Adorable were a British alternative rock band active in the 1990s. They for… Read Full Bio ↴Adorable were a British alternative rock band active in the 1990s. They formed in Coventry in 1991, and consisted of band members Piotr Fijalkowski (vocals, guitar), Robert Dillam (guitar), Steven ‘Wil’ Williams (bass), and Kevin Gritton (drums).

After recording a 12" of "Sunshine Smile" (b/w "I’ll Be Your Saint" and "Breathless") that was pressed to be released on record producer Pat Collier’s ‘Money To Burn,’ label the band received a gushing review in the NME. They signed to Creation Records in 1992, and after a UK tour supporting Curve they released their first single, a re-recording of "Sunshine Smile," in May of that year. Distancing themselves from the shoegaze movement by attempting to be more outspoken than traditional shoegazers, Adorable were briefly seen along with other bands Suede and The Verve as being a part of a new movement tagged ‘New Glam,’ a label attributed to Fijalkowski’s assertion that "we want to put the glamour back into pop." "Sunshine Smile" was NME’s Single of the Week, and topped the Indie Singles chart as well as entering the mainstream UK single top 100 charts for three weeks. A backlash in the press against the band’s outspoken image immediately followed, and the band were never to be interviewed in the mainstream UK press after their debut single. The band released "I’ll Be Your Saint," "Homeboy" and "Sistine Chapel Ceiling" (NME single of the Week), which all went into the Top 5 in the Indie charts, but failed to enter the mainstream Top 75. The album Against Perfection, released in 1993, went to #70 in the album charts, and the band toured the USA, Europe, Australia & Japan.

The second album, Fake, was seen as a far more introspective album, which Fijalkowski himself suggests was the result of the band feeling vulnerable. Although two singles ("Kangaroo Court" & "Vendetta") again entered high in the Indie Singles chart, the album failed to dent the mainstream Top 75, and strained relations both within the band and with Creation resulted in the band announcing their split onstage in Brussels in late 1994.

In subsequent years, the band has been re-classified as being part of the shoegaze movement. Bands such as Ash & Oasis have in the past acknowledged their admiration of the band.

Subsequent to the band’s demise Robert Dillam moved to Scotland where he joined The Zephyrs, whilst Fijalkowski went on to form the band Polak, who signed to One Little Indian Records.

Discography

Albums
Against Perfection (Creation / CRE 138) - Mar 1993
Fake (Creation / CRE 165) - Sept 1994
Footnotes - Best Of 92-94 (Cherry Red / CDMRED327) - Jan 2008

Singles
Sunshine Smile (Creation / CRE 127) - Apr 1992
I’ll Be Your Saint (Creation / CRE 133) - Jul 1992
Homeboy (Creation / CRE 140) - Oct 1992
Sistine Chapel Ceiling (Creation / CRE 153) - Jan 1993
Favourite Fallen Idol (Creation / CRE 159) - Apr 1993
Kangaroo Court (Creation / CRE 172) - Apr 1994
Vendetta (Creation / CRE 177) - Sept 1994

Favourite Fallen Idol
Adorable Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I fail, I want to fail completely
And when I fall, I want to do it neatly
Traveling side by side
All due haste to my demise
Flickering in firelight
I'm gonna burn like Joan tonight

Oh, this is the angel's sound

With wingtips singed
You're surely heaven bound

I'm only falling now just to entertain you
I'm only failing here, because there's little else to do
Underwater, coming up for air
Wallow in self-pity and despair
Well, I haven't got a care
I've gotta do my hair
I've gotta do my hair

Oh, this is the angel's sound
With wingtips singed
You're surely heaven bound
Oh, your fallen idol
Oh, you're my favorite fallen idol

I'm only falling to entertain you
I'm only falling just to entertain you
I'm only falling just to entertain you
Pretend
Pretend

Pretend
Pretend

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Adorable's song, "Favorite Fallen Idol," speak to a desire to fail and fall entirely, to do so neatly, gracefully, and with an audience in tow. The singer of the song appears to be someone who is willing to wallow in despair and self-pity, and, in fact, seems comfortable in such a state. They describe themselves as flickering in firelight, a clear indication of their self-destructive tendencies. They even allude to the historical figure Joan of Arc, and the way she burned at the stake, suggesting that this speaker wants to go out in a similar blaze of glory. In the song's bridge, the angel's sound is described, with the wings of the angels singed, suggesting that even in the realm of heaven, there is a tinge of destruction and imperfection. The chorus repeats the concept of the "fallen idol," as if the singer is purposefully seeking out the aid of fate to bring them down.

The lyrics of "Favorite Fallen Idol" could be interpreted in several ways. One possibility is that the song speaks to the concept of self-sabotage. The singer of the song appears to be someone who may have achieved success or could find success, but instead chooses to fail, as if to prove a point to someone or something. Perhaps they are afraid of the responsibility or the attention that would come with success, or maybe they are just bored or restless.

Alternatively, the song could be seen as a critique of our society's obsession with celebrity and the way we elevate certain individuals to iconic status. The singer of the song is actively seeking out failure as a way to entertain and please others, suggesting that people enjoy watching others fall from grace.

Line by Line Meaning

When I fail, I want to fail completely
I don't want to half-heartedly fail at something, I want to go all in and give it everything I have, even if it means failing completely.

And when I fall, I want to do it neatly
I want my fall to be graceful and without any mess or chaos, I want to make sure it's done in a tidy and clean way.

Traveling side by side
I'm going through this journey along with someone else, whether it's a friend, lover, or confidant.

All due haste to my demise
I'm rushing towards my own destruction or inevitable downfall, without any hesitation or delay.

Flickering in firelight
I'm burning up, both figuratively and literally, under the bright and intense flames of my own passions and desires.

I'm gonna burn like Joan tonight
I'm prepared to go down in flames, just like Joan of Arc did, as a symbolic sacrifice for my own beliefs and convictions.

Oh, this is the angel's sound
This is a heavenly, divine, or otherworldly sound that's beyond human comprehension, as if it were being produced by an angel or celestial being.

With wingtips singed
Even the angels themselves have been affected by the flames and heat of this intense experience, as evidenced by their singed wings.

You're surely heaven bound
Despite the turmoil and chaos of this situation, you're still destined for greatness and heaven above, with an unwavering sense of purpose and direction.

I'm only falling now just to entertain you
I'm falling or failing at something not because I want to, but because I know it will entertain or please someone else, even if it doesn't benefit me in any way.

I'm only failing here, because there's little else to do
I'm failing or not succeeding at something because I've exhausted all other options or because there's not much else I can do to improve the situation.

Underwater, coming up for air
I'm struggling to breathe or survive in a difficult or suffocating environment, but I'm still trying to come up for air and find a way to survive.

Wallow in self-pity and despair
I'm indulging in negative thoughts and feelings of hopelessness and sadness, without making any effort to pull myself out of it.

Well, I haven't got a care
I don't have any worries or concerns, either because I'm carefree or because I've given up trying to address my problems.

I've gotta do my hair
I'm focused on superficial or unimportant things, instead of addressing the deeper issues in my life.

Oh, your fallen idol
You're my hero or role model, even though you've fallen from grace or experienced a major setback, failure, or downfall.

Oh, you're my favorite fallen idol
Out of all the people who have failed or fallen from grace, you're the one I admire or respect the most, despite your flaws and mistakes.

I'm only falling to entertain you
Once again, I'm putting on a show or performing for someone else's benefit or amusement, at the expense of my own well-being or goals.

Pretend
I'm putting on a facade or mask, pretending to be someone or something that I'm not, in order to fit in or avoid facing reality.

Pretend
The repetition of this word highlights how much I'm focused on pretending or avoiding the truth, rather than confronting my problems head-on.

Pretend
Once more, I'm emphasizing the importance of pretending or putting up a front, instead of being honest or genuine about my feelings and actions.

Pretend
This final repetition suggests that the act of pretending has become second nature to me, almost like a coping mechanism or defense mechanism against the harsh realities of life.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS