Metal

Album: The Pleasure Principle (1979)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a robot that wishes to be a human. Many of Numan's songs explore the relationship between man and technology.
  • Numan's The Pleasure Principle album broke new ground in its use of electronic music, and it has been lauded by Nine Inch Nails, The Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson and many others as a classic. In our 2010 interview with Gary Numan, he explained: "I felt really proud to be part of the electronic thing, in general. You know, it did feel as if it was at the very front end of something new and exciting. The albums that were being made by the electronic people felt as if they were important records, because it felt like an important time - as if this is a new door opening to what music had to offer. And I felt really proud to be just a small part of that. So when I was making Pleasure Principle I didn't think much more than that."

Comments: 3

  • FalconIt's about an android's desire to live like a human.
  • Alec from Lemont Furnace, PaI like Nine Inch Nails version to this song.
  • Cooper from North Salt Lake, Utit has a metallic sound to it the song
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.