Heart Like a Wheel (song)
Encyclopedia
"Heart Like a Wheel" is a song by the British
synthpop
group The Human League
. It is taken from the Romantic?
album of 1990.
album of 1990. It was written by former band member Jo Callis
with Eugene Reynolds (of The Rezillos
) and features vocals by Philip Oakey
, Joanne Catherall
and Susan Ann Sulley; with the synthesizer skills of Neil Sutton
. It was recorded at Genetic Sound Studios during 1990 and produced by Martin Rushent
who was reconciled with the band after an eight-year gap.
The song is a return to the overtly political lyrics that the Human League sometimes do, but dressed up to a poppy
hook that makes it palatable to the public. Whereas "The Lebanon
" of 1984 was the Human League’s view of the Israeli Invasion of Southern Lebanon and subsequent civil war, "Heart Like a Wheel" is a commentary on U.S. military imperialism. Callis's lyrics are suitably vague using references such as "sell your soul to a holy war". At a time when Jihad
was all but unheard of in the West, it went of over the heads of most of the song's listeners. Ironically 11 years events later '9/11
, then Iraq and Afghanistan
would make the song seem written for that epoch. Although it is rarely something the band dwell on allowing people to read what they want into the lyrics.
Released in the UK in August 1990, "Heart Like a Wheel" reached number 29 in the UK and number 32 in the US. A decade after the release, the record is still popular, featuring in a number of third party remix
es including some by William Orbit
. Also the band frequently play the song live, as it is a very live-friendly track and although not one of their greatest hits, it is still very popular with audiences. Oakey also now often explains the political message to the audiences usually describing it "an anti-war song".
for "Heart Like a Wheel" was commissioned by a now weary Virgin Records
who were, in 1990, seriously losing interest in the band. The video directed by Andy Morahan was cheaply shot in a blue-lit studio with graphic spinning wheel and spark effects. Although the band tried hard, the studio set bore no relation to the lyrical content and only succeeded in reinforcing the song as 'bubblegum' pop in the minds of the public. Philip Oakey had by now rebelled against the 'male model look he was 'forced' to adopt during Crash
and had taken to wearing biker’s leathers. He had also returned to his lopsided hair style of 1981. But now in his mid 30s the look was derided by the media at the time. The girls, Sulley and Catherall however, who were now in their late 20s and in their prime, had shed the awkward schoolgirl look of the 1980s.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
. It is taken from the Romantic?
Romantic?
Romantic? is the sixth studio album by the English synthpop band The Human League. It was issued by Virgin Records in 1990 and was the band's first album of new material in four years...
album of 1990.
Background
"Heart Like a Wheel" was the first single to be taken from the Human League's Romantic?Romantic?
Romantic? is the sixth studio album by the English synthpop band The Human League. It was issued by Virgin Records in 1990 and was the band's first album of new material in four years...
album of 1990. It was written by former band member Jo Callis
Jo Callis
Jo Callis is an English musician and songwriter who played guitar with the Edinburgh based punk rock band, The Rezillos , and post-punk band Boots For Dancing before joining The Human League.-Biography:Callis was educated at the Edinburgh College of Art...
with Eugene Reynolds (of The Rezillos
The Rezillos
The Rezillos are a punk/new wave band, who formed in Edinburgh in 1976 and still play gigs around the world in a re-formed line-up. Although frequently aligned with the punk movement, the Rezillos' irreverent glam rock image and affection for campy girl-group iconography, set them distinctly apart...
) and features vocals by Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey is an English composer, singer, songwriter and producer.He is best known as the lead singer, frontman and co-founder of the famous English synthpop band The Human League. He has also had an extensive solo music career and collaborated with numerous other artists and producers...
, Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall is an English singer; best known as one of the two female vocalists of the veteran English synthpop band The Human League.Born and raised in Sheffield, England...
and Susan Ann Sulley; with the synthesizer skills of Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton is a long term associate member of the veteran British synthpop group The Human League. He is best known as the on stage and studio keyboard player, but also has written various lyrics and composed instrumental tracks for the band and has numerous Human League album credits.His...
. It was recorded at Genetic Sound Studios during 1990 and produced by Martin Rushent
Martin Rushent
Martin Rushent was an English record producer, best known for his work with The Human League, The Stranglers and The Buzzcocks.- Early life :Rushent was born on 11 July 1948 in Enfield, Middlesex. His father was a car salesman...
who was reconciled with the band after an eight-year gap.
The song is a return to the overtly political lyrics that the Human League sometimes do, but dressed up to a poppy
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
hook that makes it palatable to the public. Whereas "The Lebanon
The Lebanon (song)
"The Lebanon" is a song by the British Synthpop group The Human League. Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey and keyboard player Jo Callis, it was recorded at Air studios between 1983-1984. Originally an album track on Hysteria, it was released as a single in the UK and the U.S...
" of 1984 was the Human League’s view of the Israeli Invasion of Southern Lebanon and subsequent civil war, "Heart Like a Wheel" is a commentary on U.S. military imperialism. Callis's lyrics are suitably vague using references such as "sell your soul to a holy war". At a time when Jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
was all but unheard of in the West, it went of over the heads of most of the song's listeners. Ironically 11 years events later '9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, then Iraq and Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
would make the song seem written for that epoch. Although it is rarely something the band dwell on allowing people to read what they want into the lyrics.
Released in the UK in August 1990, "Heart Like a Wheel" reached number 29 in the UK and number 32 in the US. A decade after the release, the record is still popular, featuring in a number of third party remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es including some by William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
. Also the band frequently play the song live, as it is a very live-friendly track and although not one of their greatest hits, it is still very popular with audiences. Oakey also now often explains the political message to the audiences usually describing it "an anti-war song".
Promotional video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Heart Like a Wheel" was commissioned by a now weary Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
who were, in 1990, seriously losing interest in the band. The video directed by Andy Morahan was cheaply shot in a blue-lit studio with graphic spinning wheel and spark effects. Although the band tried hard, the studio set bore no relation to the lyrical content and only succeeded in reinforcing the song as 'bubblegum' pop in the minds of the public. Philip Oakey had by now rebelled against the 'male model look he was 'forced' to adopt during Crash
Crash (Human League album)
Crash is the fifth full-length studio album released by the British synthpop band The Human League in 1986. Unlike the band’s previous and subsequent albums it is R&B influenced...
and had taken to wearing biker’s leathers. He had also returned to his lopsided hair style of 1981. But now in his mid 30s the look was derided by the media at the time. The girls, Sulley and Catherall however, who were now in their late 20s and in their prime, had shed the awkward schoolgirl look of the 1980s.
Track listing
- CD 1 1990, Virgin (VSCDT 1262)
- "Heart Like a Wheel" - 4:30
- "Heart Like a Wheel" (Extended Mix) - 6:55
- "Rebound" - 3:58
- "Heart Like a Wheel" (RemixWilliam OrbitWilliam Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
) - 4:37
- CD 2 1990, Virgin (VSCDX 1262)
- "Heart Like a Wheel" - 4:30
- "Heart Like a Wheel" (Extended Mix) - 6:55
- "Rebound" - 3:58
- "A Doorway" (Dub Mix) - 4:29
External links
- http://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/heart_like_a_wheel.htm
- http://www.league-online.com/hlaw1.html