That Was Then But This Is Now
by ABC

Album: Beauty Stab (1983)
Charted: 18 89
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lyrics, "Can't complain, mustn't grumble, help yourself to another piece of crumble" was criticized by Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera as embodying all that was bad in modern pop. In a 2007 poll conducted by the radio station BBC 6Music, this came out on top as the worst ever lyric.

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 31st 1983, ABC performed "That Was Then, But This Is Now” on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Just under a month later on January 29th, 1984 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #95; though it only peaked at #89 it did reach #13 in Ireland...
    On the same 'Bandstand' show the British quartet also performed "S.O.S."; it reached #39 in the United Kingdom but didn't chart in the U.S.A.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.