Music Review: Berlin "The Metro"
Berlin
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The Metro
Album: Pleasure Victim
Year: 1982
Terri Nunn, lead singer of Berlin, meets with an ex-boyfriend in the lamentable "Metro."
A bustling synth opens the single, creating a fidgety tone. As she travels alone to London, she thinks of the memories she has with her ex-boyfriend. They had a great relationship for several years. They could talk about anything. Then, she received a job offer in Paris, where she had always dreamed of living. He didn't want to go with her, citing his life was more important in London. She moved to Paris without him to start over and achieve her dreams. Pulling up her umbrella, she walks off the train. Her ex holds her, apologizing countless time for letting her go and for being an inflexible guy.
In the chorus, Nunn wants to say what he wants to hear: "I forgive you. Let's get back together." However, she wanted his words to be harsh and mean-spirited. It would make leaving him easier. She thinks of the soldier who couldn't wait to get home to his girlfriend. She wishes she had the same anticipation the soldier was likely feeling.
He dressed up in an elegant white suit. He took her hand and led her off the train. He wouldn't even let her foot touch the puddle on the ground. He asks her about the weather in France. She tells him that it was windy and slushy there when she left. They engage in more small talk. For Nunn, the sting of the breakup is still exists. She cannot look at him without thinking of the abandonment she felt. He gives her a hug and a heartfelt smile.
He slips a letter in her hand. In it, he writes that he was wrong. He's willing to move to Paris. He tells her that she's the love of his life. It's a phrase she waited so long to hear. She remembers the first time he said it to her. They were vacationing in Paris. As they admired the Seine River, he told her he was in love with her.
The sound of a siren blasting as it leaves the station is heard. The synths then have a short solo.
On the way to London, she began to get nervous. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, eventually waking up the soldier next to her. She's angry at him for not realizing that she was the one years earlier. Why now? She has a life in Paris now, which she wouldn't leave for anything. Except him.
The keyboards have a brief solo.
The first verse is sung again. Nunn adds a "sorry" after the "swimming through apologies" lyric.
The first chorus is repeated again.
The siren fades into the distance again as Nunn returns home to France.
"The Metro" is a compelling single. The relationship is complicated. They've been a couple and then went their seperate ways. They didn't speak much. Then they slowly developed a friendship.
However, neither of them truly moved on. During the visit, she is reminded of what she missed about him. She questions if her dreams were really worth it. She regrets having to leave him, knowing what could be.
Most 80s synth arrangements have become dated over the years. In "The Metro" it remains as creative and as fresh as it did in the early 80s. The siren effect is amazing. It sounds authentic, as though it were recorded. However, it's done purely with notes.
Album: Pleasure Victim
Year: 1982
Terri Nunn, lead singer of Berlin, meets with an ex-boyfriend in the lamentable "Metro."
A bustling synth opens the single, creating a fidgety tone. As she travels alone to London, she thinks of the memories she has with her ex-boyfriend. They had a great relationship for several years. They could talk about anything. Then, she received a job offer in Paris, where she had always dreamed of living. He didn't want to go with her, citing his life was more important in London. She moved to Paris without him to start over and achieve her dreams. Pulling up her umbrella, she walks off the train. Her ex holds her, apologizing countless time for letting her go and for being an inflexible guy.
"I'm alone/Sitting with my empty glass/My four walls/Follow me through my past/I was on a Paris train/I emerged in London rain/And you were waiting there/Swimming through apologies."
In the chorus, Nunn wants to say what he wants to hear: "I forgive you. Let's get back together." However, she wanted his words to be harsh and mean-spirited. It would make leaving him easier. She thinks of the soldier who couldn't wait to get home to his girlfriend. She wishes she had the same anticipation the soldier was likely feeling.
"I remember searching for the perfect words/I was hoping you might change your mind/I remember a soldier sleeping next to me/Riding on the metro."
He dressed up in an elegant white suit. He took her hand and led her off the train. He wouldn't even let her foot touch the puddle on the ground. He asks her about the weather in France. She tells him that it was windy and slushy there when she left. They engage in more small talk. For Nunn, the sting of the breakup is still exists. She cannot look at him without thinking of the abandonment she felt. He gives her a hug and a heartfelt smile.
"You wore white/Smiling as you took my hand/So removed/
We spoke of wintertime in France/Minutes passed with shallow words/Years have passed and still the hurt/
I can see you now/Smiling as you pulled away."
He slips a letter in her hand. In it, he writes that he was wrong. He's willing to move to Paris. He tells her that she's the love of his life. It's a phrase she waited so long to hear. She remembers the first time he said it to her. They were vacationing in Paris. As they admired the Seine River, he told her he was in love with her.
"I remember the letter wrinkled in my hand/"I'll love you always" filled my eyes/
I remember a night we walked along the Seine/Riding on the metro."
The sound of a siren blasting as it leaves the station is heard. The synths then have a short solo.
On the way to London, she began to get nervous. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, eventually waking up the soldier next to her. She's angry at him for not realizing that she was the one years earlier. Why now? She has a life in Paris now, which she wouldn't leave for anything. Except him.
"I remember a feeling coming over me/The soldier turned, then looked away/I remember hating you for loving me/Riding on the metro."
The keyboards have a brief solo.
The first verse is sung again. Nunn adds a "sorry" after the "swimming through apologies" lyric.
The first chorus is repeated again.
The siren fades into the distance again as Nunn returns home to France.
"The Metro" is a compelling single. The relationship is complicated. They've been a couple and then went their seperate ways. They didn't speak much. Then they slowly developed a friendship.
However, neither of them truly moved on. During the visit, she is reminded of what she missed about him. She questions if her dreams were really worth it. She regrets having to leave him, knowing what could be.
Most 80s synth arrangements have become dated over the years. In "The Metro" it remains as creative and as fresh as it did in the early 80s. The siren effect is amazing. It sounds authentic, as though it were recorded. However, it's done purely with notes.