in praise of: "obsession" by animotion

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See, this song was secretly written by Jaz. Look at those lines.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:56 (eighteen years ago) link

xxpost - phew! i thought i'd gone insane.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 21:56 (eighteen years ago) link

Ned, the Human League were a LOT less slatternly than "Obsession." Phil Oakey could only sound this lustful in his electric dreams.

But, yes, I do hear "The Lebanon."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:09 (eighteen years ago) link

like a butterfly
a wild a butterfly
i will collect you
and capture you

― donut e- (donut), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:28 (eighteen years ago) link

*does goth dance hand motion of capturing one's soul in the air*

― donut e- (donut), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:29 (eighteen years ago) link

*does goth dance hand motion of capturing one's soul in the air*

i could TOTALLY see alien sex fiend covering this song back in the day!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:30 (eighteen years ago) link

Love this track!

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:35 (eighteen years ago) link

This was in my head ALL. WEEKEND. LONG.
Finally was relieved of its prescence, then saw this thread. Fuckers.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:08 (eighteen years ago) link

Their follow-up hit from a couple of years later was atrocious.

Belive it or not, I reviewed this LP Strange Behavior in (wherelse) Rolling Stone. (Negatively, of course, d'you think I'm Chuck Eddy or something?) Good for a cheap laugh IIRC.

"Obsession" was, er a nice pop single I guess. TOTAL Human League swipe. Wish I'd thought of that comparison back in the day.

ASTRID PLANE! (ah those wacky new wave names)

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:15 (eighteen years ago) link

isn't that her actual name?!?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:19 (eighteen years ago) link

maybe she grew up on a commune? ah those wacky hippie names then!

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:24 (eighteen years ago) link

I just picked up a box of my old CD's from my mom's house, and pulled out this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001WXT/102-3514505-6839323?v=glance

which as a HILARIOUSLY bad cover version of 'obsession' by some stupid cyber-industrial-metal band named 'blue eyed christ' Why the hell did I like this stuff when I was a kid.

― tylero (tylero), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:25 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't mind it. I neither hate it nor adore it. It just gives me too many flashbacks about that fashion programme on E! that my father (who is a hairstylist and was very much into observing hairstyles and fashions and looking at models) used to watch all the time as it always played "Obsession" during the end credits.

Oh, my mother still has the 12" single! I thought so!

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:34 (eighteen years ago) link

c'mon, Obsession is a blatant rip-off of Don't You Want Me. Just listen to the opening measures, they both have the same 16th note synth sound, and the male and female trading verses, for starters.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:53 (eighteen years ago) link

Dan speaks wisdom. Seriously, I never thought of it as anything else.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:55 (eighteen years ago) link

But "Don't You Want Me" didn't have that triplet of gated snare hits in the intro!

*PSSSEW*! *PSSSEW*! *PSSSEW*!

(So what if the League used that in several of their other songs... but that's BESIDE THE POINT! </O'Reilly>)

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:00 (eighteen years ago) link

>>Animotion's current drummer
This is the most tragic statement ever.

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), July 5th, 2005.

TS: the current drummer of Animotion vs. the drummer of Gay Dad

― donut e- (donut), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:04 (eighteen years ago) link

Kingfish, thanks for the Saturday Night Main Event reminder. Definitely, my first memories of the song are tied to that show. Second set of memories, though, belong to when the song was the theme for CityTV's "Fashion Television". Canucks to thread...

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:31 (eighteen years ago) link

Second set of memories, though, belong to when the song was the theme for CityTV's "Fashion Television". Canucks to thread...

Isn't it still the theme song?

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:48 (eighteen years ago) link

I always just figured that this track was essentially the remake of "Don't You Want Me"
...kind of like how "You Spin Me Round" was the remake of "Blue Monday" (maybe the second track off Youthquake sounds even closer).

And since I really like all four songs, everything's great.

― Brandon Mitchell (A.H.), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:39 (eighteen years ago) link

> we would flex our 24 inch pythons like nobody's business.

As God is my witness, I shall never go hungry again!

P.S. I hear more of Berlin's "Sex" than Human League's "Don't You Want Me" in "Obsession."

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 15:41 (eighteen years ago) link

Get A Life introduced me to this song, so I can't not love it.

― dan. (dan.), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:13 (eighteen years ago) link

My hilarious early 1980s moment was seeing Animotion live when they opened up for Depeche Mode. Not half bad actually, but not half good either.

The song is classic of course and they're cool for never taking the camp too seriously. (they were great on "Hit Me Baby...")

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:54 (eighteen years ago) link

I hear more of Berlin's "Sex" than Human League's "Don't You Want Me" in "Obsession."

OTM

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 16:57 (eighteen years ago) link

"Obsession" is a great duet song for karaoke...

― megamegamega, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:56 (eighteen years ago) link

You know I had to jump in on this one. I'm the drummer of Animotion (the only non-original member of the group), and have played w/ them for 3 years now. It's a freakin' blast, guys... the "Hit Me Baby" show was a riot, and the shows we've done over the past few years have taken a lot of the pressure off of playing (compared to the numerous successful original projects that were overly dramatic and full of pretentious wannabe "artists"). Sure, the music's campy, but I love the fact that they have fun - anyone who watched the show on NBC last week can see that. Plus, I get to play shows w/ some of my favorite bands from that era (Berlin, Missing Persons, etc.).

"Obsession" takes me back to the days of rollerskating as a young teenager... no responsibilities, girls, summertime. All good stuff.

Alright, Alex - swipe away!

― Kevvy Metal, Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:56 (eighteen years ago) link

I hope this example inspires the drummer from Gay Dad to post, too.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:11 (eighteen years ago) link

AWESOME!

Does Animotion need a baritone backup singer who lives in the Boston area and can't relocate? Because I could use the side income.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 20:27 (eighteen years ago) link

Alright, Alex - swipe away!

I'm sorry, man, I have no right to throw stones. If you're enjoying it, that's all that matters.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:46 (eighteen years ago) link

i love this song dearly. kevvy metal, you've made my day.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:56 (eighteen years ago) link

"Obsession" takes me back to the days of rollerskating as a young teenager... no responsibilities, girls, summertime. All good stuff.

This makes me so happy.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 22:49 (eighteen years ago) link

It takes me back to the early days mid-80s of UK satellite tv, when the Fashion Channel would use the synth riff as a station ident. They also used the guitar riff from Aztec Camera's 'Still on Fire'!

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 22:59 (eighteen years ago) link

What were you doing having satellite TV in the mid-80s? Were you some kind of... ponce?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 23:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Stevenage was ahead of the game, even then.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 23:02 (eighteen years ago) link

Why has no-one mentioned that the Sugababes have covered this on their forthcoming album! So sez the usually reliable Pop Justice.

― Raw Patrick (Raw Patrick), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 23:28 (eighteen years ago) link

cynthia rhodes is mrs richard marx - i think he wrote "room to move".
they just miss out on being one hit wonders.
cynthia is hot"dear cynthia,what do you want me to be to make you sleep with me".

― michard rarx, Thursday, 7 July 2005 07:36 (eighteen years ago) link

Why has no-one mentioned that

"What do you want me to be, to make you sleep with me?"

.. is one of the best lines ever? Talk about 'cut to the point'.

(One of the first mainstream pop tracks to do this, afterwards they all did)

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 7 July 2005 07:37 (eighteen years ago) link

welcome to ILM, kevvy metal! yer post made my day, and it's great that you (and the rest of animotion) are having a blast. any jokes on my part are affectionate, not meant to be mean.

please stick around -- or perhaps convince astrid plane herself to pop in and say hey!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 July 2005 16:00 (eighteen years ago) link

This song was great! I thought they were one hit wonders! But theyre still going, clearly! Wow. Thats kinda cool.

I think when some of the goth nites here get on the retro kick the DJs pull this song out (along with Berlin's "sex (i'm a..)", funnily), so yeah.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:28 (eighteen years ago) link

Its entirely possible I still have the clip on a creaky old VHS tape somewhere.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 8 July 2005 10:28 (eighteen years ago) link

.. tis a highlight of the richard x compilation thats for sure ..

great track.

― mark e (mark e), Monday, 11 July 2005 08:29 (eighteen years ago) link

Why has no-one mentioned that
"What do you want me to be, to make you sleep with me?"

.. is one of the best lines ever? Talk about 'cut to the point'.

(One of the first mainstream pop tracks to do this, afterwards they all did)

-- mark grout (mark.grou...), July 7th, 2005.

look above your post

cynthia rhodes is mrs richard marx - i think he wrote "room to move".
they just miss out on being one hit wonders.
cynthia is hot"dear cynthia,what do you want me to be to make you sleep with me".
-- michard rarx (righther...), July 7th, 2005.

― michard rarx, Monday, 11 July 2005 09:08 (eighteen years ago) link

it sounds like dead or alive's " i wanna be a toy"

look above your post

― michard rarx, Monday, 11 July 2005 09:09 (eighteen years ago) link

Well, talk about a xpost, michard rarx...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 11 July 2005 14:31 (eighteen years ago) link

i bought the 7" when i was 14 years after it came out.
it was always a song i liked.

still ace.

― piscesboy, Monday, 11 July 2005 15:47 (eighteen years ago) link

driving up the road that adjoins the beach in "Vice City", while this plays on Wave 103 = classic.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 15:57 (eighteen years ago) link

ten months pass...

There's a tiny lyrical reference to "Obsession" on a recent Sugababes single, I think it's "Red Dress". Anyway, one of the remixes that came with it recycles the Animotion italo disco synth riff from "Obsession".

― JoB (JoB), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 21:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Michael Des Barres wrote this song, if I recall correctly. The guy who subbed for Robert Palmer in Power Station.

― Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 22:49 (seventeen years ago) link

the guy from poison ivy 3 i believe also

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 22:52 (seventeen years ago) link

also the guy who played "sir charles 'dog' weatherbee" in the hoodlum rock episode of wkrp in cincinnati

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 23:09 (seventeen years ago) link

No mention of the other follow-up single, "I, Engineer"?

Yes, Michael Des Barres wrote "Obsession". It goes well in well with Bananarama's self-titled album.

And the "Obsession" video? Once again, Thank you, YouTube.

― Eazy (Eazy), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 23:16 (seventeen years ago) link

The Sugababes cover is okay, definitely does NOT top the original.

― musically (musically), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 23:47 (seventeen years ago) link

one year passes...

haha, did the drummer stick around???
(this song is shit btw, but don't let me spoil your fun)

― gershy, Monday, 3 September 2007 02:22 (sixteen years ago) link

I sat on a National Express bus once from Leeds to London, and got talking to the couple on my left. After some small talk, they got to the point, proudly announcing that their daughter was in the top ten. It turned out they were the parents of the singer with Animotion, and they were clearly on a mission to tell as many people as they could. Bless...

― Daniel Giraffe, Monday, 3 September 2007 13:28 (sixteen years ago) link

I remember this song well. It's kind of got a relentless feel to it that suits the subject matter well.

I'm amazed it's never been subjected to a Marilyn Manson/NIN/Emo cover. Slowed right down, natch.

― PhilK, Monday, 3 September 2007 13:35 (sixteen years ago) link

six years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f4KMb6Oo20

― everybody chives this is nowhere (Eazy), Friday, 18 July 2014 03:47 (nine years ago) link

four years pass...

The random Antony & Cleopatra bit in the middle of the band posing and performing in the video is *interesting*.

Also, this:

like a butterfly
a wild a butterfly
i will collect you
and capture you

A *wild* butterfly you say? As opposed to what, a tame butterfly? They don't live long enough to teach 'em anything!

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 9 May 2019 09:35 (four years ago) link

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