Coming up next was Human League, a new wave band that came out of nowhere to rule the charts in 1982 with the #1 hit Don't You Want Me, which kicked off the second British invasion. But 4 years later, the pressure was on to replicate the success in America after a failed album and a song that didn't make the top 50. So they came up with another left-field idea, trading in their robotic sound for a smooth and emotive track where the singer admits to his girlfriend he cheated on her and is shocked to find out that she is forgiving because she cheated on him too… That song is called Human. Up next, the legendary cowriter and producer of Human tells the story of working with the new romantic new wave band and how he transformed the robotic singer into one of the most moving performances of the 80s. And how Human hit #1, ruled 4 major charts, and has become one of the foundational tracks of the 80s, next on Professor of Rock.
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ZaffronStaghelm, Laurie Buckland, Dale Nadeau, Robert Taylor, Missy D
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time if you believe that a song is the closest thing we have to a time machine in this world you’ll enjoy this channel.. make sure to subscribe right now so you don’t miss an episode. . hit the white button and check the bell so you are always in the know about our latest videos and interviews.
I’m really excited to bring you a very special episode from our series Revelations, where featured artists reveal rare stories about their biggest songs, along with fascinating insight about their careers. Today, we have one of the greatest hitmakers in the history of music. He and his partner have produced 16 #1 hits on the Hot 100 and have helped write many of them. First working under the tutelage of Prince when he was in the band, and then got fired by the purple one only to come back with one of the most successful careers ever. I’m talking about Mr. Jimmy Jam who is deservedly a rock and roll hall of famer. He and his partner Terry Lewis have done things that only a select few have done, but today I want to talk about one of their early masterpiece with the new wave band The Human League. So, let’s travel back to 1986. Jam and Lewis had just cowritten and produced the Janet Jackson blockbuster Control, which had 5 top five hits, and the Human League was in a bit of a rut… They had come out of nowhere here in America to dominate the charts in 1982 with their classic hit Don’t You Want Me.
Many say it was the shot that started the second British invasion, but after having a hit with Keep Feeling Fascination, they struggled on the American charts when their 1984 album Hysteria failed to make the top 50 and their Singles the Lebanon missed the top 40 altogether. They were looking for a comeback and sought out Jam and Lewis. They wrote the perfect song for the League, but it would take a makeover. The song Human is about a guy who cheats on his lover and is absolutely distraught about it and comes clean to his girl, explaining that he’s only human born to make mistakes. Then, later in the song, the woman reveals that while he was away, she cheated too. Saying she is human too. Musically it’s one of the most emotional songs of the time, but the lyrics and the song’s subject was going to take a big voice and a great performance to pull it off.
The problem was lead singer Philip Oakey was known for his Robotic voice…Well known for his