So Serious (song)

"So Serious" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) from their 1986 album Balance of Power released in the UK as the second single from the album in 1986.

"So Serious"
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Balance of Power
B-side
  • "Endless Lies" (US)
  • "A Matter of Fact" (UK)
  • "A Matter of Fact" (alternate lyrics, 12-inch only) (UK)
Released
  • 18 April 1986 (1986-04-18) (US)
  • 2 May 1986 (UK)
Recorded1985
Studio
GenrePop rock
Length2:42
Label
Songwriter(s)Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"Calling America"
(1986)		 "So Serious"
(1986)		 "Getting to the Point"
(1986)
Music video
"So Serious" on YouTube

Overview

The song's lyrics hint at Jeff Lynne's growing disenchantment with his involvement with ELO at this point; much like the majority of the songs from the album, the lyrical content was in sharp contrast to the upbeat synthpop of the album.

There was also a UK 12 inch EPIC three-track version with "A Matter of Fact (Alternate Lyrics)" on the B-Side.

On this heavy-hearted record [Balance of Power] with an ironically cheerful musical sound and no strings whatsoever, songs like "So Serious" and "Getting To The Point" could be ruing the loss of a romance, but both are indicative of Lynne's feelings about the group that had been the focus of his musical life for so many years. 'I guess we've really been out of touch,' he sings in the former, the latter he mourns, 'It's getting to the point of no return/And all that I can do is stand and watch it burn.'

— Ira Robbins[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne.

7-inch single
  1. "So Serious" – 2:38
  2. "A Matter of Fact" – 4:04
12-inch single
  1. "So Serious" – 2:38
  2. "A Matter of Fact" – 4:04
  3. "A Matter of Fact" (alternate lyrics) – 3:49
12-inch single
  1. "So Serious" - 2:38
  2. "A Matter of Fact" - 4:04
  3. "Destination Unknown" - 4:10

Chart positions
Chart (1986) Peak
Position
UK Singles Chart[2] 77

References
  1. Robbins, Ira (1995). Strange Magic: The Best Of Electric Light Orchestra (booklet). Electric Light Orchestra. Epic Associated, Legacy. pp. 14–15.
  2. "The Official Charts Company - Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.