Hello – THE BELOVED

The Beloved are a British electronic music group best known for the singles “Sweet Harmony”, “The Sun Rising”, “Hello”, “Your Love Takes Me Higher”, and “Satellite”. Originally a post-punk/new wave band formed in 1983, they underwent a change of direction in the late 1980s to a house/alternative dance sound and experienced chart success in the UK and elsewhere.

According to a commonly known account of the group’s formation, Jon Marsh placed an advertisement in the music press in 1983, which read as follows: “I am Jon Marsh, founder member of The Beloved. Should you too wish to do something gorgeous, meet me in exactly three years’ time at exactly 11 a.m. in Diana’s Diner, or site thereof, Covent Garden, London, WC2”. However, Marsh confirmed in 2017 that this was a story made up for a press release.

Marsh first met Steve Waddington when he joined the band Twelfth of August as an additional guitarist. Within a few months, Marsh suggested they leave and start their own band. Calling themselves The Journey Through in 1983, they recruited bass player Timothy Havard and began writing and rehearsing; occasionally playing live, with keyboard player Bill Anderson. Waddington was singer and principal songwriter. By early 1984 they were The Beloved; Waddington still the frontman, but Marsh singing on several songs and Havard and Marsh beginning to take over most of the songwriting. By the autumn Marsh was the lead singer, still drumming on demos and in rehearsal. He waited outside the BBC, Portland Place one night and gave a demo tape to John Peel. Within a fortnight they had been booked for a session. Marsh’s school friend, Guy Gausden, had played drums with them at a couple of gigs and they persuaded him to join as a permanent member. Having barely rehearsed, and with two brand new songs out of four, they debuted as a four-piece on BBC Radio 1 on 8 January 1985.

So welcome to the world, yeah All you late-comers Just step onboard I’m happy, glad you came So welcome home again!

Sometimes I feel we must be going mad Hello Peter, hello Paul Saints and sinners, welcome all Tommy Cannon, Bobby Ball Hello, hello, hello, hello

Consider, if you will This great big question Unanswered still Oh, can you spot the difference That lies between The colour blue And the colour green?

Sometimes I feel we must be going mad Little Richard, Little Nell Willy Wonka, William Tell Salman Rushdie, Kym Mazelle Hello, hello, hello, hello

So welcome to the team Oh, have you worked it out yet? Yeah, the riddle, I mean What’s the answer? It’s plain to see Blue is blue and it always will be

Sometimes I feel that the whole world’s going mad Mork and Mindy, Brian Hayes Barry Humphries, Paris Grey Little Neepsie, Chris and Do Hello, hello, hello, hello…

Billy Corkhill, Vince Hilaire Freddie Flintstone, Fred Astaire Desmond Tutu, Steve and Claire Hello, hello, hello, hello

Charlie Parker, Charlie Brown Leslie Crowther, come on down Mary Wilson, Di and Flo Hello, hello, hello, hello

Sir Bufton Tufton, Jean Paul Sartre Zippy, Bungle, Jeffrey Archer Andre Previn and the LSO Hello, hello, hello, hello