"Bird in Flight"
Single by Toyah
B-side"Tribal Look"
ReleasedFebruary 1980
RecordedDecember 1979
GenreNew wave
Length3:59
LabelSafari
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Matt Dangerfield
Toyah singles chronology
"Computer"
(1980)		 "Bird in Flight"
(1980)		 "Ieya"
(1980)

"Bird in Flight" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1980 by Safari Records.

Background

The song was written by Toyah Willcox, Charlie Francis, Joel Bogen, Peter Bush and Steve Bray, and was produced by Matt Dangerfield. Willcox explained that it is "a song of rebellion and getting personal freedom, and not being met with negativity for something you passionately believe", revealing that she wrote it in rebellion against her mother.[1] In 2011, the singer reflected: "I find the lyric excruciatingly wrong. But that might be because I'm older and wiser and prefer what I write today. That said, the Toyah band play it beautifully and they have given it a light, optimistic feel that really lifts the whole set. It dances into the venue and tickles your ears. I just need to ignore the lyric... It's so bloody wrong".[2]

In the UK, "Bird in Flight" was released as a double A-side single with the song "Tribal Look",[3] inspired by the Maasai tribe.[4] Toyah promoted the single with the eponymous UK tour from January to March 1980.[5] NME gave "Bird in Flight" a positive review, describing it as a Patti Smith-influenced "good pop song" with a "desirable spacy atmosphere".[6] Neither track was featured on an album at the time, though both were added to the 2002 reissue of Sheep Farming in Barnet, and also on the 2005 compilation album The Safari Singles Collection Part 1: 1979–1981.

Track listing

  • 7" single
A. "Bird in Flight" (Toyah Willcox, Charlie Francis, Joel Bogen, Peter Bush, Steve Bray) – 3:59
B. "Tribal Look" (Willcox, Francis, Bogen, Bush, Bray) – 3:22

Personnel

  • Toyah Willcox – vocals
  • Joel Bogen – guitar
  • Charlie Francis – bass
  • Steve Bray – drums
  • Peter Bush – keyboards

Charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
UK Independent Singles[7] 2

References

  1. ↑ "Toyah At Home: Episode #6". YouTube. 25 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Toyah Talks Music". toyah.net. 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Toyah – Bird In Flight / Tribal Look (1980, Black/White Labels, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "Toyah At Home: Episode #25 - Sheep Farming Special". YouTube. 5 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "1980s GIG LIST". toyahwillcox.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "Bird in Flight". toyah.net. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Indie Hits "T"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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