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Tasmin Archer — Sleeping Satellite
Album: Great Expectations
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3277









Released: 1992
Length: 4:29
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died
With the Eagle's flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why
Are the seas still dry?
Don't blame this sleeping satellite

Did we fly to the moon too soon
Did we squander the chance
In the rush of the race
The reason we chase is lost in romance
And still we try
To justify the waste
For a taste of man's greatest adventure

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died
With the Eagle's flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why
Are the seas still dry?
Don't blame this sleeping satellite

Have we lost what it takes to advance?
Have we peaked too soon?
If the world is so green
Then why does it scream under a blue moon
We wonder why
If the earth's sacrificed
For the price of it's greatest treasure

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died
With the Eagle's flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why
Are the seas still dry?
Don't blame this sleeping satellite

And when we shoot for stars
What a giant step
Have we got what it takes
To carry the weight of this concept
Or pass it by like a shot in the dark
Miss the mark with a sense of adventure

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died
With the Eagle's flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why
Are the seas still dry?
Don't blame this sleeping satellite
Comments (256)add comment
Has The Dream Died? Elon thinks not!
 DaidyBoy wrote:
Why did we never go back, in all these years? Did it really happen, or were we scammed?
 
Looking back it's pretty clear it was for bragging rights, not for science.  But it was also good we did this as it ended up being an unprecedented morale booster and a massive technical jobs program.  We need something like this again.  Where did the leaders go who could make these things happen?
Always loved this. None of her other stuff seemed to measure up to it.
 AliGator wrote:



Well, this comment didn't age well. 



Meh. 
For me, its not just the song - it's the production. Like many of Seal's songs, its...clean.
Love this. Solid 8 , one-hit wonder or not.
 mjbaumann wrote:

Go, Elon, Go! Take me back and beyond!




Well, this comment didn't age well. 
I remember being given a copy of the CD Single of this when I was a nipper, which included some very pleasant remixes and alternative mixes. This was ALL OVER the radio when it came out and stayed in the charts for ages, and that was fine by me. Sadly this tune was her 'one hit wonder' qualification in the UK, because the whole album is decent and she never got the wider popularity she deserved.
Guiseley's finest!
Ależ to jest fajne. I za każdym razem ta wspaniała melodia, rytm, energia i wykon
I haven't thought of this song in so long. I'm very happy to be reminded of it.
This song is almost 30 years old. That's crazy! Stands up so good today!
Wow, I had no idea the production quality of this song was so high: the number of additional little details that can be heard with decent headphones using the FLAC quality is insane! 
I usually heard this song on the radio at lower quality and missed all that glory... 
 doktorkev wrote:
I always assumed this was Nancy Wilson w/o ever looking.
 
It would be an interesting joke to play this to someone who knows about 70s/80s music and tell them with a straight face this is Heart, and see if they agree.
Ah memories.  I don't know where or when I heard song first, but I bought the single back in the day.
 Relayer wrote:

I was once married to Tasmin Archer.  Well, I think it may have been her, because all I remember is my first wife blaming me for everything. 



Now that is hilarious! 
I always assumed this was Nancy Wilson w/o ever looking. 
uncannily similar. Beautiful voice.
If you can't dance to this, well ..........
Interesting fact (perhaps)... I live in a very confined space, and each time I play this song there, it feels like the room expands at least double the size.
1990s radio stations will play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 20 times a day, but will totally skip over songs like this one.  Songs like this are what was on the radio back in 1993.  Radio Paradise definitely knows how to pick them.
 Stefen wrote:

Are the seats still dry?




I've heard this song hundreds of times, and only tonight did I think exactly the same thing!!!! I was like, what?
Too cheesy and overplayed at radiostations
Angel voice, thank's RP!!!!!

Good tune, good lyrics sung with conviction and high energy, great voice.
Meh.  As a student when this came out I got fed up with it all over the airwaves in the UK and in every bar.   Not sure why it deserves to be on the hallowed RP playlist
I was once married to Tasmin Archer.  Well, I think it may have been her, because all I remember is my first wife blaming me for everything. 
Another great RP find. Great song!
Wow, a blast from the past, and not unappreciated!
Pop, but good pop - it was overplayed at the time, but has stood up well.
Go, Elon, Go! Take me back and beyond!
thank RP... this song I am breathless...
Remastered? Rhythmic section sounds different.
Release date is probably wrong. 1992 it is.
 ExploitingChaos wrote:
That vocal was used in this Enduser production, check it out if you like Jungle or Breakcore
 

A teensy bit formulaic, but it works well I think! Good lookin out!
 newbolddrive wrote:
Does anyone else think she sounds like Nancy Wilson, leader singer of Heart?
 
Yes.   When this first hit the airwaves, I thought it was Heart - Ann Wilson.
My son was 4 years old and loved this song so we got the cd. Played nonstop for a long time. All excellent songs.
One of the first songs I had in MP3. :O Still beautiful.
Does anyone else think she sounds like Nancy Wilson, leader singer of Heart?
That vocal was used in this Enduser production, check it out if you like Jungle or Breakcore
 david16 wrote:
Cheese, but decent cheese! 
 
Excellent cheese.  Sincere, invested.  Bouncy, energetic, melodic, nice hooks.

This is a very nice pop song.  
Long Live RP
For me this (for now) stays at a 7
 shakitten wrote:
psycholynx wrote:
The vocal stylings remind me of Seal.
Interesting that you should say that... I remember that her video came out on MTV around the same time that Seal's "Crazy" broke...I liked both songs a lot, and am sorry to see that while Seal has increased in popularity, Tasmin has somehow faded away. Thanks, RP, for still playing her...
 
Yes! I don't remember the video! Dialing it up now!
 Hoosfoos wrote:
1992, 22 years old, in college, and working at a crappy restaurant. Best years of my life.
 
15 years old, firt party. Start of a good part of my life!
Are the seats still dry?
Is it really 50 years since I sat cross-legged in front of the black and white TV, watching blurry images of the greatest adventure a small boy could conceive?  Why did we never go back, in all these years? Did it really happen, or were we scammed?  I can't bring myself to doubt it.
 david16 wrote:
Cheese, but decent cheese! 
 

All cheese is good cheese, but to me, this is a solid 9!

I found Sleeping Satellite on DJ_mot's station, GirlsRockRadio.com. Most of what I have on playlists is indie women thanks to Tom.
 Antigone wrote:
Heart is that you? Oh, I guess not.
 
Well, now that you mention it . . . there is a similarity in the vocals.
Cheese, but decent cheese! 
Heart is that you? Oh, I guess not.
 mzuther wrote:
For me, this is the perfect example for (good) pop music of the 1990s. Lots of dynamics and a stunning voice with a track that doesn't get in the way while grooving like hell...

Although her lisp (whether original or by too much de-essing during the production) is quite noticeable, which usually quite annoys me, in this case I just don't care. Beautiful!

 
Most definitely - wonder what they are up to now days?


 fedtho wrote:
Paralistener wrote :
'92 and' 93 was such an exciting time in my life.   The last of high school,  and the world was my oyster!   There was a cool radio station in my town, called Channel Z,  I listened to it mostly late at night while playing online on the local BBSes on my old 286.... (even computer technology,  as archaic by today's standards,  was sooooo exciting at the time as it was advancing)  Anyway,  the station played a lot of new wave,  new age,  electronic rock fusion and alternative (mostly non-seattle) it was the most fun radio station that ever existed on our dial,  and was fairly short-lived as it gave way only a few short years later to absorption into one of the big two US national program network giants.   I discovered Radio Paradise around 2002 I think,  and at at long last largely filled the gap for me since then.   Tasmine Archer's Sleeping Satellite,  along worth other iconic songs from Deep Forest,  Brian Ferry, Oingo Bingo, Enya,  Kate Bush,  Enigma, DM, New Order,  etc...   a wide hodge-podge of musical genres all harkens back to that wonderful moment of my life I so fondly remember.
I've been listening to you for 13 years,  Bill and Rebecca,  and you feel like distant friends even.   Please keep up the good work!
 
 

scott_bruce wrote :
     My favorite thing about reading comments to songs — hearing about how songs relate to folks, evoke emotions, bring back fond memories, and otherwise enrich our lives.Thanks, Paralistener!My favorite thing about reading comments to songs — hearing about how songs relate to folks, evoke emotions, bring back fond memories, and otherwise enrich our lives.

Thanks, Paralistener!

 
I totally second that, Scott_Bruce, and join you in thanking Paralistener for sharing so generously and in such a heartfelt way!

 
Third that.
 derekjohnson1 wrote:
Haven't heard this excellent song since '93.  I discovered so much great new music then.  This would pair nicely with Dave Matthews Band - Satellite.

 
Same !!!!
Haven't heard this excellent song since '93.  I discovered so much great new music then.  This would pair nicely with Dave Matthews Band - Satellite.
For me, this is the perfect example for (good) pop music of the 1990s. Lots of dynamics and a stunning voice with a track that doesn't get in the way while grooving like hell...

Although her lisp (whether original or by too much de-essing during the production) is quite noticeable, which usually quite annoys me, in this case I just don't care. Beautiful!
Paralistener wrote :
'92 and' 93 was such an exciting time in my life.   The last of high school,  and the world was my oyster!   There was a cool radio station in my town, called Channel Z,  I listened to it mostly late at night while playing online on the local BBSes on my old 286.... (even computer technology,  as archaic by today's standards,  was sooooo exciting at the time as it was advancing)  Anyway,  the station played a lot of new wave,  new age,  electronic rock fusion and alternative (mostly non-seattle) it was the most fun radio station that ever existed on our dial,  and was fairly short-lived as it gave way only a few short years later to absorption into one of the big two US national program network giants.   I discovered Radio Paradise around 2002 I think,  and at at long last largely filled the gap for me since then.   Tasmine Archer's Sleeping Satellite,  along worth other iconic songs from Deep Forest,  Brian Ferry, Oingo Bingo, Enya,  Kate Bush,  Enigma, DM, New Order,  etc...   a wide hodge-podge of musical genres all harkens back to that wonderful moment of my life I so fondly remember.
I've been listening to you for 13 years,  Bill and Rebecca,  and you feel like distant friends even.   Please keep up the good work!
 
 

scott_bruce wrote :
     My favorite thing about reading comments to songs — hearing about how songs relate to folks, evoke emotions, bring back fond memories, and otherwise enrich our lives.Thanks, Paralistener!My favorite thing about reading comments to songs — hearing about how songs relate to folks, evoke emotions, bring back fond memories, and otherwise enrich our lives.

Thanks, Paralistener!

 
I totally second that, Scott_Bruce, and join you in thanking Paralistener for sharing so generously and in such a heartfelt way!


 DocStrangelove wrote:
I WANT TO WIN THE LOTTERY
and make a movie
with this for the
closing credits
{#Bananajam}

 
I'll write the movie. 
But rule # 1: never use your own money to produce a movie. 
But, yes, this song would be fine on the soundtrack. An action piece, perhaps?
I WANT TO WIN THE LOTTERY
and make a movie
with this for the
closing credits
{#Bananajam}
well said.
 

Hoosfoos wrote:
1992, 22 years old, in college, and working at a crappy restaurant. Best years of my life.

 


 Paralistener wrote:
'92 and' 93 was such an exciting time in my life.   The last of high school,  and the world was my oyster!   There was a cool radio station in my town, called Channel Z,  I listened to it mostly late at night while playing online on the local BBSes on my old 286.... (even computer technology,  as archaic by today's standards,  was sooooo exciting at the time as it was advancing)  Anyway,  the station played a lot of new wave,  new age,  electronic rock fusion and alternative (mostly non-seattle) it was the most fun radio station that ever existed on our dial,  and was fairly short-lived as it gave way only a few short years later to absorption into one of the big two US national program network giants.   I discovered Radio Paradise around 2002 I think,  and at at long last largely filled the gap for me since then.   Tasmine Archer's Sleeping Satellite,  along worth other iconic songs from Deep Forest,  Brian Ferry, Oingo Bingo, Enya,  Kate Bush,  Enigma, DM, New Order,  etc...   a wide hodge-podge of musical genres all harkens back to that wonderful moment of my life I so fondly remember.   
I've been listening to you for 13 years,  Bill and Rebecca,  and you feel like distant friends even.   Please keep up the good work!    

  My favorite thing about reading comments to songs — hearing about how songs relate to folks, evoke emotions, bring back fond memories, and otherwise enrich our lives.

Thanks, Paralistener!


I have this song rated 10.

I like the lyrics but do not pretend to fully understand them.  


One of the first songs I noticed when I "found" RP back in the day. 

Still sounds good to me.
 Hoosfoos wrote:
1992, 22 years old, in college, and working at a crappy restaurant. Best years of my life.

 
1992, 32 years old, in college, and working at a crappy pub.  Best years of my life too, my friend.
Only one Tasmin Archer song on RP.

One-hit wonder? 
The rating system, much like my stereo, don't go high enough to do this song justice.  
1992, 22 years old, in college, and working at a crappy restaurant. Best years of my life.
love it give it 9{#Yes}
One of the best for it's time, a cracker. For cheese.
 maboleth wrote:
Fantastic, one of my favourites. So magical.

 
Fantastically edgy voice that resolves so prettily...
 
Fantastic, one of my favourites. So magical.
I sure do love this cheezy song! 
Very catchy and fun!

 
I saw her perform at a gig in Southampton ('92ish?).  I have a strong memory of the drummer really enjoying himself!

The album was played a lot in our student house but this is the only track I can recall now...
One of my favorites, thanks! (Don't know how I feel about this souped-up version, tho.)
And when we shoot for stars, what a giant step.
Have we got what it takes to carry the weight of this concept?

Always loved that couplet.
I still blame Tasmin for a stupid song that even she can't sing without hitting more than one sour note.
 musictaste wrote:
"I blame Tasmin for an insipid song."  — Jagdriver

Jagdriver,  do I hear the sounds of a catfight amongst some rusty garbage bins or is it you playing your favorite song?

In the small chance you ever read this you might find the following information useful:

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) once quipped that "to remain silent and be thought a fool is preferrable to opening your mouth and removing all doubt".
 
It is unlikely that Mark Twain (or Abe Lincoln), ever uttered or wrote that quote, despite long-standing beliefs.  Also, how does expressing one's dislike for a song automatically reveal them to be a fool?  Anyhow, I like this song.
Cool song with memories attached
I love this song, it is one of my favs. I don't recall it in 1992, when I was 26, but maybe because I listened more to classic rock stations then.
'92 and' 93 was such an exciting time in my life.   The last of high school,  and the world was my oyster!   There was a cool radio station in my town, called Channel Z,  I listened to it mostly late at night while playing online on the local BBSes on my old 286.... (even computer technology,  as archaic by today's standards,  was sooooo exciting at the time as it was advancing)  Anyway,  the station played a lot of new wave,  new age,  electronic rock fusion and alternative (mostly non-seattle) it was the most fun radio station that ever existed on our dial,  and was fairly short-lived as it gave way only a few short years later to absorption into one of the big two US national program network giants.   I discovered Radio Paradise around 2002 I think,  and at at long last largely filled the gap for me since then.   Tasmine Archer's Sleeping Satellite,  along worth other iconic songs from Deep Forest,  Brian Ferry, Oingo Bingo, Enya,  Kate Bush,  Enigma, DM, New Order,  etc...   a wide hodge-podge of musical genres all harkens back to that wonderful moment of my life I so fondly remember.   
I've been listening to you for 13 years,  Bill and Rebecca,  and you feel like distant friends even.   Please keep up the good work!    
Haven't heard this in ages. I always liked it and wondered that she never had another hit. I thought it was from the late 1980s since I seem to remember it from fm car radio when I was on the road back then. But memory is a fickle thing and wikkie says it was 1992. In fact it was a number 1 in England (only #32 here), and she had a gold disk album!. Although she has taken time off and not really achieved the same success since she is still in the business. Anyway, nice to hear the occasional blast from the past, and thanks to the internet to be able to look up things and find out whatever happened to people. I still like her voice and I hope she has some future successes. I'd love to hear her live in a small venue some time.
BTW I just checked Amazon and the acoustic version is available on a 4 track cd new & used, as is the full album (which is cheaper used but without the acoustic version.). Isn't the internet great sometimes? Thanks for the link Bill.
 handyrae wrote:

Perhaps......but good cheese can be delicious. As is this.

 
Oh no! I forgot the crackers Grommit!  Love the cheese.

I think this is a wonderful song. I never heard it when it apparently was released, and thank you RP for bringing it to my attention. There is an acoustic version of this out there. This one does have a bit of a 2000 sound to it, but I'm OK with that. If you're not, you might want to look for the acoustic version to see if you like that one better.


Heart much?
Belting!! Love that Hammond organ solo too.
 Rachoh wrote:
This sounds like a song from the opening credits of a new teen show on the WB cerca 2001...{#Snooty} and that's not a GOOD thing. 

 
I get the feeling you have a dark story to tell...involving a year in solitary with a TV that pulled in just one station...  {#Propeller}
Great keyboards!
Seems to me this is a different version of the song? I like it 
have always Loved this song - love the way her voice goes up then down at one moment in it, "when I wonder why" ...
This sounds like a song from the opening credits of a new teen show on the WB cerca 2001...{#Snooty} and that's not a GOOD thing. 
Seems like we haven't heard this very much recently. It was one of the many songs that defined the early Radio Paradise (early 2000s) for me. Love it!
 iTuner wrote:
Pure cheese.

 
Perhaps......but good cheese can be delicious. As is this.
Sorry dude, Lots of people dig this song. Great vocal performance.
hidey wrote:
No. This is just not very good. Please don't play it again Bill. {#Stop}

 


Fantastic composition and song!
Sometimes the passion to get there is lost when your goal is reached.  Glory Days —->






Thank´s ! It's one of my favourite songs!
 Yes, I remember it getting heavy airplay on French radio in 1993. Reason I have a soft spot for this song.

socalhol wrote:
I thought this was older than 2000 — AllMusic does cite the release date as 1993. 
 


This song is part of the playlists of radio stations in germany , everyday you can hear it since years. just saying.
No. This is just not very good. Please don't play it again Bill. {#Stop}
whole Album is this good.....whatever happened to her?
 enjoyed reading your post
agkagk wrote:
This song holds a special place in my heart for two associated memories:
1) about 15 years ago sitting on the flying bridge of a classic 40 foot wooden cruiser at 3AM on a warm dead-calm night in British Columbia's Gulf Islands sharing a bottle of wine and stimulating conversation with my romance-of-the-time with a huge full moon lighting up the sea and Tasmin Archer singing about same-said moon
2) about ten years ago firing up Radio Paradise for the first time following the recommendation of a friend. This song was the first I ever heard on RP, and I thought, "Wow, I'm home!"     
 


I haven't heard this song in ages! Thank you, Bill, for playing it...what a gift to hear it again!
Pure cheese.
I thought this was older than 2000 — AllMusic does cite the release date as 1993. 
Has that Alan Parsons Project/Delirium thing going on
This song holds a special place in my heart for two associated memories:
1) about 15 years ago sitting on the flying bridge of a classic 40 foot wooden cruiser at 3AM on a warm dead-calm night in British Columbia's Gulf Islands sharing a bottle of wine and stimulating conversation with my romance-of-the-time with a huge full moon lighting up the sea and Tasmin Archer singing about same-said moon
2) about ten years ago firing up Radio Paradise for the first time following the recommendation of a friend. This song was the first I ever heard on RP, and I thought, "Wow, I'm home!"     
I have this CD but this version seems different. More electric guitar. A bit more rocking.
 AdyMiles wrote:
good song, but a bit dated now
 
Agreed. I think it's the whoa's and yeah-yeah's that betray its age. She's got a beautiful voice, though.

The version Bill plays sounds like either a remix from the CD Single or a later rerelease? The original had different instrumentation and a different vocal performance from Tasmin (I should know... I own the purple artworked CD Single. Somewhere. ;-)

Still though, great tune! Remember when it was in the charts in the UK, it was one of the better tracks around - vivid memory of humming along to it on the way home from a swimming practice. (the strange things kids remember!) The mental image of a sleeping satellite was quite evocative - still is! (Slightly scarier NSA/MI6 surveillance overtones now though, or am I just a paranoid android?)

really bad


One of the better musical artists names....but Benmont Tench is still the hands down winner {#Yes}

Great pop-song! Always nice to hear it.
I've always had a soft spot—one among many—for this song.
Love this song!   So much...I bought the CD.  Sorry Tasmin—you're a one-hit wonder (but what a hit!)

Agreed.  Gorgeous pop song.

Gets even better with subsequent listens.

 

Did we fly to the moon too soon?
Did we squander the chance?
In the rush of the race
in the reason we chase is lost in romance
and still we try
to justify the waste
for a taste of mans greatest adventure.

 

 



I have always thought that this is a wonderful, beautiful song!{#Clap}


Have you read Bob Loblaw's law blog?  
 
  
 
Bob-Loblaw wrote:
I heard this song years ago and liked it so much I bought the album. The rest of the album is so-so but this song is brilliant. Like it a lot although the lyrics are a bit repetitious. She's a wonderful singer.
 

"I blame Tasmin for an insipid song."  — Jagdriver

Jagdriver,  do I hear the sounds of a catfight amongst some rusty garbage bins or is it you playing your favorite song?

In the small chance you ever read this you might find the following information useful:

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) once quipped that "to remain silent and be thought a fool is preferrable to opening your mouth and removing all doubt".

 Dior wrote:

Ah! darn right it does! And this one also inaugurated my new wi-fi home network so that for the first time RP left the office and played on my Tivoli radio while we prepared supper.  Goodbye clear channel!  Hello paradise!  It's curious however that, notwithstanding the great value of this song, things started with something I can get any day on clear channel.  It was followed by Zappa, so everything went back to normal.
 

Clear Channel?  Whaz dat?   Never listened to it before.  But sure seems like the benchmark of mediocrity for lots of RP regulars.

 

Zappa is normal?  Right....



I bought the CD from Tasmin Archer once. This song rocks. The rest stinks. It sucks to be a one-hit wonder.
rather weak
I blame Tasmin for an insipid song.

good song, but a bit dated now