Being Boiled
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| "Being Boiled" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by the Human League | ||||
| from the album Travelogue | ||||
| B-side | "Circus of Death" | |||
| Released | 30 June 1978 | |||
| Recorded | Sheffield (Yorkshire, England) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label |
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| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | The Human League | |||
| The Human League singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
"Being Boiled" is a song by the English synth-pop band the Human League. It was composed by Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, with lyrics by Philip Oakey. "Being Boiled" is strikingly different from and darker than the group's more well-known songs.[4]
"Being Boiled" was released as the Human League's debut single in 1978. It has been re-issued several times since then, becoming a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1982 and in West Germany four years later.
Background and composition
[edit]The song was influenced by Kraftwerk, German krautrock such as Can and Neu!, American funk bands Funkadelic and Parliament[5] and the attitudes of punk placed in a different context.[6]
It has a strong bassline, compared to Bootsy Collins.[6] The lyrics, described as "bizarre" and "confused", [7] combine a protest against silk farming with vague mention of Eastern religion - ("Listen to the voice of Buddha/saying stop your sericulture"). In Japan, the sound of bells are referred to as "the voice of Buddha".
The song's music predates Philip Oakey's joining the band. The Future, a band comprising Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, had just parted company with singer Adi Newton, later of Clock DVA. Needing a new singer, they contacted former schoolmate Philip Oakey, giving him the music to listen to. Two days later he was back, having written the lyrics. "That was the first thing I heard Phil do," Marsh recalled, "and I immediately thought, 'You've definitely got the job.'"[8]
The original version was recorded on a domestic tape recorder, in mono, in an abandoned factory, at a cost of £2.50.[9]
Different versions
[edit]"Being Boiled" was first released as a single in 1978 on the Fast Product label.
The band recorded a new version as part of a session for the John Peel radio programme in the summer of 1978. The session was recorded 8 August 1978 and broadcast on 16 August. Among the four songs recorded, "Being Boiled" is the only one which has had an official release.[10]
A totally re-recorded version of "Being Boiled" was included on the band's Holiday '80 EP, which reached number 56 in 1980 and number 46 in 1982. This version was also included on their 1980 Travelogue album, and is also available on the Original Remixes and Rarities compilation album (2005).[11]
A stereo remix of the original mono Fast Product version was released as a single in August 1980 through EMI Records, failing to chart. This stereo remix was then reissued in January 1982, this time reaching Number 6 in the UK Charts, shortly after the band's commercial breakthrough with Dare and "Don't You Want Me". It was later included on their Greatest Hits anthology released in 1988. It has also been released on subsequent greatest hits albums, as well as on CD releases of the band's debut album Reproduction as a bonus track.
The song has also been covered by KMFDM on their 2009 album Blitz.
Reception
[edit]The song received a mixed reception among established artists of the time. David Bowie declared it to be "the future of music",[6] but former Sex Pistols singer John Lydon, reviewing the single for the New Musical Express, dismissed the band as "trendy hippies". Peter York in Harper's and Queen cited the cover as an example of "post-modern packaging".[12]
Gary Numan named "Being Boiled" as one of his favourite songs.[13] Andy McCluskey of OMD called it "a great piece of music".[14]
Track listings
[edit]7-inch single (1978 Fast Product release)
- "Being Boiled" (original version)
- "Circus of Death" (original version)
Holiday '80 EP (Virgin Records release)
- "Being Boiled" (re-recorded version)
- "Marianne"
- "Dancevision"
- "Rock 'N' Roll"/"Nightclubbing" medley
1980 EMI release and 1982 EMI reissue
- "Being Boiled" (stereo remix of the original version)
- "Circus of Death" (stereo remix of the original version)
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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References
[edit]- ^ a b Reynolds, Simon (1 January 2005). "Electric Dreams: Synthpop". Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. Faber & Faber. pp. 326, 334. ISBN 0-571-21570-X. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Treble Staff (11 May 2020). "A History of Synth-Pop in 50 Essential Songs". Treble. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Wide, Steve (22 September 2020). "Honourable Mentions: The Human League". A Field Guide to Post-Punk and New Wave. Smith Street Books. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-925811-76-6.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. Review of Being Boiled at AllMusic
- ^ "Key Tracks: Martyn Ware on The Human League's "Being Boiled"". redbullmusicacademy.com. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Not Fade Away 1978: Being Boiled, by The Human League". The Herald. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ Reynolds, S. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984, (Faber and Faber 2006), p.162
- ^ Buckley, David (October 2003). "Back to the future". Mojo. No. 119. p. 50.
- ^ Sean Turner (2001). "Being Boiled by The Human League". Blind Youth. Archived from the original Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine on 26 July 2011. "...recorded in a disused factory on a domestic tape recorder at a cost of £2.50, demonstrated that anyone could make electronic pop music."
- ^ "Various - Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977-1979 (CD)". Discogs.com. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "The Human League - Original Remixes & Rarities". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Empire State Human" in "Depeche Mode and the Story of Electro-pop" Q (EMAP 2005), p.30
- ^ "From Being Boiled to I Feel Love: Gary Numan's top electro tracks". The Guardian. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ "Interview: Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Parklife DC. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ "The Human League – Being Boiled" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 21. 31 May 1986. p. 13.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bein' Boiled". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 30/1/1982 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
Being Boiled
View on GrokipediaBackground and development
Origins
The Human League was formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in 1977 by electronic enthusiasts Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, who initially operated under the name The Future before recruiting vocalist Philip Oakey to complete the lineup.[3] The band emerged amid Sheffield's burgeoning post-punk and industrial music scene, characterized by experimental sounds and a rejection of traditional rock instrumentation in favor of synthesizers and tape loops.[4] This environment, influenced by local acts like Cabaret Voltaire, fostered a raw, innovative approach that positioned The Human League at the forefront of the city's electronic underground.[4] The group's early creative direction drew heavily from German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, whose 1977 album Trans-Europe Express profoundly impacted Oakey upon its introduction by Ware, inspiring a shift toward mechanized, futuristic soundscapes.[5] Additional influences included the pulsating electronic disco of Giorgio Moroder, whose productions emphasized synthetic rhythms and minimalism, aligning with the band's interest in futurist themes derived from science fiction, such as the tabletop game that lent them their name.[3] These elements converged to guide The Human League toward developing synth-based tracks exploring themes of technology, conformity, and human mechanization, setting the stage for their debut single.[5] Composition of "Being Boiled" began in early 1978, with Ware and Marsh crafting the instrumental foundation on affordable synthesizers while Oakey contributed the lyrics, marking his first writing effort for the band.[3] Embracing a DIY ethos, the trio self-produced early demos using rudimentary equipment in Sheffield's industrial backdrop, reflecting the scene's emphasis on accessibility and experimentation over commercial polish.[4] They honed their material through performances at local venues like the Limit club, where they supported emerging punk and post-punk acts, building a grassroots following amid the city's vibrant, anarchic music community before securing their first record deal.[3]Composition
"Being Boiled" was composed by Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh of the original Human League lineup, utilizing early synthesizers including the Korg 700S for its monophonic leads and resonated filters, and the Roland System 100 for percussion elements.[6][7] The track features a repetitive bassline generated through sequenced synth patterns, staccato riffs that punctuate the melody with sharp, electronic attacks, and drum machine rhythms programmed at approximately 108 beats per minute, creating a driving yet austere groove. This structure emphasizes minimalism, with all sounds handmade via tape bouncing on a basic two-track recorder, reflecting the band's DIY ethos in Sheffield's industrial scene.[6] The lyrics, penned by vocalist Philip Oakey, draw on Eastern philosophy through references to Buddha urging an end to sericulture—the cultivation of silkworms for silk production—highlighting themes of animal cruelty where the creatures are boiled alive to harvest their cocoons.[8] This serves as a parable critiquing human conformity and exploitation, intertwined with notions of reincarnation implicit in the Buddhist context, as the song warns of karmic consequences for societal indifference. The text unfolds in a simple verse structure following a spoken-word introduction sampled from the final words of executed murderer Gary Gilmore, adding a stark, narrative edge to the electronic backdrop.[9] Stylistically, "Being Boiled" pioneered a cold, mechanical tone in electronic music by eschewing traditional guitars and organic instrumentation in favor of a purely synthetic arrangement, laying foundational influences for the synth-pop genre that would dominate the 1980s.[6] The original composition runs for 3:54, underscoring its tense, otherworldly atmosphere.Recording and production
Original sessions
The original recording of "Being Boiled" took place in a disused factory in Sheffield during 1978, emblematic of the band's resource constraints and unconventional DIY ethos in the local post-punk scene.[6] Produced entirely by the band without external engineers, the session utilized a basic setup consisting of a domestic two-track reel-to-reel tape recorder—no mixing desk, equalization, or effects were available—and a Korg 700S and a Roland System 100 synthesizers for all sounds, including handmade electronic approximations of drums.[6][10] Martyn Ware operated the synthesizers and oversaw production, Ian Craig Marsh contributed on synthesizers and programming, and Philip Oakey provided vocals along with the lyrics.[6] The track's raw, otherworldly sound stemmed from the factory's poor acoustics and the limitations of the sound-on-sound bouncing method, which degraded with each overdub until the session concluded, all for a total cost of about £3—the price of the tape itself.[6]Re-recording
Following the release of their debut album Reproduction, The Human League re-recorded "Being Boiled" in March 1980 at Monumental Pictures studio in Sheffield for inclusion on their second album Travelogue and the Holiday '80 EP.[11] This session utilized professional 8-track recording equipment, enabling multi-track layering and stereo mixing that addressed the limitations of the original 1978 version's raw 2-track reel-to-reel setup.[12][6] The re-recorded track extended the duration to 4:22, incorporating refined synthesizer arrangements with added depth in layers and effects, alongside cleaner, more prominent vocals achieved through professional engineering.[11][13] Produced by John Leckie alongside the band, the version emphasized a polished electro sound while retaining the song's core electronic pulse and thematic structure.[14] Core personnel remained consistent with Philip Oakey on vocals, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh on synthesizers, with Adrian Wright contributing additional synthesizer parts as a band member.[11] This re-recording represented the final collaborative effort from the original lineup, completed in the lead-up to the band's split later that year, when Ware and Marsh departed to form Heaven 17, leaving Oakey and Wright to reform The Human League.[15]Release and versions
Initial release
"Being Boiled" was first released as a debut single on 30 June 1978 by the independent Scottish label Fast Product, under catalogue number FAST 4, in a limited pressing of 5,000 copies on 7-inch vinyl.[16][17][18] The B-side featured the band's original track "Circus of Death".[19] The single was distributed primarily through mail-order and independent retail channels typical of Fast Product's operations, with early promotion bolstered by airplay on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show starting 31 July 1978.[20] Initial sales reached around 3,000 copies within the first three months, but the record did not chart in the UK.[9] The cover art adopted a minimalist black-and-white design on a plain cartridge sleeve, with a stark, unadorned presentation.[21][22]Reissues and variants
Following its initial 1978 release, "Being Boiled" saw significant reissues starting in 1980, often featuring revised mixes or formats to align with the band's evolving sound under Virgin Records. The re-recorded stereo version, produced with enhanced production clarity compared to the original mono recording, was included on the Holiday '80 EP, issued by Virgin Records on 18 April 1980. This EP also contained tracks such as "Marianne" and the medley "Rock 'N' Roll / Nightclubbing," marking an early effort to repackage the band's material for broader appeal.[23] This same re-recorded version appeared on the band's second studio album, Travelogue, released in May 1980 by Virgin Records, where it served as a closing track and helped integrate the song into their developing synth-pop catalog. In 1982, amid the band's rising popularity, EMI reissued "Being Boiled" as standalone 7-inch and 12-inch singles, utilizing a stereo remix clocking in at 3:35—distinct from both the original and the Holiday '80 take—paired with the B-side "Circus of Death." These formats emphasized the track's dancefloor potential through extended play and remixing.[24] A 1986 reissue targeted the West German market via EMI (as part of Europe's broader distribution), featuring an extended stereo mix on 12-inch vinyl, which contributed to renewed local chart activity without altering the core composition.[25] Subsequent variants have primarily appeared in compilations and remasters, such as the original "Fast Version" included on the 2003 remastered edition of the band's debut album Reproduction, released by Virgin/EMI, which added bonus tracks to contextualize early material. No major digital remasters of note have emerged post-2020, though the track remains available on streaming platforms in its various historical mixes.[26]Reception
Contemporary response
Upon its release in June 1978, "Being Boiled" garnered attention in the UK music press for its bold electronic sound and departure from punk conventions. The track was featured in a John Peel session recorded on August 8, 1978, and broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on August 16, where the band performed it alongside other originals; Peel played the single multiple times that year, praising its innovative qualities and helping it gain traction on the independent scene.[27][28] Melody Maker described it as "electronic music with heavy-heavy sinister overtones," noting the grim themes of the B-side and references to Buddha in the lyrics, positioning The Human League within emerging experimental electronic sounds.[29] David Bowie attended a Human League concert in December 1978 and subsequently told NME that he "had seen the future of pop music," highlighting the band's emerging synth-driven style as visionary.[30] Initial coverage also appeared in fanzines and early electronic music publications, such as Slash Magazine, which lauded the synthesizer and rhythm machine elements for providing a "looping structure to one of the most obscure lyrics you might hope to encounter," emphasizing its experimental redefinition of pop.[29] Reactions were mixed, with punk figure John Lydon (of the Sex Pistols) dismissing the single in a July 1978 NME guest review as the work of "trendy hippies."[31] The 1982 reissue, following the band's mainstream breakthrough with Dare, reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and was positively reviewed in music weeklies for its enduring cold, detached electronic aesthetic, solidifying its status as an early synth-pop milestone.[2]Retrospective assessments
In retrospective assessments, "Being Boiled" has been widely praised for its pioneering role in electronic music. Gary Numan, in a 2017 interview, selected it as one of his top electro tracks, noting that it was the first electronic song with a "human feel" to him, unlike Kraftwerk's machine-like approach, marking a shift toward more accessible experimental sounds.[32] Similarly, Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, in a 2022 discussion, called it a "brilliant piece of music," despite its unconventional production.[33] Scholars and critics have positioned the track as a key milestone in post-punk's electronic evolution. In his 2005 book Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984, Simon Reynolds highlights "Being Boiled" as an exemplar of how Sheffield's DIY scene fused punk's urgency with synthesizer innovation, influencing the broader transition to synth-pop. AllMusic's Dave Thompson, in a review of the single, lauds its "purposefully minimalistic but far from primitive" approach, emphasizing its high degree of experimentation that set it apart from contemporaries.[34] More recent coverage underscores its cult status within the Sheffield electronic legacy. A 2016 live review in The Quietus celebrated the song's performance after nearly 40 years, noting Philip Oakey's voice retained its original timbre and the track's enduring intensity in a retrospective context.[35] It has also appeared in electronic music documentaries, such as the 2009 BBC Synth Britannia, which frames it as a foundational DIY electronic single that paved the way for UK synth-pop's commercial breakthrough.[36] However, some 2010s critiques point to its dated production values, with reviewers like McCluskey acknowledging the "shocking" mix as a product of its era's limitations, though this rawness is often credited with enhancing its punk-like authenticity.[33]Commercial performance
Chart history
"Being Boiled" did not enter any major music charts upon its initial independent release in 1978.[1] A re-recorded version was included on the band's 1980 Holiday '80 EP, which peaked at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart and spent five weeks there.[37] The 1982 reissue of the original version marked the song's commercial breakthrough, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 53 on 9 January before climbing to a peak of number 6, where it spent one week, and totaling nine weeks on the chart.[2]| Week ending | Position |
|---|---|
| 9 January 1982 | 53 |
| 16 January 1982 | 13 |
| 23 January 1982 | 10 |
| 30 January 1982 | 6 |
| 6 February 1982 | 8 |
| 13 February 1982 | 10 |
| 20 February 1982 | 15 |
| 27 February 1982 | 24 |
| 6 March 1982 | 63 |
Sales figures
The 1982 reissue of "Being Boiled" received no certifications from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), or other major bodies, consistent with its limited release in the United States. In the streaming era, as of November 2025, "Being Boiled" has exceeded 50 million streams on Spotify across various versions, though official digital sales figures remain unavailable; the re-recorded version is included on the Holiday '80 EP associated with the album Travelogue, which was certified Gold by the BPI in May 1982 for sales of 100,000 units.[41]Track listings
1978 single
The 1978 release of "Being Boiled" marked the debut single from the British electronic band The Human League, issued as a 7-inch vinyl single on the independent label Fast Product in the United Kingdom under catalog number FAST 4. The recording was produced in mono in a makeshift studio in a disused factory in Sheffield.[21][17] The single's track listing is as follows:| Side | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| A | "Being Boiled" (original version) | 3:48 |
| B | "Circus of Death" | 4:47 |
1980 EP and later editions
The Holiday '80 EP, released by Virgin Records in 1980 as a limited-edition gatefold 2x7-inch vinyl under catalog number SV 105 (limited to 15,000 copies), featured a re-recorded version of "Being Boiled". The track listing is as follows:| Side | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| A | "Marianne" | 3:14 |
| B | "Dancevision" | 2:15 |
| C | "Being Boiled" (re-recorded version) | 4:10 |
| D | "Rock 'N' Roll" / "Nightclubbing" | 6:20 |
| Side | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | "Marianne" | 3:14 |
| A2 | "Being Boiled" (re-recorded version) | 4:10 |
| B1 | "Dancevision" | 2:15 |
| B2 | "Rock 'N' Roll" / "Nightclubbing" | 6:20 |
