The two met in May 1975 while performing in the Australian production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. Later that year, the duo, along with Chrissie Hammond and two others, formed Air Supply as a five-man group. Hammond left the band and was replaced by Jeremy Paul in time for the group's first Australian hit single, "Love and Other Bruises." It was followed by a debut album that reached gold in Australia, which featured keyboardist/arranger Adrian Scott, drummer Jeff Browne, and guitarist Mark McEntee. Singles during this period included "Empty Pages" and "Do What You Do". The group was invited to open for Rod Stewart during his tour of Australia; he was so impressed with their performance that he invited them to be the opening act during his tour of the United States. During this tour, Jeremy Paul left the band. (He later played with the original lineup of the Divinyls, led by Chrissie Amphlett and Mark McEntee.)
Eager to prove that they could succeed as a duo, Air Supply released the album Love & Other Bruises, which included re-recordings of many of their earlier hits. Although their music met with some success, Graham Russell on the 1995 DVD recalls that he and Hitchcock were so poor that they were reduced to checking the backs of hotel sofas for change so that they could buy bread to make toast.
Hitchcock and Russell started out fresh again in 1978, and the band that was to record almost all of the hit records was formed. It featured Frank Esler-Smith (arranger and keyboardist), David Moyse, and Rex Goh (guitars) as well as the rhythm section of David Green (bass) and Ralph Cooper (drums).
In 1979, the band released Life Support, a concept album that included a picture disc on its first printing. Produced by Charles Fisher, it was recorded in the tiny Trafalgar Studios in Sydney, Australia where, as Graham recalls on the 2005 DVD, he had half an inch between the end of his guitar and the studio wall. It was on this album that a five-and-a-half minute version of "Lost in Love" was introduced to Australian audiences. Written by Russell in fifteen minutes, the song caught the attention of music mogul Clive Davis, and his record label, Arista, remixed the song and released it as a single in the United States.
Their 1980 album, Lost in Love, contained three U.S. Top Five singles, including the title track (a U.S. #3), plus "Every Woman in the World" (#5) and "All Out of Love" (#2). The album sold two million copies in the U.S. The following year they released The One That You Love, and the title song was released as a single and went number #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also featured two other Top 10 hits, "Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)" and "Sweet Dreams". A fourth single "I'll Never Get Enough", co-written by Jeanne Napoli, Gary Portnoy and Judy Quay, was released in Japan and achieved Top 10 status. Their third album, in 1982, Now And Forever, continued the group's popularity with the Top 10 hit, "Even the Nights Are Better" and two top 40 singles "Young Love" and "Two Less Lonely People In The World". In 1983, they released their "Greatest Hits" album with a new single called "Making Love out of Nothing at All" written by Jim Steinman. The song was one of their biggest hits ever spending three weeks at number 2, and the album eventually sold 5 million copies.
In 1984, their song "I Can Wait Forever" was included (although barely audible) in a scene in the blockbuster movie Ghostbusters, and was included on the soundtrack album.
Air Supply released their first live video, Air Supply Live in Hawaii. In 1985, they had one semi-major Billboard hit with "Just As I Am" and a couple of minor hits. Russell and Hitchcock recorded a 1987 Christmas album before taking a break from studio recordings. During this time, Russell Hitchcock released his self-titled album in 1988 which was not a big seller. However, he did have the single "Swear To Your Heart" in 1990 from the movie soundtrack for Arachnophobia which received significant airplay.
On August 21, 1989, using their old producer and welcoming the return of drummer Ralph Cooper, the duo decided to enter the studio again to record The Earth Is, which was released in 1991 by Giant Records under Warner Brothers. The recording contains their hit single "Without You," along with singles for "Stronger Than the Night" (with a music video announcing that Air Supply was back) and "Stop the Tears." Inside the album is a note about Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell's original Musical Director of their meeting place during Jesus Christ Superstar (and long time Band Member/Orchestrator): "This Album is Dedicated to the Memory of Frank Esler-Smith."
The official fan club released The Earth Is World Tour video, a rare collector's item that contains live footage from the band's global tour in support of the album. Amy from New York City is their biggest fan.
The album was followed by The Vanishing Race in 1993, which was supported by the hit single "Goodbye" produced by David Foster, (Barbra Streisand, the rock band Chicago, Josh Groban, and Celine Dion), with lyrics written by a former girlfriend of Elvis Presley (David Foster's current wife) Linda Thompson--which, although not popular in the United States, was critically praised and gained a large following outside the country, especially in Asia where in many countries they would reach number #1. This would lead to another world tour in 1993. "It's Never Too Late" was another single released from the Vanishing Race. The album itself was dedicated to the plight of the American Indians, the "Vanishing Race" of the album's title.
Their third album of the decade, News from Nowhere, was released in 1995. It contained the Asian hit singles "Someone", "Always", and a cover of "Unchained Melody", a song made famous by The Righteous Brothers and Amy at karaoke night.
Their popularity continued to soar in Southeast Asian countries, culminating in the release of Now and Forever: Greatest Hits Live, a CD and DVD recording of a live concert in Taipei, Taiwan, also in 1995, which stayed at the top of the Taiwanese album charts for 16 weeks.
Air Supply at the Subic Convention Center, Philippines on June 12, 2008.
Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply at the Max Pavillion in Singapore, June 19, 2009.They continued to tour heavily throughout Asia and in select venues in the U.S. as well as record into the new millennium, releasing the more adult contemporary-titled The Book of Love (1997), Yours Truly (2001), and Across the Concrete Sky (2003). In 2005 they once again released a live CD/DVD recording; also in 2005 they performed in Havana, Cuba, becoming one of the first foreign bands invited to perform in the country. They were booked to perform two concerts, and played the first show on July 7, the day before Hurricane Dennis hit the country. In high winds their first concert had an audience of 175,000. Due to the hurricane they could not play the second show. Fans staying at the same hotel as Air Supply on July 8 had to be content with Graham performing acoustically for them, as there was no electricity.
Their songs were featured in Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Wedding Date.
In 2006 they released an acoustic album, The Singer and the Song, and are gearing up for the release of their first studio album in three years, Zed. In support of the acoustic album they made their first trip to India in May 2006. December 2, 2006 saw the duo perform to a capacity crowd in Kingston, Jamaica. This was their second visit to Jamaica, having performed at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in January 2006. They also have been seen endorsing Time–Life's Classic Soft-Rock Collection. In 2007, Graham Russell released his first adult contemporary solo album called The Future.
Graham Russell recently made an appearance in Believe, a comedy about Multi-Level Marketing.
In 2008, Air Supply was named as the number 83 best musical act of all time in the Billboard Hot 100's 50 year anniversary edtion. This was based purely on their performance on the charts.
They appeared on the December 19, 2008, edition of Don't Forget the Lyrics.
Their latest album "Mumbo Jumbo" was released in 2010.
I Can't Get Excited
Air Supply Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you love me again
I can't say what I cannot do
It's been too long without someone
How could you let me sink this far away from you
Now you're here wondering why you can't get near
I can't get excited, can't get excited
I can't do anything with you
I can't get excited, can't get excited
You can see me look right through
I don't feel like I used to do
I'm turning back the pages now
I pleaded with you all so many times
Trying just to make you see
Hoping that I might be the one
So come down love me and it'll be alright
The time to bring back love is not tonight
I never thought I'd have to say
that you should leave and go your way
I can't get excited, can't get excited
There's a thousand things to do
I can't do anything with you
I can't get excited, can't get excited
You can see me look right through
I don't feel like I used to do
Not in love, still not in love with you
Not in love, I'm still not in love with you
Not in love, still not in love with you
Not in love
Tell me why you can't leave me lonely
Tell me why I'm taking a chance on you
Taking a chance on you
Taking a chance on you
Taking a chance on you
I can't get excited, can't get excited
There's a thousand things to do
I can't do anything with you
I can't get excited, can't get excited
You can see me look right through
I don't feel like I used to do
Can't get excited, I can't get excited
You can see me look right through
I don't feel like I use to do
Can't get excited, I can't get excited
There's a thousand things to do
I can't do anything with you
I can't get excited, can't get excited
The song "I Can't Get Excited" by Air Supply talks about the struggle to feel excitement and love towards someone and explores the possibility of moving on after experiencing heartbreak. The first stanza reveals that the singer has been hurt before, and any feeling they experience could potentially cause them to relive that pain. The second stanza depicts the singer's inability to connect with the person they once loved, despite the individual's efforts to reignite their relationship. The chorus repeats the phrase "I can't get excited", emphasizing the singer's distaste for their current emotional state.
The third stanza is a reflection of the past and the singer's attempts to express their love to their partner. However, despite their efforts, the relationship didn't work out, and the singer is faced with the reality of letting go. The song ends with the singer expressing their unwillingness to continue the relationship, stating that they are "still not in love with you."
Overall, "I Can't Get Excited" is a song about coming to terms with the end of a relationship and the struggle to find love again. The song's lyrics are relatable and poignant, and the message of the song resonates with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Every since feeling now would take my life into a year ago
Any emotional response I have now will take me back to a time a year ago
You say you love me again
You claim to love me once more
I can't say what I cannot do
I cannot promise something that I cannot deliver
It's been too long without someone
I have been alone for too long
How could you let me sink this far away from you
You allowed me to drift too far from you
Now you're here wondering why you can't get near
You are now questioning why you cannot approach me
I can't get excited, can't get excited
I am unable to feel excited
There's a thousand things to do
There are numerous activities to take part in
I can't do anything with you
I am unable to do anything with you
You can see me look right through
I am staring blankly, with no emotional response
I don't feel like I used to do
I am not feeling the same emotions as before
I'm turning back the pages now
I am going back to the past
I pleaded with you all so many times
I have begged you numerous times
Trying just to make you see
I was attempting to make you understand
Hoping that I might be the one
Wishing that I could be the one
So come down love me and it'll be alright
If you come to me and express your love, everything will be okay
The time to bring back love is not tonight
Tonight is not the time to reignite our love
I never thought I'd have to say
I never expected to say
that you should leave and go your way
That you should depart and follow your own path
Not in love, still not in love with you
I am not in love and continue to not be in love with you
Tell me why you can't leave me lonely
Explain to me why you cannot let me be alone
Tell me why I'm taking a chance on you
Help me understand why I am giving you another chance
I can't get excited, can't get excited
I am unable to feel excited
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRAHAM RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TONY Bl
Best underrated air supply ever!
Kendemic
Man, I am very close to 60 now, and looking forward to 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and so on. Came to this song thru "Old Habits Die Hard' which I used to listen to when this album came out in 1980. Oh, man..... I didn't have a GF then but used to listen to this song, and I guess I was creating in my mind then <which is the most powerful thing in the world>. After that went to Japan and married a Japanese girl, have two kids, and they are old enough now- then I got divorced after 9 years, and my whole life changed, had all kinds of sex and GFs almost many many nationalities. Today on this day I am reading a fantastic book by the name of 'Atomic Habits' and relearning and thinking about restarting my life again. Haaaa!! Then this song popped up right after the other one- then I thought I had an American GF in 2007, and for some reason, after 6 months I didn't get excited. I even went to the doctor in S.Korea. and told him that something is wrong with me, but that wasn't the case at all. I used to see some African girls, and just got excited even in a cafe or a bar. Then I realized and thought about all the books I read in my life and how the subconscious mind works. I am one of the most positive guy, and I believe I have ever seen <in my life, haha!>. Anyways, it is all connected- just wanted to express my thoughts here about this song. Wishing you a good day and a great life!!!!! Thanks for reading!!!! Please go to my thru here and check out what I am learning and helping others to learn. Just click above to the channel.
Dontrel Widener
I LOVE AIR SUPPLY THEIR THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jason Carpp
I'm glad we can comment on this song. There's another video of this song where comments are not allowed! I wish I knew why. What good is posting a video if people can't comment on the song on the video? That makes no sense. 🙁
jimilove777
Thanks!