Fade To Grey

Visage's 'Fade To Grey' is a song that encapsulates the essence of the New Romantic movement of the early 1980s, both in its sound and its lyrical content. The song is known for its haunting synthesizer melody and its bilingual lyrics, which are sung in both English and French. The repetitive chorus 'we fade to grey' serves as a metaphor for the loss of vibrancy and the onset of monotony in life. The lyrics paint a picture of isolation and existential ennui, with the protagonist standing alone on a platform, accompanied only by a suitcase, and feeling an overwhelming sense of fear and desire to hide.

The imagery of rain 'like an English summer' and the distant song emanating from behind a poster evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for something more, perhaps a life that isn't as 'long' or filled with the greyness of routine. The song's atmosphere is imbued with a sense of melancholy and introspection, suggesting that life's vivid moments are fleeting and often give way to a duller existence. The use of French phrases like 'Devenir gris' (becoming grey) adds an international and sophisticated flair to the song, which was characteristic of the New Romantic scene, known for its emphasis on fashion and glamour.

Visage, led by Steve Strange, was a pioneer in the New Romantic genre, which was a reaction against the punk movement and focused on synthesizer-based music with a futuristic and theatrical aesthetic. 'Fade To Grey' is one of their most iconic tracks and reflects the band's artistic vision of blending music with visual performance, creating a soundscape that is both evocative and thought-provoking.