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Tell Me When

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This article is about the song by the Human League. For the song by Soul Asylum, see Let Your Dim Light Shine.

"Tell Me When"
Single by the Human League
from the album Octopus
B-side"The Bus to Crookes"
Released26 December 1994 (1994-12-26)
Length4:42
LabelEast West
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ian Stanley
The Human League singles chronology
"Soundtrack to a Generation"
(1990) 		"Tell Me When"
(1994) 		"One Man in My Heart"
(1995)
Audio sample
Music video
"Tell Me When" on YouTube

"Tell Me When" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League, released in December 1994 by East West Records as the first single from their seventh album, Octopus (1995). Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey and Paul C. Beckett, the song was produced by Ian Stanley (formerly of Tears for Fears). It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, while reaching number four on the UK Dance Chart. In the US, it peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 15 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number eight on the Cash Box Top 100. The music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan and filmed in the Czech Republic.

Background

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The song was originally written for the act "Fast Arithmetic" (Oakey–Beckett), a side project in development within the Human League environment. A demo version was recorded in 1991 and presented to East West Records. It later became the first release by the Human League under East West, who had signed the band after their long-term contract with Virgin ended in 1992.

As it was the first commercial release in the UK by the band for four years it is often incorrectly described as a comeback as many people erroneously believed the band had disbanded in 1990. Oakey took issue with this description and said in an interview that the band had never stopped recording and performing since its formation in 1977.[1] The band had collaborated with Yellow Magic Orchestra prior to signing with East West.[2]

Release and promotion

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"Tell Me When" was the first Human League single to be released from Octopus. It was issued on 26 December 1994, four weeks ahead of the album.[3] Released in a variety of vinyl and CD single formats, these variously included remixes of "Tell Me When" by contemporary electronic acts Utah Saints, Development Corporation and Red Jerry, a non-album B-side ("The Bus to Crookes"), and a track from the band's recent collaboration with Yellow Magic Orchestra.

"Tell Me When" became the Human League's most commercially successful single in nine years and reintroduced the band to the British general public. It received considerable radio promotion in advance of its late 1994 UK release, hitting the airwaves at a time when many people started to get Christmas song fatigue.[4] Radio 1 played the song three weeks before release with Capital FM playing it two weeks prior.[4] By the time of its release, the single received over one thousand plays per week across the board according to East West Records.[4] One month after its release, the single steadily gained airplay on Europe's leading radio markets. It topped the Major Market Airplay charts in the UK for two weeks commencing 4 February, registering total plays of 915 for the week of 11 February.[5] According to East West Records, the single had achieved sales of around 200,000 copies.[6] Capital 95.8 head of music Richard Park welcomed the single, saying "the marketplace is just ready for a fresh dose of the Human League".[4] It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart in early 1995, their highest UK chart position since "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" reached number two in 1983, and spent a total of nine weeks on the chart.[7] It also peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, on 15 April 1995, giving the band their last hit to date in the United States.[8] The song fared well on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, where it peaked at number nine on 22 April 1995.[9] Additionally, it reached number eight on the Cash Box Top 100.

Critical reception

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Several critics of the Octopus album, singled out "Tell Me When" as a standout track. Dave Thompson of AllMusic said it echoes earlier material, likening it to "Fascination" and "Mirror Man". He went further, saying that "the real difference is found in the vignette-esque lyrics and the more complex vocals. And these slight changes make all the difference, turning synth dreams into techno club success."[10] David Bauder of Associated Press called the song "splendid", and noted that it is a "shimmering melody, with Kraftwerk-like synthesizers and Phil Oakey's arch voice sweetened by his two female colleagues. It ranks with their best work." He added that it was the only song from the album "with any worth".[11] Also Larry Flick from Billboard was favourable, writing, "British synth-pop act that enjoyed a high profile during the '80s returns with a percolating swinger, which harkens back to its now-classic hits, 'Don't You Want Me' and 'Fascination'."[12] Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly described it as "bubbly" and "radio-friendly", whilst calling the album "lackuster".[13] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "It may not be the biggest new hit of the week but it is certainly the most significant", concluding with that it is "sounding like typical Human League of old".[14] Jennifer Nine from Melody Maker viewed it as "a brightly hopeful, wafer-thin compendium of standard League traits, including that pocket calculator-powered "funky" breakdown."[15]

A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "Comeback of the year? That's up to you. Anyway, the return of the Sheffield synth band in the premier division of pop creates an enormous buzz in radio land."[16] In the album review, the reviewer said that "Tell Me When" "portrays Phil Oakey and the girls as a perfect replica of the electro pop band around 1981's Dare album."[17] Music Week rated the single five out of five, describing it as "pristine synth pop as a deep Oakey lead and girl harmonies make this the most joyful single of the week. Welcome back."[18] John Kilgo from The Network Forty wrote, "This is a great comeback for the Sheffield, England trio! A techno-pop release full of energy highlighted by a very catchy hook. This smash is a no-brainer."[19] Steve Sutherland from NME praised it as "pretty damn near" the Human League "at their best".[20] Another NME editor, Paul Moody, viewed it as "sublimely clumsy" with "this killer Human League chorus all over it, the sort that rings around your brain like a nursery rhyme from Mars."[21] People Magazine stated that "their hot new single 'Tell Me When' has made the Human League hip again". They added, "But the tune is an infectious anachronism—the synthesizer trio still tinkle about as soullessly as they did in 1982, when they hit No. 1 with 'Don't You Want Me'."[22] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update deemed it "typical Human League holler".[23] Tony Cross from Smash Hits felt it is "the best thing" on the album.[24] David Sinclair of The Times commented, "All the familiar components are here join-the-dots tune, danceable synth-pop arrangement, catchy bubblegum chorus but the result sounds disconcertingly like the Human League by numbers."[25]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single, and was shot entirely on location in Prague[citation needed] in the Czech Republic. It is directed by British director Andy Morahan.[26] It uses reverse motion in several scenes. In the video, well-known sites in the city can be seen, as Wenceslas Square, Prague Castle and Wallenstein Garden.[27] It opens with Catherall and Sulley in the Wallenstein Gardens, where leaves are blowing upwards instead of downwards. In some city scenes, Oakey walks in the streets, while other people are walking backwards.[28] The band then performs in the main hall of the Wallenstein Palace, surrounded by lit candles and candelabras. In the outside scenes, Catherall wears a black dress while Sulley wears a white dress. In the indoor scenes, they both wear black dresses with hat and a veil on their faces.

Track listing

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  • CD 1 1994, East West (YZ882CD1)
  1. "Tell Me When" (7-inch edit) – 4:42
  2. "Tell Me When" (Mix 1) – 5:09 (remix by Utah Saints)
  3. "Kimi Ni Mune Kyun (YMO Vs The Human League)" – 4:55
  4. "The Bus to Crookes" – 4:52
  • CD 2 1994, East West (YZ882CD2)
  1. "Tell Me When" (Mix 2) – 6:11 (remix by Utah Saints)
  2. "Tell Me When" (Red Jerry Remix) – 7:36
  3. "Tell Me When" (Strictly Blind Dub) – 5:51 (remix by Development Corporation)
  4. "Tell Me When" (Overworld Mix) – 6:26 (remix by Development Corporation)
  5. "Tell Me When" (Mix 1) – 5:09 (remix by Utah Saints)
  • US CD 1994, East West America (66147-2)
  1. "Tell Me When" (Utah Saints Mix 2*) – 6:12
  2. "Tell Me When" (Red Jerry Mix) – 7:36
  3. "Tell Me When" (Strictly Blind Dub) – 5:51 (remix by Development Corporation)
  4. "Tell Me When" (Edit Version Overworld Mix) – 5:25 (remix by Development Corporation)
  5. "Tell Me When" (Utah Saints Mix 1*) – 5:09
    • (*) identical to the UK mixes

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Interview Philip Oakey GMTV 1995 Transcribed: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "THE HUMAN LEAGUE". the-black-hit-of-space.dk.
  3. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 December 1994. p. 31. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Watson, Miranda (11 March 1995). "Human League Is Back in the Race". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 10. p. 15. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 (6): 23. 11 February 1995. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. ^ Watson, Miranda (11 March 1995). "Human League Is Back in the Race". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 10. p. 7. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Artist Chart History – The Human League". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Chart History - Mainstream Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  10. ^ Thompson, Dave. "Tell Me When Single Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  11. ^ Bauder, David (20 April 1995). "League has a single effort worthy of note". Park City Daily News. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  12. ^ Flick, Larry (4 March 1995). "Single Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 9. p. 67. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  13. ^ Jones, Anderson (5 May 1995). "Music Review: 'Octopus'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  14. ^ Masterton, James (1 January 1995). "Week Ending January 7th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  15. ^ Nine, Jennifer (21 January 1995). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  16. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 December 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  17. ^ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 February 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  19. ^ Kilgo, John (3 March 1995). "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 18. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ^ Sutherland, Steve (21 January 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 37. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  21. ^ Moody, Paul (28 January 1995). "Synthpop Will Repeat Itself". NME. p. 21. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Octopus". People. 1 May 1995. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  23. ^ Hamilton, James (24 December 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  24. ^ Cross, Tony (1 February 1995). "New Albums". Smash Hits. No. 422. p. 57. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  25. ^ Sinclair, David (31 December 1994). "Pop Singles; Recordings". The Times.
  26. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com – the Human League – "Tell me when"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  27. ^ A., Rosie. "How many Prague Landmarks can you Identify from these Music Videos?". praguego.com. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Prague and the Human League". livingprague.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  29. ^ "The Human League – Tell Me When" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9251." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 5. 4 February 1995. p. 36. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  32. ^ Week 2, 1995.
  33. ^ "The Human League – Tell Me When" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  34. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.02.1995 – 25.02.1995)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 February 1995. p. 24. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  35. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tell Me When". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  36. ^ "The Human League – Tell Me When" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  37. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 18/02/1995". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  38. ^ "The Human League – Tell Me When". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  41. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  42. ^ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 28 January 1995. p. 8. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  43. ^ "The Human League Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  44. ^ "The Human League Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  45. ^ "The Human League Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVIII, no. 30. 8 April 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  47. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
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