A sad/emotive british Indie song from the 90s

[TubThumper]

Interesting… the “almost feminine” vocal and lack of heavy guitar changes the search completely.

I now wonder if this is less indie and more late-90s slowcore with dream-pop tendencies.

Two bands suddenly come to mind:

Mojave 3 — especially tracks like “Love Songs on the Radio” or “Tomorrow’s Taken”

And a band called Spain. They had an album called The Blue Moods of Spain, which might explain your “blue” memory. Their stuff is unbelievably melancholy and very vocal-oriented. Try “Spiritual”.

Also worth checking these bands:
- Low
- Red House Painters

These are all “late-night Radio 1 once in your life” bands. Not mainstream. Quite underground.

If not, then I think I’ll give up too lol

[albie]

Hmmm… This is difficult.

Your humming helps a little though. It sounds very familiar indeed. At first glance, I thought of the guitar intro to Charming Man by The Smiths. But then I thought “too obvious”. I then thought of Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. But then I thought “too commercial”.

I then had a struggle… You say it wasn’t Shoegaze, but was more Dream Pop. Sometimes, those two genres can be interchangeable. If it was a 90’s track then it was more likely to be Shoegaze.

Was the song ethereal? Lots of heavy reverb? If yes, it would be Dream Pop. If it was similar, but changed to a more “heavy” guitar sound, then it was probably Shoegaze.

Judging on your humming alone, I have a band in mind, and also three songs by three separate bands:

The Verve. Typically, their first album A Storm In Heaven. Listen to Already There, Endless Life and Gravity Grave.

The other three songs I think match closely are:

• When The Sun Hits by Slowdive
• Pearl by Chapterhouse
• Vapour Trail by Ride

The latter of the three is interesting as there is a lyric “you are a vapour trail and in a deep blue sky”. This might match your idea that the band had “blue” in their title.

Let me know what you think.

The guitar I cannot recall so I assume it wasn't heavy. It was a vox oriented song. I like heavy guitar so would have noted if it was. The vox btw was almost feminine in sound and pitch. It isn't any of those you suggested. I know all those bands and their style. It wasn't mainstream at all.

I cannot even state if the band had a hit with it, but would be surprised if they hadn't. It was quality but VERY miserable. Morrisey wishes he could be as miserable as this.

Thanks anyway. I think I will just give up.

[TubThumper]

Hmmm… This is difficult.

Your humming helps a little though. It sounds very familiar indeed. At first glance, I thought of the guitar intro to Charming Man by The Smiths. But then I thought “too obvious”. I then thought of Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. But then I thought “too commercial”.

I then had a struggle… You say it wasn’t Shoegaze, but was more Dream Pop. Sometimes, those two genres can be interchangeable. If it was a 90’s track then it was more likely to be Shoegaze.

Was the song ethereal? Lots of heavy reverb? If yes, it would be Dream Pop. If it was similar, but changed to a more “heavy” guitar sound, then it was probably Shoegaze.

Judging on your humming alone, I have a band in mind, and also three songs by three separate bands:

The Verve. Typically, their first album A Storm In Heaven. Listen to Already There, Endless Life and Gravity Grave.

The other three songs I think match closely are:

• When The Sun Hits by Slowdive
• Pearl by Chapterhouse
• Vapour Trail by Ride

The latter of the three is interesting as there is a lyric “you are a vapour trail and in a deep blue sky”. This might match your idea that the band had “blue” in their title.

Let me know what you think.

[albie]

The title may be false memory. I think I tracked down the song by the lyrics alone sometime ago. But I've been on those websites that trace your missing song by snippets of lyrics. And a few days ago I recorded the tune by humming it and tried to track it that way with those other kind of sites that allow you to upload the tune. No go. It's so obscure it just does not show up. And yet it was such a good song.

Style of Indie? Not pop. Not rock. Shoegaze? no. Dream pop sounds right. It's none of those you suggested btw. I know most of them bands.

I'm no singer but I've uploaded my attempt to replicate the vox to Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/fudgetusk/forgotten-song

[TubThumper]

This is really interesting.

I love 90’s Indie, and I have a huge collection of records from the Britpop era.

Essentially, there were almost no 90’s UK indie bands with “Oyster” in the name. (you’ve already ruled out “Oysterband”). Annoyingly, there are very few 90’s UK indie bands with “Blue” in the name too — but I won’t let this stop me. I like a good challenge!


Closest name match:

- The Blue Nile
- Blueboy
- The Blue Aeroplanes

These bands have songs that match the sad/emotive theme you suggest.

but something doesn’t sit right with me. Is it possible you’re misremembering the band name? Do you think that your brain has filed this song in your memory under the title of “Blue” due to the song being sad (and blue)? Just a thought?

Here is my choice of closest bands (and songs) that closely match the the male lead 90s British indie thing — is an emotional/miserable ballad — has the possibility of falsetto/high notes — was played on BBC Radio 1 — possibly obscure/one-off play:

- “Oxygen” by “JJ72”
- “Olympian” by “Gene”
- “Beautiful Alone” by “Strangelove”
- “On and On” by Longpigs
- “India” by - “Puressence”
- Any song by Placebo
- Any song by Radiohead

If it is none of the above then give me a few more clues. What type of “Indie” was the song? Was it Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Britpop, Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Jangle Pop…? This may help even more.

[albie]

But really good. I taped it off the radio, probably radio 1 because that's all I listened to.

It's a male singer and very ballady but still indie sounding. I could sing it if it helped, but the words fail me. The only lyric I recall is something like "things will be better when we were young." (which is probably wrong as it doesn't make sense)sung three times then lots of high notes, almost falsetto. The band name had the word BLUE or OYSTER in it. It wasn't blue oyster cult as Grok keeps telling me. Nor was it OYSTERBAND. It was firmly 90s. It wasn't the Bluetones or BLUE. It wasn't a famous band at all. So not DEACON BLUE.

That was the only time I heard that song on the radio, when I taped it. And they never had another one of the radio etc. But it was a FANTASTIC and miserable song.

I actually tracked the song down already, maybe ten years ago but flipping lost track of it!

Anyone?

update...there is a site that lets you upload a song and then it names it. I'll try that if you guys can't help. I'm not much of a good singer and the song is all high notes. I suppose I could pitch shift it.