"See Me Go" is a 1981 single by New Zealand
post-punk
Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-r ...
band the
Screaming Meemees
The Screaming Meemees were a New Zealand post-punk- new wave band formed in the early 1980s. The band formed in Auckland in 1979, while at school at Rosmini College on Auckland's North Shore, composed of vocalist Tony Drumm, guitarist Michael O ...
. It is notable for being the first New Zealand song to debut at number one in the
New Zealand singles chart
The Official New Zealand Music Chart ( mi, Te Papa Tātai Waiata Matua o Aotearoa) is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The Mus ...
.
Background
After signing to Propeller records, the band recorded live favourite "See Me Go" at Harlequin Studios in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
. The song was written by band members Michael O'Neill and Tony Drumm.
A demo version had previously charted on Auckland student radio station
Radio B.
Several versions of the song were recorded using different producers. A limited-edition, individually numbered
12" single limited to 500 copies was released, including two versions of "See Me Go", "Till I Die" and a live recording of "Poison Boys". There was also a
7" version with "See Me Go" and "Till I Die" with 4000 copies and available only for one week. The song was called "Seemeego-o" on the single cover art.
[
Delays in the pressing of the single caused demand beyond the 500 available copies, so distribution was rationed to retailers. The 7" sold out within 24 hours and the single entered the chart at number one, which it achieved without any commercial radio airplay. The single was immediately deleted the day of release, ensuring no further copies would be available. The band chose not to immediately capitalise on the success of the single, choosing not to tour or release a quick live album. Instead they worked on their debut album ''If This Is Paradise, I'll Take The Bag'', which was released in 1982.
]
Music video
After the single's sudden chart success, the band were given the opportunity to make a video with Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand ( mi, Te Reo Tātaki o Aotearoa), more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a television network that is broadcast throughout New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. All of its currently-operating channels are free-to-air an ...
at Avalon Studios in Wellington. The video was directed by Simon Morris and was more sophisticated than the typical music videos produced at TVNZ in the early 1980s.
Track listings
; 12"
# "See Me Go" — 3:30
# "Poison Boys" (Live) — 2:57
# "Till I Die" — 2:22
# "See Me Go — 3:26
; 7"
# "See Me Go" — 3:30
# "Till I Die" — 2:22
Charts
"See Me Go" was the first New Zealand song to debut at number one in the New Zealand singles chart. It would be 18 years before the next number-one debut single from a New Zealand artist, "Tonight
Tonight may refer to:
Television
* ''Tonight'' (1957 TV programme), a 1957–1965 British current events television programme hosted by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC
* ''Tonight'' (1975 TV programme), a 1975–1979 British current ...
" by TrueBliss
TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop girl group formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show '' Popstars'', which aired on TVNZ's TV2 channel for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group. TrueBliss were the first e ...
in 1999, following its appearance in the first ''Popstars
''Popstars'' is an international reality television franchise aimed to find new singing talent. Serving as a precursor to the ''Idol'' franchise, '' Popstars'' first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the girl gr ...
'' television series.
References
{{reflist, 2
External links
Screaming Meemees - See me go (Part One)
Music video at NZ On Screen
"See Me Go" at Discogs
1981 singles
Number-one singles in New Zealand
1981 songs