On March 7, 1983 — exactly 30 years ago today — New Order released its monumental single “Blue Monday,” cementing its full transition from the moody post-punk of Joy Division to club-ready synthpop. And, in the process, the band delivered what has, ever since, been bestowed with the crown of best-selling 12-inch single of all time.
The song, for all its automation (it was designed to basically be played on autopilot), turned out to be something of a blank canvas for New Order, as the band, in the intervening years, has remixed it, re-released it and morphed it every which way while performing the song live.
Still, “Blue Monday” always retains its signature elements: that stuttering drum machine, Peter Hook’s ominous, thudding bassline and Bernard Sumner’s deadpan lyrical delivery.
Below, we’ve traced the history of the song, from its original 12-inch version (that’s Peter Saville’s iconic floppy disk-inspired sleeve above) and accompanying music video up through early TV performances and concert airings in the late ’90s and early 2000s, ending with footage of the band — now sans Hook — playing the latest arrangement of the song onstage last fall in the U.K.
Check ’em out:
New Order, “Blue Monday” — original 12-inch version, 1983
New Order, “Blue Monday” — original music video, 1983
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live on “Top of the Pops,” 1983
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live on Channel 4’s “The Switch,” 1983
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live on “Veronica’s Countdownn,” Dutch TV, 1983
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live at BBC Radio 1 studios, 1984
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live in Barcelona, 1984
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live in Tokyo, 1985
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live in Belgium, 1985
New Order, “Blue Monday ’88” — music video, 1988
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live at Reading, UK, 1998
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live at Finsbury Park, UK, 2002
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live at New York City, 2005
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live in Glasgow, 2006
New Order, “Blue Monday” — live at Bestival, UK, 2012
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays on Factory Records 10-inch for Record Store Day
- Video: Bernard Sumner joins The Killers to play New Order’s ‘Crystal’ in Manchester
- New Order confirms Coachella warm-ups, promises more U.S. dates ‘later in the year’
- Peter Hook to play New Order’s ‘Movement,’ ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’ live in 2013
- Bernard Sumner: New Order to begin work on ‘electronic synth album’ early next year
Awesome summary of the greatest song ever!
Great list but missing the live “comeback” version (no Hooky but with Gillian) at The Troxy in London 10/12/2011 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUdqIzJmGCw&feature=share&list=PLC688C4504633F7BF
One of my all-time favorite bands, but one of the WORST live acts I have ever witnessed. Sad, but true.
Absolutely agree. First time I got to see them was the Monsters of Alternative Rock tour they did around Technique, and P.I.L. absolutely stole the show right out from under them!
I had just the opposite experiences, one of the top 5 live shows I have ever been to
depends on the show. I have many bootlegs and some are amazing, other are just OK. I only got to see them for Technique and that show was wonderful.
Wow I feel old, 30 years!!! Great band live…
This is not just a retro ’80s classic song….NOT that there is anything wrong with that, but this song is still relevant, still so unique and hip.
LOVE it! I hope New Order are enjoying some champagne right now to celebrate 30 years!
I have one of Hooky’s drumsticks from the Hammerstein video!!! Great memories!!!!
good song and a great band, what more can you ask for.
New Order “Blue Monday” John Digweed & Nick Muir’s FAC 73 – 13 Mix
http://soundcloud.com/bedrock_rec/new-order-blue-monday-john