Tainted Love
Hello hello silver bloggers, music lovers and Hello hivers!
How are you doing?
It is March 31st which is of course the last Tuesday in March and today's ttt is perhaps tainted!
Tainted You say!
ead on I say!
! I also see that my ttt was the only post I published on Hive last week, let's see what I can do this week. It just shows the power of music!
We are going back to my Silver Chronicles post of a few weeks ago My Soundtrack for the 80s my favourite decade
Quite a self-explanatory title and it is my inspiration for the next few posts on ttt!
The year is now 1981 and these three tunes are from a northern synth duo, one of whom who sadly passed away a few months ago!
It is Tuesday and that of course means that it's #ttt or #threetunetuesday and so it's time to share some tunes with you!
@ablaze started #ttt 253 weeks ago! Go check out what it is all about on his latest post Ireland's Top 30 Songs (25,26,27) for Three Tune Tuesday - Week 253 - win some HBI
Do go support @ablaze as without him we would not have this mental fun musical activity that you can win HSBI from! I am happy to be one of the SIX sponsors and it is kinda fun checking out music from all over this global village of ours!
He has just released some winners posts, so go support those posts, he gets no support from any whales or even curation trails for these posts that he does. 251 weeks is an incredible amount of time, and I for one love that he runs this, and I appreciate the time and dedication that he puts in, when he could be doing something else.
Long live #ttt 😁🎼 and #threetunetuesday
The Band - Soft Cell.
Soft Cell were formed in Leeds by Marc Almond and Dave Ball and were pioneers of the "synth-pop" movement. Unlike many of their more polished peers, they brought a sense of "kitchen-sink drama" and grit to electronic music. They managed to make synthesizers feel human, vulnerable, and just a little bit dangerous.
All three of these tunes were released in 1981 and taken from their debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Tune 1 - Soft Cell - Tainted Love
There was only one song that I could kick off with. Not only did it make them household names at least in the UK, and it was the best-selling UK single of 1981.
It’s actually a cover of a 1964 Northern Soul track by Gloria Jones.
Marc Almond and Dave Ball stripped away the horns and replaced them with "icy" synths and that iconic "beep-beep" rhythm.
Tune 2 - Soft Cell - Bedsitter
Released in October 1981, this was the follow-up to "Tainted Love." It’s an anthem for the lonely and the late-night clubbers. It tells the story of the "bedsitter" lifestyle—living in a small rented room during the week and only coming alive under the disco lights at the weekend. It’s widely considered one of the most honest songs about 80s youth culture.
Tune 3 - Soft Cell - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
While it was released as a single in early '82, it first appeared on the album in November 1981. It’s the grand, emotional finale of their debut record. With its haunting melody and Marc Almond's soaring vocals, it’s a song about a messy breakup in a "shabby" town. It’s a bit of a "pearl of wisdom" in song form: knowing when a relationship has run its course and it's time to walk away.
Talking of waving goodbye ..
Dave Ball passed away on 22nd October 2025, at the age of 66. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in London.
The Final Masterpiece "Danceteria" (2026)
Their final studio album, Danceteria was finished just days before Dave died in October 2025. Marc Almond has dedicated the album and the upcoming 2026 "Generations" tour to Dave’s memory, noting that "recording without Dave just wouldn't be Soft Cell."
The lead single, "Out Come The Freaks" (a Was (Not Was) cover featuring Nona Hendryx), was released just last week (March 24, 2026). It has that classic Dave Ball "dirty" synth growl that sounds just as fresh as it did in 1981.
Bonus Tune - Soft Cell - Out Come The Freaks
So there you have it 3 songs released in 1981 and a bonus song that was only released last week from the duo Soft Cell this week with my 80s Soundtrack post as the inspiration!
Which was your favourite tune? Or have you never heard of them?
Note: The 4 YouTube videos that I have shared are not owned by me, I am simply spreading great music on Hive.
I wish that you all have a brilliant happy fun and terrific Tuesday until we meet again enjoy your tunes 🎶🎵🎶
Thanks for visiting!
The images and ramblings are from me, with some assistance from gemini on the verbage, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated.
@tengolotodo March 31st 2026
Nice tunes for ttt, but that Tainted Love looks kinda funny and scary at the same time. 😂
!LOLZ
!BBH
Yes it is a great title for a tune luchyl 🤣
If you have to go that's the way to do it! What an awesome TTT, from one of my favorites bands on the era. They were great!
How have you and the Mrs. doing?
yeah would be some tour seeing them , Alison Moyet and the Human League, but yes if you are going to go, finish making an album.
Oh we are doing okay thanks. Mrs T is loving doing her YouTube content.
As much as I love Soft Cell, that industrial cover of Tainted Love that someone did in the 90's was pretty awesome. I can't remember if it was Marylin Manson or some other group.
hmm now you got me looking for the version you mention!
It was definitely Manson. Did you find it?
I’ll go with “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” though I also liked the last one for dancing. Music works wonders—it even inspires that Scottish guy to write. 😉 Sending you a big hug.
Hehe did you know them in Venezuela. Yeah malaise abounds. I think too few on Hive have forced off too many and forced shut too many fun initiatives that kept people on Hive. Hug
"Tainted Love" is a timeless song.
!INDEED
Totally agree with you Seck
Classics mate. At the time, Tainted love was my favourite club track but Say Hello Wave Goodbye is absolutely timeless. Its a beautiful track.
Great choice mate and hope youre well.
https://x.com/i/status/2039261888530588152
#hive #posh
Hehehe. Unique titles of those songs. Haven't heard of it😌