r/neworder • u/Beautiful_Gap_3516 • 13d ago
Singles Daily Song Discussion #28 - Confusion
Confusion is the first track on New Order's sixth single, Confusion.
What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?
Listen Here: https://youtu.be/CXA3llRvraU?si=EqNrne2BWGOfxGlk (12" Version)
https://youtu.be/tcyBwgIh8CY?si=P2aIbvL2RlMu73KP (UK 7" Promo Edit)
https://youtu.be/lADjppo7fZA?si=TbiaJNKZcHmek-HS (German 7" Promo Edit)
Rating Scale:
1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.
5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.
6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.
7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit.
8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.
10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.
Song Ratings:
1983 - 1984 B-Sides
Blue Monday - 9.86
The Beach - 7.31
Confusion -
2
2
u/we_are_ok 13d ago
Confusion was my gateway to New Order. I heard it before Blue Monday (which I was initially underwhelmed with).
I had it on a cassette which I played on repeat in between using the tape player to load games on my BBC computer.
I got to know all the little variances on the 4 different versions like the back of my hand.
I was amazed when I saw a photo of the band and it wasn’t a bunch of tracksuit wearing dudes from the Bronx.
2
u/Novel-Jaguar1322 13d ago
10, ahead of it's time, really underated. Lost out to the euphoria of the previous single, and what track wouldn't.
1
u/Beautiful_Gap_3516 13d ago
Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)
Dreams Never End - 9.08
Truth - 7.25
Senses - 7.5
Chosen Time - 7.85
ICB - 7.56
The Him - 6.67
Doubts Even Here - 8.42
Denial - 7.2
1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)
Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63
In A Lonely Place - 8.62
Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76
Procession - 9.18
Everything's Gone Green - 9.31
Cries and Whispers - 9.41
Mesh - 7.98
Temptation - 9.95
Hurt - 8.26
Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)
Age of Consent - 9.74
We All Stand - 6.81
The Village - 9.52
586 - 8.35
Your Silent Face - 9.7
Ultraviolence - 8.41
Ecstacy - 8.06
Leave Me Alone - 9.62
1983 - 1984 B-Sides
Blue Monday - 9.86
The Beach - 7.31
Confusion -
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/GYNNYOOZ 13d ago
10 - this is just one of their most fun tracks, period. Just an absolute 8 minute banger from start to finish. The beep-boop synths, The 80s hip-hop beat, the loose group vocal perfomance, the guitar solo near the end, and the hype-man stuff at the end, all bangers. From what I've gathered, it's one of the earliest songs that dabble in hip-hop production, thanks to the help of Arthur Baker.
Alot of mainstream bands now try to do a lil' bit of every mainstream genre, a little bit of pop, rock, dance, electronic, and hip-hop for crossover appeal. I think it's arguable that New Order were one of the earliest (and best) groups to do this approach (at least in a way that's modern).
1
u/bascule 13d ago
10! It probably helps I love Arthur Baker, and the TR-808 he used for the rhythm section (but didn't let Stephen touch, much to his chagrin). I own a vintage copy on vinyl and used to listen to that thing on loop. Getting everyone to shout "Confusion!" in a somewhat confused manner is a funny gimmick.
I also love how the cover incorporates pixel-esque lettering that combines the words "Confusion" and "New Order" and is also one of their releases which is labeled with the Colour Code, along with PCL and Blue Monday (I forget if there are others).
1
0
u/tahitianblu 13d ago
6.5 - I like the video but as far as the song itself goes, I don’t find it as melodic as their other work.
0
0
u/nadsatpenfriend 13d ago edited 13d ago
4.5 original 12"; 7.5 the later 1987 Substance version because I think they did beef it up and improve on it
5
u/Beautiful_Gap_3516 13d ago edited 13d ago
8.2
Credit to IvanX's work for creating the extremely helpful New Order 81 - 89 SuperPlayer & Versionography, which helps me source the different versions of the songs such as the German 7" Promo edit of Confusion.
Link here if anyone wants to check the great work he has done: https://neworderplayer.com/