View source for When We Were Young (Bucks Fizz song)

{{Infobox song
| name       = When We Were Young
| cover      = Bucks Fizz - when we were young.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]]
| album      = [[Greatest Hits (Bucks Fizz album)|Greatest Hits]]
| B-side     = Where the Ending Starts
| released   = 6 June 1983
| recorded   = May 1983 <ref>Sleeve notes ''[[The Ultimate Anthology]]'', BMG Records, 2005</ref>
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length     = 4.04
| label      = [[RCA Records|RCA]]
| writer     = [[Warren Bacall]]
| producer   = Brian Tench, [[Andy Hill (composer)|Andy Hill]]
| prev_title = [[Run for Your Life (Bucks Fizz song)|Run for Your Life]]
| prev_year  = 1983
| next_title = [[London Town (Bucks Fizz song)|London Town]]
| next_year  = 1983
}}
'''"When We Were Young"''' is a 1983 single by UK pop group [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]]. The track features lead vocals by band member [[Jay Aston]]. The song became their sixth top-ten-hit in the UK and it is one of their biggest hits in Europe.
== Overview ==
=== Song information ===
The song was written by [[Warren Harry]] (under the name Warren Bacall) and was produced by Brian Tench and [[Andy Hill (composer)|Andy Hill]]—the first time Hill had not solely produced one of the group's singles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i9f2d02205fc84b507d2f2e25e6a34882|title= Warren Harry |author=Billboard|accessdate=10 December 2008}}</ref> The song's lyrics tell of a woman in old age, who laments the fact that she has lost her youth and looks.
The song was notable for its change in direction for the group. The production was heavy and the song had an ominous tone far removed from the group's usual pop sound. It was the first and only single to feature lead vocals by [[Jay Aston]]. Aston's vocals were notably different from her solo appearances on previous songs (e.g. "Getting Kinda Lonely" on [[Bucks Fizz (album)|''Bucks Fizz'']] and "Easy Love" on [[Are You Ready (Bucks Fizz album)|''Are You Ready'']]). At the time of release, Aston said of the song: "It's a very different kind of song. It's much harder and heavier and a concerted effort from Andy and the production team. We'll probably lose a lot of our old fans with this single but I hope we'll interest lots of new people."<ref name="Record Mirror">Jay Aston interview, Daniela Soave, ''[[Record Mirror]]'' 28 May 1983</ref> Aston has also said that she was adopting an affected voice, similar to [[Hazel O'Connor]], although a review at the time remarked on her simulating [[Lene Lovich]].<ref>Single reviews, ''[[Record Mirror]]'', June 1983</ref> Aston has since stated, despite the song's success, her vocal affectation wasn't a good idea, although she has rated it her favourite Bucks Fizz song, while member [[Cheryl Baker]] has commented that she never liked the song due to its downbeat tone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theoriginalbucksfizz.org/fizztv.html |title= OBF in Conversation |author=OBF Official Website|accessdate=1 January 2010}}</ref>
The single was released in June 1983, on 7" and 12" vinyl. It was also released on 7" and 12" vinyl picture discs. The B-side to the single was "Where the Ending Starts" (also featuring Aston on lead), which had been recently released on the group's third album, ''[[Hand Cut]]''. The 12" single featured an extended version of the song with a long drum-laden passage after the second chorus. Also included on this was a previously unreleased bonus track "When the Love Has Gone".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raffem.com/BucksFizz81to84.htm#13 |title= "When We Wee Young" 7" and 12" singles |author=Raffem|accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bucksfizzearlyyears.co.uk/wwwy.htm|title= "When We Were Young" advertising material |author=Bucks Fizz The Early Years|accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref> "When We Were Young" was later featured on the group's first ''[[Greatest Hits (Bucks Fizz album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album, released in November 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/bucks-fizz-greatest-hits-rca?cat=entertainment/ |title= ''Greatest Hits'' album |author=Answers.com|accessdate=10 December 2008}}</ref> In 2005, it was released in a slightly edited form on the Bucks Fizz compilation, ''[[The Ultimate Anthology]]''.
[[Image:When We Were Young video.png|thumb|right|Bucks Fizz in the promotional video for "When We Were Young"]]
=== Music Video ===
The [[music video|promotional video]] for the song prominently featured Jay Aston singing the song to the camera on a set resembling a room in a house. Throughout the video, she is dressed in a white [[Basque (clothing)|basque]], adorned with frills and torn pieces of material. Her hair is unusually long and unkempt. At the [[Bridge (music)|bridge]], the other members of the group appear separately facing the camera in a misty setting. After the second chorus, the group appear together, standing against a garishly-coloured [[chroma key]] background. In the distance, [[transmission tower|electricity pylons]] are visible.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bucksfizzearlyyears.co.uk/whenyoung.htm |title= "When We Were Young" promotional video shots |author=Bucks Fizz - The Early Years|accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref> Aston, while remarking on the musical change in direction for the group, also made mention that the video took a different approach to their previous ones.<ref name="Record Mirror"/> The video was filmed in Germany, although is mainly studio-bound.<ref>Cheryl Baker interview, ''[[Look-In]]'', June 1983</ref>
=== Chart performance ===
"When We Were Young" became the group's ninth consecutive top 20 hit in the UK. The single entered the chart on the 18th of June 1983, at No.23, which was the group's highest ever first-week entry into the charts, beating "[[Making Your Mind Up]]" by one place. The following week it rose to its peak position of ten, where it remained for the following week. It then fell down the chart, remaining there for eight weeks in total.<ref name=UK>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Confusion |title= Official Charts Company- "When We Were Young" - Bucks Fizz |author=Official Charts|accessdate=10 December 2008}}</ref> The single performed particularly well in Europe also, becoming their biggest hit since "[[The Land of Make Believe]]" and the third biggest hit of the group's career.<ref name=Tsort>{{cite web |url=http://tsort.info/music/xeu7x8.htm |title= Bucks Fizz, European Chart positions |author=Tsort|accessdate=1 January 2010}}</ref> It reached the top ten in Ireland, as well top 20 placings in the Netherlands and Austria.<ref name="Tsort" /><ref name="Ire" /><ref name="Dutch" />  This was to be Bucks Fizz's last UK top 10 hit for three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title= Bucks Fizz UK discography|author=Official Charts|accessdate=10 December 2008}}</ref>
== Track listing ==
'''7" single'''
# "When We Were Young" (Warren Bacall) (4.04)
# "Where the Ending Starts" (Andy Hill) (3.57)
'''12" single'''
# "When We Were Young" (extended club mix) (6.27)
# "When the Love Has Gone" (Andy Hill / Nichola Martin) (5.50)
# "Where the Ending Starts" (3.57)
==Chart positions==
{|class="wikitable"
!Country
!Peak<br />position
|-
|UK <ref name="UK"/>
|align="center"|10
|-
|Ireland <ref name=Ire>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title= Irish Charts, searchable database |author=Irishcharts.ie|accessdate=1 January 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|The Netherlands <ref name=Dutch>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=6009 |title= Dutch Charts, Week 30, 1983 |author=Radio 538|accessdate=1 January 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|14
|-
|Belgium <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/2d7/Bucks-Fizz-Making-Your-Mind-Up|title=Ultratop charts - Bucks Fizz |accessdate=30 July 2015}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|19
|-
|Germany <ref name="Tsort"/>
|align="center"|52
|-
|Austria <ref name="Tsort"/>
|align="center"|19
|-
|}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.allmusic.com/song/when-we-were-young-mt0019059015 Bucks Fizz-When We Were Young] on [[AllMusic|Allmusic]]
{{Bucks Fizz}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:Bucks Fizz songs]]
[[Category:1983 songs]]
[[Category:RCA Records singles]]