Songfacts®:

• This song is about a woman who feels neglected in her relationship to the point where she feels invisible. "My analogy with 'Invisible' is kind of like your first wife or husband," Alison Moyet explained to Glam Adelaide. "You had a really nice time with them, you're not denying that they're lovable and loads of good points and will be happy somewhere else- but you just don't want to f--k them anymore!"
• "Invisible" is Alison Moyet's biggest chart hit in America, where it went to #31. A British singer with a deep, resonant voice, she made her mark in Yazoo, a duo she was in with Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode from 1981-1983. "Invisible" is part of her debut solo album, Alf (the title is her nickname), which did very well in the UK, going to #1 and establishing her solo career. Moyet landed six Top 10 hits in the UK, including the Alf tracks "Love Resurrection" and "All Cried Out," but in America she remains better known for her work in Yazoo, particularly the songs "Only You" and "Situation" (her hearty laugh in that song has been sampled many times - you can hear it in "Macarena."
• "Invisible" was the only song on the Alf album Moyet didn't co-write; the song was written by Lamont Dozier, who as part of the Motown team Holland-Dozier-Holland, wrote a staggering number of hits for the label, including classics like "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" and "Where Did Our Love Go." Dozier was still making hits in the '80s - he teamed with Phil Collins on the #1 US hit "Two Hearts."
• The expressions used in this song ("boiling mad," "do your worst") are very American, which makes sense because an American (Lamont Dozier) wrote it. Fearing the other songs on the Alf album would sound too British to American ears, Moyet's label made it her first single in the US. In the UK, her solo debut was "Love Resurrection."
• The B-side is another song written by Lamont Dozier: "Hitch Hike," a song from 1962 that was a hit for Marvin Gaye.
• Moyet didn't sing "Invisible" much in concert and retired it from her live performances long ago. "It's just not who I am anymore," she explained. "There are too many Americanisms in that song and also I'm a middle-aged woman - I'm not going to sing about it because it doesn't fit my headspace... I'm just not that victim anymore."
• Along with the rest of the Alf album, the song was produced by the team of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, known for their work with Bananarama and Spandau Ballet.