A wistful look back at a fleeting romance from the glory days of rock and roll.
The late 1970s in the UK were a vibrant, if chaotic, time in music. Punk’s raw energy was still reverberating, disco was a shimmering presence, and glam rock was a glorious memory. Yet, rising above it all with an unshakeable sense of fun and a slick, theatrical style was Showaddywaddy. They weren’t just a band; they were a time machine, transporting audiences back to the simple, joyful sounds of the 1950s. While their signature was often an upbeat, foot-stomping rock and roll revival, in 1979 they delivered a song that was both a perfect encapsulation of their sound and a surprising turn toward a more reflective, bittersweet mood: “Remember Then”.
Released on March 16, 1979, the single was a testament to the band’s enduring popularity. It was a cover of a 1962 doo-wop hit by The Earls and, while not one of their highest-charting singles, it still performed admirably, reaching number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. For fans, it was a welcome addition to a discography already full of memorable hits like “Under the Moon of Love” and “I Wonder Why.” The song was a single from their 1979 album, Crepes & Drapes, an album that continued their successful formula of blending original compositions with polished rock and roll covers.
The true beauty of “Remember Then” lies in its melancholic narrative. It’s a song that speaks to a universal human experience: the bittersweet ache of looking back on a past love. The lyrics, with their direct, conversational tone, tell the simple story of a fleeting summer romance that has since faded. “That night we fell in love beneath the stars above / That was a lovely summer night,” the opening lines recall, immediately establishing a scene of youthful, innocent joy. But that nostalgic bliss is quickly shattered by the next lines: “The summer is over, our love is over / To lose that love was such a shame.”
For a band known for its celebratory, feel-good hits, this song was a masterclass in understated pathos. The clean, doo-wop harmonies and simple, driving beat work in perfect contrast to the sorrowful lyrics. Instead of being an outright tragedy, it’s a wistful, almost fond, farewell. The recurring refrain, “Remember then, then, then, then, then,” is not a desperate plea to return to the past, but rather a gentle sigh of memory, an acknowledgement of a beautiful moment that, while gone, will never be forgotten. It’s a song that proves the most powerful nostalgia is often tinged with sadness, a recognition that some things, no matter how perfect they felt at the time, were never meant to last.
For those of us who came of age in that era, this song is a soundtrack to our own memories, a gentle push to look back at our own “lovely summer nights.” It reminds us of a time when the world was full of possibilities, when a single song could capture the entire emotional spectrum of a first love and a first heartbreak. Showaddywaddy, in their dapper Teddy Boy suits and colorful attire, may have seemed like a novelty act to some, but “Remember Then” shows they were so much more. They were storytellers, and in this song, they told a story as timeless and real as any. They reminded us that nostalgia is not just about the good times, but about the beautiful, sad, and fleeting moments that make up a life.