Secret (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)

"Secret" is a song by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released as a single from their 1985 album Crush. Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. It became their second US Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 63, and also made number 34 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Secret"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Crush
B-side
  • "Drift" (UK)
  • "Firegun" (US)
Released8 July 1985
RecordedThe Manor, 1984
GenreNew wave
Length3:56
LabelVirgin Records (UK)
A&M Records (US)
Songwriter(s)Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys
Producer(s)Stephen Hague, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"So in Love"
(1985)		 "Secret"
(1985)		 "La Femme Accident"
(1985)

The song was featured in the movie Arthur 2: On the Rocks and on its soundtrack album.

Reception

"Secret" received generally unfavourable contemporary reviews.[1] On the other hand, Bill Merrill in the Altus Times noted the song's "smooth combination of airy vocals and catchy hooks",[2] while Michigan Daily writer Beth Fertig called it "strong", "witty" and "playfully silly".[3]

Retrospectively, Dave Thompson in AllMusic called "Secret" an "emotive love song buried in an over-produced behemoth of a backing".[4] Conversely, Thompson's colleague Mike DeGagne lauded the track as one of OMD's best 1980s singles, noting its "adolescent innocence".[5]

B-sides

The UK B-side "Drift" was an instrumental song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper. "Drift" has never been released on CD. The US B-Side "Firegun" is a vocal song credited to the whole band that was later released on their 2001 CD compilation Navigation: The OMD B-Sides. "Firegun" was released in the UK as the B-side to the band's successive single "La Femme Accident".

Music video

The video for "Secret", directed by Andy Morahan,[6] shows various vintage black & white film clips, including footage of The Beatles, interspersed with new black & white footage of Humphreys and a woman processed to look like old home movies; additionally there are colour scenes of Humphreys singing. The theme is that a woman deserts her current love interest (McCluskey) to return to the arms of her true love (Humphreys). McCluskey's character observes the two lovers together and, though despondent, gallantly accepts that his love interest should instead be with Humphreys' character, before walking into the distance along the shore. The clip was filmed at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex.

Live performances

The song was part of the setlist during the Crush tour in 1985 and 1986, although more recently has only been performed at gigs in the US.[7] A video recording of a short concert held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in aid of Greenpeace on 26 October 1985 shows that Humphreys shared the lead vocal with Andy McCluskey.[8]

Track listing

7": Virgin / VS 796 (UK)
  1. "Secret" – 3:54
  2. "Drift" – 4:14

12": Virgin / VS 796-12 (UK)
  1. "Secret" (extended mix) – 6:14
  2. "Drift" – 4:14

7" A&M/Virgin / AM-2794 (US)
  1. "Secret" – 3:54
  2. "Firegun" – 4:36

Initial releases had a bonus disc with:

  1. "Red Frame/White Light"
  2. "I Betray My Friends"

Charts
Chart (1985–1986) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 34
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 63
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] 37
US Cash Box Top 100[13] 71
West Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 25

Cover versions

A cover of the song by Laura Watling appeared on the 2001 compilation Pretending to See the Future: A Tribute to OMD.

References in other media

The hit Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which was known for naming episodes in its early seasons after '80s hit songs, named a two-part episode after this song. It was also featured in the 2014 film The Skeleton Twins.

References
  1. Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike. Messages. Sidgwick & Jackson. 1987. ISBN 0-283-99234-4. p. 151.
  2. Merrill, Bill (18 August 1985). "Record review". Altus Times. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  3. Fertig, Beth (18 September 1985). "Records". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  4. Thompson, Dave. "Secret". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  5. DeGagne, Mike. "The Best of OMD". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  6. Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "Secret"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  7. "Secret by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". setlist.fm. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. "OMD - Live 1985 Full Concert" (YouTube). 30 October 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  10. "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  11. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  12. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  13. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 8, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  14. "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Secret". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
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