THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

885-New Order-Blue Monday.

1983-Number 9 single. When it was remixed and re-issued in 1988, it peaked at Number 3, and when remixed again in 1995, it made Number 17.

Best Bit-At 3.32. With sales in excess of 700,000, this song is the best selling 12 inch vinyl single of all time.

After the death of Ian Curtis in 1980, the three remaining members of Joy Division (see also best songs 619) changed the bands name to ‘New Order,’ the name was chosen by the bands manager Rob Gretton, (1953-1999) who had seen the name ‘New Order’ in an article in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper titled ‘The People’s New Order of Kampuchea.’ The three members of Joy Division who became ‘New Order’ were Bernard Sumner, (vocals and guitar) Peter Hook, (bass) and Stephen Morris, (drums) they were soon joined by Morris’ then girlfriend, and future wife, Gillian Gilbert, who played keyboards and guitar. Phil Cunningham, (guitar) became a full time member in 2001, followed by Tom Chapman, (bass and keyboards) in 2011. Peter Hook departed the group in 2007. Whereas ‘Joy Division’ played ‘Post Punk,’ ‘Gothic Rock,’ and ‘New Wave,’ ‘New Order’ radically changed their musical style, heading in a more ‘Synthpop,’ ‘Alternative Rock,’ and Electronic’ direction.

The discography of ‘New Order’ includes 10 studio Albums released between 1981-2015, and 45 singles released between 1981-2020. There are also 12 official compilation Albums, and six live Albums available. In the UK, two of those studio Albums have reached Number 1, and 27 of the singles have made the top 40, including the two remixes of ‘Blue Monday.’ They have achieved one UK Number 1 single with ‘World in Motion’ in 1990, which was performed with the England national football team, and credited as ‘ENGLANDneworder.’ In America on the Billboard Hot 100 it is slimmer pickings, with only two of their singles reaching the top 40, with ‘Regret’ from 1993, peaking the highest at Number 28.

‘Blue Monday’ was co-written and produced by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, and Bernard Sumner, who were the four members of ‘New Order’ at that time. The song was released in March 1983 only on the 12 inch format, with the ‘B’ side being a primarily instrumental version of the song entitled ‘The Beach.’ In 1988, ‘New Order,’ along with the legendary Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-703-511-357 and 191) remixed ‘Blue Monday,’ which peaked at Number 3 in the UK, and also enhanced further sales of the 12 inch version. A further remix in 1995 by the German duo ‘Hardfloor,’ saw the song chart for a third time at Number 17. In the UK,’Blue Monday’ is one of that countries best ever selling singles, with sales in excess of 1.2 million.

‘Blue Monday’ has been described as ‘A crucial link between 1970’s ‘Disco’ music, and the ‘Dance/House’ boom that took off at the end of the 1980’s. ‘New Order’ readily admit that ‘Blue Monday’ has many influences. When speaking about how the song came to fruition, Peter Hook has said that the song was stolen from the Donna Summer (1948-2012) track ‘Our Love,’ which was written by Summer, and Giorgio Moroder, (see also best songs 78 and 11) and is featured on Summer’s 1979 Album ‘Bad Girls.’ Bernard Sumner has also spoken about how ‘Blue Monday’ came about, admitting that part of the songs arrangement came from the 1982 ‘Italian Disco’ song ‘Dirty Talk,’ by ‘Klein + M.B.O.’ Sumner has also said that ‘Blue Monday’s’ synthesised bassline was taken from the 1978 ‘Disco’ song ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’ by Sylvester (see also best songs 162.) The respected music journalist Clinton Heylin alleged that ‘Blue Monday’ was derived from the 1979 ‘Novelty’ song ‘Gerry and the Holograms,’ by ‘Gerry and the Holograms,’ which Sumner denies, but I urge you to have a listen, and make up your own mind.

The meaning of ‘Blue Monday’ is vague, with many suspecting it is either about a failed relationship, or drug addiction, Peter Hook has said,’I don’t think there is a great deal to tell behind the lyrics if I am going to be brutally honest. It was just one of those things where Barney just went for it, and the rest was history.’

‘How does it feel, to treat me like you do. When you’ve laid your hands upon me, and told me who you are. Thought I was mistaken, I thought I heard your words. Tell me, how do I feel.’