"Leaving Me Now" is a single released in 1985 by English

jazz-funk Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat, electrified sounds, and analog synthesizers. The integration of funk, soul, and R&B music and styles into jazz resulted in the creation of a genre that ranges from ...

band

Level 42 Level 42 are an English jazz-funk band formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s. Their highest-charting single in the UK was " Lessons in Love", which reached number three on th ...

. It was the second single from their sixth studio album ''

World Machine ''World Machine'' is the sixth studio album by British pop group Level 42, released in 1985. It was the band's breakthrough album internationally and features one of their most successful singles, " Something About You". Composition This releas ...

''. The song was written by Mark King, Phil Gould and

Wally Badarou Waliou Jacques Daniel Isheola "Wally" Badarou (born 22 March 1955) is a French musician. Born in France with ancestry from Benin, West Africa, Badarou is known for his close association with the English group Level 42, and for his prolific wor ...

. A slow, emotive

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

written about the end of a relationship, it contains a

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

solo by Mike Lindup in the middle and at the end, though this is edited down for the single edit. The single's cover art is the same as the next single "World Machine", and illustrates a hole in the sky. The single was released in many countries beyond the United Kingdom, including the United States, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Argentina, and Japan.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by

Nigel Dick Nigel Dick (born 21 March 1953) is an English music video director and filmmaker. Originally from Catterick, North Yorkshire, he is based in Los Angeles, California. He has directed music videos for artists such as Britney Spears, Toto, Ba ...

. It features Mark King's dark clown magician character from the music video for " Something About You" showing regret for his actions as he takes off his makeup.

Charts

References

1985 singles 1985 songs Level 42 songs Songs written by Mark King (musician) Songs written by Phil Gould (musician) Songs written by Wally Badarou Polydor Records singles Pop ballads {{1980s-single-stub