[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
The Ocean Blue — Between Something and Nothing
Album: The Ocean Blue
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2120









Released: 1989
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 2
share tweet wikiwebsitesearchamg
cd
mp3
search
Words that form a sentence
Words that form a phrase
In a poem or a letter
Could not convey the meaning
Of what this man has done
In a painting
On canvas

As the colors fading
They dictate my mood
Can you see me
Are you near me
I find myself on canvas
I find myself on stage
Can you see me
Are you near me

And I long to know you're real
And I long for you to be part of me
I long to know you're real
And I long for you to be a part of me

In the fading twilight
I sit and stare at her
In all her beauty
Her beauty
You know I have to wonder
Why all great men must die
And leave their treasure
They leave their treasure
Comments (199)add comment
I total dig that 2nd guitar solo - simple and direct.  With the 16th notes on the hihat. ...killing it... 
Posted 2 months ago by tgrier    [ Reply ]
Had to pick up my bass and jam!   (now back to work)
Posted 6 months ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
Dammit Bill I'm trying to get some work done

Grrrr
Posted 10 months ago by KPC1    [ Reply ]
 tm wrote:

This album is gold... it's a pop masterpiece.




Not sure why I don't have it, but I am about to address that situation.
Posted 1 year ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
 Jelani wrote:

This song makes me feel happy.



this song sounds very like 'all that money wants' by psychedelic furs
Posted 1 year ago by quaycoop    [ Reply ]
 admascott wrote:

sounds like the Psychedelic Furs or Echo and the Bunny men




yeah it's awesome isn't it!
Posted 1 year ago by walk2k    [ Reply ]
This is one of a lot greatest tracks wich i discovered on RP . Many thanks from Transsylvania, Romania.



Posted 2 years ago by flozer68    [ Reply ]
 Oxen1morale wrote:

So I wonder what the connection between them and Echo and the Bunnymen are? I wonder which ones first and who is the knock off or are the members of the same band



The Bunnymen were much before them (and they are different band members).
Posted 2 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Definitely, some guitar nods on this one to Will Sergeant! [Echo & The Bunnymen]
Posted 2 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
This album is gold... it's a pop masterpiece.
Posted 2 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
I love the guitars on this one.
Posted 2 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I can think of at least one other song, which is track 5 on The Pretenders' first album, but there are probably others.

That is titled... "Space Invaders".
Posted 3 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
 richgoose wrote:

I normally cringe at these semi-iconic one hit types - 

Her voice is so hard to dislike it overcomes that, and my sister in-law covers this song as well  - Love you Jessie and 9/10 Tracy

Her?

Posted 3 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:

That wasn't the music I experienced in the 80's but I can see how people who didn't search for new and interesting stuff could have felt that way.  Especially if they listened to what was the beginning of corporate radio back then. 

It's the same today as it was back in the 50's.

Posted 3 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
Always reminds me of something Nick Heyward would have written with Haircut 100 if the band progressed.
Posted 3 years ago by Greenman    [ Reply ]
Summer of 1989.  Driving down Hwy 1 in Dewey Beach in my parents' convertible Mustang just CRANKING this. 

Love this song. Puts a smile on my face every time. 
Posted 3 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
So I wonder what the connection between them and Echo and the Bunnymen are? I wonder which ones first and who is the knock off or are the members of the same band
Posted 3 years ago by Oxen1morale    [ Reply ]
THIS SONG is one of a few songs that I could hear again ONLY 20 MINUTES LATER AND STILL SWOON with the exuberant power of it! In fact, this song often and today strikes me as the best possible song to come along and floor me in such a way and reinforces my belief that Time and Gravity had fantastic, orgiastic sex, giving birth to The Universe, and we've been suffering ever since. MUSIC IS YOUR ONLY FRIEND... DANCE ON FIRE AS IT INTENDS.   Amen.
Posted 3 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Nice melody, nice fills, rock solid drums, but it's that guitar sound and sweet riff that harkens back to the early 80s that makes this so yummy. 
Posted 3 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
 Poopsey wrote:
those hi hats rock

Do you mean the ride cymbal?  The hi-hit sounds pretty standard to me.

Posted 4 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
Is this one of Bill's famous "deep" segues?

To go from Sigur Ros (with no real words, just vocal sounds for lyrics) to "Words that form a sentence, Words that form a phrase"...

If so, then touche Bill!
Posted 4 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
I normally cringe at these semi-iconic one hit types - 

Her voice is so hard to dislike it overcomes that, and my sister in-law covers this song as well  - Love you Jessie and 9/10 Tracy
Posted 4 years ago by richgoose    [ Reply ]
those hi hats rock
Posted 4 years ago by Poopsey    [ Reply ]
Happy Dance!
Posted 4 years ago by jmjohall    [ Reply ]
 just what a song should do: make you smile and want to move at the same time.  Even my kids are bouncing.
Posted 4 years ago by sjmorrison2    [ Reply ]
This song makes me feel happy.
Posted 5 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
OUI ! OUI ! OUI !
j'AIME !!!
Merci Bill
Posted 5 years ago by jhanjack    [ Reply ]
lovely! thanks Bill!
Posted 5 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
Love how you merge similar songs into each other.  
Posted 5 years ago by annds    [ Reply ]
sounds like the Psychedelic Furs or Echo and the Bunny men
Posted 5 years ago by admascott    [ Reply ]
Two Ocean Blue songs on the same album played withing a couple hours of each other?  Not complaining, love these guys! 
Posted 5 years ago by CowboyJJ    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:

That wasn't the music I experienced in the 80's but I can see how people who didn't search for new and interesting stuff could have felt that way.  Especially if they listened to what was the beginning of corporate radio back then. 

 
Indeed.  Let's also note that the music industry in the US was a putting out a pretty strange mix of cheesey gunk. I just heard Loverboy, "The Kid is Hot Tonight" on my car radio. Took me right back to that era.  Never was a truly great track, but somehow it's still irresistible on a stretch of open road.    
Posted 5 years ago by Cueburned    [ Reply ]
Love this tune. Oddly, though, can see how some folks might hate it. 
Posted 5 years ago by timqueeney    [ Reply ]
dancing at my desk 
Posted 5 years ago by diannemck56    [ Reply ]
I'm hearing China Crisis?
Posted 5 years ago by delakota555    [ Reply ]
My husband and I saw The Ocean Blue play this album in it's entirety three years ago in LA. One of the top best shows we've ever seen. 
Posted 5 years ago by samantha.tracy    [ Reply ]
 robco1 wrote:


Back then we were all complaining that 80s music was vapid sucky corporate pop drivel and were wishing for the 70's . . . the grass is always greener.


Not me; there was a lot of stuff from the '70s that I never wanted to hear again, some of which was much more "corporate" than '80s stuff.
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 6 years ago by sjmorrison2    [ Reply ]
 weez wrote:
All the various band references and yet no mention of Morrissey? (or Smiths)
 
Yeah, Smiths.
Posted 6 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
Beautiful..
Posted 6 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
All the various band references and yet no mention of Morrissey? (or Smiths)
Posted 6 years ago by weez    [ Reply ]
Superb!
Posted 6 years ago by temeru2    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:
This song NAILS IT! on this brisk sunny November morning with powder snow gleaming in razor-bright light under deep cerulean sky...

 

I see what you did there.  ;)
Posted 6 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
This song makes me feel happy.{#Roflol}
Posted 6 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
YESYESYES!!!
Posted 7 years ago by FatPants    [ Reply ]
Have OB's entire catalog. Would love to hear more here on RP!
Posted 7 years ago by folkrocker    [ Reply ]
Instant toe tapping, still a great tune.
Posted 7 years ago by Canlistener    [ Reply ]
Nice to see all the positive comments.{#Clap}
Posted 7 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
Always love how this comes in, goes 0 to 60 in no time, takes my mind way up to a much higher, happier plane — and DANCES with it
Posted 7 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
cool and catchy
Posted 8 years ago by rheinrich613812    [ Reply ]
Good song with a catchy repetitive instrumental line.  An 8 for me.  
Posted 8 years ago by Andy_B    [ Reply ]
Looks as if I'm not alone in enjoying this flashback song!
Posted 8 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
A great 90s song, I never get tired of it.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]
Did I tell you all before, that I LOVE this song?
Too bad. I'm telling you again! I LOVE it! {#Roflol}
Posted 8 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:
Joy every time I hear this beauty : )

 
Absolutely!
Posted 8 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Great tune. 
Posted 8 years ago by japanmoran    [ Reply ]
 spiritfla wrote:
This brings back superb times, always a great tune. I wish I were back in Austin, TX.
 
Saw Ocean Blue a couple times at Liberty Lunch in Austin.  We were probably standing in the same room.  Great times.  Played them a lot on my college radio show - in fact Myron was the first song I ever played.  They played Renaissance Man as an encore which is a 77's cover...another favorite band.
 
This is the correct cover.
The Ocean Blue

Posted 8 years ago by Baron77    [ Reply ]
Joy every time I hear this beauty : )
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
This song NAILS IT! on this brisk sunny November morning with powder snow gleaming in razor-bright light under deep cerulean sky...
Posted 9 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 walk wrote:
echo and the bunnymen?
 
. . . meet Flock of Seagulls . . .
Posted 9 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 RussNelson wrote:
Space Invaders sound effects. What other rock-n-roll tune also had them?

 
I can think of at least one other song, which is track 5 on The Pretenders' first album, but there are probably others.
Posted 10 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
memory activation song!  whoa :-)
Posted 10 years ago by ksg    [ Reply ]
Space Invaders sound effects. What other rock-n-roll tune also had them?
Posted 10 years ago by RussNelson    [ Reply ]
My thoughts exactly. 
walk wrote:
echo and the bunnymen?

 

Posted 10 years ago by spiggy    [ Reply ]
Hey Lazarus, be we dancing?! 
I am ! 
Posted 10 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Oh, memories of college come flooding back. Lyn Samuelsen, if you're out there somewhere, this album will always remind me of you and pulling all-nighters for our design classes....you were the best, coolest, kick-ass friend ever. I'm sorry we lost touch....
Posted 10 years ago by EarthMama    [ Reply ]
Loved The Ocean Blue from the day this album dropped and I remember it vividly. Just got to see them in Dec 2013 in Chicago, they still put on a great show and have great sound!
Posted 10 years ago by bbunyard    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:
Always love how sometimes a song like this just comes blasting through with a certain crisp bouncy brightness, inducing a swoon, like a pleasant morning unleashing all its power to give the mood a boost!  These guys were brilliant for this remarkable bit of priceless exuberance, and THANKS for playing them!

 
Cheers! you summed it up coloradojohn
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 randyblew wrote:
Love this song and album - great memories from the way-back machine to the early 90's. {#Sunny}

 
It may say 2004for the album info, but in '89ish when this song came out I helped rescue these guys from the side of a highway in Delaware on their way to a gig at the beach.

Love early Ocean Blue...  so much fun and atmosphere. 
Posted 11 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
echo and the bunnymen?
Posted 11 years ago by walk    [ Reply ]
Love this song and album - great memories from the way-back machine to the early 90's. {#Sunny}
Posted 11 years ago by randyblew    [ Reply ]
I saw The Ocean Blue recently at the Satellite in Silver Lake area (Los Angeles).  Just a great band & the band members are down to earth.
Posted 11 years ago by geekodude    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
Dunno what it is about this song - maybe it's that catchy guitar, or the echoing vocals, or the infectious beat... Whatever it is, it has my foot tapping and my ears on high-absorb.  Love it!{#Dancingbanana}
 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

we be dancing...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Yowza - this is HOOK-LADEN and that geetar break is pretty tasty


dlirious wrote:
High energy, keeps me moving, love the guitar solo, I've never tired of this song. Gotta give it a 9.

 


Posted 11 years ago by grant    [ Reply ]
High energy, keeps me moving, love the guitar solo, I've never tired of this song. Gotta give it a 9.
Gets played at max volume everytime
Posted 11 years ago by dlirious    [ Reply ]
Sometimes this catches me like a cool breeze through a sunny window that smells like the greenest grass & oh yes there's that too...
Posted 11 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Clean crisp and uncluttered. Refreshing change from the dreariness. 
Posted 11 years ago by chism2    [ Reply ]
Got to see The Ocean Blue in the day...nice treat.  Unique sound until this day.
Posted 11 years ago by agd3    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
Dunno what it is about this song - maybe it's that catchy guitar, or the echoing vocals, or the infectious beat... Whatever it is, it has my foot tapping and my ears on high-absorb.  Love it!{#Dancingbanana}
 
Feel good music!  RIP Ann.
Posted 12 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
Always love how sometimes a song like this just comes blasting through with a certain crisp bouncy brightness, inducing a swoon, like a pleasant morning unleashing all its power to give the mood a boost!  These guys were brilliant for this remarkable bit of priceless exuberance, and THANKS for playing them!
Posted 12 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 LSC wrote:
Sounds like a poor man's Echo & The Bunnymen...
 
Yeah, but happier and poppier. The band also reminds me of OMD. 
Posted 12 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Great oldie.....8..
Posted 12 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
We be definitely dancing to this! always puts me in a good mood
Posted 12 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
Wow!  Great guitar!!!
Posted 12 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
 LSC wrote:
Sounds like a poor man's Echo & The Bunnymen...
 
Not a bad call, also saw the Bunnyman 3 times between 1984 and 1988.  One was a bit more successful than the other, weren't they?

Posted 13 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
8 to 9
Posted 13 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
Thanks Bill, saw them open for Public Image Ltd in Port Chester, NY 1990.
Posted 13 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
this totally brings me back to the 80s...feel like I am watching a John Cusack music...
Posted 13 years ago by goandychurch    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
Dunno what it is about this song - maybe it's that catchy guitar, or the echoing vocals, or the infectious beat... Whatever it is, it has my foot tapping and my ears on high-absorb.  Love it!{#Dancingbanana}
 

Ditto!
Posted 13 years ago by Andy_B    [ Reply ]
This song makes me happy and want to dance!
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Very tuneful. It has a vague or a strong resemblance to so many other 80s - 90s bands, but I like it. Uptempo and foot tappy. But Bill plays many foot tappy chestnuts. 
Posted 13 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Dunno what it is about this song - maybe it's that catchy guitar, or the echoing vocals, or the infectious beat... Whatever it is, it has my foot tapping and my ears on high-absorb.  Love it!{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
YES! So long since I heard this.
Posted 13 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
That's it. This goes from nine to ten  because it needs and deserves it!
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 LSC wrote:
Sounds like a poor man's Echo & The Bunnymen...
 
Nothing poor about this!
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a poor man's Echo & The Bunnymen...
Posted 13 years ago by LSC    [ Reply ]
 Stingray wrote:
SAD!
 
Superb Audio Delicacy!

Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Ha ha!
I had a dream last night and in it I was playing this song for someone( I don't actually have it) and have been hoping to hear it here today.
Yippie! 
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
sweet...it's been a while! {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 13 years ago by htowncoog    [ Reply ]
I F'ing love this!!!
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 robco1 wrote:

Back then we were all complaining that 80s music was vapid sucky corporate pop drivel and were wishing for the 70's . . . the grass is always greener.

 
That wasn't the music I experienced in the 80's but I can see how people who didn't search for new and interesting stuff could have felt that way.  Especially if they listened to what was the beginning of corporate radio back then. 

Posted 13 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 Synth80s wrote:
The Ocean Blue's debut album, from which this song hails (don't be fooled by the incorrect picture on RP) is excellent.  This is one of the higher tempo songs — some of the others are more mellow but equally good.  There are some heavy Smiths influences, but they're no knock-off band.  One of my favorite albums from the era.
 
Mine too! And I had just listened to it again the other day.

Posted 13 years ago by stevano    [ Reply ]
The Ocean Blue's debut album, from which this song hails (don't be fooled by the incorrect picture on RP) is excellent.  This is one of the higher tempo songs — some of the others are more mellow but equally good.  There are some heavy Smiths influences, but they're no knock-off band.  One of my favorite albums from the era.
Posted 14 years ago by Synth80s    [ Reply ]
CaptTofu wrote:
I love this song! 80s music seemed so much more upbeat than a lot of the dirgey, de-balled, whiney music we have these days. The guitar in this song sounds very Echo and the Bunnymen-esque.
I had to check in to be sure it wasn't. Saw Howard Jones in concert a couple of weeks ago, still crafting high energy synth-pop magic.

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
Never heard of the band or the song before, but knew it was 1980-something within the first 10 seconds or so...it defines the sound of the decade. Not a bad thing, mind you.
Posted 14 years ago by Ja300Mes    [ Reply ]


Posted 14 years ago by warderblu    [ Reply ]
Succeed
Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Last of the eighties.
Posted 14 years ago by kdogg73    [ Reply ]
SAD!
Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Aqui hay alguien más, amigo.... Saludos
 Egrey wrote:
Oye, Luisja, mira. https://www.radioparadise.com/content.php?name=Forums&file=showtopic&topic_id=8826
 


Posted 14 years ago by FARO_ACUSTICO    [ Reply ]
What terrific interplay between the drums and guitar during the chorus

 CaptTofu wrote:
I love this song! 80s music seemed so much more upbeat than a lot of the dirgey, de-balled, whiney music we have these days. The guitar in this song sounds very Echo and the Bunnymen-esque.
 


Posted 14 years ago by drews    [ Reply ]
i"m gonna have to bump this to a 9 just because it makes me feel so good!
Posted 14 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
URI 1990-92 @ The Bon Vue, there was a band called "Five Gone Mad" that had this song *down*.

They also did a mean Mexican Radio and a bunch of Echo tunes.

Listening to this, I close my eyes and I can almost feel the crowd bouncing around me, see the Barbies hanging from little nooses above the stage, and smell the sweet ozone of the fog machine.

Posted 14 years ago by johnnyrock70    [ Reply ]
 CaptTofu wrote:
I love this song! 80s music seemed so much more upbeat than a lot of the dirgey, de-balled, whiney music we have these days. The guitar in this song sounds very Echo and the Bunnymen-esque.
 
Back then we were all complaining that 80s music was vapid sucky corporate pop drivel and were wishing for the 70's . . . the grass is always greener.

Posted 14 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
 smackiepipe wrote:
There was a time back between 89-92 when this song ended up on every mix tape I made for anyone. Great memories.

 
me too {#Hearteyes}


Posted 15 years ago by lophrequa    [ Reply ]
I love this song! 80s music seemed so much more upbeat than a lot of the dirgey, de-balled, whiney music we have these days. The guitar in this song sounds very Echo and the Bunnymen-esque.
Posted 15 years ago by CaptTofu    [ Reply ]
This isn't an 80s band that I'm familiar with, but, oh boy, is it an 80s song! And I'm enjoying it!
Posted 15 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
A warning to anyone who might want to buy the CD pictured here "Waterworks" based on this song:  this song is not on Waterworks.

Posted 15 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
There was a time back between 89-92 when this song ended up on every mix tape I made for anyone. Great memories.

Posted 15 years ago by smackiepipe    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Haircut 100 to me. 
Posted 15 years ago by csutto    [ Reply ]