Moyet was born to a French father and English mother. She grew up in Basildon, where she attended school. After leaving school at 16, she worked as a shop worker and a piano tuner. She was involved in a number of punk rock, pub rock and blues bands in the South East Essex area during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including The Vandals and the Screamin' Ab Dabs, The Vicars, The Vandals (UK 1978) and The Little Roosters.
Her mainstream pop career began in 1982 when she formed the electro-pop duo Yazoo with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke. The duo had several hits, including "Situation", "Only You", "Don't Go" and recorded two albums, "Upstairs At Eric's" and "You And Me Both". The group was notable for melding Clarke's trademark electronic sounds with Moyet's warm, soulful voice.
In 1983 Moyet and Clarke decided to disband Yazoo. While Clarke went on to form Erasure, Moyet signed to CBS (in part because it had been Janis Joplin's label), and began her solo career.
In 1984 she released her debut album "Alf" (titled after her punk-era nickname). Alf included contributions by popular producers/songwriters Swain and Jolley, as well as a song, "Invisible", written by Motown legend Lamont Dozier. The record was a hit in Britain, reaching number one in the album charts. Alf spawned 3 hit singles, "Love Resurrection", "Invisible" and "All Cried Out". In the US, "Invisible" was a Top 40 hit (something Yazoo had never achieved).
In 1985 Moyet performed at the historic Live Aid concert, alongside Paul Young. She also released a single not featured on "Alf", a cover of the standard "That Ole Devil Called Love." The single went to #2 on the UK singles chart. (At present, it remains Moyet's highest-charting UK single.)
In 1986 Moyet had another big UK hit with the single "Is This Love?," followed in 1987 by the album Raindancing. Raindancing spawned further hit singles, including a cover of Floy Joy's "Weak In The Presence of Beauty" and "Ordinary Girl". In 1987, she scored another cover hit with "Love Letters"; the video for the song featured comedy duo French & Saunders.
Following a period of personal and career evaluation Hoodoo was released in 1991. Hoodoo, which took several steps away from the glossy pop sheen of Raindancing and was a far earthier and more personal album. Compared to her earlier releases, Hoodoo received little label support and only minimal promotion. The album sold respectably in Britain, and was nominated for a Grammy for the single "It Won't Be Long." However, the release of Hoodoo marked the beginning of what was to become a long fight for Moyet to secure complete control of her artistic direction. Like many similar artists of Moyet's calibre (including Aimee Mann and the late Kirsty MacColl), Moyet was reluctant to record a radio-friendly "pop" album simply for the sake of creating chart hits.
Moyet's next album Essex (1994) was also a source of controversy for her; in order for the album to be released, her label (now Sony) insisted that certain Essex tracks be re-recorded and re-produced, and that there be additional material remixed to create a more 'commercial' package. The video for the single "Whispering Your Name" again featured Dawn French.
Following the release of Essex, Sony released a greatest-hits compilation of Moyet's work the following year. Singles entered the UK charts at number one. Following incredible CD success and a UK tour, Singles was re-issued as a double CD set which included "No Overdubs", a bonus live CD. Upon re-issue Singles again charted, this time in the top 20.
Due to prolonged litigation with Sony, Moyet did not record or release a new studio album for over eight years after the release of Essex. During this time, however, Moyet recorded vocals for Tricky, Sylk-130, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds and King Britt, and was featured on the British leg of the Lilith Fair tour. 2001 saw the release of The Essential Alison Moyet CD.
In August 2002, after years of holding out and refusing to compromise, Moyet was finally released from her Sony contract. Moyet signed to Sanctuary Records and released her first studio album in eight years, Hometime, an album which Sony had refused to release. Hometime was produced by the Insects, who had also produced works by Goldfrapp and Massive Attack. The release of the CD launched Moyet into the top five best-selling female UK artists of 2002 and resulted in a Brit nomination for Best Female Vocal as well as a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.
Moyet's following CD, Voice, an eclectic collection of covers, was released on 6 September 2004 and entered the UK charts at number seven. The album was later re-issued with a bonus track, "Alfie." A companion DVD, One Blue Voice, was released in 2006.
After signing with the W14 Music label in late 2006, Moyet released the all-original The Turn in October 2007. As of this writing (15 Sept 2008), Moyet will be touring North America for the first time in 14 years after the huge success of the Yazoo Reconnected Tour of 2008.
www.alisonmoyet.com/
Blow Wind Blow
Alison Moyet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please, don't cry.
I will take you somewhere
Where they can't hurt you.
I won't let them hurt you now.
Let them know that our love knows no shame,
And we'll do it time, and time, and time again
Till everything comes down.
I'm not afraid.
I'm not afraid.
Blow, wind, blow.
Blow dust into their eyes, and
Make them see that they have always been blind.
Touch me.
I want to wrap you in my arms, and
You'll have no reason for crying.
Blow, wind, blow.
Blow, wind, blow.
Blow dust into their eyes and help them
Realize that they have always been blind.
And I could show you something that you would never believe.
You could never conceive the joy that I could give you.
Take me.
Take me.
Blow, wind, blow.
Blow, wind, blow.
Blow, wind, blow dust into their eyes and
Let them know that nothing that we do will ever...
Never be forgotten.
Blow, wind, blow.
Blow.
Blow.
Blow, wind, blow.
The lyrics of Alison Moyet's song Blow Wind Blow can be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener's perspective. Some may see it as a song about standing up to oppression or a message of hope to someone who is feeling helpless. The opening lines, "Don't cry, please don't cry. I will take you somewhere where they can't hurt you" can be interpreted as someone trying to comfort and protect another person who is in a vulnerable state.
The chorus, "Blow, wind, blow. Blow dust into their eyes and make them see that they have always been blind" may be seen as a metaphor for bringing awareness and enlightenment to those who have been ignorant or turn a blind eye to the realities of others. The line "let them know that nothing that we do will ever be forgotten" may also indicate that the message being conveyed will leave a lasting impact and not be easily erased.
The third stanza, "Touch me. I want to wrap you in my arms and you'll have no reason for crying" is a comforting message that someone is there to provide support, love, and care. The song's message is ultimately one of hope, love, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't cry,
I want to comfort and reassure you.
Please, don't cry.
I don't want to see you hurt or upset.
I will take you somewhere
I will protect and shield you from harm.
Where they can't hurt you.
I will find a safe place for us to be together.
I won't let them hurt you now.
I will fight to keep you safe and secure.
Let them know that our love knows no shame,
We should not be ashamed of our love for one another.
And we'll do it time, and time, and time again
We will stand up for our love, no matter how many times we must do so.
Till everything comes down.
We will persist until we overcome all obstacles in our path.
I'm not afraid.
I am brave and resolute in my commitment to you.
Blow, wind, blow.
I am calling upon the elements to help us.
Blow dust into their eyes, and
I want to blind those who seek to harm us.
Make them see that they have always been blind.
I want them to realize the error of their ways.
Touch me.
I want to feel your warmth and affection.
I want to wrap you in my arms, and
I want to hold you close and protect you.
You'll have no reason for crying.
I will comfort and console you until you feel better.
Blow, wind, blow. Blow, wind, blow.
I am still calling upon the elements to help us.
Help them realize that they have always been blind.
I want them to see the truth of our love.
And I could show you something that you would never believe.
I have something special and exciting to share with you.
You could never conceive the joy that I could give you.
I have so much happiness to offer you.
Take me.
I am willing to go wherever you want to go.
Blow, wind, blow. Blow, wind, blow.
I am still calling upon the elements to help us.
Let them know that nothing that we do will ever...
We will be together forever and nothing can change that.
Never be forgotten.
Our love is strong and enduring, and will never be forgotten.
Blow, wind, blow. Blow. Blow. Blow, wind, blow.
I am still calling upon the elements to help us.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ALISON MOYET, JESS BAILEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind