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
at 7:31 am
Awesome summary of the greatest song ever!
at 7:40 am
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
at 8:46 am
One of my all-time favorite bands, but one of the WORST live acts I have ever witnessed. Sad, but true.
at 8:31 am
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!
at 10:30 am
I had just the opposite experiences, one of the top 5 live shows I have ever been to
at 10:37 am
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.
at 11:42 am
Wow I feel old, 30 years!!! Great band live…
at 1:43 pm
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!
at 2:37 pm
I have one of Hooky’s drumsticks from the Hammerstein video!!! Great memories!!!!
at 9:21 am
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