A Forgotten Single Finds New Life
A single recorded on the Isle of Man in the 1990s has recently gained a new audience after being featured alongside hits from artists like Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Pulp in an on-demand series called Love Story. The track, titled ‘Silver’, was created by the band Harvey and had not been heard since its recording in 1996. Now, 30 years later, it has accumulated over 87,000 streams thanks to its inclusion in the series, which is available on Disney+.
This resurgence represents another chapter in the song’s journey, with its renewed popularity coming 13 years after Stuart Watret, who sings on the track, was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a rare condition that has severely impacted his speech. Watret remarked on the irony of the situation, stating, “The irony is not lost, the voiceless one is now being heard by millions.”
The Origins of ‘Silver’
The track, an ode to young love, was written while Watret was at university. It features in the new series Love Story, which also includes singles by well-known artists such as The Stone Roses, Radiohead, and Ella Fitzgerald. The story behind the recording is equally compelling.
After meeting at university, where Holden responded to Watret’s advertisement in the music magazine Melody Maker, the pair soon recorded ‘Silver’ on the Isle of Man. Watret, now 57, grew up on the island and knew of a recording studio in Douglas run by Dave Armstrong, who played bass on the track.
Holden, originally from Oldham, recalled their financial situation at the time: “We weren’t earning much money and just left university so we were pretty skint.” To pay for the recording, they painted the back of Armstrong’s house.
Watret, who still lives on the island, wrote the song while working a cleaning job in Preston. The lyrics were inspired by his experiences of young love. “Once I worked out how to get an outside line in the office, I’d often call my girlfriend who was from the island but studying in York; and suggest I jump on the train. The lyrics were about that train trip from Preston to York with all the hope and joy that young love can bring,” he said.
Love Story and Its Impact
Love Story, the new series produced by FX, is available to watch in the UK and Isle of Man through the streaming platform Disney+. The nine-part show charts the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette, known as the 1990s ‘Golden Couple’. The series details their lives at the top of high society and their struggles with fame. Their story ended tragically in 1999 when a plane flew by JFK Jr crashed off the coast of Massachusetts, killing all six on board, including Bessette.
Love Story has become the platform’s most-watched limited series ever. In 2022, Watret pitched ‘Silver’ to a publisher specialising in placing music on TV and film, but it wasn’t until late last year that they were told “things were moving”. By February, the track was included in both the show’s playlist and accompanying playlists on several streaming services, alongside tracks by Madonna and The Beastie Boys.
After watching the show, Watret felt transported back to the 1990s because of the music. “Big tunes, big names but it hasn’t escaped us that we are the unknowns in the line up,” he said. For Holden, the musical company the duo now inhabit, which includes musicians he was reared on, makes him “pinch” himself.
A Second Lease of Life
After recording ‘Silver’ in the mid-1990s, the band stayed intact, recording more music and playing gigs in London until life “took over”. “We pressed whatever flesh we could,” Watret admitted, but it wasn’t until the age of streaming came about that the pair found a window. They promptly dusted off the MP3 file and posted ‘Silver’ online across streaming platforms in 2017, welcoming a new audience to a once-dormant single.
However, five years prior, Watret’s diagnosis of PLS would change their ability to perform. “A month after my 40th birthday I was out jogging. I stopped to catch my breath and noticed one of my feet felt funny. Over the years my voice and mobility were affected. Carl often reminds me the world lost a mediocre guitarist,” Watret joked.
The Role of AI in Music
Despite the challenges, new AI technology that learns on Watret’s old vocals has allowed the pair to keep making music, with two new albums pencilled for the future. “I could sing the song and then make it sound like Stu. I’ve become a voice donor almost, so for him to have this voice again is fantastic,” Holden said.
Over 30 years since traveling to the island to record ‘Silver’, the pair still hold fond memories of the Isle of Man. “For the size of the island, the amount of bands you can see any week is staggering. The Isle of Man feels like our musical home,” Holden said.
Reflections on Songwriting
Watret’s experience with ‘Silver’ highlights the power of songwriting as a means of processing emotions and memories. His journey from a forgotten single to a celebrated track in a popular series is a testament to the enduring impact of music. As the song continues to find new listeners, it serves as a reminder of the unexpected paths that creativity can take.
