Genetic Engineering (song)

"Genetic Engineering" is a 1983 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their fourth studio album '' Dazzle Ships''. The synthesized speech featured on the track is taken from a Speak & Spell, an educational electronic toy developed by Texas Instruments in the 1970s intended to teach children spelling.

"Genetic Engineering" reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also a Top 20 hit in several European territories, and peaked at number 5 in Spain. In the US it made number 32 on the ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock chart.

Reception and legacy

''Smash Hits'' wrote, "Well worth the wait. OMD's knack of coming up with exhilarating singles has not been affected by their year off... a great tune." Jim Reid in ''Record Mirror'' said, "Madly infectious hookline propels a song absolutely dripping with 'moderne' references. A cold record, whose raison d'être lies in the application of studio technology and the manipulation of hackneyed goobledegook. Should be massive – won't touch my turntable again."

In a later piece, ''God Is in the TV''s Andy Page wrote that "Genetic Engineering" is "surely one of the most inventive and unusual singles ever to reach the KTop 20". Critic Alexis Petridis observed the song's use of "scratchy, trebly guitar... alongside a children's Speak & Spell toy, a clattery rhythm track built out of handclaps and what sound like samples of a typewriter, and a particularly wracked-sounding ndyMcCluskey vocal: it was simultaneously thrilling and a little cacophonous." Ned Raggett of AllMusic praised the "soaring", "enjoyable" single, asserting, "Why it wasn't a Shit remains a mystery." "Genetic Engineering" appeared in Radio X's "25 Best Indie Songs of 1983".

Frontman McCluskey has noted that the song is not an attack on genetic engineering, as many – including radio presenter Dave Lee Travis – have assumed. McCluskey professed to be "very positive about the subject", adding, "People didn't listen to the lyrics... I think they automatically assumed it would be anti."

The Time Frequency's Jon Campbell hailed "Genetic Engineering" as OMD's best track. Covers of the song were released by the indie bands Another Sunny Day and Eggs. Critics have compared the track to "Fitter Happier", a 1997 song by rock group Radiohead (who have cited '' Dazzle Ships'', the parent album of "Genetic Engineering", as an influence). Theon Weber in ''Stylus'' saw the Radiohead track as "deeply indebted".

B-side

The song "4-Neu" was featured on the B-side of both the 7" and 12" versions. It was not included on the '' Dazzle Ships'' album and remained exclusive to this release until its inclusion on '' Navigation: The OMD B-Sides'' (2001), and then on the remastered special edition of ''Dazzle Ships'' in 2008. The song continues the band's tradition of including more experimental tracks as B-sides to singles. Its title is a tribute to German krautrock band Neu!, who were an important influence on McCluskey and keyboardist Paul Humphreys prior to OMD. "4-Neu" was never performed live until the special performance of ''Dazzle Ships'' at The Museum of Liverpool in November 2014 and at the ''Dazzle Ships / Architecture & Morality'' live performances in London and Germany in May 2016.

Track listing

7" vinyl single and 7" picture disc

* UK: Telegraph VS 527
Side one
# "Genetic Engineering" – 3:37
Side two
# "4-NEU" – 3:33

12" vinyl single

* UK: Telegraph VS 527-12
Side one
# "Genetic Engineering" (312mm version) – 5:18
Side two
# "4-NEU" – 3:33

Charts

Promo video

A promotional video for "Genetic Engineering" was directed by Steve Barron, who directed videos for a wide variety of artists in the eighties, such as the Human League, Tears for Fears, and A-ha. The video features a number of genetics-related books, some of which McCluskey would later borrow to read himself. McClusky described the songs music video as not being his "favourite video", but still contained a "couple of interesting moments, with Mally and Martin as the Kray brothers!" The Rolls-Royce used in the clip was owned by comedian Mel Smith. The girl featured in the promotional video is played by actress Joann Kenny.

The promotional video for "Genetic Engineering" was included on the '' Messages: Greatest Hits'' CD/DVD release (2008).

Alternative versions and live performances

Apart from the extended '312mm version' the band also recorded the song for a John Peel radio session in 1983. This version was made available on '' Peel Sessions 1979–1983'' (2000).

OMD played the song live on ''The Tube'' during its first series in February 1983.

The song was performed live during the ''Dazzle Ships'' promotional tour but rarely since then, until more recent performances in 2014 and 2016.

References

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1983 singles
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark songs
Songs written by Andy McCluskey
Songs about science
1983 songs
Songs written by Paul Humphreys
Virgin Records singles