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For this week I have selected "If You Leave" by O.M.D. This is one of the classic synthpop songs of the later 80's, becoming popular as the theme song for the John Hughes movie Pretty in Pink, which is also considered a classic genre piece from the 80's. Unfortunately, "If You Leave" was never included on any album of O.M.D.'s, which necesitated buying the either the greatest hits album or the soundtrack. Since the Greatest Hits also has "Dreaming," which is likewise not available anywhere else, that's the route I took.
"If You Leave" is a perfect example of what made O.M.D. good in the old days. It is airy, light, yet not bubbly or poppy. Rather, O.M.D. seems to have specialized in melancholy and haunting work (just listen to "Maid of Orleans" for an example of haunting!) yet very synthpop. Andy McClusky's vocals (he wasn't the exclusive vocalist) are sufficiently tortured to bring this song to one of my favorite songs of all time; it is superbly crafted, excellently arranged and masterfully performed. The mood and feel are palpable, and the words are wrenchingly eloquent. To me, songs like this were the pinnacle of what made 80's music good, and few, if any, 90's artists (or even 80's artists that have hung on into the 90's) are able to really be this good. I think part of it is the naive innocence that has disappeared from the musical scene, to be replaced by bitter cynicism. O.M.D., while a mediocre group in the 90's, was one of the stars of my musical collection in the 80's.
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