Confusion (New Order song)

for the Electric Light Orchestra song of the same name see Confusion (ELO song).

Confusion is the title of a song recorded by New Order. It was written and produced by Arthur Baker and New Order and released as a 12" single on 22 August 1983 with four different mixes, with the main track clocking in at approx 8:13.

As the follow-up to the ground-breaking electronic dance hit Blue Monday, Confusion follows the new electro-dance direction of the band but with the collaboration of US producer Arthur Baker. The track makes use of synthesisers, drum machines and electronic percussion although also features the group's trademark bass guitar sound, as played by Peter Hook. The song was also the group's first to feature the title in its lyric, with the word 'confusion' being chanted several times.

It was also the group's first material to be recorded outside the UK. Baker also co-wrote and produced I.O.U. by British group Freeez which has many similarities with Confusion.

Single release
As with Blue Monday, Confusion was released principally on 12" only although a promo 7" featuring and edit of track A1 on both sides had limited release. The single reached no.12 a week after having entered the UK charts at no.17 on 30 August 1983. John Peel had been playing various tracks from the record from late July 1983.  A1 Confusion
 * 12" FAC 93

A2 Confused Beats

B1 Confusion (instrumental)

B2 Confusion (rough mix)

Promo video
A promo video with an edited version of Confusion was made and is effectively New Order's first promo video. The video cuts between footage of New York streets, Arthur Baker working on the track in the studio, a young girl working in a pizzeria, then getting ready to go clubbing and New Order playing the song live on stage. All the protagonists come together when Baker plays the song to a crowd in a club where the young girl is dancing and at which the group also arrive.

Versions
Aside from the original four mixes several other official and unofficial mixes have been released over the years. For the group's first compilation album Substance (1987) the group recorded a new shorter version of the song. This version also appears on the group's 2002 compilation album International.

Connections

 * original 12" in record collection


 * Top 50 singles