Stewart and Gouldman were straight pop-song-writers, who created the band’s most accessible songs; Godley and Creme were the experimental half of 10cc, featuring an Art School sensibility and cinematic writing. All are skilled multi-instrumentalists, vocalists, writers, and producers, and each could perform convincingly as lead singers, leading to favourable comparisons with The Beatles.
The band achieved its greatest commercial success during the 1970s.
In 1976 ... Godley & Creme left, releasing records under that name before making a significant contribution to the development of the music video in the 80s.
In 1977 ... 10cc embarked on an international tour with guitarist Rick Fenn, keyboardist Tony O'Malley and additional drummer Stuart Tosh and recorded a live album in 1977, "Live And Let Live", which mixed the hits with material from the previous three albums.
Fenn, Tosh, Burgess and keyboardist Duncan Mackay were full members of the band and performed on 1978 album "Bloody Tourists", which provided the band with their third UK No.1 single, the reggae-styled "Dreadlock Holiday".
1977-1983 ... After the departure of Godley and Creme, Stewart and Gouldman opted to continue as 10cc, bringing in to the studio drummer Paul Burgess, who had up to that point been their tour backup drummer. Their first album as a three piece band was "Deceptive Bends".
1984-1992 ... Separate projects - after 1983, the band went into recess as Stewart did produce recordings for Sad Café and Gouldman produced tracks for The Ramones before teaming up with Andrew Gold to form the synth-pop group Wax.
1992-1995 ... In 1992 the original four members reunited to record "Meanwhile", an album produced by Gary Katz of Steely Dan fame. ...the album was not a "reunion" in the strict sense of the word. All the album's songs were written by Stewart and Gouldman ... Creme and Godley agreed to guest on the album to fullfil their obligation to Polydor records.
1999-2009 ... since 1999 Gouldman has toured as 10cc consisting of Rick Fenn, Paul Burgess, Mick Wilson, Mike Stevens and/or Keith Hayman, with occasional guest appearances by Kevin Godley. The band has embarked on several national tours of the UK and various dates throughout the World playing 10cc hits, plus a section of Gouldman's hits written for others. Their first gig was at Ronnie Scotts jazz club in Birmingham in 1999.
Additional info:
There is much speculation about where the name of the band comes from but the general consensus was that it is named after the average amount of ejaculate in a single male orgasm. However one will find that the average is about 3cc ...the name "10cc" in fact comes from a dream: Jonathan King, the person who signed them, dreamed of a band called 10cc topping the charts in both the UK and America - see: snopes.com/music/artists/10cc.asp
Life Is A Minestrone
10cc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sipping tea by the Taj Mahal at dawn
Hanging round the gardens of Babylon
Minnie Mouse has got it all sewn up
She gets more fan mail than the Pope
She takes the mickey out of all my phobias
Like signing cheques to ward off double pneumonia
Served up with parmesan cheese
Death is a cold Lasagne
Suspended in deep freeze
I'm leaning on the Tower of Pisa
Had an eyeful of the tower in France
I'm hanging round the gardens of Madison
And the seat of learning
And the flush of success
Relieves a constipated mind
I'm like a gourmet in a skid row diner
A fitting menu for a dilettante
Life is a minestrone
Served up with parmesan cheese
Death is a cold Lasagne
Suspended in deep freeze
Love is a fire of flaming brandy
Upon a crepe suzette
Let's get this romance cooking, honey
But let us not forget
Life is a minestrone
Served up with parmesan cheese
Death is a cold Lasagne
Suspended in deep freeze
The lyrics to 10cc’s “Life is a Minestrone” are a whimsical exploration of life and death, with various references to famous landmarks and cultural icons. The opening lines describe the singer “dancing on the White House lawn,” which conjures up an image of carefree revelry in an iconic American location. The next line, “sipping tea by the Taj Mahal at dawn,” adds a mystical, exotic element to the song. The line about “hanging round the gardens of Babylon” evokes ancient history and mythology. The reference to Minnie Mouse receiving more fan mail than the Pope is a playful dig at religion and fame.
The chorus, “Life is a minestrone, served up with parmesan cheese / Death is a cold lasagne, suspended in deep freeze,” uses food imagery as a metaphor for life and death. The minestrone, a complex and flavorful soup, represents the richness and variety of human experiences. The cold lasagne, on the other hand, is a symbol of the finality and emptiness of death. The contrast between the two is stark and somewhat humorous, but it also captures the existential dread that comes with contemplating one’s own mortality.
The bridge of the song references several more famous locations, such as the Tower of Pisa and the Gardens of Madison. The line “Love is a fire of flaming brandy upon a crepe suzette” continues the food metaphor and adds a romantic element. The final line, “let’s get this romance cooking, honey, but let us not forget,” again brings the focus back to the theme of life and death. Overall, the lyrics to “Life is a Minestrone” are clever, imaginative, and thought-provoking.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dancing on the White House lawn
I am enjoying life and seem to have access to everything.
Sipping tea by the Taj Mahal at dawn
I am taking in the beauty of the world and enjoying it at its finest.
Hanging round the gardens of Babylon
I have access to the most beautiful and exotic places in the world.
Minnie Mouse has got it all sewn up
Even a cartoon mouse can have more success than me.
She gets more fan mail than the Pope
Even someone who is not a real person can have more adoration than someone as great as the Pope.
She takes the mickey out of all my phobias
Even fictional characters know how to make fun of my fears and anxiety.
Like signing cheques to ward off double pneumonia
I try to use money to protect myself from everything, even insignificant things like minor illnesses.
Life is a minestrone, served up with parmesan cheese
Life is complicated, filled with various ingredients and experiences, and sometimes we add something extra to make it more enjoyable.
Death is a cold Lasagne, suspended in deep freeze
Death is a hard truth we must confront, something that is frozen and preserved.
I'm leaning on the Tower of Pisa
I am enjoying the beauty of architecture, even if it is slightly askew.
Had an eyeful of the tower in France
I have seen many beautiful things in France, including famous landmarks.
I'm hanging round the gardens of Madison
I am spending time in a beautiful and affluent area of New York City.
And the seat of learning
I have access to impressive educational institutions.
And the flush of success
I have experienced moments of success in my life.
Relieves a constipated mind
Success can free us from feeling stuck or blocked mentally.
I'm like a gourmet in a skid row diner
I have cultivated refined tastes, even in unlikely or unpleasant places.
A fitting menu for a dilettante
My life and experiences are diverse, and I take pleasure in many different things.
Love is a fire of flaming brandy
Love is passionate and intense, like a drink that warms us from the inside out.
Upon a crepe suzette
Love can be sweet and delicate, like a French dessert.
Let's get this romance cooking, honey
Let's create a romantic moment together, my love.
But let us not forget
Despite the sweet moments, we must remember the harsh realities of life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E. STEWART, L. CREME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind