Invisible (Alison Moyet song)

"Invisible" is a song by English singer Alison Moyet, written by Lamont Dozier (of the songwriting team Holland–Dozier–Holland) for her debut album, Alf. Released in November 1984, "Invisible" peaked at No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart and became Moyet's highest-charting solo single in the United States, peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song reached the top 10 in Ireland and New Zealand, peaking at No. 6 and No. 4, respectively. The single's B-side is the Marvin Gaye song "Hitch Hike", which has backing from Darts.

"Invisible"
Single by Alison Moyet
from the album Alf
B-side"Hitch Hike"
Released19 November 1984 (1984-11-19)[1]
GenrePop
Length4:00
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Lamont Dozier
Producer(s)Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Alison Moyet singles chronology
"All Cried Out"
(1984)		 "Invisible"
(1984)		 "That Ole Devil Called Love"
(1985)
Music video
"Invisible" on YouTube

In interviews for her 2017 tour, Moyet said she would not be performing the song again. She explained that it was not a slam against the song itself, but that the lyrics and message of the song, written more than 30 years earlier, did not resonate with her any more.[2]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Phil McNeill of Number One wrote, "'Invisible' is a turgid song brought to life by Alison's brilliance. When someone writes Alison Moyet a song as good as 'I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself' or 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me', we'll feel the earth move."[3] Lesley White of Smash Hits concluded, "As pop ballads go this one is quite acceptable - catchy, even - and that voice is in fine form but it lacks a certain edge."[4]

Andy Strike of Record Mirror commented, "My favourite track from Alf and a great single. Alison pushes 'Invisible' along effortlessly and sounds great. Obviously a hit and quite rightly so. Love it!"[5] Richard Bryson of the Suffolk & Essex Free Press noted, "To some, Alison Moyet has lost her edge since Yazoo but her strident version of this Lamont Dozier song certainly does not lack class or style."[6]

Cash Box listed the song as a "feature pick" during March 1985 and wrote, "Moyet has power and stylish phrasing which shines on this broken heart ballad. Pure pop potential with a world of songwriting integrity."[7] C.A. Fredrick of the Muscatine Journal described "Invisible" as a "marvelous lost-love song that is already in the running for best single of 1985".[8] Rick Shefchik of The Dispatch considered the song "the toughest piece of music on the charts since Tina Turner's "Better Be Good to Me"."[9]

Music videos

There are two versions of the music video for the song. In the first version, Moyet is seen at a party surrounded by friends, all of whom appear to have partners of various forms. She walks into another room to perform the song. Moyet is often seen singing alone outside, or in what appears to be a cupboard. There are also many cutaways to where Moyet walks through the party unnoticed (hence, she is invisible). The video ends with her drinking a glass of wine and lost in thought. The second version of the video mostly features Moyet performing the song and omits many of the party scenes. It concludes with Moyet walking out of the room and into a white light. In both videos, there are moments when the camera pans on what seems to be a silver rhombus with the letter 'i' in the middle.

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "Invisible" – 3:56
  2. "Hitch Hike" – 2:38

12-inch single 1

  1. "Invisible" (extended version) – 6:05
  2. "Hitch Hike" – 2:38

12-inch single 2

  1. "Invisible" (The Transparent mix) – 6:31
  2. "Hitch Hike" – 2:38

Cassette single (Australian release)

  1. "Invisible" – 3:56
  2. "Invisible" (extended version) – 6:05
  3. "Invisible" (The Transparent mix) – 6:31
  4. "Hitch Hike" – 2:38

Charts

References
  1. "New Singles". Music Week. 17 November 1984. p. 34.
  2. "Alison Moyet gets real: 'I ain't f***ing playing it.'".
  3. McNeill, Phil (1 December 1984). "Single reviews". Number One.
  4. White, Lesley (6 December 1984). "Singles". Smash Hits.
  5. Strike, Andy (8 December 1984). "Singles". Record Mirror.
  6. Bryson, Richard (20 December 1984). "Rock 'n Pop". Suffolk & Essex Free Press. p. 22.
  7. "Single Reviews". Cash Box. 2 March 1985.
  8. Fredrick, C.A. (4 April 1985). "For the record". The Muscatine Journal.
  9. Shefchik, Rick (28 April 1985). "A case of talent over fashion". The Dispatch.
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
  11. "Alison Moyet – Invisible" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0512." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8291." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  14. "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 2. 14 January 1985. p. 7.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Alison Moyet". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  16. "Alison Moyet – Invisible". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  17. "Alison Moyet – Invisible". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  18. "Alison Moyet – Invisible". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  19. "Alison Moyet: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  20. "Alison Moyet Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Alison Moyet – Invisible" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  22. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
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