Atmosphere

Album: Substance (1980)
Charted: 34
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In 2000, "Atmosphere" was voted the greatest song of the millennium by listeners of John Peel's BBC Radio 1 program. John Peel chose this song as the one to play on the air after announcing the death of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis.
  • This was not a hit when it was first released, following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. It only entered the UK charts when it was re-released eight years later.
  • This was played near the end of the 2007 Ian Curtis biopic Control.
  • The song was played at the funeral of Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, who worked with Joy Division.
  • The song was written in two halves, with Peter Hook penning the bass written alone, then Bernard Sumner coming up with the keyboards afterwards.

    Hook commented to TeamRock: "The brainwave of putting them together was absolutely amazing. It is very moving and very melancholic, which Ian capitalized on with the vocal line and the lyrics."
  • This was used on Stranger Things in the season 1 episode "The Body." It plays at the beginning of the episode as the characters grieve the loss of a loved one.

Comments: 2

  • Steven from Wakefield, United KingdomThis is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard, it's a very haunting song . The lyrics take you to the darkest thoughts in your mind! I am a joy division fan there isn't one of these songs I don't like but atmosphere is one of there best! Brilliant song there isn't many songs that can beat it!
  • Mike182 from Pittsburgh, PaBeautiful song....Ian Curtis was a poetic genius. He could sum up his emotions and thoughts in a few words and the listener would feel a personal connection with the song. This song reminds me of a time when things were not going so well in my life. I felt contempt for people that seemed like they had it better off than me. Yet despite this, I wanted their help to break me out of my funk.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.