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/
Situation
Alison Moyet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moving through the doorway of a nation
Pick me up and shake the doubt
Baby I can't do without
[Chorus]
Move out, don't mess around
Move out, you bring me down
Don't make a sound just move out
I remember only for an hour
Move right through me, can you feel the power?
I don't know what's going on
It scares me but it won't take long
[Chorus]
Now he's in control, he is my lover
Nations stand against him, he's your brother
Been a long time, been a long time now
I'll get to you somehow
[Chorus]
In "Situation," Alison Moyet sings about someone who is always ready for any scenario, but is also filled with uncertainty and fear. She starts off by describing this person as "blue-eyed dressed for every situation," someone who appears confident and put-together while "moving through the doorway of a nation." However, in the next line, Moyet suggests that perhaps this persona is just a facade: "pick me up and shake the doubt, baby I can't do without." The person she sings about may be afraid of the unknown or unsureness of the future, suggesting why they may feel the need to be prepared for every situation.
In the chorus, Moyet sings about the need to move on from this person, using the repetition of "move out" to emphasize this idea. It seems that this person may be bringing Moyet down or holding her back, as she repeats "you bring me down." The final line of the chorus, "don't make a sound just move out," suggests a sense of urgency to leave and break free from this unhealthy relationship or situation.
In the final verse, Moyet introduces a new character, "he," who is now in control and her lover. This person is powerful and national allegiances are divided over him, but Moyet still feels the need to escape and find a way to be with him. It is unclear who this person is, but the song suggests that he is a polarizing figure with a lot of influence.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue eyed dressed for every situation
Alison Moyet is describing someone as being able to handle every situation and being prepared for anything.
Moving through the doorway of a nation
This line suggests that the subject is confident and strides through life with ease, no matter where they are.
Pick me up and shake the doubt
The subject is looking for someone or something to reassure them and make them confident again.
Baby I can't do without
The subject is implying that they need whoever they are addressing in their life and can't imagine going on without them.
Move out, don't mess around
The song's chorus is a call to action for whoever is listening, telling them to stop wasting time and get moving.
Move out, you bring me down
This line could be interpreted as telling someone to leave, as they are bringing the singer down emotionally or mentally.
Move out, how you get about?
The singer is curious about how this person is able to navigate life so easily and is asking them to share their secrets.
Don't make a sound just move out
This line can be interpreted as a dismissal of whoever the song is addressing - the singer wants them to leave in silence.
I remember only for an hour
This line implies that whatever the singer is reminiscing about, it only stuck with them for a short time before slipping away from their memory.
Move right through me, can you feel the power?
The singer is describing a feeling of being overwhelmed and powerless in the presence of another person, yet still being drawn to them.
I don't know what's going on
This line suggests confusion and a lack of clarity in the singer's life.
It scares me but it won't take long
Although the subject is frightening or unsettling to the singer, they believe that it won't last forever and they will be okay in the end.
Now he's in control, he is my lover
This line indicates that the subject has assumed a dominant role in the singer's life and the two are romantically involved.
Nations stand against him, he's your brother
This could be interpreted as a reference to a political or ideological stance that the subject shares with many, and the singer is suggesting that despite this, they are still close to him.
Been a long time, been a long time now
This line implies that the singer has been waiting for a while for something to happen or for a situation to resolve itself.
I'll get to you somehow
Despite the difficulties or obstacles in their way, the singer is promising to find a way to reach the person they are addressing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Alison Moyet, Vince Clarke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Wow, she looks great! Better than in her 20's.... And she still sounds great too!
Tlpopescu
Vermillion 303 Yeah. Same with Ann Wilson. Both such great singers and their weight always brought up. Can’t imagine how tough to front a band & dealing with all the sex symbols around and then insults against you.
Andrew C.
She's a total babe.
Arkantos
@Vermillion 303 maybe because she is in the spotlight, and she is hotter than before. Why were you triggered over people complimenting her?
Tybok C
amazing how some some women improve with age :) she looks hotter now than she did back in the 80's..
gomapeti
Amazing woman and great voice! She still rocks!
Radix Reuel
INDEED 💯% H 2 The YES ✨
MrC
gomapeti always did
Jesús Manuel Paz González
Dios...a esta mujer la mantiene intacta esa canción (hit) de hace más de 30 años......OMG!!!!
Jim Livio
How Alison Moyet never became a bigger thing than she was has always baffled me. Incredible voice and stage presence.