Sounds Like a Melody explained

Sounds Like a Melody
Cover:	Sounds like a melody.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Alphaville
Album:	Forever Young
B-Side:	The Nelson Highrise (Sector One : The Elevator)
Released:	1984
Genre:	Synth-pop
Label:	WEA
Producer:	Orlando (Wolfgang Loos)
Prev Title:	Big in Japan
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Forever Young
Next Year:	1984

"Sounds Like a Melody" is a song by the German group Alphaville, from the group's debut album Forever Young. The single was released in 1984.

The song was a big success in continental Europe and South Africa, reaching the Top 10; it topped the charts in Italy and Sweden, and was certified Gold in Germany.^[1]

Song background

Originally, Alphaville had planned to release "Forever Young" as their second single, to follow the success of "Big in Japan". However, record studio executives requested that Alphaville release an additional song between the two singles, and as a result "Sounds Like a Melody" was written and arranged in just two days. Of the experience, singer Marian Gold said "the whole affair felt like an insult to our naive hippie instincts. Writing music exclusively for the sake of commercial success seemed like the sell-out of our virtual beliefs. On the other hand, did this not open up possibilities for wonderful games to play in the brave new world of pop music?"^[2] This corporate pressure caused the band to dislike the song and they refused to play it live for over 10 years.^[2]

Track listings

7" Single WEA

1. "Sounds Like a Melody" – 4:29
2. "The Nelson Highrise Sector One: the Elevator" – 3:14

12" Maxi WEA

1. "Sounds Like a Melody (Special Long Version)" – 7:42
2. "The Nelson Highrise Sector One: the Elevator" – 4:12

12" Maxi Record Store Day 2020 Yellow vinyl

1. "Sounds Like a Melody (Grant & Kelly Remix)" - 8:33
2. "Sounds Like a Melody (Special Long Version Remastered)" - 7:43

• The 7" and 12" versions differ greatly from the version released later on the album.
• The B-side is commonly referred to simply as "The Elevator," and a remix appears on 1999's Dreamscapes.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1984–1985)	Peak position
Italy (FIMI)^[3]	1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[4]	2
Spain (AFYVE)^[5]	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[6]	19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	80
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[8]	80
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[9]	55
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[10]	15

See also

• List of number-one hits of 1984 (Italy)
• List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alphaville; 'Sounds Like a Melody') . . 1 June 2014 .
2. so80s presents Alphaville . CD liner notes . . . 2014 . SC0344.
3. Web site: SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990) . It-charts.150m.com . 3 July 2013 . dead . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174850/http://it-charts.150m.com/numeriuno-1980.htm . it.
4. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (A) . Rock.co.za . 3 July 2013 .
5. Book: Salaverri, Fernando . Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 . 1st . September 2005 . Fundación Autor-SGAE . Spain . 84-8048-639-2 . es.
6. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1984 . Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien . 20 July 2013 . de.
7. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1984 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 1 February 2014 . nl.
8. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984 . . 1 February 2014 . nl.
9. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 1 February 2014 . nl.
10. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984 . Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien . 20 July 2013 . de.
11. Web site: TOP – 1985 . Top-france.fr . 1 February 2014 . fr.