In 1984 Howard Jones came out with his first album, Human’s Lib. I got it, on vinyl, of course. I had never heard anything like it. I was especially struck by “New Song.” I had first heard/seen it on MTV.

The electronic music, the upbeat and cheerful message: I couldn’t get enough of it. In fact, I made a tape of this one song, (cassette, natch) playing over and over and over for the entire tape. It was a banner, a flag, a shout, a declaration of joy. I’d put it on in my room and just dance and dance and dance. Some of the music of the time was dark, though still amazing; Tears for Fears, Anything by the Smiths, U2; this song was just pure uplifting confection for the ears.

The other band I was in love with at the time was The Police. My friend Kathy and I found a radio station that had a show dedicated to The Police, and we’d call in to it almost every day with requests. I’m sure the kid who did the show (it was a student radio station) was either amused or annoyed at having two high school girls constantly calling in. He humored us though.

Making mix tapes was an obsession. I’d record songs from radio shows, or from records, or, after I got my boom box (which I bought with the first money I ever made, at Camp Lucerne), other tapes. Trying to get the perfect playlist, making mix tapes for friends, for boys I liked (not that I ever actually gave it to them.) It was a form of self expression in those early MTV days. I wish I still had them: who knows where they have gone? Into some celestial place where the angels listen and boogie. Or a box in the basement. Or, in one of my shedding crazes, into the garbage: we don’t even have a cassette player any more. Actually, in the purgatory for stuff that is my basement, I still might have an old boom box that plays cassettes. Mix tapes. The stuff of discovery for some cultural anthropologist in the future.

Ah, coming of age in the 80’s!

I've been waiting for so long
To come here now and sing this song
Don't be fooled by what you see
Don't be fooled by what you hear

This is a song to all of my friends
They take the challenge to their hearts
Challenging preconceived ideas
Saying goodbye to long standing fears

Don't crack up
Bend your brain
See both sides
(Throw off your mental chains)

I don't wanna be hip and cool
I don't wanna play by the rules
Not under the thumb of the cynical few
Or laden down by the doom crew

Don't crack up
Bend your brain
See both sides
(Throw off your mental chains)

I've been waiting for so long
To come here now and sing this song
Don't be fooled by what you see
Don't be fooled by what you hear

This is a song to all of my friends
They take the challenge to their hearts
Challenging preconceived ideas
Saying goodbye to long standing fears

Don't crack up
Bend your brain
See both sides
(Throw off your mental chains)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Howard Jones

New Song lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.