The band showed a diversity of musical styles. Singles "Speak Like a Child" (with its loud soul-influenced style), the extended funk of "Money-Go-Round", and the haunting synth-ballad "Long Hot Summer" all featured Talbot on keyboards and organ. Near the end of 1983, these songs were compiled on Introducing The Style Council, a mini-album initially released in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States only. The Dutch version was heavily imported to the United Kingdom.
In 1984, the single "My Ever-Changing Moods", backed with the Hammond organ instrumental "Mick's Company", reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song remains Weller's greatest success on the American charts (including his efforts in The Jam and as a solo artist), while the group reached the peak of its success in the United Kingdom with the 1985 album Our Favourite Shop.
To Weller's fans, the decision to split up The Jam at the height of their commercial success was met with considerable controversy[citation needed]. Weller deliberately distanced himself from The Jam's sound and style, with his use of new musical arrangements and instruments in a much slicker, more heavily produced style. In the place of the Bruce Foxton-Rick Buckler rhythm section were drum and bass parts done entirely on synthesisers.
Structurally, many of the band's early singles were not far removed from The Jam's latter-day soul-pop efforts such as "Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender", but they were often criticised as overproduced, despite Weller's impressive songwriting[citation needed]. Also, many observers saw even the early albums as indulgent and overly experimental; Trouser Press called Café Bleu "too schizophrenic to be a good album".
The Style Council took a more overtly political approach than The Jam in their lyrics, with tracks such as "Walls Come Tumbling Down", "The Lodgers", and "Come To Milton Keynes" being deliberate attacks on 'middle England' and Thatcherite principles prevalent in the Eighties. Weller was also instrumental in the formation of Red Wedge with Billy Bragg. However, he later said that this began to detract from the music: "We were involved with a lot of political things going on at that time. I think after a while that overshadowed the music a bit"
In 1986, the band released a live album, Home and Abroad, and, in 1987, the album The Cost of Loving was launched, followed later in the year by the upbeat non-album single "Wanted", which reached #20 in the United Kingdom. However, Confessions of a Pop Group, released a year later, sold poorly. This led to their record label Polydor rejecting their final album (Modernism: A New Decade), which was heavily influenced by the contemporary house scene. A greatest hits album, appropriately called The Singular Adventures of The Style Council, was released internationally in 1989; it included the non-album single "Promised Land", which had reached #27 in the United Kingdom earlier that year.
In 1989 members of The Style Council went under the name of King Truman to release a single on Acid Jazz titled "Like A Gun". This was unbeknown to Polydor and the single was pulled from the shops only 3 days prior to release. Acid Jazz founder Eddie Piller said "The pair offered to make a single for my new label, which I'd just started with Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson as a side project. Mick and Paul took pseudonyms Truman King and Elliott Arnold." [1]
The Style Council broke up in 1989. The cover of "Promised Land" (originally by Joe Smooth) was the only release which surfaced from the Modernism sessions at the time; however, the entire album was released in 1998, both independently and in a 5-CD box set, The Complete Adventures Of The Style Council. After the split, Weller embarked on a successful solo career (still featuring Steve White on drums, who had left The Style Council by the time Confessions of a Pop Group was released, having only played on a few of its tracks). Talbot and White released two albums as Talbot/White — United States of Mind (1995) and Off The Beaten Track (1996). More recently, Mick Talbot and Steve White have formed The Players with Damon Minchella and Aziz Ibrahim.
All of The Style Council's UK releases (including singles, 12" maxis, albums, compact discs and re-issues thereof) featured the work of graphic designer Simon Halfon, who often collaborated with Weller to hone his ideas into a graphic form. Weller and Halfon began working together at the end of The Jam's career, and continue to work together to this day on Weller's solo material.
Since 2007, the song "Walls Come Tumbling Down" has been used as the theme song for the German TV series Dr. Psycho – Die Bösen, die Bullen, meine Frau und ich.
You're The Best Thing
The Style Council Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And chase the rainbows end
I might win much more but lose all that is mine
I could be a lot
But I know I'm not
I'm content just with the riches that you bring
I might shoot to win
And commit the sin
Wanting more than I've already got
I could runaway
But I'd rather stay
In the warmth of your smile lighting up my day
The one that makes me say
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened
To me or my world
You're the best thing that ever happened
So don't go away
I might be a king
And steal my peoples things
But I don't go for that power crazy way
All that I could rule
I don't check for fools
All that I need is to be left to live my way
So listen what I say
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened
To me or my world
You're the best thing that ever happened
So don't go away
Listen to what I say
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened
To me or my world
You're the best thing that ever happened
So don't go away
I could chase around
For nothing to be found
But why look for something that is never there
I may get it wrong sometimes
But I'll come back in style
For I realize your love means more than anything
The song you makes me say
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened
To me or my world
You're the best thing that ever happened
So don't go away
You're the best thing that ever happened
To me or my world
You're the best thing that ever happened
Now don't go, I said don't go, no no don't go away
The Style Council's song "You're The Best Thing" is a love ode whose lyrics express contentment and satisfaction with the affection and companionship of a loved one. In the first verse of the song, the singer acknowledges that he could try to pursue more success, but recognizes the value of what he already has. He admits that he could be tempted to shoot for the stars, however, realizes that what he already has is all that he needs: the warmth of the person's smile lighting up their day. The chorus then emphasizes this realization and expresses deep gratitude for the significant other's presence in their life.
In the second verse, the singer emphasizes that he could be a leader or ruler but chooses to live simply and prioritize his love. He rejects the notion of power and control and only wishes to live his life freely and enjoy the power of love. The final verse then emphasizes the singer's contentment with the present and the people he currently has in his life, expressing that it is not necessary to look for something that isn't there. The chorus repeats the message, underscoring the significance of the loved person in their life.
This song has a strong message about acceptance and contentment with what one already has. It emphasizes that true happiness can often be found in simple things and persons, and that the pursuit of great success and glory is not always necessary for a fulfilling life. In this light, the song serves as a reminder to cherish the important people in our lives and to be content with what we already have.
Line by Line Meaning
I could be discontent
Although I may not always be thrilled with things, I won't search for something better.
And chase the rainbows end
I might look for something unattainable, but I know real love is much more important.
I might win much more but lose all that is mine
I could gain worldly success, but it might not be worth losing the love and relationships I have.
I could be a lot
I could be powerful and successful.
But I know I'm not
But I know that love and relationships are more important.
I'm content just with the riches that you bring
I am happy just to have your love and support.
I might shoot to win
I might try to achieve success at any cost.
And commit the sin
I might do things that are morally wrong or hurtful.
Wanting more than I've already got
Desiring material success and power, even if I already have enough.
I could runaway
I might run away from my problems or responsibilities.
But I'd rather stay
But I know that love and relationships are more important, so I'll stay.
In the warmth of your smile lighting up my day
In the joy and happiness you bring to my life.
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened
Because your love is the most important and wonderful thing in my life.
To me or my world
To me personally, and to the world more broadly.
I might be a king
I could have power and influence.
And steal my peoples things
I might take advantage of those beneath me and use them for my own gain.
But I don't go for that power crazy way
But I won't use my power and influence to hurt or exploit others.
All that I could rule
All the power and influence that could be mine.
I don't check for fools
I won't take advantage of or manipulate those who are naive or gullible.
All that I need is to be left to live my way
All I really need is to be able to live my life in the way that I find most fulfilling.
So listen what I say
Listen to my words - love and relationships are more important than power or success.
I could chase around
I might expend a lot of energy searching for something elusive or unattainable.
For nothing to be found
Even if I search a lot, I might not actually find what I'm looking for.
But why look for something that is never there
So why bother chasing something that may not even exist?
I may get it wrong sometimes
I might not always make the right decisions or choices.
But I'll come back in style
But I'll keep trying and striving to do my best.
For I realize your love means more than anything
Because I know that your love and support is more important than anything else in my life.
Now don't go, I said don't go, no no don't go away
Please don't leave me - your love means everything to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind