D.N.A.

The song D.N.A. by A Flock of Seagulls won a Grammy Award in 1983 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, an accolade few songs of their style achieved at the time. What’s curious is that the band wasn’t even aware of the award when it was announced: they were in Germany recording, and their manager informed them of the news over the phone. Vocalist Mike Score later recalled the frustration of being unable to attend the ceremony or receive the award in person, a detail that reflects how sudden success came their way without warning. The Recording Academy highlighted their sound as something “distinct from what other bands were doing at the time,” something that still stands out today for its ambition and originality.

Recorded in 1982 for their self-titled debut album, A Flock of Seagulls is a two-and-a-half-minute instrumental piece that encapsulates the band’s synth-pop style. The track was produced by Mike Howlett and recorded by Mike Shipley, who gave it that characteristic shine that set it apart. The song is part of an album that, while today remembered for hits like I Ran (So Far Away), also left behind pieces like this one, where the synthesizer and electronic drums intertwine in a rhythm that feels like it’s from another era. The band, hailing from Liverpool, was made up of brothers Mike and Ali Score, along with Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds, who together crafted a sound that defined part of the decade.