May 1991 — When two giants of British music—Bernard Sumner of New Order and Johnny Marr of The Smiths—join forces, expectations are sky-high. With Getting Away With It, the debut single (and de facto album centerpiece) from their collaborative project Electronic, the duo proves they can more than meet those expectations. Originally released in late 1989, the track has continued to resonate with alternative and synth-pop fans, anchoring the band’s self-titled debut album and carving out a unique place in early ’90s electronic rock.
From the moment Getting Away With It opens with its lush string arrangements—courtesy of the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant, who also provides guest vocals—it’s clear that this is more than a side project. The song blends Marr’s melodic guitar textures with Sumner’s melancholic lyricism and shimmering synths, creating a lush, emotionally charged track that feels both deeply introspective and danceable.
The album Electronic, released in 1991 but still gaining traction in alternative circles in 1993, expands on this formula with standout tracks like “Idiot Country,” “Tighten Up,” and “Feel Every Beat.” But it’s “Getting Away With It” that remains the defining moment—elegant, wry, and effortlessly cool.
The track’s lyrics—”I’ve been walking in the rain just to get wet on purpose”—drip with the kind of self-aware irony that both Sumner and Tennant excel at, while Marr’s shimmering guitar lines elevate the song into something timeless. It’s a song about disillusionment, fame, and finding your way through the noise—and more than three years after its release, it still sounds fresh.
With Getting Away With It, Electronic didn’t just live up to the hype—they quietly rewrote the rules for what a synth-pop supergroup could be. In 1993, as alt-rock and electronic music continue to blur, this track feels more relevant than ever.
Transmission with Derek Nester 