This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - B-Movie's "Nowhere Girl"
Friday May 18, 2007
One of England's best post-punk bands that bore a strong sonic resemblance to American new wave, B-Movie continues to be one of the most obscure groups of the early '80s as well. That's quite a shame, even if "Nowhere Girl" has somehow still managed to be regarded quite highly as an underrated '80s classic even though it was completely ignored in America when it was first released in 1982.B-Movie is one of the few British bands of this period to utilize guitars and keyboards relatively equally to forge a uniquely jagged if hauntingly electronic sound. Duran Duran, of course, did that kind of thing much more prominently in the years immediately following, but this lost '80s relic is well worth seeking out for music fans interested in looking at an influential, early post-punk outfit that never could quite break through to a wider audience.
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Wounded Bird Records
Comments
Hi there! I’m Marcos Sánchez from the Dominican Republic, the best island in the heart of the Caribbean. I believe THIS is a great track and I must say that I’m truly amazed by seeing a comment of it in here due to I thought no one knew/heard this track in America. Definetively this Steve Peake’s “Forgotten Gem of the 80s” is really something. For those who liked it or those who never heard it, here’s a generous lyrics gift:
Nowhere girl you’re living in a dream,
nowhere girl you stay behind the scenes,
nowhere girl you never go outside,
nowhere girl cause you prefer to hide.
every night, every day
in that all old familiar light
you hang up when I call you at home.
and I try to get through
and I try to talk to you
but there’s something stopping me from getting through.
Nowhere girl what you had you need,
nowhere girl all functional and neat,
nowhere girl in self-imposed exile,
nowhere girl a martyr-like denial.
Every night, every day
in that all old familiar light
you hang up when I call you at home.
and I try to get through
and I try to talk to you
but there’s something stopping me from getting through
Greetings and Salutations!
Just like Marcos from the Dominican Republic I too am a big fan of B-Movie. (BTW Marcos, Although I don’t doubt that your homeland has many beautiful areas I am partial to Aruba, as it not only has a charming Dutch influence, but is the safest island in the Caribbean)
Contrary to what most foreigners think, just because the song ‘Nowhere Girl’ failed at the American Pop Charts does not mean that it was not popular with the underground New Wave crowd. Quite a few DJ’s spun the 12″ extended remix at dance clubs in major cities throughout the country back in its heyday – as well as years later at “Retro” parties and alternative club events.
As an alternative/SynthPop/Gothic DJ at several NewYork and NewJersey nightclubs and college radio stations during the 80’s and early 90’s B-Movie was often placed in my rotation.
Another great artist and song that I feel is in the same “neglected” category is “IMAGES OF HEAVEN” by Peter Godwin. I saw the 12″ disc for sale in the West Village, NYC back in the early 90’s for over $50.00 USD!!!
Later,
Charles Roland
I happened to be looking at this website and cannot believe what I am reading regarding B-MOvie, Nowhere Girl! Under my picture in the yearbook 1982 you will the words Nowhere Girl. I still jog to this song at least 3 times a week. No doubt one of the best 80’s song!!
This was a HUGE hit on KROQ [Los Angeles] in the ’80s. I’m so glad I bought Richard Blade’s Flashback Favorites, Vol. 2 in 1994… it has the 6:30 version.
I seem to recall the instrumental part being used for TV commercials for Atari’s 2600 Centipede video game cartridge. Can anyone verify this?