Something about you....eh, Level42?

[Ummon]

I heard this song on someone's radio a few weeks ago, and didn't know who it was. However, I've been listening to aol radio, lately, and all these songs I've been hearing pieces of or something in ads or whatever, have been serendipitously coming on. So now I know what they are and who did them. Yay. And, since this one had a particular relation here, I thought I'd post about it. Hehn.

[polaris]

What there's a band called level42 I thought it was the furthest he'd got in pacman or something

[Ginsu Victim]

He's discussed the band in other threads, as well as linking to videos.

[shmokes]

There was an old videogame called Level42.  Kind of like a Space Invaders style game IIRC.  My brother loved it.

[Grasshopper]

I'm surprised there are people who haven't heard of Level 42. They were huge in the eighties.

[Ginsu Victim]

Most of us in the States haven't heard of them. They only had one song in the top 10 here in the eighties.

[Xiaou2]

Actually,  There were at least 2 bigger hits:

 "Lessons in Love"  and  "Something about You"

 Surprisingly, the record ops didnt.. but should have also promoted 
 
 "To be with you again"

[Ginsu Victim]

I understand that, but it doesn't change the fact that (A) they had one top ten hit in the US and (B) most of us over here have no clue who they are.

I liked the video I watched in that one thread....the bass player is wild!

[saint]

There was an old videogame called Level42.  Kind of like a Space Invaders style game IIRC.  My brother loved it.

Soon as I saw this I went looking for it but couldn't find it. I used to love that game.

[Hoopz]

There was an old videogame called Level42.  Kind of like a Space Invaders style game IIRC.  My brother loved it.

Soon as I saw this I went looking for it but couldn't find it. I used to love that game.

You meant the PCB right?   

[DaveMMR]

Level 42 was one of many "blink and you'll miss them" bands/artists here in the States during the 80's that was drowned out by the over-saturation of MTV-friendly acts.  Although I've not heard much outside their Greatest Hits collection, they were (are) pretty good.   And yes, their name is a Douglas Adams reference.   

[saint]

There was an old videogame called Level42.  Kind of like a Space Invaders style game IIRC.  My brother loved it.

Soon as I saw this I went looking for it but couldn't find it. I used to love that game.

You meant the PCB right?   

No - it was a PC game. Shareware. Was there an arcade machine?

[DrumAnBass]

The band Level42's bass player (and vocalist), Mark King, was noted as a pretty amazing bass player; bringing the "slap" style of playing to pop music...

[polaris]

He's discussed the band in other threads, as well as linking to videos.

He sounds like a real fan, he should go and see them play live maybe.

[Hoopz]

There was an old videogame called Level42.  Kind of like a Space Invaders style game IIRC.  My brother loved it.

Soon as I saw this I went looking for it but couldn't find it. I used to love that game.

You meant the PCB right?   

No - it was a PC game. Shareware. Was there an arcade machine?

I didn't realize that.  I was trying to be funny.... 

[Level42]

He's discussed the band in other threads, as well as linking to videos.

He sounds like a real fan, he should go and see them play live maybe.

....says the man who got me two tickets on the last Dutch tour (which was a GREAT gig !). 

Glad there's some interest in them.

What I've understood is that the band had one big problem in the US:
They sounded black, but they were/are white (with a tiny tint on the keyboard player).

They broke through in Holland in 1981. Back then you had radio and every now and then there was a TV program that showed "the hits". So, I had heard "Love Games" a number of times on the radio before actually seeing them. I was blown away to see those skinny pale English blokes playing the thickest funky music !

Love Games is a great intro to the band's music:



The problem was that the "black" radio stations refused to play them because they were a white band and the white stations refused to play them because they sounded black.

The first time I visited the States was in '98. We were 2 days in NYC and stayed at "not the most expensive hotel in town". But it was close to Broadway and who stays at their hotel when in NYC? So it was fine with us. Anyway, I noticed they had a radio station playing and it was R&B and yes, as far as I could check, all artists were "afro-american" as I probably have to say politely.

The rest of the week we stayed with my family there. One day we took a drive and my cousin had a radio station playing and suddenly I realised I had been listening to at least 8 "white" artists in a row.

So I guess that separation is still there really. If you want to know my preference, I liked the "black" music much better. (As long as it's not rap crap).

Overhere, we get great music from the US, UK and in the last decades our own Dutch bands have improved a lot too. 

Anyway, yes it was the band that gave me my "handle" and some of you may have figured out why my son's name is Mark

The band is still around, they tour the UK and Holland regularly (and also sometimes other places in Europe). There is a tiny, but hardcore fan-base in the US (both black and white I'm glad to say !)

www.level42.com

www.forevernow.com

[Ummon]

Yep, they certainly sound black-cultured. Even on 'Something about You' he soundsl like a young black tenor. I think Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears would sound better on vocals in that song, though. Not a baritone (I thought he was, but maybe not on second listen), but fuller voice. Mark King is a great player, though; flawless playing and singing at the same time. 'Love Games' and that stuff is, like, late 70s, so it was just out of style by the 80s. I dig the stuff, though. Another group similar is Ambrosia. 'You're the biggest part of me' is ---smurfin--- great.