(Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human League | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#8); 1983

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Formed in 1978 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, the Human League took its name from a group of characters in the “Starforce” science fiction game. The band released two albums and a pair of singles before having to regroup when two original members bolted due to internal friction over singer Philip Oakey’s increasing popularity.

The departed two formed Heaven 17 and the remaining duo continued under the Human League banner. Looking to expand the League’s lineup, Oakey recruited two teenage girls with no musical experience. Surprisingly, this cobbled-together combo launched a series of perfect pop tunes from Boys And Girls (#48 UK; 1981) – as Human League Red – to Don’t You Want Me (#1 UK; 1981) – as Human League 100.

Don’t You Want Me also made them the leading exponent of pop-synth music in America. Although the band took a recording break, the singles Mirror Man and (Keep Feeling) Fascination (both #2 UK) kept them on radio, television, and fans’ “must buy” lists.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Martin Rushent

Lyrics Written by:

  • Jo Callis
  • Philip Oakey

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).