"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" is a song from the album''
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret'' by English
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s ...
duo
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. The duo consists of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The band are primarily known for their 1981 hit version of " Tainted Love" and their pla ...
that was released as a single in January 1982 and reached number three on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
In 1991, the track was remixed by
Julian Mendelsohn
Julian Mendelsohn is an Australian record producer, audio engineer and mixer.
Early life
After completing school in Australia, Mendelsohn moved to the United Kingdom. He secured his first job in 1974 at Milner Sound Fulham Rd. Chelsea, run ...
and released as "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" to promote the compilation album ''
Memorabilia – The Singles'', making no. 38 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
Soft Cell vocalist
Marc Almond
Peter Mark Sinclair "Marc" Almond, (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer. Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/ new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. H ...
re-recorded his vocals for the new version. It was ranked number 65 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Best Songs of 1982 and ranked 12 on Classic Pop magazine's list of the 40 best synth-pop songs.
Music video
A promo video was made that features the British actress
Eileen Daly.
Track listing
;1982 7" single
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" - 5:24
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (Instrumental) - 5:12
;1982 12" single
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (Extended Version) - 9:08
#"Fun City" (
Marc and the Mambas
Marc and the Mambas were a New wave music, new wave group, formed by Marc Almond in 1982 as an offshoot project from Soft Cell. The band's line-up changed frequently, and included Matt Johnson (singer), Matt Johnson from and Anni Hogan, Annie ...
recording) - 7:45
;1991 7" single
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" - 5:03
#"Memorabilia '91" - 3:56
;1991 12" single
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" (The Long Goodbye - Extended Mendelsohn Remix) - 8:19
#"Memorabilia '91" (Extended Grid Remix) - 6:51
;1991 CD1
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" - 5:03
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" (The Long Goodbye - Extended Mendelsohn Remix) - 8:19
#"Memorabilia '91" (Extended Grid Remix) - 6:51
;1991 CD2
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" - 5:03
#"Numbers" (Original Version) - 4:57
#"Torch" (Original Extended Version) - 8:27
;2002 CD promo
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (Almighty Radio Edit Short Version) - 3:21
#"Tainted Love" (
Soulchild Mix) - 3:19
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (Almighty Radio Edit) - 4:36
;2017 Record Store Day 12 Inch Single Release
#"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (Dave Ball Lateral Mix)
#"Youth (Dave Ball Wasted On The Young Mix)
Cover versions
The lyrics "Take your hands off me / I don't belong to you" were used in
Legião Urbana
Legião Urbana (Portuguese for Urban Legion) was a Brazilian rock band formed in 1982 in Brasília, Distrito Federal. The band primarily consisted of Renato Russo (vocals, bass and keyboards), Dado Villa-Lobos (guitar) and Marcelo Bonfá (d ...
's song "Será" on their 1985
debut album.
The song was covered by English artist
David Gray and released on his successful 1998 album ''
White Ladder''. It was the album's fifth proper and final single and reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart.
Gray's version, like his live performances, features additional lines at the end from the
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards.
As a teenager in ...
songs "
Madame George
"Madame George" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It appears on the album ''Astral Weeks'', released in 1968. The song features Morrison performing the vocals and acoustic guitar. It also features a double bass, flute, dr ...
" and "
Into the Mystic
"Into the Mystic" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album '' Moondance''. It was also included on Morrison's 1974 live album, '' It's Too Late to Stop Now''.
Recording and composition
"I ...
". These additions contribute to a run time of 8:58, which is just under four minutes longer than the original; as such, the single featured a shorter radio edit. In addition, Gray's version omits the comma out of the title.
Marc Almond sang the song with
Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra on the 2001 album ''Small World, Big Band''.
Japanese duo
Salon Music
Salon music was a popular music genre in Europe during the 19th century. It was usually written for solo piano in the romantic style, and often performed by the composer at events known as "Salons". Salon compositions are usually fairly short and o ...
and American duo
Sparks covered the song for Salon Music's 1988 album ''O Boy''.
Nouvelle Vague
French New Wave (french: La Nouvelle Vague) is a French art film movement that emerged in the late 1950s. The movement was characterized by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favor of experimentation and a spirit of iconocla ...
covered the song on their 2009 album ''
3''.
References
{{Authority control
Songs about parting
1982 singles
2001 singles
Songs written by Marc Almond
Songs written by David Ball (electronic musician)
Soft Cell songs
David Gray (musician) songs
1981 songs
Music videos directed by Tim Pope
Song recordings produced by Julian Mendelsohn
Some Bizzare Records singles