Tony James used a custom-painted bass guitar with the words "Elvis 1990" , which he dubbed the "space bass". Dystopian Themes and Lyrics
Released in May 1986, was the second hit single from the British new wave band Sigue Sigue Sputnik , following their massive debut with "Love Missile F1-11" . Produced by the legendary Giorgio Moroder , the track peak at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart and became a defining anthem of the band's "hi-tech sex, designer violence" aesthetic. Musical Composition and Style
The lyrics paint a picture of a , reflecting the band's obsession with cyberpunk aesthetics found in films like Blade Runner and A Clockwork Orange .
The song is a high-energy mix of and futuristic electronic beats , often categorized as synth-punk or new wave.