"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" is a song from the album''

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret ''Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret'' is the debut studio album by English synth-pop duo Soft Cell, released on 27 November 1981 by Some Bizzare Records. The album's critical and commercial success was bolstered by the success of its lead single, a cove ...

'' by English

synth-pop Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...

duo

Soft Cell Soft Cell are an English synth-pop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. The duo consists of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball (electronic musician), David Ball. The band are primarily known for their 1981 hit versio ...

that was released as a single in January 1982 and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. 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 by ...

and released as "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91" to promote the compilation album ''

Memorabilia – The Singles ''Memorabilia – The Singles'' is a compilation album of songs by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond, both as a solo artist and with his partner David Ball (electronic musician), Dave Ball as the synth-pop duo Soft Cell. It was released ...

'', making no. 38 on the UK Singles Chart. Soft Cell vocalist

Marc Almond Peter Mark Almond (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist of the synth-pop/ new wave duo Soft Cell. He has a distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He has had a diverse career as a ...

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 Eileen Mary Theresa Daly (born 1 June 1963) is an English actress, director, film producer, writer, singer, presenter, songwriter and former adult film performer. She is also a contemporary scream queen, having starred in numerous cult film, cu ...

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 was a 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 from and Annie Hogan, with whom Almond worked later in his solo ...

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, Federal District (Brazil), Distrito Federal. The band primarily consisted of Renato Russo (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Dado Villa-Lobos ...

'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 ''White Ladder'' is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray. It was first released in November 1998 through Gray's own record label, IHT Records, but failed to chart. On 24 April 2000, the album was re-released by Dave ...

''. 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 "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...

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, d ...

" 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 "In ...

". 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 from the title. Marc Almond sang the song with

Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (also known as Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra) is a rhythm and blues band led by boogie-woogie and former Squeeze pianist and television personality Jools Holland. History Holland fo ...

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 music, romantic style, and is often performed by the composer at events known as "Salon (gathering), Salons". Salon compo ...

and American duo Sparks covered the song for Salon Music's 1988 album ''O Boy''.

Nouvelle Vague The New Wave (, ), also called the French New Wave, 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 i ...

covered the song on their 2009 album '' 3''.

References

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 {{1980s-UK-single-stub