MIX MAGAZINE (DENMARK), JUNE 1988

The three musketeers of pop

English translation by Steen Ulrich

Carol Decker - T'Pau::
"I hate them. They are talented, but to me it sounds like they are just releasing the same song, over and over. I can't hear any difference. But I'm also sure that they don't care what I think - I'm sure they are laughing all the way to the bank. I prefer bands who plays their own music. More rock oriented music."

Rob Halford - Judas Priest:
"Everyone can hear that they are great songwriters."

Mel & Kim (SAW artist):
"They are very fun guys - completely down to earth. They know exactly what's happening in the music business and they are giving kids what they want. We love them."

Martin Fry - ABC:
"They are the British answer to Motown."

Morten Harket - a-ha:
"People complain about the way they turn regular people into stars overnight, but that's one of the things I love about this business, one day a garbageman, the next you're on top of the charts. Their computerised music I don't like. Their productions are too clinical, lacking in human warmth. Music should be moving and be alive - and SAW's music isn't in my opinion."

Simon Climie - Climie Fisher:
"They have an uncanny ability to write songs that people want to listen to. A lot of their records I can't stand, but I respect their talent for developing new hit songs again and again."

Neil Tennant - Pet Shop Boys:
"We've got the brain, you've got the looks - let's make lots of money. Actually, I like a lot of their stuff. But we'd never work with them. Because then it would be a SAW record with Pet Shop Boys and not the other way around. We have recorded some of our tracks at their excellent studios and we've also mixed with Phil Harding, but that's as close as we're gonna get to SAW."

Rick Astley: "Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. They are very good at timing their releases. If 'Never Gonna Give You Up' had been released around christmas, it would barely have made a dent on the charts. Instead they waited and released it in the summer, which was perfect for the happy summer tune."

Robert Smith - The Cure: "Their stuff is much too calculated. It's like they have a bunch of computers with a little voice in it. And when you press a button, the finished product comes out the other end. I like Mel & Kim. They are by far the best SAW have done to date."

Kylie Minogue (SAW artist):
"They have their own unique sound. They usually work with new and fresh talent, instead of working with established artists, that already have a style and a reputation. I like the way they work and they are keeping todays pop music young and exciting."

Taylor Dayne:
"I think they are cool. It doesn't matter if you're the best singer in the world. You need a strong song to break through. The secret of these guys are their songwriting, which to me is genious."