Purple Zone

"Purple Zone" is a song by English synth-pop duo Soft Cell. It was recorded in around 2020 to 2021 as part of the album *Happiness Not Included, but was later reworked into a new version with the Pet Shop Boys, though the original would still remain on the vinyl format of the album. The original version of the song is featured in both the 2022 film Hilda and the Lost Ring and its soundtrack album, and the 2022 video game Amphibia: The Telltale Series. It can also be listened here.

Background
The song was originally based on synesthesia, according to Marc Almond, where "one reaches an aesthetic zone called the 'purple zone'". It was later brought up in other fields. The "purple zone" was considered a "no man's wasteland" that people were on at the time, also known as a period of dark flux.

For the *Happiness Not Included recording sessions, "Purple Zone" was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Almond and Dave Ball worked remotely on vocals and music. The song wasn't going to be included in the album, as it was "missing something". However, despite that, a decision was made to include the song onto the album.

In November 2021, Soft Cell played "Purple Zone" at a London concert, where the crowd involved legendary synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. They picked "Purple Zone" as one of their favorite tracks at the concert, and considered doing a remix for the duo. But due to its amazing sound, their version was later picked as the official, replacing this original version. However, due to the yellow vinyl and picture disc formats' production of *Happiness Not Included going in a long time ago, the original stayed on pre-ordered vinyl formats, and future vinyl discs will feature the Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys version of "Purple Zone".

In June, it was announced that the radio edit and extended mix of the original "Purple Zone" would be added onto the CD and 12" formats of the single Nostalgia Machine, a song on *Happiness Not Included.

Lyrics (original version)
[Verse 1]

My time goes so slow

And I don't know how the show will end

I'm losing all my feeling

Emotion I pretend

So let's get out of this life

I'm afraid and alone

Paralyzed in the purple zone

[Chorus]

Let's get out of this life

I'm afraid and alone

Paralyzed in the purple zone

Paralyzed in the purple zone

[Verse 2]

All the fleeting moments of beauty

You blinked and then they were gone

Now you're sitting there wondering

Just where it all went wrong

No glory, no glamor, too many confusions

Coloring all my delusions

Paralyzed in the purple zone

[Verse 3]

One day you will wake

From your sleep of the dead

Kick out the strangers

Asleep in your bed

And you'll cry out

Let's get out of this life

I'm afraid and alone

Paralyzed in the purple zone

[Chrous]

Let's get out of this life

I'm afraid and alone

Paralyzed in the purple zone

Let's get out of this life (purple zone)

I'm afraid and alone

Paralyzed in the purple zone

Trivia

 * The Pet Shop Boys version of the song was going to be featured in Amphibia: The Telltale Series. This was cut later for unknown reasons.
 * The song wasn't going to be featured in Hilda and the Lost Ring, but after being listened to a couple of times, a decision was made to feature it into both the film and its soundtrack.