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.
Orchid Girl
Aztec Camera Lyrics
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Hope you know the consequences
'cause beauty wounds will make us strong
With truth we'll test our old defenses
And all my friends will make amends
They're green and gray and gold and groovy
And reconciled, they'll shake and smile
Judge this world through jaundiced eyes
They're sold too soon and none too wise
Their big blue God is in the sky
Orchid girl, don't spend your money
They asked me what the meek would get
Pictured me afraid to answer
I told them that when thought's entombed
Then love will show it's root in Cancer
The sweet disorder in your eye
Has drawn me here through graves and gardens
I'm going in, you're going in here
Are your smokes, your jokes
You're getting soaked, I'm angry
And my fists are pocketed
We'll judge this world through jaundiced eyes
We're sold too soon and none too wise
The big blue God is in the sky
He takes the blame and never cries
But Orchid girl, you'd make my day
You'd blow their cloud of crap away
If you would just refuse to pay
Orchid girl, you'd make my day
The lyrics of Aztec Camera's song "Orchid Girl" explore themes of beauty, truth, and judgment. The opening lines question the meaning of beauty and warn of the consequences that come with it. The singer suggests that beauty can be both empowering and damaging, as it can wound us but also make us stronger. He goes on to suggest that truth is the key to testing our defenses and becoming truly strong.
Through the rest of the song, the singer reflects on the judgmental nature of the world and the importance of refusing to conform. He urges the titular "Orchid Girl" to refuse to pay the price of conformity and to challenge the status quo. The song speaks to the idea of staying true to oneself in a world that values conformity over individuality.
Overall, the lyrics of "Orchid Girl" are introspective and thought-provoking. They urge listeners to question what they believe and to resist pressure to conform to societal norms. At the same time, they acknowledge the difficulties of navigating a world that often values conformity and judgment over individuality and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you mean by beauty?
Asking for the definition of beauty
Hope you know the consequences
Warning that beauty can have negative consequences
'cause beauty wounds will make us strong
Belief that experiencing the pain of beauty will make us stronger
With truth we'll test our old defenses
Using truth to challenge previously held beliefs and defenses
And all my friends will make amends
Friends will reconcile with each other
They're green and gray and gold and groovy
Describing the diverse group of friends
And reconciled, they'll shake and smile
The friends will happily reunite
Smile at me as though they knew me
Friends will welcome each other back warmly
Judge this world through jaundiced eyes
Encouragement to be skeptical of the world
They're sold too soon and none too wise
Criticism of society for buying into things too quickly without much thought
Their big blue God is in the sky
Reference to a common religious belief
Orchid girl, don't spend your money
Advice to not waste money
They asked me what the meek would get
People asked about a religious concept of meekness
Pictured me afraid to answer
Imagining the singer being hesitant to reply
I told them that when thought's entombed
The singer's reply about love being revealed in hard times
Then love will show it's root in Cancer
Love will be evident even in the darkest times
The sweet disorder in your eye
Describing the beauty seen in the person's eye
Has drawn me here through graves and gardens
The beauty has attracted the singer to this place
I'm going in, you're going in here
Going into a situation together
Are your smokes, your jokes
Asking if the person has their cigarettes and jokes
You're getting soaked, I'm angry
The person is getting wet and the artist is upset about it
And my fists are pocketed
The artist is not intending to fight
We'll judge this world through jaundiced eyes
Reflecting on being skeptical of the world
We're sold too soon and none too wise
Implying society buys into things too easily without much thought
The big blue God is in the sky
Reference to a common religious belief
He takes the blame and never cries
Belief that God is responsible for everything but does not suffer
But Orchid girl, you'd make my day
The person would be happy if the orchid girl did something
You'd blow their cloud of crap away
The orchid girl would dispel the negativity
If you would just refuse to pay
The orchid girl should not waste her money
Orchid girl, you'd make my day
The singer would be happy if the orchid girl did something
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind