Modern Love Is Automatic (song)

Modern Love is Automatic is a 1982 song by the group A Flock of Seagulls and first showcased on the album of the same name. It was the fourth single off the album.^{[1] [2]} Originally, it was a 1981 EP, later re-edited and mixed onto the A Flock of Seagulls album.

Lyrics

The song details a love-affair between a mismatched pair. As with many of the groups lyrics, harmonies and videos, there is a suggestion of cosmic energy and other-world imagery.^[3] The woman is an "automatic" perhaps symbolizing a geisha or perhaps an android of some type. The man is a "cosmic" perhaps from another planet. The song closes with the man "locked away" but the narrator suggesting he is in fact free.^[4]

Trivia

• Phil Spector expressed admiration for the song--as with many other tracks on the album-- and at one point planned on producing the band's next album. However, this never happened due to a conflict with Jive Records and his increasing reclusive lifestyle.^[5]

• The song's title was used in a 2009 independent movie.^[6]

References

1. ^ "A Flock Of Seagulls: Discography". Afosfanclub.com. http://www.afosfanclub.com/AFOSdisc.html. Retrieved 2010-06-12. 
2. ^ A Flock of Seagulls Discography from All Music.[1]
3. ^ The music video guide. J Chu, E Cafritz - 1986 - McGraw-Hill Companies
4. ^ "A Flock of Seagulls on MSN Music". Music.msn.com. http://music.msn.com/music/artist/a-flock-of-seagulls/. Retrieved 2010-06-12. 
5. ^ Wall of pain: the biography of Phil Spector David Thompson - 2003 - Sanctuary Pub Ltd
6. ^ "SXSW 09 Interview: Modern Love Is Automatic Director Zach Clark". eFilmCritic. 2006-10-24. http://efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=2678. Retrieved 2010-06-12.