Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc) was released in 1982 by OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) and was the third single from their third studio album Architecture & Morality. The track was originally called Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) but was renamed for the single release to avoid confusion with their previous single "Joan of Arc".
In it's 6/8 time signature the track was originally written by Andy McCluskey of OMD on the 30th May 1981, the 550 anniversary of Joan of Arc's death. The main theme is played on an electro-mechanical instrument called a Mellotron using it's "3-Violins" sound.
The track was ranked as the 18th best single of the 1980s by bi-Monthly British Pop Magazine Classic Pop, adding that "as soon as you hear this you remember greatness".
It's hard to describe why this is my favourite music track of all time but I can remember hearing it for the first time and immediately falling in love with it.
I was staying with my Aunty and Uncle during the summer holidays of 1982 and one of my cousins was playing the single one evening. As the track blasted out of the speakers on his Hi-Fi system I was spellbound, it's drumbeat, haunting Mellotron melody and Andy McCluskey's vocals had me hypnotized and from that moment on I was hooked on the track forever.
I was already a fan of OMD having previosly heard and liked their single "Enola Gay" but there was something very special about "Maid of Orleans" and that's why it is indeed my all time favourite tune.
Nowadays whenever I listen to the track I'm instantly transported back in time to my childhood, and in particular that summer spent staying at my Aunty and Uncle's house. They were indeed good times and this track helps evoke those happy memories for me.
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