Talk Talk (Talk Talk song)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Talk Talk

| cover = Talk Talk by Talk Talk 1982 (UK reissue).png

| alt =

| caption = 1982 UK vinyl reissue

| type = single

| artist = Talk Talk

| album = The Party's Over

| B-side = ?

| released = 5 April 1982{{cite magazine|date=3 April 1982|title=Releases|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/50349950566/in/album-72157715997805168/|magazine=Record Mirror|page=30|access-date=24 August 2022|via=Flickr}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Synth-pop{{cite news|first= Graeme |last= Thomson |title= Talk Talk – 10 of the best |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 25 May 2017 |accessdate= 26 May 2018 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/may/25/talk-talk-10-of-the-best |quote= A minor UK hit, and a Top 100 single in the US, Talk Talk is surging, superior synth-pop, its surface fizz – glistening slabs of electro-drama, funky slap bass and modish cries of "hey, hey!" – sparkling over hidden depths.}}

| length = 3:23

| label = EMI

| writer = {{hlist|Mark Hollis|Ed Hollis}}

| producer = Colin Thurston

| prev_title = Mirror Man

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = Today

| next_year = 1982

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|661x0ppwYxw|"Talk Talk"}}}}

}}

"Talk Talk" is a 1982 song by the English band Talk Talk. The second single from their debut album, The Party's Over (1982), it peaked at no. 52 in the United Kingdom upon initial release. A remix of the song was released later that year, peaking at no. 23 in the UK and no. 75 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (also entering the Top 40 in the Billboard Mainstream Rock). The single also reached no. 1 in South Africa in 1983.

The song was originally recorded by Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis's previous band, The Reaction, as "Talk Talk Talk Talk", on the Beggars Banquet punk compilation Streets.

Critical reception

Covering Talk Talk's best songs in an article in The Guardian, Graeme Thomson wrote: "Talk Talk is surging, superior synth-pop, its surface fizz – glistening slabs of electro-drama, funky slap bass and modish cries of "hey, hey!" – sparkling over hidden depths. The piano break has the grandeur of early material from the Waterboys, while the lyrics stake out what will become common themes: existential wariness, a mistrust of language and an overpowering sense of outsiderness."

Charts

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{{col-2}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1982)

!Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|title= Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 |publisher= Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |accessdate= 22 July 2013 |url= http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages=}}

|align="center"|33

{{singlechart|UK|52|artist=Talk Talk|song=Talk Talk|date=19820425|accessdate=14 June 2013}}
US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|title= Talk Talk – Awards |publisher= AllMusic |accessdate= 14 June 2013 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/talk-talk-mn0000790814/awards}}

|align="center"|75

US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play

|align="center"|63

US Billboard Top Tracks

|align="center"|26

US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|title= CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending NOVEMBER 13, 1982 |magazine= Cash Box |date= 13 November 1982 |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19821113.html |archive-date= 21 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120921090816/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19821113.html}}

|align="center"|88

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1982–1983)1

!Peak
position

South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web|title= South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T) |website= Rock.co.za |accessdate= 14 June 2013 |url= http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(T).html}}

|align="center"|1

{{singlechart|UK|23|date=19821204|accessdate=14 June 2013}}

1Remix

{{col-end}}

Track listing

April 1982 release

  1. Talk Talk – 2:58
  2. ? – 4:02

October 1982 release

  1. Talk Talk (remix) – 3:23
  2. Mirror Man – 3:21

References