THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

451-Yazoo-Situation.

1982-It was not released as a single ‘A’ side in the UK until 1990, when in remixed form it reached Number 14.

Best Bit-At 0.09. Alison Moyet isn’t famous for her joviality, but her laughter taken from this song, and sampled on the ‘Macarena,’ helped that track become the best selling single in the world in 1996.

Yazoo were formed in 1981, in Basildon, Essex, by Vince Clarke (keyboards) and Alison Moyet, (vocals) after Clarke who had recently left Depeche Mode (see also best songs 968-261 and 134) had responded to an advertisement Moyet had placed in the weekly UK music magazine ‘Melody Maker,’ looking for a new musical partner. Although Clarke (see also best songs 700) didn’t know Moyet personally, he had seen her sing live on occasions. They remained active between 1981-1983, but did reform for live performances between 2008-2011. They took their name from the 1960’s specialist ‘Blues’ record label ‘Yazoo Records,’ but following a lawsuit from that label, they were forced to change their name to ‘Yaz’ in America. Reflecting in 2008 on the duo’s split, both Moyet and Clarke agreed that a lack of communication between the pair had been a major reason for the breakdown of the partnership. Although they were active as ‘Yazoo’ for only a short period of time, they are considered to be very influential, with their combination of electronic instrumentation and soulful female vocals being cited as an influence on the ‘House Music’ scene that emerged in the mid-1980’s.

The discography of Yazoo includes two studio Albums, ‘Upstairs at Eric’s,’ (1982-UK Number 2)) and ‘You and Me Both,'(1983-UK Number 1) and nine singles, including remixes, released between 1982-1999, they have also released two extended plays, (EP’s) six official compilation Albums, and one live Album. In the UK, six of their singles have reached the top 40, with their debut single ‘Only You,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1982. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, they have never charted within the top 40, with ‘Situation’ stalling at Number 73 in 1982, although three of their tracks including ‘Situation’ have all reached Number 1 on the Billboard ‘Dance Club Songs’ chart.

Alison Moyet was born Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet, on June 18th, 1961, in Billericay, Essex, England, prior to Yazoo she had been involved in a number of ‘Punk Rock,’ and ‘Blues’ bands in her local area, which was when she acquired the nickname ‘Alf.’ Alison Moyet has spoken about her battles with weight and agoraphobia, and the challenges of having dyslexia, and ADHD. She had been overweight for all of her adult life, but in the mid 2000’s she embarked on a weight loss programme, because she did not want to become ‘an obese old woman.’ In 2021 she was appointed ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ (MBE) in ‘Birthday Honours’ for ‘services to music.’ After the parting of the ways with Vince Clarke, Alison Moyet embarked on what would become a very successful solo career, which has seen her sell in excess of 23 million records worldwide. The solo discography of Alison Moyet includes 10 studio Albums released between 1984-2024, and 32 singles released within the same time period, there are also three official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In the UK, her debut studio Album ‘Alf” made Number 1, while her first compilation Album ‘Singles,’ from 1995, also reached Number 1. Alison Moyet has had nine UK top 40 hit singles, with ‘That Ole Devil Called Love’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1985. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, her only chart entry to date remains ‘Invisible,’ which reached Number 31 in 1984.

‘Situation’ was the last of three singles released from ‘Upstairs at Eric’s,’ the debut studio Album by Yazoo from August 1982, the song was co-written by Alison Moyet, and Vince Clarke, with the production being by Eric Radcliffe, Daniel Miller, and Vince Clarke. ‘Situation’ started out life as the ‘B’ side to Yazoo’s debut single ‘Only You,’ not being deemed good enough for an ‘A’ side, but after American music radio stations began playing it, it took off and received an official ‘A’ side release in the States. It was not issued as a stand alone single in the UK until several remixes were released in 1990, including the one I have chosen here, the ‘Deadline Mix’ by the French music producer Francois Kevorkian. Kevorkian has remixed tracks for several of the worlds top artists, and in the late 1970’s, and early 1980’s was the ‘A&R’ man for the American ‘Dance’ label ‘Prelude Records,’ working with artists such as Sharron Redd (1945-1992) and D-Train.

‘Blue eyes dressed for every situation, moving through the doorway of a nation. Pick me up and shake the doubt, baby I can’t do without.’