Despite Wikipedia, I don't see a single textual reference to 'The Third Man' in the song ‘Vienna’ The Third Man is about a pharmaceutical distributor in post-war Vienna who is responsible for a number of patient deaths because he dilutes medicines delivered to hospitals. The man fakes his own death and disappears when he fears the authorities are closing in on him, but his American friend tracks the man down and eventually kills him. ‘The Third Man’ is a horrifying film that looks into the motivations of a character who commits unspeakable acts for profit and puts the viewer into the position of looking at it based on the question; “What if this were my best friend?”
The song ‘Vienna’ is about the ebb and flow of sights, sounds and sensations. I like the interpretation of a brief love affair because the lyrics describe sensations that are felt strongly and then fade or fail to have meaning. This focus on severe but transient sensation was a key theme for the new romantics. (“Save a Prayer,” “The Killing Moon,” “Cars,” “Forever Young,” “A Forrest”)
I don’t see how the images in ‘Vienna’ could possibly relate to ‘The Third Man.’ There are no references to death or any sense of unconscionable acts. The internal emotional focus in the song ‘Vienna’ isn’t consistent with the sense of social morality from the ‘The Third Man.’
Also, It seems unlikely that ‘Haunting notes, pizzicato strings’ refers to the soundtrack from ‘The Third Man.’ It is more likely that the line refers to the gypsy style of music that was common in the streets and cafés of Wien in which instruments are frequently plucked rather than bowed.
The most telling element is that ‘Vienna’ references ‘the warmth of your hand.’ Although there is an unrequited love aspect to ‘The Third Man,’ there is no interaction between characters that would really qualify as ‘warmth.’ This line seems very out-of-place for a reference to ‘The Third Man.’
I did 20 minute interview with Midge Ure once, but intentionally avoided questions about Ultravox. I wasn’t aware then of a potential reference to ‘The Third Man.’ I wish could go back and get him to comment on it.
Julian - I agree with you regarding that fact that the song is NOT about the movie The Third Man. However, you sound like someone who hasn't seen the movie but has read a synopsis of it. [No offence ment. Please hear me out with the rest of my reply].
Julian - I agree with you regarding that fact that the song is NOT about the movie The Third Man. However, you sound like someone who hasn't seen the movie but has read a synopsis of it. [No offence ment. Please hear me out with the rest of my reply].
I can see where people can get an impression that the movie influenced the song. After all, the movie is not horrific as you claim it is (the idea behind it is though). It is actually quiet atmospheric, with it's unusual score, strange camera angles and lighting that...
I can see where people can get an impression that the movie influenced the song. After all, the movie is not horrific as you claim it is (the idea behind it is though). It is actually quiet atmospheric, with it's unusual score, strange camera angles and lighting that is very mood invoking (whether the bright lights in the sewer scenes or the dark streets with lights shimmering on the roads etc). The movie does have an ebb and flow of sights and sounds.
You seem to be dismissing the connection based on the movies plot rather than the atmosphere the movie provides. This weakens your argument.
A conclusion could easily be drawn between the atmosphere of the song and the atmosphere of the movie. However, I believe this connection to be simple co-incidence, a connection that appears to exist yet is in fact something unrelated. (I think the connection between the 'Wizard of Oz' with the sound off and the Pink Floyd Album 'Dark Side of the Moon' is an excellent example of this sort of co-incidence. The emotions on the album match that on the screen, but was not deliberate).
Midge Ure himself has provided the answer as to what the song is about (as per MrLongrove's posts). We now know what the song is about, but there is a lingering question. Were some of the atmospherics in the song influenced by 'The Third Man'? After all, Midge himself admitted he'd never been to the city when they'd written the song in 1979.
This might end up just being coincidental as well, but it might be a worth while question asking Midge if you ever get to interview him again.
All very intersting and I certainly agree with the moodiness of the Third Man... howver my initial thoughts are that Vienna is simply refering to the phrase 'Goodnight Vienna' ie it is over .. it is finished...
All very intersting and I certainly agree with the moodiness of the Third Man... howver my initial thoughts are that Vienna is simply refering to the phrase 'Goodnight Vienna' ie it is over .. it is finished...
I think that its about the emotion felt when a guy loves a woman and after a brief romance the woman calls it off.... the tension in the lyrics of 'it means nothing to me' I think are actually a denial of 'it means everything to me'... he remembers a selection of detail... but as he is pained... he has to tell himself that...
I think that its about the emotion felt when a guy loves a woman and after a brief romance the woman calls it off.... the tension in the lyrics of 'it means nothing to me' I think are actually a denial of 'it means everything to me'... he remembers a selection of detail... but as he is pained... he has to tell himself that it means nothing... it's over!!
I personally think that the hook in this is to everyone who has had a similar experience??
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
Oh, and The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen definitely weren't New Romantics.
Oh, and The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen definitely weren't New Romantics.
Despite Wikipedia, I don't see a single textual reference to 'The Third Man' in the song ‘Vienna’ The Third Man is about a pharmaceutical distributor in post-war Vienna who is responsible for a number of patient deaths because he dilutes medicines delivered to hospitals. The man fakes his own death and disappears when he fears the authorities are closing in on him, but his American friend tracks the man down and eventually kills him. ‘The Third Man’ is a horrifying film that looks into the motivations of a character who commits unspeakable acts for profit and puts the viewer into the position of looking at it based on the question; “What if this were my best friend?”
The song ‘Vienna’ is about the ebb and flow of sights, sounds and sensations. I like the interpretation of a brief love affair because the lyrics describe sensations that are felt strongly and then fade or fail to have meaning. This focus on severe but transient sensation was a key theme for the new romantics. (“Save a Prayer,” “The Killing Moon,” “Cars,” “Forever Young,” “A Forrest”)
I don’t see how the images in ‘Vienna’ could possibly relate to ‘The Third Man.’ There are no references to death or any sense of unconscionable acts. The internal emotional focus in the song ‘Vienna’ isn’t consistent with the sense of social morality from the ‘The Third Man.’ Also, It seems unlikely that ‘Haunting notes, pizzicato strings’ refers to the soundtrack from ‘The Third Man.’ It is more likely that the line refers to the gypsy style of music that was common in the streets and cafés of Wien in which instruments are frequently plucked rather than bowed. The most telling element is that ‘Vienna’ references ‘the warmth of your hand.’ Although there is an unrequited love aspect to ‘The Third Man,’ there is no interaction between characters that would really qualify as ‘warmth.’ This line seems very out-of-place for a reference to ‘The Third Man.’
I did 20 minute interview with Midge Ure once, but intentionally avoided questions about Ultravox. I wasn’t aware then of a potential reference to ‘The Third Man.’ I wish could go back and get him to comment on it.
I agree in every aspect.
I agree in every aspect.
Julian - I agree with you regarding that fact that the song is NOT about the movie The Third Man. However, you sound like someone who hasn't seen the movie but has read a synopsis of it. [No offence ment. Please hear me out with the rest of my reply].
Julian - I agree with you regarding that fact that the song is NOT about the movie The Third Man. However, you sound like someone who hasn't seen the movie but has read a synopsis of it. [No offence ment. Please hear me out with the rest of my reply].
I can see where people can get an impression that the movie influenced the song. After all, the movie is not horrific as you claim it is (the idea behind it is though). It is actually quiet atmospheric, with it's unusual score, strange camera angles and lighting that...
I can see where people can get an impression that the movie influenced the song. After all, the movie is not horrific as you claim it is (the idea behind it is though). It is actually quiet atmospheric, with it's unusual score, strange camera angles and lighting that is very mood invoking (whether the bright lights in the sewer scenes or the dark streets with lights shimmering on the roads etc). The movie does have an ebb and flow of sights and sounds.
You seem to be dismissing the connection based on the movies plot rather than the atmosphere the movie provides. This weakens your argument.
A conclusion could easily be drawn between the atmosphere of the song and the atmosphere of the movie. However, I believe this connection to be simple co-incidence, a connection that appears to exist yet is in fact something unrelated. (I think the connection between the 'Wizard of Oz' with the sound off and the Pink Floyd Album 'Dark Side of the Moon' is an excellent example of this sort of co-incidence. The emotions on the album match that on the screen, but was not deliberate).
Midge Ure himself has provided the answer as to what the song is about (as per MrLongrove's posts). We now know what the song is about, but there is a lingering question. Were some of the atmospherics in the song influenced by 'The Third Man'? After all, Midge himself admitted he'd never been to the city when they'd written the song in 1979.
This might end up just being coincidental as well, but it might be a worth while question asking Midge if you ever get to interview him again.
All very intersting and I certainly agree with the moodiness of the Third Man... howver my initial thoughts are that Vienna is simply refering to the phrase 'Goodnight Vienna' ie it is over .. it is finished...
All very intersting and I certainly agree with the moodiness of the Third Man... howver my initial thoughts are that Vienna is simply refering to the phrase 'Goodnight Vienna' ie it is over .. it is finished...
I think that its about the emotion felt when a guy loves a woman and after a brief romance the woman calls it off.... the tension in the lyrics of 'it means nothing to me' I think are actually a denial of 'it means everything to me'... he remembers a selection of detail... but as he is pained... he has to tell himself that...
I think that its about the emotion felt when a guy loves a woman and after a brief romance the woman calls it off.... the tension in the lyrics of 'it means nothing to me' I think are actually a denial of 'it means everything to me'... he remembers a selection of detail... but as he is pained... he has to tell himself that it means nothing... it's over!!
I personally think that the hook in this is to everyone who has had a similar experience??
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
@juliankeynes I think the video, rather than the song was influenced by The Third Man which led to people interpreting the song in the same way. I expect Ultravox were happy enough for this to give the impression of their being an artistic influence behind the song, because Ure has since admitted it is about a holiday romance and he came up with the idea after mishearing a Fleetwood Mac song as "Vienna" on the radio,
Oh, and The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen definitely weren't New Romantics.
Oh, and The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen definitely weren't New Romantics.