[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Peter Murphy — Strange Kind of Love
Album: Wild Birds 1985-1995
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2285









Released: 2002
Length: 3:44
Plays (last 30 days): 1
A strange kind of love
A strange kind of feeling
Swims through your eyes
And like the doors
To a wide vast dominion
They open to your prise
This is no terror ground
Or place for the rage
No broken hearts
White wash lies
Just a taste for the truth
Perfect taste choice and meaning
A look into your eyes

Blind to the gemstone alone
A smile from a frown circles round
Should he stay or should he go
Let him shout a rage so strong
A rage that knows no right or wrong
And take a little piece of you

There is no middle ground
Or that's how it seems
For us to walk or to take
Instead we tumble down
Either side left or right
To love or to hate
Comments (265)add comment
one of my favorite songs. ever.
One day Imma write the book:  Saturday Mornings with Peter Murphy: How to find the poetic goth in your weekly housekeeping chores. 
This song. It can change a life in one listen. 
 aspicer wrote:

Occurred to me once - can you imagine if he never had the courage to pursue music and share that incredible voice?! Talk about God-given gift



Definitely a unique voice
Bloody marvelous.
Occurred to me once - can you imagine if he never had the courage to pursue music and share that incredible voice?! Talk about God-given gift
 Thin_Air wrote:

Five years later and it's even more out of control - undeniably talented, great catalogue of music and on the dotted occasions I have seen him live over the last nearly 40 years something has always kicked off on stage - with the exception of the very first performance I saw at the Trinity Hall in Bristol, UK back in 1980 where Bauhaus  supported the mighty and hugely overlooked Magazine.  We got there early and bumped into Mr Murphy and the rest of the band unloading their gear from a very shabby Ford Transit van (not so precious back then it seems) and their performance was excellent and he definitely had future stardom written all over him.  I remember noticing  John McGeoch and Dave Formula standing at the back of the hall (with us more hearing sensitive punters) and watching as Murphy did his stuff - they clearly liked him too.

One thing is for sure, life would be much the poorer without his music and he is nothing if not great value for money.

Blimey, Trinity Hall was my local church when I was a kid.  My sister got married there in the late 60's.  Like pretty much every other local church it became "repurposed"...  Became a very popular venue and attracted some big names back in the day.

Their website makes fascinating reading...

https://www.trinitybristol.org...
Young people - Peter Murphy was a member of Bauhaus. Look them up. For chrissakes stop comparing to people that came after and saying “he sounds like X” when in fact they sound like “Peter”…
Quite a singer, quite a song. Listen to the 1989 album "Deep". Still one of my favs.
Well put, indeed...thank you for your recount! Truly appreciate your experiecne...cheers'  Thin_Air wrote:

Five years later and it's even more out of control - undeniably talented, great catalogue of music and on the dotted occasions I have seen him live over the last nearly 40 years something has always kicked off on stage - with the exception of the very first performance I saw at the Trinity Hall in Bristol, UK back in 1980 where Bauhaus  supported the mighty and hugely overlooked Magazine.  We got there early and bumped into Mr Murphy and the rest of the band unloading their gear from a very shabby Ford Transit van (not so precious back then it seems) and their performance was excellent and he definitely had future stardom written all over him.  I remember noticing  John McGeoch and Dave Formula standing at the back of the hall (with us more hearing sensitive punters) and watching as Murphy did his stuff - they clearly liked him too.

One thing is for sure, life would be much the poorer without his music and he is nothing if not great value for money.
 

This is either complete shit or just playing in the background at the wrong time of the day. And I'm not so sure about the latter 
 Proclivities wrote:

Yeah, I hear Bowie as well and he could also do shifts for The National
 
Nothing like his voice - amazing! So powerful. 
The importance of being earnest!
This song is among rare 10s on my list, and a distant cousin to "Battle of Evermore". 
*r*
Ageed
 emcibulka wrote:
Does anyone remember Crash Test Dummies? That's who his voice reminds me of. Not quite as deep, but style seems similar.
 
Called a baritone. Like David Bowie.
 jahgirl8 wrote:
This song reminds me how there truly is no middle ground. It also reminds me how there are so very many ways to relate, we are not yet the robots the democrats' schematic. Strange kind of love indeed.
 
Humanist love is just love. Don't know what you're talking about.
Peter Murphy's music hovers through lifespans in the way religion does. We can't touch it/him, yet it's always out there mostly out of reach and subject to provocative, even troubling and disturbing interpretation. 
This song reminds me how there truly is no middle ground. It also reminds me how there are so very many ways to relate, we are not yet the robots the democrats' schematic. Strange kind of love indeed.
Does anyone remember Crash Test Dummies? That's who his voice reminds me of. Not quite as deep, but style seems similar.
Every time this song is played, it takes me to some corner of my mind, where things are dark and not easy to understand. But it is always a fantastic trip...
A gemstone.
This is what I just love about RP - I hear music I've never heard before - thank you
*Puts on makeup*
 Thin_Air wrote:

Five years later and it's even more out of control - undeniably talented, great catalogue of music and on the dotted occasions I have seen him live over the last nearly 40 years something has always kicked off on stage - with the exception of the very first performance I saw at the Trinity Hall in Bristol, UK back in 1980 where Bauhaus  supported the mighty and hugely overlooked Magazine.  We got there early and bumped into Mr Murphy and the rest of the band unloading their gear from a very shabby Ford Transit van (not so precious back then it seems) and their performance was excellent and he definitely had future stardom written all over him.  I remember noticing  John McGeoch and Dave Formula standing at the back of the hall (with us more hearing sensitive punters) and watching as Murphy did his stuff - they clearly liked him too.

One thing is for sure, life would be much the poorer without his music and he is nothing if not great value for money.
 

Thanks for sharing. Cool that you you got to experience that show!
 Thin_Air wrote:

Five years later and it's even more out of control - undeniably talented, great catalogue of music and on the dotted occasions I have seen him live over the last nearly 40 years something has always kicked off on stage - with the exception of the very first performance I saw at the Trinity Hall in Bristol, UK back in 1980 where Bauhaus  supported the mighty and hugely overlooked Magazine.  We got there early and bumped into Mr Murphy and the rest of the band unloading their gear from a very shabby Ford Transit van (not so precious back then it seems) and their performance was excellent and he definitely had future stardom written all over him.  I remember noticing  John McGeoch and Dave Formula standing at the back of the hall (with us more hearing sensitive punters) and watching as Murphy did his stuff - they clearly liked him too.

One thing is for sure, life would be much the poorer without his music and he is nothing if not great value for money.
 

Earnest, pretty.
 SmackDaddy wrote:


If only he could get his ego under control you'd be seeing all of Bauhaus, not just him singing the group's songs.
 
Five years later and it's even more out of control - undeniably talented, great catalogue of music and on the dotted occasions I have seen him live over the last nearly 40 years something has always kicked off on stage - with the exception of the very first performance I saw at the Trinity Hall in Bristol, UK back in 1980 where Bauhaus  supported the mighty and hugely overlooked Magazine.  We got there early and bumped into Mr Murphy and the rest of the band unloading their gear from a very shabby Ford Transit van (not so precious back then it seems) and their performance was excellent and he definitely had future stardom written all over him.  I remember noticing  John McGeoch and Dave Formula standing at the back of the hall (with us more hearing sensitive punters) and watching as Murphy did his stuff - they clearly liked him too.

One thing is for sure, life would be much the poorer without his music and he is nothing if not great value for money.
Simply awesome! I've loved this song ever since I heard it so many years ago now...
His playlist here is far too short :-)
More musics please ;)
 Grayson wrote:
Y'all stop! I was just getting ready to go full Peter Murphy deep immersion. My fave kinda place to go on a grey day 'n mood. Then I look at a RP commenter mouthing off about sweet poet PM being the "Neil Diamond of the underground," and well... THAT immersion moment is totally blown now. Argh. 
 

That was me, quoting a college friend. I love Peter Murphy. 
Y'all stop! I was just getting ready to go full Peter Murphy deep immersion. My fave kinda place to go on a grey day 'n mood. Then I look at a RP commenteer mouthing off about sweet poet PM being the "Neil Diamond of the underground," and well... THAT immersion moment is totally blown now. Argh. 
boyo boyo
In college, my friend donned Peter Murphy "the Neil Diamond of the Underground".

 
Proclivities wrote:

His voice reminds me of Neil Diamond's in this song, not a bad thing really.
 

We are blessed to live with our gen's PBS (Shelley), Peter Murphy. 
 Curly_Stuff wrote:
Love it.  Eerie, mid-evil.  in the family of voices like The National to me...deep baritone.  
 
His voice reminds me of Neil Diamond's in this song, not a bad thing really.
Outstanding artist and record...! Saw Peter Murphy playing in NY in 1989. Same night with The Dream Syndicate.
strangely beautiful {#Eyes}
8 )

wonder what he's thinking in that portrait...

"mmmmmm yes I am fabulous, ooohhh these lights, this dusty photo studio, just blah . . . mmm, yes Fabulous   "
Love this one.
I hear Vincent Price {#Ask}
Tickets in hand for P.M. at the SweetWater. Kids with smeared black eyeliner here in bay area, pay attention. Mill Valley will have his presence. My head is almost exploding.
 chasech5 wrote:
Always love hearing Peter Murphy on RP.

His playlist here is far too short :-)

{#Hearteyes} {#Hearteyes} {#Hearteyes}

 
I agree...

 

Bill - how about some others by Mr Murphy, such as Time Has Got Nothing To Do With It, Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem, Cuts You Up, Indigo Eyes, The Sweetest Drop for a start.  Four songs in the rotation is just not enough for this voice.


now I've got to youtube:



Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead


Love it.  Eerie, mid-evil.  in the family of voices like The National to me...deep baritone.   
Always love hearing Peter Murphy on RP.

His playlist here is far too short :-)

{#Hearteyes} {#Hearteyes} {#Hearteyes}
Bobby Goldsborough with better songwriting. I really like this guy. Thanks for playing it.
excellent
This is my first time to stop and take in Peter's music, I think it's superb. His composition, intensity and lyrics remind me of Shawn Phillips. 

And I am so over this song. Meh. The joys of RP.....


 dave3ld wrote:
One of my favourite Peter Murphy songs. Hauntingly beautiful.

 
His vocal delivery and that of David Sylvian's are the 2 best emoters in music. Dave Gahan a close third.
Good, but Love & Money's "Strange Kind of Love" is better.
i really like the seriousness of this song.  introspective 
The godfather of EMO
Only second listening, but this has a certain something. Over the top? Yes, But the vocal timbre is appealing. The hokey keyboading likewise.
Oi'll give it foive, with an upward trend. 
 hayduke2 wrote:
thank you Bill!
(all the people in my head are dancing to this one) 

 
did I write this? no you twat it was that one over there, oh  .. ok i'm boppin along anyway
David Bowie meets Leonard Cohen - me likey! 
 moodfood wrote:
that a strange kinda kool-aid..{#Mrgreen}

 
that a strange lack of verb
that a strange kinda kool-aid..{#Mrgreen}
One of my favourite Peter Murphy songs. Hauntingly beautiful.
First time hearing this, I instantly thought I heard Rodriguez!  Most most fine thank you Mr Bill!!
 On_The_Beach wrote:
https://www.pegasusnews.com/media/img/photos/2008/06/11/Jon-Lovitz-ACTING_t250.jpg
SINGING!

 
No, no: the OTT award for singing definitely goes to Sivert Høyem: 

sivert hoyem in concert
Calling the goats home...



there is no middle ground
Yes, exellent!
{#Yes}{#Yes}{#Yes}  "MOST EXCELLENT"
I wish there were a long version
Splendid! {#Heartkiss}
Peter Murphys music works for me!
He is having a Fabulous Hair Moment in that cover photo, and a voice to match!
 SmackDaddy wrote:


If only he could get his ego under control you'd be seeing all of Bauhaus, not just him singing the group's songs.

 
A very fine point!  I will say the show was amazing. I almost felt guilty knowing that Daniel et al. were missing And still it was great. 
 aspicer wrote:
Coming to Chicago May 16 for his Bauhaus ONLY tour - celebrating 35 years! Tickets in hand!  Wow time flies...

 

If only he could get his ego under control you'd be seeing all of Bauhaus, not just him singing the group's songs.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/d8/20/a6/d820a6360aac17636fc6e23ed0408ffb.jpg

SINGING!
Coming to Chicago May 16 for his Bauhaus ONLY tour - celebrating 35 years! Tickets in hand!  Wow time flies...
 matude wrote:
if there is a Godlike song, this is it

10 
 
I rarely make song comments and didn't even know there was a "godlike" rating.  This is definitely it.
 tulfan wrote:
Very late in the event with just a few straglers still present, we danced to this at our wedding...
 
Nice setting for this song...
Very late in the event with just a few straglers still present, we danced to this at our wedding...
 sunya wrote:
would really like to hear something from after 2000.  Whats's this guy been doing?
 

for example recording these fine records:

2001 - Alive Just For Love

2002 - Dust

2004 - Unshattered

2011 - Ninth

and all worth listening to!

cheers...
would really like to hear something from after 2000.  Whats's this guy been doing?
Really good tune. Fab voice. I'm not that familiar with his output, but I love Cuts You Up and Devil's Teeth. 
Damnit, why am I here when I have 3 auctions close to ending on Flea Bay?
......gotta make it a "9" now.  So powerful and inspirational!
if there is a Godlike song, this is it

10 
An amazing song from an amazing album 20 years ago - 'Deep'. Still would like to hear his more recent stuff on RP, but its never been accepted.
thank you Bill!
(all the people in my head are dancing to this one) 
Haven't heard this before and really like it. Nice to hear Peter Murphy exercise that range. Almost sounds like the Church. 
I've waited until I heard this a few times to rate it.  There is a heaviness to the song that has nothing to do with how the instruments are being played that can sometimes detract from the song itself.  However, for some reason, it works here.  I don't know if it's the simple arrangement, his vocals, or something else...  but I give it an easy 7 with the potential for higher.
YES!!! Love this tune and not heard it quite some time... PM is simply amazing - hard to beat his voice. Definitely "Most Excellent!"
 lerxst wrote:
ew, gross...the music and the picture on the album cover. Methinks he thinks he's a god or something.
 
"Methinks he thinks"?  That seems like a rejected title and/or concept for a Dr. Seuss book.


A beautiful and sensitive song, and a very interesting time for music, in my opinion. 
Made me come over to check out who/what...  and add to my list of songs to possibly buy.

Minimum standard for a "7".
I've always adored Peter Murphy. And always took his music so very seriously. But ever since that Criminal Minds episode (or was it Without a Trace?) about an aging goth rock star's demise (was a great episode) I feel a vein of unwelcome irony slipping into my listening. Alas. Was only a matter of time I suppose. But I hate having to force myself to banish irony when listening to a song I once would have listened to otherwise. It's tough getting old and bitter, eh?
Never liked him before, but this sounds cool right now!
ew, gross...the music and the picture on the album cover. Methinks he thinks he's a god or something.

It's probably already been said somewhere here, but he has a Neil Diamond sound quality to him. 


 olesonb wrote:
 

Always wished he would have used a cello instead of that cheesy synthesizer.


 
Maybe he should have used an oboe!  I think that's the effect he was going for.  For myself, I like the synthesizer.

Another Michael Bolton?
 pollyh wrote:
what she said (kitkat)—amazingly evocative voice. 
 Agreed, as long as what it evokes is a themoplastic injection molding machine.

Peter's "Ninth" is coming out June 7th. He's playing Troubadour in Los Angeles on June 29th. Can't wait!
 mandolin wrote:

...back in college a couple of decades ago, i used to tease a friend very fond of peter murphy exactly thusly - to which he'd counter by teasing my favorite brendan perry for being barry manilow...

edit: ...well gosh, apparently i just repeated a comment i made three years ago - at least i'm consistent!..
 
Same thing for me while listening to 'Deep' - a friend said Peter Murphy sounded like Neil Diamond.... which made me dislike Neil Diamond... until I saw him in concert in the early 90's and was blown away at how good Neil Diamond is!

This song never fails to give me the chills, in a good way — wish I could rate it higher than 10
He can do no wrong.
A cumulative song.

The tedium increases with each airing.
 HazzeSwede wrote:
Thought it was Mr.Diamond.
 
...back in college a couple of decades ago, i used to tease a friend very fond of peter murphy exactly thusly - to which he'd counter by teasing my favorite brendan perry for being barry manilow...

edit: ...well gosh, apparently i just repeated a comment i made three years ago - at least i'm consistent!..
 Papernapkin wrote:
The posing on the album cover is very much like the posing in the music.
 
BLECH! This is garbage.
 Bosami wrote:
I love his voice. Very distinctive.
  Thought it was Mr.Diamond.


Was never into Bauhaus - somehow I missed them completely. I might have to revisit them as I think this voice is excellent!
 moocray wrote:
another example of an artist i put in my cabernet cabinet— tasted good then (bauhaus) and even better now (solo). and for you music buffs: bauhaus = love and rockets + peter murphy love and rockets = daniel ash, peter j, and kevin haskins love rockets were first the bubblemen
 
Let us not forget that between Bauhaus and Love and Rockets was Tones on Tail (Daniel Ash, Glenn Campling and Kevin Haskins).  : )


 Giselle62 wrote:
This guy sang "Under the Milky Way" song, right?
 treehugger wrote:

No, that was Sia, but I see the resemblance. 
 
Uh, no, that song was sung by Steven Kilbey with The Church.

neil diamond
The posing on the album cover is very much like the posing in the music.
incredible gorgeously rich vocals.  more please!
I love his voice. Very distinctive.
 pollyh wrote:
great movie, great song.
it's in my Netflix queue. need to revisit.
 
lattalo wrote:
Does anyone remember the movie the Hunger, the opening song, did this guy sing that
song in the club.  I just found the answer, yes.  Great movie and song. 
 
 

Yeah, Peter Murphy was the singer in the group Bauhaus. The song I'm pretty sure you're referring to is "Bela Lugosi's Dead." Great song, great movie from what I remember of it.  
 Cynaera wrote:
I still like "Cuts You Up" much better.  Which reminds me - I need to get that song onto my MP3 player soon!
 
Yes, or "Indigo Eyes."  But this song has its own appeal.

 fredriley wrote:
Smooth, deep, powerful voice, reminiscent of Madrugada's vocalist without the sinister menace. 7 from the Nottingham jury.
 

Sinister menace?  Right! It is the booming Viking voice that has you scuttling into dark corners.   Don't worry, the threat is over.

 

And yeah, this is nice.


solid 10   {#Notworthy}
{#Hearteyes}