjabel]

Does anyone know if they are stil together and singing?

[miccipigen]

i know their were together in 2003, because they made a new cd.. but i don't know what happend after marcs accident.. but i don't think they are togetether,coz marc just made a new album on his own..

[texrah]

My Gawd! Praise Sweet Jesus for posting this!

[espinaca79]

This version is brilliant I believe.

[oOMinauderieOo]

yeah great ^^

[floppybollox3]

Prototype Acid House!

[MrSelfDestructTDS]

nine inch nails' cover of this is godly, listen to it and tell me, what do your nipples feel like?;)

[dstdvl]

marc almond always sounds like he has several penises crammed in his mouth while he's trying to sing. same with david gahan.

[MrDrakee]

yeah, and you totally don't suck more than 5 a day.

[amerthil]

my question is why did noone see $ signs on marc almond? when they wanted self indulging dance music they went for the beer sucking metal of the generation. This sounds like rave music cause it has the same purpose. marc was ahead of the time. its good that he wasnt popular. ther'd be no dj tiesto if ther'd never been a DJ pierre playing parties(acid legend), imagine what ugliness we'd see if people copied mark

[amerthil]

dear person who called marc almond and kraftwork the first rave music: Acid house was the first rave music it was around in like 87-92 built off of the more traditional techno from the gay scene of chicago and detroit. It was too dark and bellowing for clubs so they snuffed it forcing them into basements then later warehouses and well, the rest is history (a highly disputed history at that) clubs saw there were dollar signs in 92-93, and all i can say is RIP... (continued)

[ForgottenSoul700]

This is rare and sad that Soft Cell were never bigger than they were. Tainted Love was nothing compared to their other songs. This song is a classic. This version of the song is on Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing.

[HealingAngel]

I remember naming one of my Nans kittens

'Cindy Baby' after that woman! lol :D

[mohhie]

ye ye Kraftwerk, Suicide - love them.

But if your lookin for fun, dancing and xtc (;]), you have to listen to Soft Cell.

proces of blending theese great electronic bands into danceable whole is art

[aliensatemybrain]

this has got to be the first rave tune ever!also a classic all you prats slating soft cell because of marks sexuality dont know what your talking about,you muppets!

[kram1221]

Everywhere I go you know I'd like you all to know

That I'm the one for having fun, just send the bad times on the run

To move around to the softest sound, ecstatic dancing all around

I'm on the town, I'll give you hell, if you don't put me in my cell.

I may be soft, I made the top, I like my cabaret non-stop,

[kram1221]

It may be erotic, it may be ecstatic

With it down on your floor or in your attic.

We can take a pill and shut our eyes, and let our love materialise,

And I don't mean love on a chocolate box, I mean the love that really rocks

Coz they call me the baby, the good time lady,

Just look at me and it's easy to see why they call me Cindy Ecstasy.

Because I've got the eyes, the where's, the why's

to make your love thing really rise,

[kram1221]

You don't need your speed or your pair of wheels.

You've got the prize that will brighten your skies.

So look me up and I'll tell no lies,

Coz I'm the lady with the hot surprise,

If you don't believe me, ask Soft Cell, because I shook them up and I gave them hell.

So Call up Cindy Ecstasy if you're looking for a memory..."

[flapdan]

shite song.. shite vid.. more fuckin rectum rangers..

[clod8]

What have shiites ever done to you?

[ForgottenSoul700]

Pathetic loser, if you don't like something, you don't have to watch it, listen to it, or buy it.

If you define someone's talent based on their sexuality, you should be declared retarded by where ever you are.

[clod8]

This music predates "house" music by almost 10 years. We called this new wave or pop music. House and raves etc were big in the late 80's early 90's.

[g00gleb0t]

Soft Cell were running around New York and London's clubland in 1982...taking MDMA, or ecstasy.

"so call up Cindy Ecstasy if you're looking for a memory" and "we could take a pill and close our eyes".

Ecstasy always was the driving force behind house music.

The The's Matt Johnson was also experimenting with MDMA... which can be heard on the LP "Infected".

I'm not about to advocate taking ecstasy but there's been a hell of a lot of wonderful music inspired as a result of its use.

[MYSTIKALmonkey]

i have always connected Soft Cell with Yello, they just sound similar to me and were both groundbreaking and geniuses. i am not going to argue with anyone about who was better.

[raracan2]

I just had to go & research this to confirm for myself that Almond & Ball wrote it. Fucken stupendous & yes way ahead of their time

[gabsylv]

and I don't mean a love on a chocolate box I mean a love that really rocks

[PabloCast]

AMAZING!!!! This song sounds like actually house music, definitively is too ahead of its time. I LOVE SOFT CELL!!!

[BakaBox]

I guess Reznor looked more at this than Queen when making his cover...

[MargusKiistheCritic]

False start of house music. Too ahead of its time.

[BrokenFrame]

Wow! I have never heard this version of Memorabilia before, nor seen Cindy Ecstasy. Great song/video

[kute102fm]

Definitely, they started the synth-pop culture before anyone was sure what to do with those new-fangled drum machines. David Ball is a musical genius while Marc Almond is quite the singer & performer. They opened up doors for Erasure (who I am also a huge fan of) and Depeche Mode. Listen to Softcell's "Insecure Me". There's a rap as seductive as what you see in this video.

Thanks for posting, great memories!

[contrabandwidth]

Actually Soft Cell and other synth pop bands owe everything to Suicide who started in New York in 1971 (!). You want to talk about people who played to unreceptive audiences - image playing in a two piece band with no guitarist or drummer in pre-disco, height of Stadium Rock 70's. Now that is Suicide! YouTube has some awesome clips of the band.

[assmoose]

*cough* What about Kraftwerk? *cough*

[durhamboys]

I think soft cell is the founder of modern dance mucic

[19DasModel19]

Wow...I never really knew Soft Cell made this kind of music before. And I like the video too (it definitely wasn't filmed in Dallas like Archaicconjurer seems to think).

[queen7x7]

my favourite 80's music. love marc almonds voice. this song still sounds great

[ssballs]

LA baby! and rap before rap!

[harrismille]

Interesting video

[microwiz]

Wild, weird video. It is especially disturbing when Marc rolls his eyes upward, showing only whites! (e.g. at 01:36)

[stevenalan]

recorded in 1980 and released as a single.. memorabillia/ a man could get lost.. but failed to chart. turned up again as the b side of tainted love in 1981

[jzart]

Amazing Version...Still sounds Amazing ! Holds up very well, A true Classic ! thanks for posting this !

[richibich]

how comes they were doing emusic 5yrs b4 anyone else?

[Archaicconjurer]

because this was filmed in Dallas 1984 when ecstasy was legal and unheard of in england,there was a swinging culture of this type of music in Dallas before ecstasy was made illegal in 1985, it wasnt until 1989 that Britain caught hold of the potential and replicated the scene

[prestonoval]

fcuk me soft cell started my ecstasy addiction with this one

[dermode]

Fantastic! never saw this video before.

[adwan]

what an excellent video. the song is superb and I've never heard it. when was this made?

[Parker1973]

the cityscapes are amazing

[ssballs]

OMG LA & NY in 1980 and a fabula rap & drone!Viva la Almond!

[flabbyghasted]

It is bizzare sounding for the time , but I have heard elsewhere that this was the first techno record (dunno) , but then the Some Bizzare label was an indie label of it's time , grabbing new sounds and experimentation , people forget this about Soft Cell.

[therezabizarre]

very modern sounding for 1980.

[meighhead]

It's on Non Stop Exctatic Dancing and a few compilations but wasnt on an actual studio album.

[jason89]

what album is this song from?

[ralucagymnast]

Its from Non-stop erotic cabaret, but this remixed version is from Nonstop ecstatic dancing, which was a dance-mix version of selected tracks from Nonstop erotic cabaret.

[goatrev]

I recollect. i have this track, but now i have to find it again! thanks for giving me a reminder....