The Cure song that coincidentally sounded like New Order
In the late 1970s, punk began to evolve into post-punk, and the raw energy of the Sex Pistols gave way to a sound that embraced instrumental skill, meaningful lyrics, and often, introspective themes. While punk was linked to youthful rebellion and anti-establishment fervour, post-punk frequently delved into deeper personal emotions. This shift was evident in influential bands like The Cure and Joy Division, leading figures in Britain’s post-punk scene.
After the tragic passing of Ian Curtis in 1980, the remaining members of Joy Division sought to keep their musical embers alight with a new project: New Order. Though intricately different in sound, the band kept their indie rock foundation alive with a new dance-infused twist. At the same time, The Cure were diving head-first into their signature gothic appeal, which showcased frontman Robert Smith sporting his familiar extravagant hairstyle.
The band’s second compilation album, Japanese Whispers, featured the single ‘The Walk’, a track recorded when the band had temporarily dwindled to its original members, Smith and Lol Tolhurst. This reduction in membership occurred after bassist Simon Gallup left the band following the conclusion of their previous tour in support of the album Pornography.
Upon its initial release, some believed that The Cure had borrowed the sound from New Order, specifically their highly popular ‘Blue Monday’. However, despite the suspicions, no legal actions were pursued. This was because ‘The Walk’ had been written and recorded before ‘Blue Monday’, even though it was released afterwards. The striking resemblance between the two songs was determined to be purely coincidental, stemming from both bands experimenting with electronic instruments, sequencers, and drum machines during a similar timeframe.
Additionally, this marked The Cure’s inaugural song to break into the UK top 20, introducing significant expectations for the band’s commercial success. During a 1983 interview, Smith remarked: “There was so much pressure around ‘The Walk’ because it went in the charts and now everyone wants another single. We must resist this temptation, I’m tired of being bound to the same group of people, the same music area.“
Although there were similarities between The Cure and New Order, their personal endeavours were far from amicable. During the reign of Joy Division, Smith had been a big fan, calling them “powerful” and “the best thing I’d seen“. However, once New Order arrived, a rift opened up between the two groups. In a 2013 interview with Radio Urbana, Smith discussed the disparities between their bands, emphasising that the core of the matter revolved around their bassist, Peter Hook.
Addressing the feud, Smith said: “Although the Cure and New Order…we come from the same age and everything, but Peter Hook always had a real big problem with us because our bassist Simon Gallup was so much better looking and the better bass player…I think Peter was so jealous he could never get over it, and he stopped the rest of them from being friendly”.
