What's Your Problem

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"What's Your Problem"
Blancmange What's Your Problem 1985 Single Cover.jpg
Single by Blancmange
from the album Believe You Me
B-side"Side Two"
ReleasedAugust 1985[1]
GenreSynthpop
Length4:12
LabelLondon Records
Songwriter(s)Neil Arthur, Stephen Luscombe
Producer(s)Stewart Levine
Blancmange singles chronology
"The Day Before You Came"
(1984) 		"What's Your Problem"
(1985) 		"Lose Your Love"
(1985)

"What's Your Problem" is a song by English synthpop duo Blancmange, released in 1985 as the lead single from their third studio album Believe You Me. It was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Stewart Levine. "What's Your Problem" reached No. 40 in the UK, and No. 30 in Ireland.[2][3] A music video was filmed to promote the single, which received heavy action play on the European music TV channel Music Box.[4]

Critical reception[]

Upon release, Dave Rimmer of Smash Hits selected the single as "single of the fortnight". He commented: "Thought this sounded sadly weedy at first, like a poor cross between a dated Abba job and a very old Eno song, but I was wrong. On further hearings I found myself warbling along with what turns out to be one of those rousing refrains that simply will not leave you alone."[5] Karen Swayne of Number One said: "They're back! After disappearing off the scene, Blancmange re-emerge with a drab outing that sounds more like a Depeche Mode reject than a potential hit. Informed opinion reckons it's a grower, but I thought boring electro like this had died a painless death a few years back, though Neil and Stephen seem intent on reviving it."[6]

In a review of the 2017 deluxe edition of Believe You Me, Paul Scott-Bates of Louder Than War said the song was "another typically Blancmange track with a chorus that really didn't kick in until the latter half of the track".[7] The Electricity Club commented that the song was "serviceable synthpop, but perhaps lacks the dynamism that earlier Blancmange outings offered".[8]

Track listing[]

7" single
  1. "What's Your Problem" – 4:12
  2. "Side Two" – 3:39
2x 7" single (UK limited edition gatefold release)
  1. "What's Your Problem" – 4:12
  2. "Side Two" – 3:39
  3. "Living on the Ceiling (12" Version)" – 5:35
  4. "Feel Me (12" Version)" – 4:34
12" single
  1. "What's Your Problem (Extended Version)" – 6:55
  2. "Side Two" – 7:31
  3. "Living on the Ceiling (12" Edit)" – 5:34

Chart performance[]

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[3] 30
UK Singles Chart[2] 40

Personnel[]

Blancmange
  • Neil Arthur – lead vocals, producer of "Side Two"
  • Stephen Luscombe – keyboards, synthesizers
Additional personnel
  • David Rhodes – guitar
  • Stewart Levine – producer of "What's Your Problem"
  • John Williams - producer of "Side Two"
  • Mike Howlett - producer of "Living on the Ceiling" and "Feel Me"
Other
  • Assorted Images - sleeve design

References[]

  1. ^ "Blancmange - What's Your Problem? / Side Two - London - UK - BLANC 9". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "BLANCMANGE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  4. ^ Billboard magazine - Video music - September 14, 1985 - page 43
  5. ^ Smash Hits magazine - Singles - Dave Rimmer - 28 August-10 September - page 19
  6. ^ Number One magazine - Singles - Karen Swayne - 31 August 1985 - page 36
  7. ^ "Blancmange: Believe You Me Deluxe Edition - album review". Louder Than War. 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  8. ^ "BLANCMANGE – The Blanc Tapes". The Electricity Club. 2017-08-28. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
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