Th… Read Full Bio ↴Aztec Camera was a Scottish Indie pop/New Wave band from Glasgow.
The line-up of the band changed several times over the years, but the constant member had been guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Ex-Bluebells bassist Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 through 1985, before joining The Smiths. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) also joined in 1983, and appeared on the Knife album.
Aztec Camera first gained recognition as part of the Scottish post-punk scene along with bands like Orange Juice and Josef K, all of which released singles on the influential Glasgow-based label Postcard records. The band's first UK 7" single was released by Postcard in 1981, containing the songs "Just Like Gold" and "We Could Send Letters". The latter was included on the NME's C81 compilation, which pointed strongly towards the future C86 indie pop movement in the United Kingdom.
Though most commonly remembered generally as part of the 80s New Wave era, Aztec Camera has gone through numerous stylistic changes throughout their career, ranging from stripped-down, almost pastoral post-punk to slicker, more sophisticated pop rock as well as jazz and latin influenced acoustic ballads. As Roddy Frame's guitar playing has always been the signature of the band's music, guitar pop might be a more succinct description.
Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in 1983. However, Owens and Mulholland left the group before the release, leaving Frame to complete the album alone. The album was quite successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band went on to release a total of six albums, although most of these were essentially written and played by Frame. The albums included Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).
After the release of their sixth album, Frestonia, Frame finally dissolved the band to go solo.
Popular songs by Aztec Camera include "Oblivious", "Somewhere in My Heart", and "Good Morning Britain" (a duet with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones).
The group have also done cover versions of Blue Orchids "Bad Education", and a slowed-down version of Van Halen's Jump.
A 'Best of' collection was released in 1999.
Beautiful Girl
Aztec Camera Lyrics
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To have time on your side
And never worry too much?
Never alone, kicking at stones
As though you're never been touched
Touched by the feeling
That nothing is real
It's all an illusion
One of the guys
With nothing to prove
Beautiful girl, how in the world
Could you be suffering so
Life's lost it's appeal
And maybe I feel
A little more than you know
Why should I care
When everyone has their share
Perhaps your hearts like my own
You may despair but you're never alone
Long as the shore summons the sea
To hold and to heal
We're borne on our way to bloom and decay
And this is the deal
Can you feel the love stopping the wheel
Beautiful girl
Simple and still heaven, revealed
Watching the water
That flows in the river
I've been feeling so sad
Seems like the things that today has to give
Are not as good as I had
Changes are coming
Don't know if I'm ready
Is my head in the clouds
River keep
Running away from it
Long as the shore summons the sea
To hold and to heal
We're borne on our way to bloom and decay
And this is the deal
Can you feel love stopping the wheel
Beautiful girl
Simple and still you're heaven revealed
The song "Beautiful Girl" by Aztec Camera is a poignant ballad about feeling lost, dejected and struggling to find purpose. The opening lyrics invite the listener to imagine someone who always has time on their side and never worries too much. They seem carefree and untouched by the harshness of reality. The singer then asks how it is possible that someone as beautiful as this girl is suffering so much, and wonders if he feels a little more than she knows. The song takes on existential themes as it compares human experience to being borne on our way to bloom and decay, with love being the only thing that can stop the wheel.
The second verse adds to the melancholic tone with the singer watching a river, and feeling sad about the lack of good things today has to give. He references changes that are coming, but he is not sure if he is ready for them, and questions if his head is in the clouds. The closing lyrics repeat the idea that we are all born to bloom and decay, but as long as we have love, we can experience heaven on earth. In summary, "Beautiful Girl" is a song about the struggles of the human condition and the importance of love in finding meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel
What does it feel like
To have time on your side
To have plenty of time on your hands
And never worry too much?
And not feel the stress of worrying
Never alone, kicking at stones
Killing time by playing with stones
As though you're never been touched
As if you haven't been through any emotionally arousing event
Touched by the feeling
Emotionally affected by the sensation
That nothing is real
That everything is an illusion
It's all an illusion
It's all a figment of one's imagination
Wheels in the drive
The car's wheels are circulating
One of the guys
Just a common man
With nothing to prove
Not needing to prove anything to anyone
Beautiful girl, how in the world
Attractive woman, why
Could you be suffering so
Are you experiencing great troubles
Life's lost it's appeal
Life is no longer entertaining
And maybe I feel
And maybe I sense
A little more than you know
A bit more than you are aware of
Why should I care
Why do I need to be concerned
When everyone has their share
When everyone has their portion
Perhaps your hearts like my own
Possibly our emotions are alike
You may despair but you're never alone
You could suffer hopelessness, but you're not abandoned
Watching the water
Observing the water
That flows in the river
That circulates in the river
I've been feeling so sad
I have been melancholic
Seems like the things that today has to give
It appears that today's offerings are lacking
Are not as good as I had
Are inferior to what I anticipated
Changes are coming
Alterations are approaching
Don't know if I'm ready
I'm unsure if I'm prepared
Is my head in the clouds
Am I being unrealistic
River keep
River continue
Running away from it
Escaping from it
Long as the shore summons the sea
As long as the beach consistently attracts the ocean tide
To hold and to heal
To embrace and recuperate
We're borne on our way to bloom and decay
We are on a journey to grow and then deteriorate
And this is the deal
And this is what we are facing
Can you feel love stopping the wheel
Can you sense love ending the cycle
Beautiful girl
Gorgeous woman
Simple and still you're heaven revealed
Simple and calm, yet you show me paradise
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind