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Tesla Girls

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"Tesla Girls"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Junk Culture
B-side
Released28 August 1984 (1984-08-28)
RecordedMay 1983
StudioAIR (Salem, Montserrat)
Genre
Length3:51
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
  • Brian Tench
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"Talking Loud and Clear"
(1984) 		"Tesla Girls"
(1984) 		"Never Turn Away"
(1984)
Music video
"Tesla Girls" on YouTube

"Tesla Girls" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the third single from their fifth studio album, Junk Culture (1984). It peaked at No. 21 in the UK and Ireland, and No. 8 on the Dutch Top 40. Although only moderately successful on the charts, it became one of the group's biggest club hits.

The song was featured in the John Hughes film Weird Science (1985).

Background

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The song title refers to Nikola Tesla and was suggested by Martha Ladly, who had also suggested the title of their third studio album Architecture & Morality (1981). Tesla is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. "The references to electric chairs and dynamos is actually a reference to dynamos which was essential for the use of the alternating current and anything electrical basically," said Andy McCluskey in an online Q&A session in 1998.[2]

Critical reception and legacy

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"Tesla Girls" met with a few detractors on release.[3] Singer Kim Wilde – whose work had been influenced by OMD[4] – called the song "inane and monotonous".[3] On the other hand, Billboard categorised the single as "recommended", while observing "nervous electronics and obscure lyrics by one of the new wave's trendsetting bands".[5]

In retrospective articles, critics have directed praise toward the track's "witty" and "clever" lyrics, as well as its scratch production; favourable comparisons have been made to American rock duo Sparks.[6][7][8] Ned Raggett of AllMusic commended the song's melody and "brilliant, hyperactive intro", identifying it as "the group's high point when it comes to sheer sprightly pop".[6] Music journalist Dave Thompson described the track as "anthemic" and "a quintessential dance number".[8] Louder Than War critic Paul Scott-Bates wrote that "'Tesla Girls' is as perfect as pop singles get".[9]

The song became one of OMD's biggest club hits,[8] and appeared in KROQ and Slicing Up Eyeballs rankings of 1984's best tracks.[10][11]

Versions

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Several versions of the song exist in recorded form, including two new versions coming to light on the deluxe re-issue of the Junk Culture album in 2015.[12]

  • original Junk Culture album version (1984) — 3:51
  • 7" edit (1984) — 3.26
  • 12" version (1984) — 4.25
  • 12" 'extra remix' (1984) — 3.37
  • 12" (US only) 'specially remixed version' (1984) 5.03 — also includes an instrumental version (4.43) and a 'video version' (3.26)
  • compilation album version — 3.34 (used on compilation albums such as The Best of OMD and The OMD Singles)
  • 'extended mix' — 4.44, as featured on the So80s OMD remix compilation album (2011)
  • Junk Culture Deluxe re-issue version (2015) — 3.36 (replacing the original album track)
  • Highland Studios Demo (1983) — 4.01, bonus track featured on Junk Culture deluxe re-issue (2015)

An early live version from 1983 also exists in bootleg form.

B-sides

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The 7" release features a live version of the Dazzle Ships track and single "Telegraph" recorded in 1983 at the Hammersmith Odeon, London. The intro to another Dazzle Ships track, "Radio Waves", can be heard in the fade-out.

The 12" and cassette releases feature a new song, "Garden City", which remained exclusive to this release until it was featured on the B-sides album Navigation: The OMD B-Sides, released in 2001.[13]

Track listing

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7" and 7" picture disc

  1. "Tesla Girls" – 3:26
  2. "Telegraph" (live) – 3:57

First 12"

  1. "Tesla Girls" (extended version) – 4:35
  2. "Garden City" – 4:05
  3. "Telegraph" (live) – 3:57

Second 12" and cassette

  1. "Tesla Girls" (Extra Remix) – 3:37
  2. "Garden City" – 4:05
  3. "Telegraph" (live) – 3:57
  4. "Tesla Girls" (extended version) – 4:35

US 12" (A&M Records – SP-12120)

  1. Tesla Girls (Specially Remixed Version) – 5:03
  2. Tesla Girls (Instrumental Version) – 4:43
  3. Tesla Girls (Video Version) – 3:26

Charts

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Chart (1984) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 32
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[15] 35
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 33
Netherlands (Tipparade)[18] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 21

References

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  1. ^ Scapelliti, Christopher (1998). "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 842–843.
  2. ^ "OMD Q&A: Songs". omd.messages.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Messages. Sidgwick & Jackson. 1987. ISBN 0-283-99234-4. p. 137.
  4. ^ Houghton, Richard (2019). OMD: Pretending to See the Future (expanded paperback ed.). This Day in Music Books. p. 454. ISBN 978-1-9161156-2-0. [Ricky Wilde:] Andy [McCluskey] appeared from nowhere and sat next to me, and I finally thanked him for all the inspiration. Who knows where Kim and I would be now.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Billboard. 9 February 1985. p. 65.
  6. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. Junk Culture review. AllMusic. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Junk Culture". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Thompson, Dave. "Tesla Girls" review. AllMusic. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Junk Culture Deluxe Edition – album review". Louder Than War. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Top 106.7 Songs of 1984". KROQ-FM. 31 December 1984. Retrieved 20 July 2022 – via RadioHitList.com.
  11. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 1984: Slicing Up Eyeballs' Best of the '80s Redux — Part 5". Slicing Up Eyeballs. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  12. ^ "The Definitive Tesla Girls guide". omd-messages.co.uk. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  13. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Navigation - The OMD B-Sides (CD, Comp) at Discogs". Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  14. ^ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Tesla Girls" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  15. ^ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 27. 1 October 1984. p. 4. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Telsa Girls". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  17. ^ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Tesla Girls" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  18. ^ "O.M.D. – Tesla Girls" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  19. ^ "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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