The Human League: The Sound of the Crowd

Track of the Week - 4 July 2021

I was a guinea pig this week. Not the cute and cuddly sort though.

The second One Day International cricket match between England and Sri Lanka at The Oval in London was part of the UK Events Research Programme and a group of us were lucky to have tickets (thanks Ben.)

As part of the research there was 50% of normal attendance in the ground. What was interesting was that while in the stands we didn't need to wear a face mask but in the concourses and even the open air sections inside the gates we did. A bit of smoke and mirrors for the tv cameras perhaps? Not for me to say.

It certainly felt good to be part of something bigger after more than a year and remind myself of what it's like to be in a crowd. Which is mostly good unless you have some loudmouth numpties sat behind you.

The Sound of the Crowd was a 1981 single for The Human League reaching number 12. Their breakthrough hit, it also featured on the multi-platinum-selling album Dare.

If you like a bit of early-80s electropop then drink this in.