Just love this song. The production level and attention to detail is amazing. They spent three weeks recording each group member singing "ahhh" 16 times for each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, building up a "choir" of 48 voices for each note of the scale. I'm still in awe. The outro that you wondered about was a recording of a toy music box! Very clever! The song was written in response to band member Eric Stewart's wife telling him he didn't say "I love you" to her enough. Ha!
Hi. Thank you for your insights and commentary about this great song. In short, the main background sound in this track are voice layers performed by the band dubbed over many times to create a beautiful hypnotic stream of sonic voice sound that imitates musical instrumentation with voice itself.
@@EaterOfBaconSandwiches nicely explained. I alternate between loving this for its wit, then it’s beautiful sound and then the technical brilliance and creativity. Once in a while all together. Always come back to 10cc
@@kthor I'd go with the 80s myself but I think if you ask anyone, 90% will answer with whatever decade covered most of their 12-18 age period. I'm not one for the whole "music today is crap" thing. It's just as brilliant for today's 12 year olds as ours was for us.
When Eric Stewarts wife complained that he didn’t tell her that he loved her enough, he decided to write her a song, but he felt that if he wrote her a “normal” love song, it wouldn’t be meaningful as he was writing it in response to her comment. He then realised that a big part of the reason that he didn’t express his love and other feelings enough was because as a boy, he had been brought up to be a strong and stoic man (hence the maternal voice within the song repeatedly saying “Big Boys Don’t Cry”), and so he decided to write a “counter-love song” that both expressed his real feelings and alluded to why he didn’t do so in their day to day life together.
@@michaelasay8587 he was in love but was brought up in a time and place where boys were actively brought up in a way that taught them not to express their emotions, so the song reflects that… For example, he can’t admit to her that he keeps her photo because he cares about her or loves her, so he says that it’s only there to cover a stain on the wall, but really “he knows that she knows” he really has it because he loves her and misses her when she’s not there :)
Stewart spent three weeks recording Gouldman, Godley and Creme singing "ahhh" 16 times for each note of the chromatic scale, building up a "choir" of 48 voices for each note of the scale. The main problem facing the band was how to keep the vocal notes going for an infinite length of time, but Creme suggested that they could get around this issue by using tape loops. Stewart created loops of about 12 feet in length by feeding the loop at one end through the tape heads of the stereo recorder in the studio, and at the other end through a capstan roller fixed to the top of a microphone stand, and tensioned the tape. By creating long loops the 'blip' caused by the splice in each tape loop could be drowned out by the rest of the backing track, providing that the splices in each loop did not coincide with each other. Having created twelve tape loops for each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, Stewart played each loop through a separate channel of the mixing desk. This effectively turned the mixing desk into a musical instrument complete with all the notes of the chromatic scale, which the four members together then "played", fading up three or four channels at a time to create "chords" for the song's melody. Stewart had put tape across the bottom of each channel so that it was impossible to completely fade down the tracks for each note, resulting in the constant background hiss of vocals heard throughout the song. Composer and music theory professor Thomas MacFarlane considered the resulting "ethereal voices" with distorted synthesized effects to be a major influence on Billy Joel's hit ballad "Just the Way You Are", released two years later. A basic guide track was recorded first in order to help create the melody using the vocals, but the proper instrumentation was added after the vocals had been recorded. In keeping with Godley's idea to focus on the voices, only a few instruments were used: a Fender Rhodes electric piano played by Stewart, a Gibson 335 electric guitar played by Gouldman for the rhythm melody, and a bass drum sound played by Godley on a Moog synthesizer which Creme had recently purchased and learned how to program. The drum sound that was created was very soft and more akin to a heartbeat, in order not to overpower the rest of the track. Creme played piano during the bridge and the middle eight, where it replicated the melody of lyrics that had been discarded. The middle eight is also the only part of the song that contains a bass guitar line, played by Gouldman. A toy music box was recorded and double tracked out of phase for the middle eight and the outro. Once the musical backing had been completed Stewart recorded the lead vocal and Godley and Creme the backing vocals, but even though the song was finished Godley felt it was still lacking something. Stewart said, "Lol remembered he had said something into the grand piano mics when he was laying down the solos. He'd said 'Be quiet, big boys don't cry' - heaven knows why, but I soloed it and we all agreed that the idea sounded very interesting if we could just find the right voice to speak the words. Just at that point the door to the control room opened and our secretary Kathy Redfern looked in and whispered 'Eric, sorry to bother you. There's a telephone call for you.' Lol jumped up and said 'That's the voice, her voice is perfect!'."The group agreed that Redfern was the ideal person, but Redfern was unconvinced and had to be coaxed into recording her vocal contribution, using the same whispered voice that she had used when entering the control room. These whispered lyrics would later serve as the inspiration for the name of the 1980s band Boys Don't Cry.
The group went through hoops to create the multilayered effects to produce the unique sound, and it really worked. Also in the Big boys don't cry part, they pulled a secretary in to do it and that worked too. There's a great UA-cam video about the time and effort that went into making it. Truly epic song.
I was in puberty when this was on the radio, and I had a huge crush on the anonymous woman saying "be quiet -- big boys don't cry". I had no clue what she looked like,but that didn't matter. She sounded adorably cute -- and still does.
He was in love.. and he wasn't over her.. hence not taking her picture down.. and him continuing to call her!! He was just trying to make excuses for his embarrassment of not being able to let her go. The ego is a sensitive thaaaang.... 😉 Some people just have to hide their true feelings with bravado.... ugh....
Nope, not symbols. It's human voices multiplied hundreds of times. But the lyrics? Yes, about a guy who's in complete denial. "I'm not on love. I just do all these things people do when they're in love because I . . . well, just because."
It is a love song. It's about a man who can't be vulnerable and admit he loves . Kevin Godley has an amazing talent to sing and bring such vulnerable emotion to a song. 10cc became Godley & Creme and their song "Cry" is a masterpiece as well as the video, which is one of the TOP 5 you'll ever see.
Asia & BJ. Their "The Things We Do For Love" is next for you!! The backing vocals on "I'm Not In Love" were a great analog tape production achievement. Dozens and dozens of recorded vocals and the use of tape loops.
Very interesting how the sounds were layered on this song. It was original, haven't heard anything similar since. There's a good video on youtube that shows how it was done.
This song takes me back to being a little kid in the kitchen in the morning, this song on the radio, mom making breakfast and our school lunches...those really were great times.
This also takes me back as a kid jumping in the car with my dad and his mate to play a football match on a Sunday. This was playing on the radio on the wat. Evokes so much emotion and joy. Window down, sun beating on my face and the leather seat baking hot lol. Wonderful stuff.
Same here. Would always here this in the car as a kid. Reminds me of leaving Brooklyn and driving upstate in the car to go fishing. It’s branded in my brain for like. And that’s a good thing.
It reminds me of summer time at the beach in Manasquan NJ. I would have been about 12. This song was all over the radio, and there was nothing like it - nothing ever will be like it. A mesmerizing song to this day.
That sound was their voices layered multiple times on a tape loop and then they used the soundboard to play the tape loops to get that sound. It was a revolutionary studio process that now can be done on synthesizers.
One of the most amazing creations with the super complicated background sounds. Listeners MUST watch the UA-cam “making of” this song. It will fascinate you. Nothing like It before or since
Huge fan of 10cc. Godley and Creme. Wild history about how they recorded this, seriously. Check it out. Don't care if anyone else likes them or not listening to my life. Before the Synclavier.
I watched the documentary of this song, they did 3 weeks of over dubbing their voices to get that incredible sound, one of my favorite songs, they did something like a 1000 voice over dubs
its all vocals . the three of them did 3 part harmonies over and over again , layered them looped them . its crazy watching how they did it, super creative and innovative for the time.
So, when this was released , there was alot of concern about the subject singing this song, and people wanted to know what happened to him, you know, if he ever fell in love. On their next album they wrote the follow up to his story, the song that several have mentioned, "The Things We Do for Love".
These 4 men were/are each genius musicians, and their creative drive to innovate led them to record layers of their voices until there were over 600 voices in the background, creating a stellar mist of inner feelings. This song was about how to say I love you without saying I love you. Eric’s wife had told him he never said “I love you” (they have been together now for something like 60 years now); and he wondered about lyrics that say I don’t love you, but reveal that I do love you. This is a young man completely smitten that is battling admitting it to her, to himself… because he doesn’t want to be vulnerable, he feels so deeply that it’s scary; snd he doesn’t want to get hurt. So he tries to sound aloof… and minimize all of the clues that he is lost in his feelings for her. Trying to sound tough, while trembling on the inside. It’s not about letting a gal down gently. It’s about being a guy finding himself so flooded with true emotion for a gal that it scares him, and he finds himself trying to hide it. But he is losing that battle of denial… we hope. It’s one of the most touching love songs in existence. But I think it gets misread a lot, at least the first few times. After all. He’s trying to convince her he’s not… he’s trying to convince himself he’s not… why not be trying to convince us he’s not. It’s just. After a while. And the angelic mist of emotion. And the voice reminding him Big Boys Don’t Cry… why, unless he is crying? Her picture on his wall. His phone calls. His wanting to meet with her. All the things you wish and do when you pine for someone.
The choral like background is the sound of a thousand voices. They recorded a set vocal harmonies, added on top of it with more and placed the track in a loop.
Apparently,the tape was transparent they’d multi-tracked so much. No poxy auto tune in those creative,and MUSICAL years. Todays “singers” all sound like the same robot to my ears,but then,I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and was spoiled.
Asia you nailed the meaning! The women's voice was his mother telling him, Be quiet- big boys don't cry over and over was to show he has blunted emotions learned in childhood.
He is deeply in love. He is trying to talk himself out. The wall of sound. A choir effect. The groups voices recorded and layered and relayed. Creating a choir effect. A stunning technique.
Big 10cc fan since early 1970s. This band has a history of fun songs that will blow you away. One such marvel is " I'm Mandy Fly Me" "Waterfall" "Don't Hang up"
It’s the group singing different harmonies re-recorded a few times to sound like a massive choir. No waterfall - all vocals with keyboards mixed in. Really smooth jam. It’s hypnotic.
And Denial rears it's ugly head..this guy is so head over heals. I always loved this track mostly because of the drifting threw space feeling. Really enjoy your work Love and Respect
Yes, this still stands as one of the all time epic love songs, filed under ‘the dude doth protest too much’. And as others have noted the details of the brilliant production process, which was definitely next level when it was released in 1975. They went all out.
Welcome to the 70s. I was seven in 75. This song haunts me to this day .Back like you never left. Love you guys. Hi from Glasgow Scotland great Britain.
Yes, Carol Rundle, you are absolutely correct. recorded on Analog Tape and all hands were on deck Mixing was a live performance before fully automated faders were available. A timeless classic that is unique in a time that was pushing the boundaries with what was available.
It was 1975. They merged separate sound tapes in quite large quantities into one. No digital. I'm no expert on recording at all, but these guys were clever. It's quite a thing to see you enjoying this from when I was 16 years old, and responding in the same way. Timeless.
10cc said in 1975 there were so many love songs on the radio they wanted to switch things up and write an anti-love song and see how it goes and it was a number 1 hit for weeks on the music charts
back in the late 70's early 80's capital radio which at that time could be picked up within a 50 mile radius of London, a couple of times got people to send in their top 10 songs, this song always was number 1
The sound came from putting all their voices on a sound loop. The girl saying big boys don’t cry is a secretary at Strawberry records and they borrowed her voice for the song
A decade later Godley and Creme did a song "Cry" that incorporated some elements of this song. I knew the song "Cry" before "I'm not in love", even though it was a later song, I was only 10 when this song came out and 20 when Cry came out. Hearing "I'm not in love" at some point and thinking hey that is from "Cry", looking it up and found out it was the other way around but from the same artists.
This song takes me back, I can remember sitting on my friends bed and she was singing her heart out to it. We were about 15 at the time, I'm in my 60s now and we are still friends even tho she lives hundreds of miles away. In fact she is home today for few days so we will catch up. Were does the time go. BTW "Were does the time go" is a beautiful song by Julia Fordham. You should give it a go.
You need to watch the making of this song video. For the time, this song was the apex of studio engineering. That sound is actually vocals. Next to the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and maybe Yes, 10cc were master on the mixing board. This song is pure sonic bliss. Haunting, mesmerizing and addictive. Plus they used it in “guardians of the galaxy” do you can’t go wrong. Lol
Asia is correct, the singer is like a river in Egypt: he's in denial. And BJ made a great point about his mind trying to convince his heart that he's not in love. This was a great band, they had some very talented songwriters and their catalog deserves a deep dive.
This always struck me as a big denial song, the singer is desperately trying to convince himself and failing that he’s not in love. Another popular song of theirs is “The Things We Do For Love”
I've seen and heard the "best of the best" when it comes to concerts. Since 1973, I've attended 1021 concerts. I remember jabbing my buddy in the ribs during 1 show after 5 or 6 songs and saying, "This is the best band I've ever heard live". That band was "10cc". "Move over Pink Floyd, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Elton John, Supertramp, Grateful Dead and Billy Joel, there's a new sheriff in town"
Original Soundtrack is one of my top 10 LP's. There is a video on UA-cam showing the process of numerous tracks of vocals on this tune. This band had a way with words. Very cleaver lyrics . Subtle and humorous. Remember, Life is a Minestrone ! Thx U 2
This is one of my absolute favorite songs. At the time, the technology that they used was revolutionary. They painstakingly layered each of their voices and made Loops of it to get that signature sound for the song. Elton John remarked on it and of course it was a massive hit. The woman you said big boys don't cry was their secretary.
There is not one thing not to love about this song, everything from the arrangement of the instruments, to the vocal, to the layering of many, many voices for affect, to the lyrics which are masterful in how they connect straight to the heart once you realize this person is stone cold in love! This song was the bands breakthru hit in 1975. They earned 3 #1 hits between 1973-78. This song just makes you melt with emotion..... so beautiful. Great reaction guys.
if you watch the making of i'm not in love it nearly didn't see the light of day a number of times so glad it did its deffo an all time classic {:-) PAV uk
The song is about a guy too afraid to admit he is in love so he tries to deny it. The idea came from one of the band members whose wife told him he didn’t say he loved her enough. One idea turned to another and it became I’m not in love. Similar song to the one you played by ELP. From the Beginning. Mistiq about it
This is awesome. NOBODY or very few people are out there is doing reaction videos to groups like 10CC, Emerson, Lake and Palmer or Mott the Hoople. You are digging deep into songs that may have faded into obscurity but don't deserve that fate. I don't know where you are getting your advice from but keep listening to it. Thanks!
The singer's kidding himself - he's in way over his head. 10cc were an amazing band, so innovative and talented, and they just kept producing fantastic songs. Try 'The Dean and I', 'Rubber Bullets' or'Wall Street Shuffle' for a completely different sound. The background sound is the band's voices multi-tracked - a similar approach to Queen at around the same time.
"Church bells, three swells" They're getting married. He's feeling swell, the dean is angry (has a "swell head"), and she's swell in the middle because she's... "The Dean, his daughter, and me" Such a great album! "What's that noise coming up from the cellar? The restless bones of Boris and Bela" (Karloff) and (Lugosi)
This was a few years before there was any digital instruments or any digital recording. Real instruments and real voices recorded onto real tape, crafted in a real studio. The glorious days of analog.
Ahh the joys of Classic British 70s pop. As a Brit in my 50s I could take you down so many rabbit holes of British songs of the 70s and 80s. There are so many I would suggest, I don't know where to start. Sticking with ballads I'll suggest The Hollies 'The Air that I breathe' Hot Chocolate 'It Started With A Kiss' Ultravox 'Vienna' or Bryan Ferry 'Slave to Love' as four very unique sounding songs that are all classics of British pop music of the 70s/80s.
IN LOVE … Without saying it, but different. Vocals layered by them over and over at different highs, and lows… This band and song is awesome! Thank you y’all!
The sounds in the background are mostly the band members’ harmonizing vocals. There’s also a Moog synthesizer. “Adapted from the liner notes of The Original Soundtrack.[15] Eric Stewart - lead vocal, electric piano Graham Gouldman - guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals Kevin Godley - Moog, backing vocals Lol Creme - piano, backing vocals Kathy Redfern - uncredited additional vocals” Wiki
It's a layered track..Their voices combined over & over & over...it's not an effect in 1975.. when this song came outThey didn't have the technology they have now to make effects...Look at the video of the band 10cc explaining how they layered their voices over& over in the song to get the effect with their voices.. together
He's in denial. Totally on point Asia. In love but trying to convince himself that he isn't. I'm not in love, but I'll just leave this picture on the wall 😂 😂. Great reaction Asia and BJ ❤️
10cc were a fantastic band. Especially the original line-up, would love to see them reunite. unlikely. Always fantastic lyrics. Many suggestions below are mainstream songs, I would suggest One Night in Paris or Somewhere in Hollywood
This was a very popular Song on Easy Listening Radio in the 1970's. The Duo would later rename themselves Godley & Creme and did the hit Record Cry. This Song was featured on The UK Version of The Office so The Fellows made some serious Bank with Songwriting Royalties.
Aisa your theory of him trying to convince himself is spot on. Love you guys reactions. Other great songs from 10cc include Wall Street Shuffle, Dreadlock Holiday and The Dean and I to name but a few. One of the most underrated bands ever. Take care and best wishes from the UK.
Classic song from genius writer/producers. Loved their albums, the sonics are amazing. They even invented instruments. I'm A Neanderthal Man when they were billed as Hotlegs.
it was lots of voices and couple of synthesisers done on a loop and for 1975 it was amazing, used to be a good way to test out how good your stereo was as it moved about the speakers. it was definately a denial song of someone being madly in love, Asia you got it right. Dreadlock holiday I think was a hit, I really liked Art for Arts sake
I saw the documentary of this song. The receptionist from the studio was asked to go into the studio, and the band said "can you repeat big boys don't cry". The record came out a few months later and she heard it on the radio and realised she was on a hit record. The production was really pushing the envelope of what could be done at the time. The band said they wanted to use the vocals as a musical instrument.
You have to be at least 50 years old to appreciate this song!!! This was a groundbreaking song technically, layered sounds and singing. This is a tragic love song, where maybe... just maybe he has a forbidden love and wants it but doesn't want her to tell everyone.
I just want to say I’m a 59-year-old male I have loved music since I was young I have a good year for music I know good music and I must say your channel is the best first time hearing of music and songs and different artists. Keep up the great work. but I must say, I’m not in love!!
OK, I finished watching and had to make one more comment 😊. The band member who wrote the song said it stemmed from his wife (newlyweds) who made a comment that he didn't say I Love You enough. He said if he randomly said it all the time, it wouldn't seem to have meaning. So he wrote this song as kind of a joke to her, knowing everyone else would interpret it as a man in denial of true love. Anyway they are still married to this day after nearly 50 years!
He kind of lead into being in love when he said "you'll wait a long time for me". He very loosely admitted there was a window of time where he would fall he just needed time to come to terms with it. Love this song
Asia totally got it. The guy is in complete denial!!!!! I always loved this song, since the release in the 70’s. The dreamy mood of it still blows my mind!
Asia is right. He IS in love, but he's trying to convince himself that he is NOT in love. They actually added a lot of effects to this song. The Professor of Rock goes in-depth into the making of this song. It's really interesting. Yu should check it out. If you want another 10cc song, check out "Things We Do For Love."
Just love this song. The production level and attention to detail is amazing. They spent three weeks recording each group member singing "ahhh" 16 times for each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, building up a "choir" of 48 voices for each note of the scale. I'm still in awe. The outro that you wondered about was a recording of a toy music box! Very clever! The song was written in response to band member Eric Stewart's wife telling him he didn't say "I love you" to her enough. Ha!
Hi. Thank you for your insights and commentary about this great song. In short, the main background sound in this track are voice layers performed by the band dubbed over many times to create a beautiful hypnotic stream of sonic voice sound that imitates musical instrumentation with voice itself.
Wow thanks I was going to write all of that.The recording of the song vid is awesome.
Spoken beautifully. Nicely done, Carol!
@@EaterOfBaconSandwiches nicely explained. I alternate between loving this for its wit, then it’s beautiful sound and then the technical brilliance and creativity. Once in a while all together. Always come back to 10cc
Carol, I didn't know that! Very cool!!
That constant sound in the background throughout the song is their voices layered over and over each other...so beautiful!!🎶💙🎶💙
a masterpiece it was and still is...
Exactly right! ^
This is maybe where Enya drew some inspiration with the vocal layering techniques. Adds a really atmospheric, ethereal feel.
It's 2022 ... And this song from 1975 STILL sounds futuristic / ahead of it's time 😉😊
In the 70s and 80s it's ok to be in denial specifically about love people was not fresh or upfront at the time, it's who's gonna blink first
The 70s had it all - soft rock , hard rock , progressive rock , r&b , love ballads , disco . and it was ALL good . Blessings your way
In fairness it also had TV celebrity novelty songs and cup final Football team numbers LOL
I think the 70’s was definitely the best decade for music🎼!!
@@kthor I'd go with the 80s myself but I think if you ask anyone, 90% will answer with whatever decade covered most of their 12-18 age period. I'm not one for the whole "music today is crap" thing. It's just as brilliant for today's 12 year olds as ours was for us.
Probably THE most in love guy ever in a song.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written & composed
When Eric Stewarts wife complained that he didn’t tell her that he loved her enough, he decided to write her a song, but he felt that if he wrote her a “normal” love song, it wouldn’t be meaningful as he was writing it in response to her comment.
He then realised that a big part of the reason that he didn’t express his love and other feelings enough was because as a boy, he had been brought up to be a strong and stoic man (hence the maternal voice within the song repeatedly saying “Big Boys Don’t Cry”), and so he decided to write a “counter-love song” that both expressed his real feelings and alluded to why he didn’t do so in their day to day life together.
But he's saying...he's not in love...so he wasn't in love with his wife?
@@michaelasay8587 he was in love but was brought up in a time and place where boys were actively brought up in a way that taught them not to express their emotions, so the song reflects that…
For example, he can’t admit to her that he keeps her photo because he cares about her or loves her, so he says that it’s only there to cover a stain on the wall, but really “he knows that she knows” he really has it because he loves her and misses her when she’s not there :)
It’s the juxtaposition of his feelings.. you have to extrapolate the real meaning..
He was very much in love but felt that he had to express it in a subtle way almost implying that he wasn't in love with her.
After all that juxtapositioning and extrapolating,I am now not sure what the meaning of your comment is....:)
Stewart spent three weeks recording Gouldman, Godley and Creme singing "ahhh" 16 times for each note of the chromatic scale, building up a "choir" of 48 voices for each note of the scale. The main problem facing the band was how to keep the vocal notes going for an infinite length of time, but Creme suggested that they could get around this issue by using tape loops. Stewart created loops of about 12 feet in length by feeding the loop at one end through the tape heads of the stereo recorder in the studio, and at the other end through a capstan roller fixed to the top of a microphone stand, and tensioned the tape. By creating long loops the 'blip' caused by the splice in each tape loop could be drowned out by the rest of the backing track, providing that the splices in each loop did not coincide with each other. Having created twelve tape loops for each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, Stewart played each loop through a separate channel of the mixing desk. This effectively turned the mixing desk into a musical instrument complete with all the notes of the chromatic scale, which the four members together then "played", fading up three or four channels at a time to create "chords" for the song's melody. Stewart had put tape across the bottom of each channel so that it was impossible to completely fade down the tracks for each note, resulting in the constant background hiss of vocals heard throughout the song. Composer and music theory professor Thomas MacFarlane considered the resulting "ethereal voices" with distorted synthesized effects to be a major influence on Billy Joel's hit ballad "Just the Way You Are", released two years later.
A basic guide track was recorded first in order to help create the melody using the vocals, but the proper instrumentation was added after the vocals had been recorded. In keeping with Godley's idea to focus on the voices, only a few instruments were used: a Fender Rhodes electric piano played by Stewart, a Gibson 335 electric guitar played by Gouldman for the rhythm melody, and a bass drum sound played by Godley on a Moog synthesizer which Creme had recently purchased and learned how to program. The drum sound that was created was very soft and more akin to a heartbeat, in order not to overpower the rest of the track. Creme played piano during the bridge and the middle eight, where it replicated the melody of lyrics that had been discarded. The middle eight is also the only part of the song that contains a bass guitar line, played by Gouldman. A toy music box was recorded and double tracked out of phase for the middle eight and the outro.
Once the musical backing had been completed Stewart recorded the lead vocal and Godley and Creme the backing vocals, but even though the song was finished Godley felt it was still lacking something. Stewart said, "Lol remembered he had said something into the grand piano mics when he was laying down the solos. He'd said 'Be quiet, big boys don't cry' - heaven knows why, but I soloed it and we all agreed that the idea sounded very interesting if we could just find the right voice to speak the words. Just at that point the door to the control room opened and our secretary Kathy Redfern looked in and whispered 'Eric, sorry to bother you. There's a telephone call for you.' Lol jumped up and said 'That's the voice, her voice is perfect!'."The group agreed that Redfern was the ideal person, but Redfern was unconvinced and had to be coaxed into recording her vocal contribution, using the same whispered voice that she had used when entering the control room. These whispered lyrics would later serve as the inspiration for the name of the 1980s band Boys Don't Cry.
One of the greatest arrangements in the history of pop music. Also, one of the best love songs.
The group went through hoops to create the multilayered effects to produce the unique sound, and it really worked. Also in the Big boys don't cry part, they pulled a secretary in to do it and that worked too. There's a great UA-cam video about the time and effort that went into making it. Truly epic song.
They literally multiplied their vocals on multiple tracks. Like hundreds of layers of vocals to achieve that swell of sound.
I was in puberty when this was on the radio, and I had a huge crush on the anonymous woman saying "be quiet -- big boys don't cry". I had no clue what she looked like,but that didn't matter. She sounded adorably cute -- and still does.
Tape loops. Lots and lots of tape loops. Production values that would make George Martin proud.
@@douglaskford Cool. Thanks for the info. Maybe take off the link so others outside of the thread can see your post.
Great take Asia, you got the meaning exactly right. Denial is a terrible thing!
Denial ain't a river in Egypt!
Dayum, and for decades I thought it was a 'kick in the nuts' message.
Yeah, she got it by the end of the second verse.
@@DavidSmith-pg1ob 👍🏽🤣🤣🤣
He was in love.. and he wasn't over her.. hence not taking her picture down.. and him continuing to call her!! He was just trying to make excuses for his embarrassment of not being able to let her go. The ego is a sensitive thaaaang.... 😉 Some people just have to hide their true feelings with bravado.... ugh....
Nope, not symbols. It's human voices multiplied hundreds of times. But the lyrics? Yes, about a guy who's in complete denial. "I'm not on love. I just do all these things people do when they're in love because I . . . well, just because."
The breathy intro of this song always makes me close my eyes because it’s so dreamlike. LOVE this song so much and it brings back SO many memories❤❤❤
Yep! Always thought this song have a dreamlike quality to it ☺️. Gorgeous if painstaking production values created such a lush masterpiece
It is a love song. It's about a man who can't be vulnerable and admit he loves . Kevin Godley has an amazing talent to sing and bring such vulnerable emotion to a song. 10cc became Godley & Creme and their song "Cry" is a masterpiece as well as the video, which is one of the TOP 5 you'll ever see.
That's Eric Stewart singing this
Asia & BJ. Their "The Things We Do For Love" is next for you!! The backing vocals on "I'm Not In Love" were a great analog tape production achievement. Dozens and dozens of recorded vocals and the use of tape loops.
Great suggestion 💖
@@juliewhite7469 thank you!
Rubber Bullets is another fantastic 10cc song that I have never seen anyone react to.
I'm Mandy,Fly Me better
YES - this one should be next --
Yes, I think he’s trying to convince himself he’s not in love -and he clearly is! Great song!
nailed it!
Very interesting how the sounds were layered on this song. It was original, haven't heard anything similar since. There's a good video on youtube that shows how it was done.
@Donatella Loncar Yep. The band Yes proved that year's later with the song "Leave It".
Try It's so easy by hawkwind. Same sound but done by an early synth
This song takes me back to being a little kid in the kitchen in the morning, this song on the radio, mom making breakfast and our school lunches...those really were great times.
I agree Rebecca, you must be the same age as me (probably younger).
This also takes me back as a kid jumping in the car with my dad and his mate to play a football match on a Sunday. This was playing on the radio on the wat. Evokes so much emotion and joy. Window down, sun beating on my face and the leather seat baking hot lol. Wonderful stuff.
Same here. Would always here this in the car as a kid. Reminds me of leaving Brooklyn and driving upstate in the car to go fishing. It’s branded in my brain for like. And that’s a good thing.
It reminds me of summer time at the beach in Manasquan NJ.
I would have been about 12.
This song was all over the radio, and there was nothing like it - nothing ever will be like it.
A mesmerizing song to this day.
Evocative is the word.. the wonder years ..the seventies.
Beautiful song. I haven't heard it in so long!!! And thank you to all of the people who have commented with the back story on how this was produced!
That sound was their voices layered multiple times on a tape loop and then they used the soundboard to play the tape loops to get that sound. It was a revolutionary studio process that now can be done on synthesizers.
One of the most amazing creations with the super complicated background sounds. Listeners MUST watch the UA-cam “making of” this song. It will fascinate you. Nothing like
It before or since
Huge fan of 10cc. Godley and Creme. Wild history about how they recorded this, seriously. Check it out. Don't care if anyone else likes them or not listening to my life. Before the Synclavier.
Like 'em also!
The second best band ever...imo
@@spinynormanbest6410 nice name......Dinsdale
I watched the documentary of this song, they did 3 weeks of over dubbing their voices to get that incredible sound, one of my favorite songs, they did something like a 1000 voice over dubs
This was recorded at Strawberry Studios Stockport in the UK, about 1/2 mile from where I live. How Coll is that?
@@grahamedwards9991 very cool dude.
This song was on the radio 📻 EVERY DAY in the 1970s. This was a HUGE top 40 hit.
its all vocals . the three of them did 3 part harmonies over and over again , layered them looped them . its crazy watching how they did it, super creative and innovative for the time.
Eric Stewart's vocals, the arrangement, the dubbed tracks, what a timeless classic! I loved this song since it cam out in 1975.
So, when this was released , there was alot of concern about the subject singing this song, and people wanted to know what happened to him, you know, if he ever fell in love.
On their next album they wrote the follow up to his story, the song that several have mentioned, "The Things We Do for Love".
yeah have to hit that song if you're going to do 10cc
And it's much more upbeat
I love that song too!
Actually, it was two albums after this.
You forget "How dare you"
These 4 men were/are each genius musicians, and their creative drive to innovate led them to record layers of their voices until there were over 600 voices in the background, creating a stellar mist of inner feelings.
This song was about how to say I love you without saying I love you. Eric’s wife had told him he never said “I love you” (they have been together now for something like 60 years now); and he wondered about lyrics that say I don’t love you, but reveal that I do love you.
This is a young man completely smitten that is battling admitting it to her, to himself… because he doesn’t want to be vulnerable, he feels so deeply that it’s scary; snd he doesn’t want to get hurt. So he tries to sound aloof… and minimize all of the clues that he is lost in his feelings for her. Trying to sound tough, while trembling on the inside.
It’s not about letting a gal down gently. It’s about being a guy finding himself so flooded with true emotion for a gal that it scares him, and he finds himself trying to hide it. But he is losing that battle of denial… we hope.
It’s one of the most touching love songs in existence. But I think it gets misread a lot, at least the first few times. After all. He’s trying to convince her he’s not… he’s trying to convince himself he’s not… why not be trying to convince us he’s not.
It’s just. After a while. And the angelic mist of emotion. And the voice reminding him Big Boys Don’t Cry… why, unless he is crying? Her picture on his wall. His phone calls. His wanting to meet with her.
All the things you wish and do when you pine for someone.
Genius level production of this classic 70's song and I still love it to this day.
There was no such thing as "Digital" when this song was created, pure Analogy, pure Tape recording! Techniques used were cutting edge at the time!
There is a documentary of the way this song was made! They multiplied their voices hundreds times!
10 cc "The Things WE Do For Love".Upbeat and will make you wanna dance.
'The Things WE Do For Love'
Like what? Walking in the rain or the snow!! 😂
The choral like background is the sound of a thousand voices. They recorded a set vocal harmonies, added on top of it with more and placed the track in a loop.
Apparently,the tape was transparent they’d multi-tracked so much.
No poxy auto tune in those creative,and MUSICAL years.
Todays “singers” all sound like the same robot to my ears,but then,I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and was spoiled.
This is the one song that used more tape than Queen Bohemian Rhapsody. Recording the vocals to produce that effect was a labour of love.
Asia you nailed the meaning! The women's voice was his mother telling him, Be quiet- big boys don't cry over and over was to show he has blunted emotions learned in childhood.
Loved his song when it first came out and I still listen to it today...such a great song
He is deeply in love. He is trying to talk himself out.
The wall of sound. A choir effect. The groups voices recorded and layered and relayed. Creating a choir effect. A stunning technique.
Big 10cc fan since early 1970s. This band has a history of fun songs that will blow you away. One such marvel is " I'm Mandy Fly Me" "Waterfall" "Don't Hang up"
It’s the group singing different harmonies re-recorded a few times to sound like a massive choir. No waterfall - all vocals with keyboards mixed in. Really smooth jam. It’s hypnotic.
And Denial rears it's ugly head..this guy is so head over heals. I always loved this track mostly because of the drifting threw space feeling. Really enjoy your work Love and Respect
Yes, this still stands as one of the all time epic love songs, filed under ‘the dude doth protest too much’. And as others have noted the details of the brilliant production process, which was definitely next level when it was released in 1975. They went all out.
Welcome to the 70s. I was seven in 75. This song haunts me to this day .Back like you never left. Love you guys. Hi from Glasgow Scotland great Britain.
Yes, Carol Rundle, you are absolutely correct. recorded on Analog Tape and all hands were on deck Mixing was a live performance before fully automated faders were available. A timeless classic that is unique in a time that was pushing the boundaries with what was available.
It was 1975. They merged separate sound tapes in quite large quantities into one. No digital. I'm no expert on recording at all, but these guys were clever.
It's quite a thing to see you enjoying this from when I was 16 years old, and responding in the same way. Timeless.
You should see the documentary on how they made this song, you'll be surprised what the sounds are, It's their own voices! over and over!
10cc said in 1975 there were so many love songs on the radio they wanted to switch things up and write an anti-love song and see how it goes and it was a number 1 hit for weeks on the music charts
back in the late 70's early 80's capital radio which at that time could be picked up within a 50 mile radius of London, a couple of times got people to send in their top 10 songs, this song always was number 1
A very genuine facial expressions from both of you I appreciate your honesty and how you can interpret music
The sound came from putting all their voices on a sound loop. The girl saying big boys don’t cry is a secretary at Strawberry records and they borrowed her voice for the song
Timeless music, master musicians followed by excellent clear vocals and best of all no auto mix!
A decade later Godley and Creme did a song "Cry" that incorporated some elements of this song. I knew the song "Cry" before "I'm not in love", even though it was a later song, I was only 10 when this song came out and 20 when Cry came out. Hearing "I'm not in love" at some point and thinking hey that is from "Cry", looking it up and found out it was the other way around but from the same artists.
This song takes me back, I can remember sitting on my friends bed and she was singing her heart out to it. We were about 15 at the time, I'm in my 60s now and we are still friends even tho she lives hundreds of miles away. In fact she is home today for few days so we will catch up. Were does the time go. BTW "Were does the time go" is a beautiful song by Julia Fordham. You should give it a go.
You need to watch the making of this song video. For the time, this song was the apex of studio engineering. That sound is actually vocals.
Next to the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and maybe Yes, 10cc were master on the mixing board. This song is pure sonic bliss. Haunting, mesmerizing and addictive. Plus they used it in “guardians of the galaxy” do you can’t go wrong. Lol
Asia is correct, the singer is like a river in Egypt: he's in denial. And BJ made a great point about his mind trying to convince his heart that he's not in love. This was a great band, they had some very talented songwriters and their catalog deserves a deep dive.
One of my favorites from my 70's childhood! 😍 This whole album is great. WAY ahead of their time!
This always struck me as a big denial song, the singer is desperately trying to convince himself and failing that he’s not in love.
Another popular song of theirs is “The Things We Do For Love”
I'm so someone else got that message 👌
I've seen and heard the "best of the best" when it comes to concerts.
Since 1973, I've attended 1021 concerts.
I remember jabbing my buddy in the ribs during 1 show after 5 or 6 songs and saying,
"This is the best band I've ever heard live".
That band was "10cc".
"Move over Pink Floyd, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Elton John, Supertramp, Grateful Dead and Billy Joel, there's a new sheriff in town"
This tune touches the soul. Even a dumb metalhead like me saw the raw emotion when this came out. BJ throwing a 3 here.
Will it land with Asia?
Yeah, the BJ has landed. This tune makes it easy.
Watch out, you willing women. This is the devil's music. Careful now, watch your back.
Hope the whole world is in bed, cuz Ima admit, in cold blood, i like this song
Original Soundtrack is one of my top 10 LP's. There is a video on UA-cam showing the process of numerous tracks of vocals on this tune. This band had a way with words. Very cleaver lyrics . Subtle and humorous. Remember, Life is a Minestrone ! Thx U 2
This is one of my absolute favorite songs. At the time, the technology that they used was revolutionary. They painstakingly layered each of their voices and made Loops of it to get that signature sound for the song. Elton John remarked on it and of course it was a massive hit. The woman you said big boys don't cry was their secretary.
There is not one thing not to love about this song, everything from the arrangement of the instruments, to the vocal, to the layering of many, many voices for affect, to the lyrics which are masterful in how they connect straight to the heart once you realize this person is stone cold in love! This song was the bands breakthru hit in 1975. They earned 3 #1 hits between 1973-78. This song just makes you melt with emotion..... so beautiful. Great reaction guys.
if you watch the making of
i'm not in love
it nearly didn't see the light of day
a number of times
so glad it did
its deffo an all time classic
{:-) PAV uk
The song is about a guy too afraid to admit he is in love so he tries to deny it. The idea came from one of the band members whose wife told him he didn’t say he loved her enough. One idea turned to another and it became I’m not in love. Similar song to the one you played by ELP. From the Beginning. Mistiq about it
Memories. I listened to this song over and over when it was #1. One of the best songs ever 🔥
This is awesome. NOBODY or very few people are out there is doing reaction videos to groups like 10CC, Emerson, Lake and Palmer or Mott the Hoople. You are digging deep into songs that may have faded into obscurity but don't deserve that fate. I don't know where you are getting your advice from but keep listening to it. Thanks!
The singer's kidding himself - he's in way over his head. 10cc were an amazing band, so innovative and talented, and they just kept producing fantastic songs. Try 'The Dean and I', 'Rubber Bullets' or'Wall Street Shuffle' for a completely different sound. The background sound is the band's voices multi-tracked - a similar approach to Queen at around the same time.
He's totally in love.
"Church bells, three swells"
They're getting married. He's feeling swell, the dean is angry (has a "swell head"), and she's swell in the middle because she's...
"The Dean, his daughter, and me"
Such a great album!
"What's that noise coming up from the cellar?
The restless bones of Boris and Bela" (Karloff) and (Lugosi)
This was a few years before there was any digital instruments or any digital recording.
Real instruments and real voices recorded onto real tape, crafted in a real studio. The glorious days of analog.
For this teenager, the song was everything. Heavy radio play, it takes me to a place. ❤️😁
Ahh the joys of Classic British 70s pop. As a Brit in my 50s I could take you down so many rabbit holes of British songs of the 70s and 80s. There are so many I would suggest, I don't know where to start. Sticking with ballads I'll suggest The Hollies 'The Air that I breathe' Hot Chocolate 'It Started With A Kiss' Ultravox 'Vienna' or Bryan Ferry 'Slave to Love' as four very unique sounding songs that are all classics of British pop music of the 70s/80s.
IN LOVE … Without saying it, but different. Vocals layered by them over and over at different highs, and lows… This band and song is awesome! Thank you y’all!
Oh man such a good song. Whoever yall are to suggest these songs hell yeah. Asia and BJ yall are doing good in the world! Love yall
The sounds in the background are mostly the band members’ harmonizing vocals. There’s also a Moog synthesizer.
“Adapted from the liner notes of The Original Soundtrack.[15]
Eric Stewart - lead vocal, electric piano
Graham Gouldman - guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
Kevin Godley - Moog, backing vocals
Lol Creme - piano, backing vocals
Kathy Redfern - uncredited additional vocals”
Wiki
It's a layered track..Their voices combined over & over & over...it's not an effect in 1975.. when this song came outThey didn't have the technology they have now to make effects...Look at the video of the band 10cc explaining how they layered their voices over& over in the song to get the effect with their voices.. together
He's in denial. Totally on point Asia. In love but trying to convince himself that he isn't. I'm not in love, but I'll just leave this picture on the wall 😂 😂. Great reaction Asia and BJ ❤️
10cc were a fantastic band. Especially the original line-up, would love to see them reunite. unlikely. Always fantastic lyrics. Many suggestions below are mainstream songs, I would suggest One Night in Paris or Somewhere in Hollywood
The recording technique they created for the background harmony in this song was so innovative and complex that there’s a detailed video devoted to it
This song takes me back. I loved this song as a kid, even though I had no idea what it was about. I loved the music, even the "cymbals "...😎
This was a very popular Song on Easy Listening Radio in the 1970's. The Duo would later rename themselves Godley & Creme and did the hit Record Cry. This Song was featured on The UK Version of The Office so The Fellows made some serious Bank with Songwriting Royalties.
Aisa your theory of him trying to convince himself is spot on. Love you guys reactions. Other great songs from 10cc include Wall Street Shuffle, Dreadlock Holiday and The Dean and I to name but a few. One of the most underrated bands ever. Take care and best wishes from the UK.
Classic song from genius writer/producers. Loved their albums, the sonics are amazing. They even invented instruments. I'm A Neanderthal Man when they were billed as Hotlegs.
it was lots of voices and couple of synthesisers done on a loop and for 1975 it was amazing, used to be a good way to test out how good your stereo was as it moved about the speakers. it was definately a denial song of someone being madly in love, Asia you got it right. Dreadlock holiday I think was a hit, I really liked Art for Arts sake
10CC "Dreadlock Holiday" & "The Things We Do For Love"
Hot take-the guy IS in love! Great song (the “big boys don’t cry” scared the daylights out of my 3 year old self when I heard it)
I saw the documentary of this song. The receptionist from the studio was asked to go into the studio, and the band said "can you repeat big boys don't cry". The record came out a few months later and she heard it on the radio and realised she was on a hit record. The production was really pushing the envelope of what could be done at the time. The band said they wanted to use the vocals as a musical instrument.
You have to be at least 50 years old to appreciate this song!!! This was a groundbreaking song technically, layered sounds and singing. This is a tragic love song, where maybe... just maybe he has a forbidden love and wants it but doesn't want her to tell everyone.
"The Things We Do For Love" gotta be next! Thats a classic
Agreed
I just want to say I’m a 59-year-old male I have loved music since I was young I have a good year for music I know good music and I must say your channel is the best first time hearing of music and songs and different artists. Keep up the great work. but I must say, I’m not in love!!
Ear for music ,type o
Absolute Gem of a song 💎 Always makes me think this is what being in space would sound like
A brilliant band who managed to walk the fine line between rock and pop. They track ‘You Won’t Feel The Benefit’ is a great track!
Many suitable tracks to listen to!
Always loved this song was in high school when It came out , timeless
Asia you have extremely insightful on this song. Things I had not through about after hearing this song for years. Great works guys!
OK, I finished watching and had to make one more comment 😊. The band member who wrote the song said it stemmed from his wife (newlyweds) who made a comment that he didn't say I Love You enough. He said if he randomly said it all the time, it wouldn't seem to have meaning. So he wrote this song as kind of a joke to her, knowing everyone else would interpret it as a man in denial of true love. Anyway they are still married to this day after nearly 50 years!
Great song! I remember slow dancing to this song when it first came out, I was in Jr high. 😯
Beautiful soundscape. And Asia got it right. Of course he's in love!
His mother telling him big boys don't cry, can't show his emotions. Asia got it.
He kind of lead into being in love when he said "you'll wait a long time for me". He very loosely admitted there was a window of time where he would fall he just needed time to come to terms with it. Love this song
Love the way they got stright into the groove
This song brings back memories. Thank you for reacting to it... you guys are awesome...
Asia totally got it. The guy is in complete denial!!!!! I always loved this song, since the release in the 70’s. The dreamy mood of it still blows my mind!
Those are the groups voices....the ethereal sound you keep hearing.
Asia is right. He IS in love, but he's trying to convince himself that he is NOT in love.
They actually added a lot of effects to this song. The Professor of Rock goes in-depth into the making of this song. It's really interesting. Yu should check it out.
If you want another 10cc song, check out "Things We Do For Love."
I grew up listening to this song and I always thought it was a song about him lying to himself just how much he loves her