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Blue World (The Moody Blues song)

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"Blue World" is a 1983 single by the Moody Blues written by Justin Hayward. It was first released in the UK as the lead single of the album The Present in August 1983. It was released as single in the US in the Fall of 1983. "Blue World" was one of three singles from The Present, with the others being "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water." The single's cover is a pastiche of the painting Daybreak by Maxfield Parrish.[1][2]

"Blue World"
Single by The Moody Blues
from the album The Present
B-side
  • "Going Nowhere" (UK)
  • "Sorry" (US)
Released12 August 1983 (UK)
16 August 1983 (US)
Recorded8 March – 10 December 1982
GenreRock
Length5:20 (Album version)
3:38 (Single version)
LabelThreshold
Songwriter(s)Justin Hayward
Producer(s)Pip Williams
The Moody Blues singles chronology
"Talking Out of Turn"
(1981) 		"Blue World"
(1983) 		"Sitting at the Wheel"
(1983)

Writing and recording

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Hayward first recorded "Blue World" as a demo in is home studio, utilizing a LinnDrum drum machine.[3] The final recording by the band also used the LinnDrum.[3] Producer Pip Williams said:

Justin wrote the song and prepared a demo at home with exactly the same verse/chorus structure as the finished product. He was using one of the new cutting-edge drum machines, the original LinnDrum. It was a pretty startling innovation at the time, and really freed songwriters to make much better demos at home. In fact, the single Linn bass drum, snare and hi-hat pattern that Justin had programmed for "Blue World" was kept right through the song, with the addition of some extra programmed percussion (congas, cowbell, cabasa and tambourine). We did try it with Graeme [Edge] playing real kit, but Jus preferred that metronomic machine groove, which does work well with Patrick [Moraz'] bass line. Those early Linn drums were less than convincing when playing fills, however, and apart from hi-hats, they had no cymbals, so Graeme played all the drum fills and cymbal crashes.[3]

Hayward played several guitars on the track, including a 6-string acoustic guitar and his electric Gibson 335.[3] Williams contributed a 12-string acoustic guitar and John Lodge played bass guitar. Moraz played the synthesizer, including the bass line, synthesized string instruments and flute-like trills.[3] Hayward sings all the vocals.[3]

Music and lyrics

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Music journalist Geoffrey Freakes described "Blue World" as "bright" and "upbeat".[2] Moody Blues biographer Marc Cushman felt that Moraz' synthesized bass line was the most effective aspect of the song, and that the synthesized strings were also effective.[3] However, he noted that listeners were split on flute-like trills, with some listeners liking them but others finding them "unnecessary and unwelcome".[3] The chorus does not come in until two minutes into the song.[2]

The themes of "Blue World" include "longing, nostalgia, and the search for meaning in a complex world."[4] Philadelphia Daily News critic Jonathan Takiff said that the lyrics show Hayward to be "the perennial melancholy man, decrying the 'Blue World' out there."[5] Freakes felt that the lyrics echo the artwork on the album's and single's cover.[2] Jeff Segal of The Michigan Daily described the lyrics as "mystical, if dumb."[3]

Reception

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Jim Zebora of the Record-Journal said it was "among the best and most likeable of any [songs] the band has done in years."[6] The Morning Call said that "'Blue World', with its heavy bass line and Hayward's rather mechanical vocal, will please (momentarily) pseudo new-wavers."[7] Gazette critic Dick Hogan considered "Blue World" as one of the best songs on The Present and particularly praised Hayward's smooth lead vocal and "imaginative lyrics", as well as the band's harmony vocals and Ray Thomas' "soaring flute."[8] Boston Globe critic Brett Milano called it a "soaring, melodic number with a heartfelt vocal."[9] News-Pilot critic Michael Davis called it "a fine medium tempo song reminiscent of a good Paul McCartney solo tune brimming with unique sounds and unexpected melodies.[10] Jim Sanville of the Evening Express called it "an ear catching pop number" and "the type of song strong enough to provide momentum" to the Moody Blues into the 1980s.[11] Rolling Stone critic Errol Somay felt that "Blue World" was one of the songs on The Present where "the Moody Blues are at their creative best."[12]

Jim Bohen of the Daily Record said that the song "serves up a likeable tune and a mildly philosophical lyric to a soft-rock beat and billowing synthesizer accompaniment."[13] Memphis Press-Scimitar critic Bill E. Burk said it has a "smooth, melodic structure fit within a rock framework."[14] Bernardsville News critic Charles T. Zavalick found it to be "spiritually uplifting".[15]

In the Kansas City Star, Tim McGraw complained about the song's "sophomoric lyricism", asking "How many times can the message that the world is unjust and lacks compassion be regurgitated without people failing to take it seriously."[16] The Age found "Blue World" to be "soporific" and a "[clone] of upteen old Moody Blues ballads."[17] Allan McQuillan of the Western Daily Press called the single "quick, slick, soft and well produced but without much to remember it by."[18]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as the Moody Blues' 8th greatest song.[19] SingersRoom critic Edward Tomlin rated it as the band's 6th best song, saying that "it captivates listeners with its dreamy melody and poignant lyrics. The song envelops you in a sonic landscape, blending lush instrumentation with haunting vocals that transport you to a realm of introspection and wonder."[4]

Charts

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"Blue World" was a moderate success for the Moody Blues in the U.S., charting at #32 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[20][21] In the UK it reached #35 and in Canada it reached #40.[2][3][22]

Live

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"Blue Moon" was included in the Moody Blues live set list for a few years, generally appearing in the latter part of the show.[2]

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Rockin' the Classics and Classicizin' the Rock: Janell R. Duxbury - 2001 p261 " FRANKFURT ROCK ORCHESTRA SS0695 Classic Moody Blues hits: featuring Justin Hayward and friends. ... know you're out there—Running water—New horizons—Blue world—Isn't life strange—The voice—Blue guitar—I'm just ..."
  2. ^ a b c d e f Freakes, Geoffrey (2019). The Moody Blues: Every Album, Every Song. Sonicbond. p. 94. ISBN 9781789520422.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cushman, Marc (2021). Long Distance Voyagers: The Story of the Moody Blues Volume 2 (1980-2018). Jacobs Brown Press. pp. 100–101, 123, 132–133. ISBN 9781735567358.
  4. ^ a b Tomlin, Edward (20 February 2024). "10 Best The Moody Blues Songs of All Time". SingersRoom. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  5. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (21 October 1983). "Live! This Week". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 79. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Zebora, Jim (6 January 1984). "Off the Record". Record-Journal. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Records". The Morning Call. 8 October 1983. p. 76. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Hogan, Dick (30 September 1983). "Moodies' 'Present' exceptional package". The Gazette. p. 1B. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Milano, Brett (6 October 1983). "Records". Boston Globe. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Davis, Michael (18 November 1983). "Record Reviews". News-Pilot. p. E11. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Sanville, Jim (24 October 1983). "Moody Blues stirs audience". Evening Express. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-03-24 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Somay, Errol (1983-10-27). "The Moody Blues: The Present : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  13. ^ Bohen, Jim (28 October 1983). "Music Notes". Daily Record. p. 53. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Burk, Bill E. (29 September 1983). "'Clowning' tinged with heroism". Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. C3. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Zavalick, Charles T. (20 October 1983). "The Present Is Now for Moody Blues". Bernardsville News. p. 16. Retrieved 2024-03-21 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ McGraw, Tim (27 November 1983). "Veratility of Oregon expands bounderies of 'outdoor' music". Kansas City Star. p. 7F. Retrieved 2024-03-23 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Records". The Age. 20 October 1983. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-03-24 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ McQuillan, Allan (13 August 1983). "Back on the Hit Trail". Western Daily Press. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-03-24 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ DeRiso, Nick (August 31, 2013). "Top 10 Moody Blues songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  20. ^ "Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  21. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  22. ^ "RPM Top 50 Singles - December 3, 1983" (PDF).
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