THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

543-Visage-Fade to Grey.

1980-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 0.18. It sounded futuristic over 40 years ago, and it still sounds futuristic now. How ‘STRANGE’ is that.

Visage were an amalgamation of musicians who had all played in other bands, or were involved in the making of music, who came together in London, England, in 1978. There were seven members who were involved from 1978, and played on the debut Album ‘Visage,’ released in 1980, they were Steve Strange (1959-2015) (vocals,) Rusty Egan (drums,) Midge Ure (guitar and synthesizers,) Billy Currie (keyboards, and violin,) Dave Formula (keyboards,) John McGeoch (1955-2004) (guitar and saxophone,) and Barry Adamson (bass.)The band were active until 1985, but Steve Strange reformed the group in 2002, working with new group members until his death in 2015, when the band name was retired.In total they released six studio Albums between 1980-2015, and achieved six UK top 40 singles.

‘Fade to Grey’ was originally written as an instrumental by Billy Currie, and Chris Payne in 1979, Payne at that time was a member of Gary Numan’s backing band, playing keyboards, and viola, Cederic Sharpley who was Numan’ drummer was also influential, but does not receive writing credits.As an instrumental the track was called ‘Toot City,’ the lyrics were later added by Midge Ure (see also best songs 532 and 455.) The song is unusual in that it features the same lyrics in two different languages.The English lyrics are sung by Steve Strange, whereas the French lyrics are spoken by Brigitte Arens who was born in Luxembourg, and whom at the time was a student, and the girlfriend of Rusty Egan. There was a dispute as to whose idea it was for both sets of vocals to be used, with both Midge Ure, and Steve Strange claiming it was theirs, Steve Strange always said that he should have been included on the songs writing credits.

Steve Strange was born Stephen John Harrington on May 28th, 1959, in Newbridge, Caerphilly, Wales, he died of a heart attack while in Egypt on February 12th, 2015. He was one of the most influential figures in the rise of the ‘New Romantic’ scene in the early 1980’s, influencing among others David Bowie, with his clothing, and persona, so much so that Bowie asked him to appear in his 1980 video for ‘Ashes to Ashes.’

‘Fade to Grey’ is a song about deep depression, with the songs subject not able to see anything worth living for.

‘Feel the rain like an English summer, hear the notes from a distant song. Stepping out from a back shop poster, wishing life wouldn’t be so long.’