Expert: Bong Santos - 8/4/2006

Question
Hi Bong! I remember hearing a song when I was a kid, I'm not sure if its an 80's song or an early 90's song, but hopefully you can help me out! I just remember a little bit of the chorus, it went something like "always I wanna be with you, and make believe with you, and live in harmony, harmony..." It was kind of a new age sounding song, and I've been trying to figure out who the artist is and what the title is for a long time. Hope you can help! :o)

Answer
Dear Mahsa,

It's your lucky day! I'm going to give you more than you ask for, more than identifying your song.
First things first! Your song is, alright not an 80s song but what the heck, called ALWAYS by the English synth pop duo band ERASURE. They consists of keyboardist VINCE CLARKE and singer ANDY BELL. CLARKE used to be a member of DEPECHE MODE and YAZOO (known as YAZ in the US). Later he formed THE ASSSEMBLY with producer ERIC RADCLIFFE. After releasing an unsuccessful  one-off single with vocalist PAUL QUINN titled ONE DAY, he placed a blind ad in MELODY MAKER looking for a vocalist for a new musical project. He selected BELL, the 41st auditionee and got more than he bargained for, a talented lyricist and melodist that added depth and character to CLARKE's style. Together, they charted 13 times on the Billboard 200 albums chart beginning with 1987's THE CIRCUS. Like BRONSKI BEAT's JIMMY SOMMERVILLE, STEVE BRONSKI and LARRY STEINBACHEK, ANDY BELL is openly gay. On December 14, 2004, BELL announced he was HIV-positive and has known since 1998. In 2005, he released a solo project called ELECTRIC BLUE, the same year ERASURE re-claimed the No.1 position on the US Dance Chart with BREATHE. Their latest album is called UNION STREET. All in all, they had 6 songs that charted on the Hot 100: CHAINS OF LOVE (#12, October 29, 1988), A LITTLE RESPECT (#34, March 4, 1989), STOP! (#97, July 22, 1989), CHORUS (#83, August 17, 1991), ALWAYS (#20, August 6, 1994) & IN MY ARMS (#55, May 24, 1997).

Here's ALWAYS:

ALWAYS / ERASURE

Open your eyes, I see your eyes are open
Wear no disguise for me, come into the open

When it's cold outside, am I here in vain?
Hold on to the night, there will be no shame

Always
I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony
Oh love

Always
I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony
Oh love

Melting the ice for me, jump into the ocean
Hold back the tide, I see your love in motion

When it's cold outside, am I here in vain?
Hold on to the night, there will be no shame

Always
I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony
Oh love

Always
I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony
Oh love

When it's cold outside, am I here in vain?
Hold on to the night, there will be no shame

Always
I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony
Oh love

Always
I wanna be with you
And make believe with you
And live in harmony, harmony
Oh love

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines