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.
The Crying Scene
Aztec Camera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stars like the ones in the sky
A love scene and a vision
We saw the world and we waved goodbye
Watched the fireworks falling
We kissed and innocence died
The sound of certainty calling
I said, you only get one hit, that's the beauty of it
What's the good in crying?
It's always been that way at the end of the day
You gotta keep on trying
Life's a one take movie
And I don't care what it means
I'm saving up my tears
For the crying scene
Tears fall and they haunt me
The sad words of the song
It's like necessity wants me
Sometimes, I long just to belong
I dream of demons and money
I see the straights in the rain
I gotta keep on movin'
Before they drag me down again
You only get one hit, that's the beauty of it
What's the good in crying?
It's always been that way at the end of the day
You gotta keep on trying
I said, life's a one take movie
And I don't care what it means
I'm saving up my tears
For the crying scene
I said, you only get one hit, that's the beauty of it
What's the good in crying?
It's always been that way at the end of the day
You gotta keep on trying
Life's a one take movie
And I don't care what it means
I'm saving up my tears
For the crying scene
The crying scene
The crying scene
The song "The Crying Scene" by Aztec Camera is a poignant commentary on the fleeting nature of love and life. The opening lines "We were two in a million, Stars like the ones in the sky" establish a sense of rarity and wonder but also of impermanence. The chorus "You only get one hit, that's the beauty of it, What's the good in crying?" presents a fatalistic viewpoint that espouses resilience in the face of life's challenges. The singer seems determined to save their tears for the "crying scene," meaning they will not be upset by the small things in life but will instead reserve that energy for a more significant emotional moment.
The verses discuss the pain of loss and the challenge of moving on, juxtaposed with the beauty of life and the potential for love. The line "A world that wouldn't be satisfied" suggests that despite the beauty and excitement of the moment, the world is always looking for more and is never content. The lines "I dream of demons and money, I see the straights in the rain" speak to a sense of struggle and desperation, that despite the singer's resolve to keep moving forward, there are still moments of fear and uncertainty.
Overall, "The Crying Scene" is a song about the complexity of life and love, the value of resilience, and the importance of choosing one's battles wisely.
Line by Line Meaning
We were two in a million
We were special and unique, like finding two specific stars from a vast sky.
Stars like the ones in the sky
Our relationship was rare and dazzling, like the stars we looked up at together.
A love scene and a vision
We had a storybook relationship, full of passion and dreams for the future.
We saw the world and we waved goodbye
We experienced freedom and adventure together, but eventually had to say goodbye to that chapter of our lives.
Watched the fireworks falling
We witnessed a breathtaking display of beauty and excitement together.
We kissed and innocence died
Our intimate moment marked the end of our naivety and carefree youth.
The sound of certainty calling
We both recognized the need to move on and pursue our individual paths.
A world that wouldn't be satisfied
The world can be demanding and unyielding, and it was difficult to please everyone.
I said, you only get one hit, that's the beauty of it
Life is unpredictable, and it's important to cherish every moment because you don't know what will come next.
What's the good in crying?
There's no point in dwelling on things that can't be changed or undone.
It's always been that way at the end of the day
Throughout history, the idea of accepting life's ups and downs at the end of the day is a common theme.
You gotta keep on trying
Perseverance and a positive attitude are necessary to overcome obstacles.
Life's a one take movie
You can't go back and edit or redo your life, so you have to make the best of what you have.
And I don't care what it means
I'm not obsessing over the meaning of life or what my role in it might be, and am content to simply live my life.
I'm saving up my tears
I'm not going to waste emotions on insignificant moments, and am reserving them for truly meaningful times.
Tears fall and they haunt me
Memories of sadness and loss can be overwhelming and continue to affect me.
The sad words of the song
The lyrics of a piece of music can bring up deep emotions and memories.
It's like necessity wants me
There are societal and personal pressures that make it difficult to break away from the norm and be true to oneself.
Sometimes, I long just to belong
The desire to fit in and be accepted is a universal human experience.
I dream of demons and money
My subconscious is preoccupied with fear and desire for wealth.
I see the straights in the rain
I envision mundane, everyday experiences in a melancholy light.
I gotta keep on movin'
I need to stay active and make progress towards my goals to avoid becoming stagnant or unhappy.
Before they drag me down again
I don't want negative influences to ruin my life or pull me back into unhealthy patterns.
The crying scene
The ultimate emotional release, where tears flow freely and the full depth of an experience is felt.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Daniels
So let's go down the "Early 90s Alternative Music Aesthetic Checklist":
1. Weird name that only really smart people understand--CHECK.
2. Attractive female bass player--CHECK
3. Pale, moody lead singer with bed-head--CHECK
4. Sole black bandmate on drums--CHECK
(Note: If band has no female members, the black member may be the bassist. In any case, a proper Early Alternative rhythm section should include at least one woman and/or one black person. Aztec Camera may be the only band of the era to have both☺)
5. Band should come from any one or combination of the following: England, Ireland, or Australia.
If American: Athens, GA; Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, or Seattle will do--PARTIAL CREDIT (they're from Scotland)
4.5 out of 5...not bad😁
vladi569
One of the most underrated songs in the entire world. I am serious.
Brian Schmitzer
Agreed
Daniel García Espinoza
+vladi569 Totally agree!
New Dawnfades
Agree as well.
John Gurnick
because you're right - brilliant!
david evans
The word underated is overated and over used.Roddy Frame and Aztec camera were never underated.
Rapha marx
maravilhosa música do Aztec Camera. desde 1994 ate hoje , e super alto-astral. clássico instantâneo
James Lansing
The most underrated band of many an era...so glad I got to see them many times!
Swordsquire
Still sounds as epic as it did from day one!
Graham Young
“You only get one hit.....that’s the beauty of it!” Brilliant!