"Blue Monday" could be about drug addiction, child abuse or a failed relationship. New Order bass player Peter Hook says there's not much to tell behind the lyrics. Lead singer and songwriter Bernard Sumner admits that the whole band was under the influence of LSD when they made the song.
It ended up being a pretty big hit for New Order around the world. In 1983 it made it to #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was remixed in 1988 and released by New Order and this time it topped the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and made it to #68 on the Hot 100.
Orgy covered the song in 1999. They took it to #56 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Dance Music chart as well as hitting #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks and #32 on Top 40!
The funny thing about Orgy's version and the success that it had over the original is that it ranked #39 on the Worst Covers Of All Time by COMPLEX.com.
I've included both versions of the song below you decide which is better. Orgy gets my vote all the way.
Orgy "Blue Monday" 1999