FREEEZ - SOUTHERN FREEEZ / I.O.U.

Freeez, un grup electrònic anglès del nord de Londres, va guanyar fama inicialment com una de les principals bandes de jazz-funk abans de passar a un estil electrònic als anys 80. Fundat per John Rocca el 1978, el grup incloïa músics com Andy Stennett, Peter Maas i els bateria Paul Morgan o Everton McCalla. El seu primer single autofinançat "Keep In Touch" (1979) els va ajudar a establir-se a l'escena jazz-funk del Regne Unit i comptava amb el guitarrista Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, que més tard va fundar Incognito. Freeez va aconseguir un èxit al top 10 del Regne Unit amb "Southern Freeez" i un èxit internacional amb "I.O.U."

FREEEZ - SOUTHERN FREEEZ

Llançament: 30 de gener de 1981  

Posició a les Llistes: Regne Unit: #8  

"Southern Freeez" va ser el primer senzill de la banda britànica Freeez, del seu àlbum debut homònim, autofinançat i produït pel membre de la banda John Rocca. Inicialment llançat pel segell de Rocca, Pink Rhythm Records, l'àlbum va ser posteriorment signat per Beggars Banquet Records. La cançó, que compta amb la veu convidada d'Ingrid Mansfield Allman, es va convertir en un èxit del Top 10 del Regne Unit i va ajudar a establir la popularitat de Freeez a l'escena de la música de dansa britànica.

"Southern Freeez" va aportar a Freeez un reconeixement significatiu, superant les vendes i l'èxit en les llistes dels singles anteriors "Keep in Touch" i "Stay/Hot Footing It". El senzill va aconseguir el número 1 a la llista de Blues & Soul i va passar dues setmanes al número 8 de la llista de singles del Regne Unit a principis de 1981. El títol de la cançó fa referència a un moviment de ball, "The Freeze", popular al club Royalty de Southgate, inspirat per les aturades a la cançó de Rodney Franklin "The Groove", creant els moments d'immobilitat de la coreografia. 

FREEEZ - I.O.U.

Llançament: 17 de juny de 1983  

Posició a les Llistes: UK: #2  

"I.O.U." és el major èxit de Freeez, escrit i produït per Arthur Baker, amb lletra i veu de John Rocca. Remasteritzat per Baker i Jellybean Benitez, la pista es va convertir en un gran èxit a nivell mundial, assolint el número 2 a la llista de singles del Regne Unit i passant dues setmanes al número 1 de la llista Dance de Billboard dels Estats Units el 1983. Va ser l'únic single de Freeez a arribar a la primera posició en qualsevol llista de Billboard i va ser el 20è single més venut al Regne Unit el 1983.

Presentat a la pel·lícula de breakdance “Beat Street”, "I.O.U." va ser seguit de singles exitosos com "Pop Goes My Love" / "Scratch Goes My Dub", que també van aconseguir el top 5 de dance als EUA. Una reedició de 1987 de "I.O.U." va tornar a entrar a les llistes, assolint el número 18 a la llista de dance dels EUA i el número 23 al Regne Unit.

Al Regne Unit, on el jazz-funk havia modelat la cultura de les discoteques, "I.O.U." va afrontar crítiques per, presumptament, abaratir el so de Freeez buscant comercialitat per capitalitzar la tendència emergent de la música electro. El vídeo musical presentava nens amb patinets i bicicletes BMX, intentant recrear elements de la cultura hip-hop de Nova York, dirigint-se a un públic més jove menys familiaritzat amb les arrels jazz-funk de Freeez.

FREEEZ - SOUTHERN FREEEZ / I.O.U.

Freeez, an English electronic group from North London, initially gained fame as a leading jazz-funk band before shifting to an electro style in the 1980s. Founded by John Rocca in 1978, the group included musicians like Andy Stennett, Peter Maas, and drummers Paul Morgan or Everton McCalla. Their early self-funded single "Keep In Touch" (1979) helped establish them in the UK jazz-funk scene and featured guitarist Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, who later founded Incognito. Freeez achieved a UK top 10 hit with "Southern Freeez" and international success with "I.O.U."

FREEEZ - SOUTHERN FREEEZ

Released: January 30, 1981

Charts:  UK: #8 

"Southern Freeez" was the first single by British dance band Freeez, from their self-funded debut album of the same name, produced by band member John Rocca. Initially released on Rocca's label, Pink Rhythm Records, the album was later signed to Beggars Banquet Records. The track, featuring guest vocals by Ingrid Mansfield Allman, became a UK Top 10 hit and helped establish Freeez's popularity in the British dance music scene.

"Southern Freeez" brought Freeez significant recognition, outperforming previous singles "Keep in Touch" and "Stay/Hot Footing It" in both sales and chart success. The single hit No. 1 on the Blues & Soul chart and spent two weeks at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1981. The song's title references a dance move, "The Freeze," popular at Southgate's Royalty club, inspired by moments of stillness in Rodney Franklin's track "The Groove."

FREEEZ - I.O.U.

Released: June 17, 1983

Charts:  UK: #2 

Freeez’s biggest hit, "I.O.U.," was written and produced by Arthur Baker, with lyrics and vocals by John Rocca. Remixed by Baker and Jellybean Benitez, the track became a major hit worldwide, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and spending two weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Dance chart in 1983. It became Freeez's only chart-topping single on any Billboard chart and was the 20th best-selling single in the UK for 1983.

Featured in the breakdance movie “Beat Street”, "I.O.U." was followed by successful singles like "Pop Goes My Love" / "Scratch Goes My Dub," which also made the U.S. dance top 5. A 1987 remix of "I.O.U." further charted, reaching No. 18 on the U.S. dance chart and No. 23 in the UK.

In the UK, where jazz-funk had shaped clubbing culture, "I.O.U." faced criticism for allegedly "dumbing down" Freeez's sound to appeal commercially, capitalizing on the rising electro music trend. The music video featured children with skateboards and BMX bikes, aiming to recreate elements of New York hip-hop culture, targeting a younger audience less familiar with Freeez's jazz-funk roots.

HUMAN LEAGUE - ALL I EVER WANTED

Released: July 23, 2001

Charts: UK: #47 

“All I Ever Wanted” is a synth-pop track by the Human League, released as the lead single from their 2001 album “Secrets”. Featuring the classic band structure of Philip Oakey’s baritone lead vocals with backing harmonies from Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, the song adheres to the signature Human League sound. Notably, Sulley was credited under her married name, Susan Gayle, leading to some confusion among fans who speculated she had been replaced. Released in July 2001, the single marked the band’s latest major-label release but peaked at a modest #47 on the UK Singles Chart.

The Human League, after signing with Papillon Records (a subsidiary of the Chrysalis Group), recorded “Secrets”, their first studio album since 1995's “Octopus”. The lead single, “All I Ever Wanted,” was backed by a professionally produced music video, raising expectations for a successful return, much like their “Octopus” era, but Papillon’s indecision over the release date led to delays and uncertainty, even frustrating frontman Philip Oakey, who was left unsure of the single’s actual release timing.

The single was eventually released on July 23, 2001, but logistical issues meant that many UK stores didn’t receive copies on launch day, causing fans to struggle to find it. Initial midweek charts showed the single positioned within the top 30, but as stores sold out of limited stock, it dropped in ranking. This distribution mishap resulted in the single peaking at only number 47 in the UK charts, where it lingered briefly before falling off. Despite fans' criticisms, Philip Oakey defended Papillon Records, acknowledging the label’s substantial investment in “Secrets”. However, the disappointing release left the band privately devastated. In 2003, after the collapse of Papillon Records, a follow-up single from Secrets, "Love Me Madly?," was released privately by Michiel Van Bokhorst's Nukove Records, a company set up especially to release Human League records.

The music video was filmed on a minimal set designed to evoke a science fiction theme. Like previous Human League videos, it had no narrative, featuring only Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall, and Susan Ann Sulley dressed in black against a stark, futuristic white background. To address concerns over the band's age, the filmmakers used bright lighting and high exposure to give a youthful appearance. This technique suited Oakey's and Catherall's darker features, but it resulted in Sulley, with her blonde hair and fair complexion, appearing overexposed throughout the video.

HUMAN LEAGUE - LOUISE

Released: November 5, 1984

Charts: UK: #13 

"Louise" is a 1984 single by English synth-pop band The Human League, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. Written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis, and Philip Adrian Wright, the song features Oakey on lead vocals, with backing vocals by Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall. The track uses analogue synthesizers played by Oakey, Callis, Wright, and Ian Burden, and was produced by Chris Thomas and Hugh Padgham. "Louise" was the third single from the album “Hysteria”.

The Human League's 1984 album “Hysteria” took three years to complete after the success of “Dare”, a long delay in the rapid-paced 1980s pop scene. While songs like “The Lebanon” and “Life on Your Own” had mixed receptions—“The Lebanon” with its blunt social commentary and “Life on Your Own” being a wintery track launched in summer—the album’s true highlight was “Louise”.

"Louise" tells a complex story of a man encountering his former lover on a bus, creating a moment that appears hopeful but is actually layered with darker themes. Although it seems to suggest a potential reconciliation, songwriter Philip Oakey reveals that it's a follow-up to “Don't You Want Me”, exploring the man's unresolved feelings and self-deception. The man fantasizes that his ex is still drawn to him, reflecting his inability to accept reality. Oakey describes the song as highlighting men's illusions of control over women, even when they’re self-deluded. Musically, "Louise" mirrors “Don't You Want Me” with its near-spoken vocals, electric piano chords, and a distinct synthesizer-driven brass solo, creating a catchy yet somber atmosphere.

The music video directed by Steve Barron, delves into the song's nuanced themes, mirroring the story and characters from “Don't You Want Me”. Filmed in black and white to convey depth, the video was seen as drab by music TV stations, but it revisits characters and props from the 1981 video, including Susan Ann Sulley’s trench coat and similar hairstyle. Oakey plays a writer navigating a canal boat, narrating scenes that unfold along the road beside the canal, where flashbacks and new interactions with the original characters take place. Notable elements include a London Routemaster bus in a stunt scene and a symbolic moment between Oakey and Catherall, referencing their real-life close relationship. Despite Barron’s detailed vision, the video’s complex, "artsy" approach led to mixed public reception, with its storyline often misunderstood. This video was Barron’s final project with the band, marking the end of a long collaboration.

 HUMAN LEAGUE – HUMAN

Llançament: 11 d’agost de 1986  

Llistes: EUA: #1 (1 setmana)  Regne Unit: #8

"Human" és una cançó de 1986 de la banda de synthpop The Human League. Va ser el primer single del seu cinquè àlbum d’estudi, “Crash”, i va ser escrita i produïda pel duo de productors nord-americans Jimmy Jam i Terry Lewis. La cançó va ser un gran èxit a Amèrica del Nord, assolint el primer lloc a les llistes de senzills dels Estats Units i el Canadà venent un milió de copies als EUA. Al Regne Unit, el single va tornar la banda al top ten per primera vegada des de 1983, assolint el vuitè lloc.

El procés de gravació del cinquè àlbum de The Human League s'havia estancat. Les disputes internes, que van provocar la sortida de Jo Callis de la banda, i la insatisfacció amb els resultats finals havien portat el grup al límit. En aquest punt, el seu segell discogràfic, Virgin, va suggerir que acceptessin una oferta dels productors nord-americans de R&B Jimmy Jam i Terry Lewis per treballar en material que el duo tenia. Jam i Lewis, que en aquell moment triomfaven gràcies a l’èxit de l’àlbum “Control” de Janet Jackson, eren fans de Human League i van contactar amb Virgin per oferir els seus serveis. La col·laboració va tornar a encarrilar la banda, produint tot l'àlbum i escrivint tres cançons per a ells, els futurs senzills “I Need Your Loving” i “Love is All That Matters”, a més del single principal, “Human”.

"Human" és una balada emotiva de pop/soul que tracta la infidelitat d’una parella que S’havia separat per raons no especificades. Les dues primeres estrofes mostren Oakey confessant la seva infidelitat i disculpant-se per ella, afirmant que només era “humà”. La tercera estrofa fa un gir, amb la dona (Jo Catherall) acceptant la disculpa i admetent que ella també havia estat infidel mentre ell era fora. La cançó conté diversos moments parlats, incloent tota l'estrofa de Catherall. Aquests elements parlats estaven influenciats per l’èxit de Gary Numan “Are “Friends” Electric?”, enregistrat amb el seu grup The Tubeway Army.

La cançó comptava amb un videoclip brillant, que va tenir molt èxit a MTV, ajudant a impulsar la cançó fins al primer lloc de les llistes de Billboard, mentre també guanyava suport al mercat de R&B gràcies a la participació de Jam & Lewis en la seva producció.

HUMAN LEAGUE – HUMAN

Released: August 11, 1986

Charts: US: #1 (1 week) UK: #8

 “Human” is a 1986 song by synthpop band The Human League. It was the lead single from their fifth studio album, “Crash”, and was written and produced by American production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song was a huge smash hit in North America, topping both American and Canadian singles charts, becoming a million seller in the former. In the UK, the single returned the band to the top ten for the first time since 1983, peaking at #8.

The recording process had stalled on Human League’s fifth album. Infighting, resulting in Jo Callis leaving the band, and unhappiness with the finished results, had bought the band to breaking point, when their record label, Virgin, suggested that they accept an offer from American R&B producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to work on some material the duo had. Jam and Lewis, flying high due to the success of Janet Jackson’s album “Control” were fans of the band, and had contacted Virgin to offer their services. The collaboration put the band back on track, producing the entire album, and writing three songs for it, the future singles, “I Need Your Loving” and “Love is All That Matters”, and the lead single, “Human”.

“Human” is an emotive pop/soul ballad dealing with the joint infidelity of a couple who had been apart for unspecified reasons. The first two verses concern Oakey confessing his infidelity, and apologising for it, stating that he was “only human”. The third verse flips things, with the woman (Jo Catherall) accepting his apology and admitting she'd also been unfaithful while he was away. The song has several spoken word moments, including the entirety of Catherall's verse. The spoken word elements were influenced by Gary Numan's hit “Are “Friends” Electric?”, recorded under his group name, The Tubeway Army.

The song had a glossy accompanying video, which proved a big hit on MTV, helping propel the song to the top of the Billboard charts, while also gaining support from the R&B market because of Jam & Lewis' involvement with it.