Aztec Camera was a Scottish Indie pop/New Wave band from Glasgow.

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.

Song for a Friend
Aztec Camera Lyrics

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Awake in winter's crystal hours
And give to what gets you in the end
For the sake of a love that just devours
And smiles and takes and lays you down again

Run free the moon is always female
Straight to what's still and will not bend
Don't wait for his sunshine to surround you

Consume and fake and let you down again

'cause' life is short and you better get smart
To the people who know nothing and surround you

Stand straight in what kills you and confounds you
And break its chains and still believe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Song for a Friend" by Aztec Camera carry a message of caution to the listener. It advises us to be aware of the destructive nature of love and urges us to not become consumed by it. It highlights the importance of awakening in harsh situations, both literally and metaphorically, where clarity can be achieved by coming to terms with our emotions.

The lyrics also urge the listener to pursue personal growth and not wait for anyone else to bring happiness. The line "Don't wait for his sunshine to surround you, consume and fake and let you down again" highlights that relying on someone else for validation and happiness can end up being harmful. The song stresses that one must take charge of their own life and not let the world consume them.

Overall, the lyrics of "Song for a Friend" emphasize the importance of self-awareness, self-love, and inner strength as a means of overcoming life's challenges. It highlights the need to be cautious in love and prioritize oneself over anyone else.

Line by Line Meaning

Awake in winter's crystal hours
Be aware during difficult times

And give to what gets you in the end
Spend your energy on what truly matters

For the sake of a love that just devours
Sacrifice for a valuable love

And smiles and takes and lays you down again
Love could be distressing and destructive

Run free the moon is always female
Take advantage of opportunities

Straight to what's still and will not bend
Go for what is consistent and reliable

Don't wait for his sunshine to surround you
Don't rely on someone else's happiness

Consume and fake and let you down again
Bad people will let you down

'cause life is short and you better get smart
Life is brief and you must be wise

To the people who know nothing and surround you
Be cautious of those who do not have your best interests in mind

Stand straight in what kills you and confounds you
Be brave in the face of adversity