New Order

I can't stop listening to Power, Corruption, and Lies. Growing up in a Connecticut suburb, I was an alien to the Asian affinity for electronic bands in the 80s. I was introduced to Depeche Mode through Violator, rather than any of the previous albums that lent their hits to 101, and the true power of "Bizarre Love Triangle" (pre-Frente) didn't manifest itself until I visited Taiwan. In high school, I listened to classic rock, publicly eschewing pop, but privately crowding around the radio for the weekly top 40. I never sold out Michael Jackson, however; at least not until Dangerous. Late college is when I was more formally introduced. Until then, Anything Box was an unknown to me as were Yaz and Erasure. In Taipei, I watched as their songs packed the dance floor. Everyone sang the words, mimicked the action, "Every time I see you falling I get down on my knees and pray," "Oh l'amour. Broke my heart now I'm aching for you . . . "

Last year, my cousin Irene danced her first dance to Depeche Mode's "Somebody" at her wedding. Around the room, everyone's lips were moving, everyone was singing along. And so was I. Posted by eku at January 26, 2004 10:35 AM