Living on Video explained

Living on Video
Cover:Living on Video.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Trans-X
Album:Living on Video
Released:May 3, 1983
Recorded:March 1983
Genre:Synth-pop
Length:5:55 (LP version)
Label:Polydor, Atco
Prev Title:Message on the Radio
Prev Year:1983
Next Title:3-D Dance
Next Year:1983

"Living on Video" is a song by Canadian synth-pop band Trans-X[1] written and published in 1982, but not released as a single until May 1983 by Polydor Records, and then remixed in 1985. It became a massive hit worldwide, with the remixed version peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. Trans-X also originally recorded a French-language version under the title "Vivre sur Vidéo". The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.

Trans-X version

The song was a big hit in Europe upon its release in 1983 and featured on the band's debut album, Living on Video. However, it only managed to reach No. 77 in the UK, which was in 1984. It was remixed and re-released in 1985 then becoming much more successful, peaking at No. 9 in the UK and also charting in the US, reaching No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. This version featured on the US version of band's 1986 second album, also called Living on Video.[2] The band re-recorded the song in 1986 and released it as a 12" maxi single, although the fact that it was re-recorded was not mentioned.[3] This featured on Canadian version of their second album.[4] In 1984, the track was re-produced for Metromix by Norman Jester (DJ Dizzo) for a 12" club mix adding fresh synths and a powerful 808 beat.

Music video

The music video features the band performing the song in a room with several TVs and a Commodore PET. A Roland SH-101 keytar is also featured, which Languirand uses.[5] It was filmed in Munich, Germany and is a live performance from the TV show in 1984.[6]

Track listings

1983

7" single
  1. "Living on Video" — 4:18
  2. "Digital World" — 3:30
12" single
  1. "Living on Video" (Long Version) — 5:55
  2. "Digital World" — 3:30
12" maxi
  1. "Living on Video" — 5:55
  2. "Vivre sur Vidéo" — 6:13
  3. "Living on Video" (Remix) — 6:42

1985

7" single

  1. "Living on Video" ('85 Big Mix) — 5:32
  2. "Digital Word" — 3:30

12" maxi

  1. "Living on Video" ('85 Big Mix) — 5:32
  2. "Living on Video" (Dub Mix) — 6:30
  3. "Digital Word" — 3:30

1986

12" maxi

  1. "Living on Video" — 6:59
  2. "Living on Video" (Instrumental) — 5:00
  3. "Living on Video" (Radio Version) — 3:40

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985–1986)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 61

Year-end charts

Chart (1983)Position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 19
West Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 24

2 Brothers on the 4th Floor version

Living in Cyberspace
Type:single
Artist:2 Brothers on the 4th Floor
Released:November 12, 1999
Recorded:1999
Genre:Eurodance
Length:3:44
Label:ZYX
Producer:2 Brothers on the 4th Floor
Prev Title:Heaven Is Here
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Wonderful Feeling
Next Year:2000

In 1999, 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor released their version of the song titled "Living in Cyberspace". Musically, it resembles the original score, but is adapted to the 1990s. The same applies in part to the text; the original text was indeed adopted, but supplemented by a few lines. Although the cover never appeared on a studio album, it is included on the compilations Summer Hit Mix 2000 and Best of 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor.

Track listings

CD-maxi

  1. "Living in Cyberspace" (Snapshot RMX II) - 3:19
  2. "Living in Cyberspace" (Radio Version) - 3:44
  3. "Living in Cyberspace" (Lick Discomix) - 5:45

Charts

Pakito version

Living on Video
Cover:LivingOnVideoPakito.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Pakito
Album:Video
B-Side:Remix
Released:June 27, 2006
Recorded:France
Genre:Electronic, house[14]
Label:Pan Music, Universal Licensing Music
Producer:Julien Ranouil
Next Title:Moving on Stereo
Next Year:2006

In 2006, Pakito released their debut album Video containing their debut single "Living on Video" and another remix. It reached number one in France for four weeks and hit the charts in several other countries. As of July 2014, it was the 85th best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 328,000 units sold.[15]

Track listings

CD maxi
  1. "Living on Video" (original radio edit) — 3:20
  2. "Living on Video" (noot's vocal radio edit) — 3:10
  3. "Living on Video" (original mix) — 5:36
  4. "Living on Video" (noot's vocal mix) — 6:34

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (2006)Peak
position
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[16] 25
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart3
Dutch Singles Chart7
Eurochart Hot 100 3
French SNEP Singles Chart1
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[17] 8
Swedish Singles Chart43

End of year charts

Chart (2006)! scope="col"
Position
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[18] 6
Dutch Top 40[19] 8
French Airplay Chart[20] 35
French Club Chart1
French TV Music Videos Chart32
French Singles Chart[21] 6
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[22] 68
Chart (2007)! scope="col"
Position
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[23] 200

Certifications

CountryCertificationDateSales certified
Belgium[24] GoldSeptember 23, 200620,000
France[25] PlatinumAugust 30, 2006300,000

Other remixes and versions

It was remixed by Trans-X in 2003 and again in 2006. The song has also been remixed by U96 as "Love Sees No Colour (Version 2)", Nathalie De Borah, DJ Piccolo, Dr. Lektroluv, Trance XS, Cardenia, Cosmo & Tom, Culture Beat, DJ Interface, Ratty, Lazard, Gary D, Masterboy, Pin-Occhio (as "Tu Tatuta Tuta Ta"), Potatoheadz and by both Tronix Dj and Recorder, Stream (in 2016).[26] It also has been covered as "Vivre Sur Video" by Vive la Fête. Most recently, it was covered by the band HexRX for the Das Bunker: Choice of a New Generation compilation. In 2012, "Robots", a single by Belgian singer Kate Ryan, sampled the song. Also, in 2013, it was used as the main theme in the song "Get Ready Now" by Beatmaker. Arash sampled the song in 2014 under the name SLR. Parts of the song has also been remixed by Logobi GT as "Gâter le Koin" (from La Puissance in 2010). The electronic music group Frozen Plasma covered the song on their 2015 album Decadenz.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Billboard. 31 May 1986. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 34–. 0006-2510.
  2. Web site: Trans-X - Living On Video. Discogs. en. 2020-04-04.
  3. Web site: Trans-X - Living On Video. Discogs. en. 2020-04-04.
  4. Web site: Trans-X - Living On Video. Discogs. en. 2020-04-04.
  5. Web site: Trans-X - Living On Video SimplyEighties.com. www.simplyeighties.com. 2020-04-04.
  6. Web site: Interview with PASCAL from TRANS-X (Canyon Club, Agoura Hills 1/2/2016). 2016-01-11. Inner Edge Music. en-US. 2020-04-05.
  7. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st . September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2. 871.
  8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 312. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  9. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  10. Billboard [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p215248/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} allmusic.com] (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  11. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1983. hitparade.ch. September 14, 2021.
  12. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. German. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. September 14, 2021.
  13. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=2+Brothers+On+The+4th+Floor&titel=Living+In+Cyberspace&cat=s ultratop.be
  14. http://www.discogs.com/Pakito-Living-On-Video/release/781674 Pakito - Living On Video (CD) at Discogs
  15. Web site: Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, épisode 2 (90-81) . Chartsinfrance . 19 July 2014 . 2015-03-15.
  16. "Living on Video", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 9, 2008)
  17. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Sep 14, 2006. TopHit. April 26, 2024.
  18. 2006 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  19. Web site: Single top 100 over 2006 . Top40 . Dutch . 10 May 2010.
  20. 2004 French Airplay and Video Charts Yacast.fr (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  21. 2006 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  22. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2007. TopHit. 26 April 2024. 26 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426131857/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2007. live.
  23. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2007. TopHit. April 26, 2024. April 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426131857/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2007. live.
  24. Belgian certifications Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  25. French certifications Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
  26. Web site: Stream - Living on Video on iTunes RU. .