OFF Bad News (1985)
Autocrats pursuing imperialistic ambitions, environmental catastrophes wreaking havoc across the globe, the democratic election of far-right politicians in multiple countries, large-scale wars devastating civilian populations and power- and money-hungry business magnates making outrageous moves—watching the news these days can feel like we’ve invented bad news.
However, listening to today’s song, “Bad News” by the German EBM and synth-pop band OFF reminds us that negative headlines have been a defining feature of the world for decades (and, let’s face it, since there have been headlines).
Fun fact: The frontman of OFF, an acronym for “Organisation For Fun,” was none other than Sven Väth. Alongside Luca Anzilotti and Michael Münzing, who later achieved platinum success as the producers behind the eurodance sensation Snap!, Väth stormed the charts with hits like their 1986 single “Electrica Salsa”.
In the years that followed, Väth became increasingly immersed in the burgeoning techno scene. He co-founded Frankfurt's legendary Omen club in 1988 and established himself as one of Germany's most enduring and internationally renowned DJs and producers. Väth later expanded his influence through various nightlife and music ventures, most notably Cocoon, a versatile enterprise consisting of a record label, booking agency and event management firm.
Back to today’s song: “Bad News” is proper good news for a change. Hear for yourself:
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