"Living on Video" is a song by Canadian synth-pop band Trans-X[1] written and published in 1982, but not released as a single until May 1983 by Polydor Records, and then remixed in 1985. It became a massive hit worldwide, with the remixed version peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2][3] Trans-X also originally recorded a French-language version under the title "Vivre sur Vidéo". The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.
Trans-X version
The song was a big hit in Europe upon its release in 1983 and featured on the band's debut album, Living on Video. However, it only managed to reach No. 77 in the UK, which was in 1984.[4] It was remixed and re-released in 1985 then becoming much more successful, peaking at No. 9 in the UK and also charting in the US, reaching No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2][3] This version featured on the US version of band's 1986 second album, also called Living on Video.[5] The band re-recorded the song in 1986 and released it as a 12" maxi single, although the fact that it was re-recorded was not mentioned.[6] This featured on Canadian version of their second album.[7] In 1984, the track was re-produced for Metromix by Norman Jester (DJ Dizzo) for a 12" club mix adding fresh synths and a powerful 808 beat.
Music video
The music video features the band performing the song in a room with several TVs and a Commodore PET. A Roland SH-101keytar is also featured, which Languirand uses.[8] It was filmed in Munich, Germany and is a live performance from the TV show Formel Eins [de] in 1984.[9]
In 1999, 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor released their version of the song titled "Living in Cyberspace". Musically, it resembles the original score, but is adapted to the 1990s. The same applies in part to the text; the original text was indeed adopted, but supplemented by a few lines. Although the cover never appeared on a studio album, it is included on the compilations Summer Hit Mix 2000 and Best of 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor.
In 2006, Pakito released their debut album Video containing their debut single "Living on Video" and another remix. It reached number one in France for four weeks and hit the charts in several other countries. As of July 2014, it was the 85th best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 328,000 units sold.[23]
Track listings
CD maxi
"Living on Video" (original radio edit) — 3:20
"Living on Video" (noot's vocal radio edit) — 3:10
It was remixed by Trans-X in 2003 and again in 2006. The song has also been remixed by U96 as "Love Sees No Colour (Version 2)", Nathalie De Borah, DJ Piccolo, Dr. Lektroluv, Trance XS, Cardenia, Cosmo & Tom, Culture Beat, DJ Interface, Ratty, Lazard, Gary D, Masterboy, Pin-Occhio (as "Tu Tatuta Tuta Ta"), Potatoheadz and by both Tronix Dj and Recorder, Stream (in 2016).[34] It also has been covered as "Vivre Sur Video" by Vive la Fête. Most recently, it was covered by the band HexRX for the Das Bunker: Choice of a New Generation compilation. In 2012, "Robots", a single by Belgian singer Kate Ryan, sampled the song. Also, in 2013, it was used as the main theme in the song "Get Ready Now" by Beatmaker. Arash sampled the song in 2014 under the name SLR. Parts of the song has also been remixed by Logobi GT as "Gâter le Koin" (from La Puissance in 2010). The electronic music group Frozen Plasma covered the song on their 2015 album Decadenz.
References
^Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (31 May 1986). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 34–. ISSN0006-2510. ((cite book)): |author= has generic name (help)
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 312. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
^Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved August 23, 2008)
