Th… Read Full Bio ↴Aztec Camera was a Scottish Indie pop/New Wave band from Glasgow.
The line-up of the band changed several times over the years, but the constant member had been guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Ex-Bluebells bassist Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 through 1985, before joining The Smiths. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) also joined in 1983, and appeared on the Knife album.
Aztec Camera first gained recognition as part of the Scottish post-punk scene along with bands like Orange Juice and Josef K, all of which released singles on the influential Glasgow-based label Postcard records. The band's first UK 7" single was released by Postcard in 1981, containing the songs "Just Like Gold" and "We Could Send Letters". The latter was included on the NME's C81 compilation, which pointed strongly towards the future C86 indie pop movement in the United Kingdom.
Though most commonly remembered generally as part of the 80s New Wave era, Aztec Camera has gone through numerous stylistic changes throughout their career, ranging from stripped-down, almost pastoral post-punk to slicker, more sophisticated pop rock as well as jazz and latin influenced acoustic ballads. As Roddy Frame's guitar playing has always been the signature of the band's music, guitar pop might be a more succinct description.
Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in 1983. However, Owens and Mulholland left the group before the release, leaving Frame to complete the album alone. The album was quite successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band went on to release a total of six albums, although most of these were essentially written and played by Frame. The albums included Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).
After the release of their sixth album, Frestonia, Frame finally dissolved the band to go solo.
Popular songs by Aztec Camera include "Oblivious", "Somewhere in My Heart", and "Good Morning Britain" (a duet with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones).
The group have also done cover versions of Blue Orchids "Bad Education", and a slowed-down version of Van Halen's Jump.
A 'Best of' collection was released in 1999.
Imperfectly
Aztec Camera Lyrics
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For her sweet face
Sang my winter song
To a suitcase
Saw the surest thing
I had ever known
Find her own place
On a glass wall
Felt my bridges burn
On a last call
As her clear blue gaze
Set my heart ablaze
In a snowfall
I caught the fastest train
That my feet could find
Rode the wind of change
Couldnt change my mind
I got laid just to see
My reflection burning bright
I got paid and I prayed
Everything would turn out right
And then I sang my winter song
I caught the fastest train
That my feet could find
Rode the wind of change
Couldnt change my mind
I got laid just to see
My reflection burning bright
I got paid and I prayed
Everything would turn out right
And then I sang my winter song
And then a small voice sang inside of me
And for miles and miles
My eyes could see
Then everything I knew
Was wrong with me
And then a snowflake fell imperfectly
The lyrics of Aztec Camera's "Imperfectly" describe the singer's search for love, and the heartbreak that ensues when his efforts fall short. The song begins with him waiting all winter for the object of his affection, singing to a suitcase, and hoping to be reunited with his loved one. However, his hopes are dashed when he finds out that she has moved on and found her own place.
The singer then watches as his life falls apart – his bridges burn and his relationships crumble – while he grieves for his lost love. He catches the fastest train he can find, hoping to escape his problems and find some solace, but ultimately cannot escape his own feelings. He gets laid and gets paid, hoping that these pleasures will help to ease his pain, and then sings his winter song once more.
As the song winds down, the singer is left alone with his thoughts, and he hears a small voice singing inside of him. For miles and miles, his eyes can see the truth of his situation – that everything he knew was wrong with him, and that he has been living imperfectly all this time. The snowflake falling imperfectly at the end of the song is a metaphor for his own life, and an acknowledgement that he must accept his imperfections and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Waited winter long
I waited for a long time during the winter season.
For her sweet face
I waited for the girl I loved.
Sang my winter song
I expressed my feelings by singing a winter-inspired song.
To a suitcase
I sang to the empty suitcase, a substitute for the girl who was not there with me.
Saw the surest thing
I saw the most certain thing in my life.
I had ever known
It was the love I had for that girl.
Find her own place
She found her own place in life, far away from me.
Watched my numbers turn
I watched the numbers on the clock move.
On a glass wall
They were reflected on the surface of the glass.
Felt my bridges burn
I felt that everything I had built before was burning down.
On a last call
I was drinking my last drink.
As her clear blue gaze
At that moment, I remembered her blue eyes.
Set my heart ablaze
I felt love once again in my heart.
In a snowfall
It was a romantic feeling, like in the middle of a snowfall.
I caught the fastest train
I caught the fastest train available.
That my feet could find
It was the best my feet could do.
Rode the wind of change
I went along with the changes that came with leaving.
Couldnt change my mind
I was not able to change my decision.
I got laid just to see
I had a casual sex relationship just to feel something.
My reflection burning bright
I wanted to see my passion and intensity reflected in myself.
I got paid and I prayed
I prayed that everything would turn out okay after I got the money.
Everything would turn out right
I hoped my life would get better.
And then I sang my winter song
Finally, I sang my song once again.
And for miles and miles
As far as my eyes could see
My eyes could see
My perception expanded outside of myself.
Then everything I knew
Everything I thought I knew
Was wrong with me
Was wrong deep down in my soul.
And then a snowflake fell imperfectly
Finally, I realized that even the purest and most innocent things in life are not perfect.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind