Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay

“Enola Gay” – Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark from the album Organisation
B-side: “Annex”
Released: 26 September 1980
Songwriter: Andy McCluskey
Charted No.8 in UK

Written by OMD’s co-founder, Andy McCluskey, the song draws inspiration from a significant event in history, namely the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This article will delve into the meaning behind the lyrics and shed light on the impact of Enola Gay.

Despite its subject matter, the single was released at a time of strong anti-nuclear sentiment in Britain. This, according to the BBC, helped it become an “unlikely hit”. The track entered the UK Singles Chart at number 59,[30] but climbed 51 places over the next four weeks to reach a peak of number 8, becoming the group’s first top 10 entry in their home country and one of the 50 best-selling singles in the UK in 1980. It was also a hit throughout continental Europe, topping the charts in Italy, Portugal and Spain.

The music video was shot at the ITN studios in three hours one afternoon. It begins by showing sped-up footage of clouds passing through the sky. After the opening riff, which is shown as the keyboardist’s hands playing whilst being animated using digital rotoscoping, it shows a transparent video image of McCluskey vocalising and playing bass guitar.

The Enola Gay was the American plane that dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima in World War II. It was named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the plane’s pilot, Paul Tibbets.

Music video by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark performing Enola Gay. (P) 1980 The copyright in this audiovisual recording is owned by Virgin Records Ltd