Memorabilia (song)

“Memorabilia” is a song by Soft Cell, first released on their debut 1981 singles Memorabilia and A Man Can Get Lost.

Origin
The main inspiration behind “Memorabilia” were New York disco records with hard pulsating beat which Marc Almond used to hear during his work time at the Warehouse club in Leeds. The club was notable for having the best sound system in the city and various, largely obscure in UK, US records played by DJs from New York. The idea to make heavily dance oriented record came to Almond before one of Soft Cell's studio sessions in December 1980.

Record and release
At Stage One Studio Almond improvised the lyrics of the song while recording vocals and to retain trashy subjects of band's songs he imagined a stream of thoughts of a serial killer who is obsessed with collecting souvenirs after his murders. The track in the end utilizes first vocal take. Dave Ball and producer Daniel Miller improved the musical part of Almond's idea.

Initially the track was recorded as a long version for 12″ single of the same name, which would fit dance club format. Then it was shortened and included on B side of 7″ A Man Can Get Lost.

Both versions of “Memorabilia” were released on 21 March 1981. A bit later they would appear as B sides of European Tainted Love singles.

Music video
Music video on Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing version of the song was produced in 1982 and directed by Tim Pope, for Non-Stop Exotic Video Show.

The video primarily consists of various Super 8 footage, starting with one of Almond's college short films, with a person looking trough photo albums. It continues with videos taken by him and Ball during band's time in New York, Los Angeles and Athenas, with appearances of Cindy Ecstasy, Stevo and Huw Feather. Ball's New York footage from 1978 were also used, such as views of building and street traffics behind Cindy Ecstasy.

“Memorabilia” flows from the end of “Youth” video, with Feather's animated drawings of flamenco dancers in front of a rewinding footage. Throughout video Almond and Cindy Ecstasy, filmed against blue chroma key, appear singing their parts of the song. The latter, upon finishing her part, turns away and transforms into Almond in the same drag and make up. Other chroma key video effects would be applied on Almond, such as painting of his face to make it look transparent or paint flowing down over his image.

Video ends with an added over the song sound of ending tape reel and final frames being distorted. After that a gag in a porno cinema, before “Sex Dwarf” video, starts.

Listen

 * “Memorabilia” (official upload on YouTube) – 7″ version
 * “Memorabilia” (official upload on YouTube) – 12″ version
 * “Soft Cell - Memorabilia” (official upload on YouTube) – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing version; music video
 * “Memorabilia (91)” (official upload on YouTube)
 * “Memorabilia (Cicada Dub Version)” (official upload on YouTube)
 * “Memorabilia (Live 2003)” (official upload on YouTube)
 * “Memorabilia (Live At The 02 Arena, London / 2018)” (official upload on YouTube)

Trivia

 * The song gave names to numerous later, retrospective Soft Cell releases:
 * Memorabilia - The Singles and Memorabilia - The Video Singles compilations in 1991
 * Keychains And Snowstorms releases in 2018, associated with band's 40 years anniversary – a box set and a book within it, a compilation of single releases and limited keychain memory stick with new songs
 * To Show You I've Been There photo book in 2019