Jones had begun writing songs and recording home demos as part of an experimental theatre group in Sheffield. A collection of these demos (I Was Born a Man) was released in the summer of 1995, under the name Baby Bird. Following a warm critical reception for this record, he recruited a band made up of Huw Chadbourne (keyboards), Robert Gregory (drums), John Pedder (bass) and Luke Scott (guitar), in order to tour and promote his work.
During 1995, two further albums of demo recordings were released under the name Baby Bird (Bad Shave and Fatherhood) and two in 1996 (The Happiest Man Alive and Dying Happy).
By the end of the year, a decent public following had been built up, as well as quite considerable excitment within the press and music industry. Babybird were signed to Echo Records (a division of the Chrysalis Group), and the first "proper" single, a full-band recording of "Goodnight", which had appeared in demo form on Fatherhood, was eventually released in the summer of 1996, becoming a minor chart hit in the UK.
"You're Gorgeous"
The second single, You're Gorgeous, reached number 3 in the UK in October 1996, and was also one of the biggest selling singles of the year, going on to chart around the world. This remains the song for which Stephen Jones and Babybird are best known.
However, it presented a much more commercial face to the public in comparison to Jones' previous work. The early demo albums won Jones great credibility with those who heard them, but had not reached a wide audience (each one being a one-off pressing). Arguably, the commercial sound and success of "You're Gorgeous", which received massive exposure by comparison, made it hard for many to take Jones seriously as an indie artist. Essentially, what he was best at was no longer what he was best known for.
After "You're Gorgeous"
The album Ugly Beautiful was released to a warm reception, but was not the unmitigated critical triumph that some had anticipated from Babybird's first studio-recorded album. The album produced two more hit singles, Candy Girl and Cornershop.
Babybird returned, minus keyboardist Huw Chadbourne, in 1998 with There's Something Going On, preceded by a single, Bad Old Man. The album was a modest success and was followed by further minor hits, If You'll Be Mine and Back Together.
In 2000, a line-up of Babybird comprising Stephen Jones, Luke Scott and Matt Hay created a third album. Bugged, which was well-received critically (it might be suggested that it is an album of the right quality, but four years later than expected). However, sales were poor and the two singles from it, The F-Word (later the theme tune to a UK TV cookery show of the same name) and Out of Sight barely dented the charts. Babybird were dropped by their record label soon after. A third single from the album Fireflies was released on Animal Noise records, but sold few copies. The band subsequently split.
Stephen Jones went on to write fiction, release solo work and score a film, Blessed, in 2004.
In October 2005, a posting on the official Babybird website announced that the band had reformed as a three-piece featuring Stephen, Luke Scott and Robert Gregory, and would be releasing new material in 2006.
The last CD, called "Between My Ears There's Nothing But Music", was released in autumn 2006 and didn't seem to have encountered a big success.
Stephen Jones has also released Solo material, not to be confused with the american artist of the same name.
In September 2009, Stephen Jones launched an online Babybird community, on which he regularly posts.
A brief tour of the UK was undertaken in November 2009 with the lineup of Stephen Jones, Luke Scott and Robert Gregory. This tour was to promote the new album, Ex-Maniac, due for release in February 2010. Johnny Depp, a long time fan, appears on the album Ex-Maniac, as guitarist in the first single off the album, Unloveable.
You're Gorgeous Too
Babybird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember that tanktop you bought me
You wrote "you're gorgeous" on it
You took me to your rented motor car
And filmed me on the bonnet
You got me to hitch my knees up
And pulled my legs apart
You took an instamatic camera
Because you're gorgeous
I'd do anything for you
Because you're gorgeous
I know you'll get me through
You said my clothes were sexy
You tore away my shirt
You rubbed an icecube on my chest
Snapped me till it hurt
You said I wasn't cheap
You paid me 20 pounds
You promised to put me in a magazine
On every table in every lounge
Because you're gorgeous
I'd do anything for you
Because you're gorgeous
I know you'll get me, know you'll get me through
Know you'll get me through
Know you'll get me through
Know you'll get me, know you'll get me through
I know you'll get me, know you'll get me
Know you'll get me through
Because you're gorgeous
I'd do anything for you
Because you're gorgeous
I know you'll get me, know you'll get me through
Know you'll get me through
The lyrics of Babybird's "You're Gorgeous Too" paint a vivid picture of a seemingly unhealthy relationship between the singer and their lover. The opening line describes a tank top that the lover had bought for the singer, on which the lover had written "you're gorgeous." This immediately sets the tone for the song, as the lover's obsessive behavior is apparent. The next lines describe the lover filming the singer on the bonnet of their rented car and taking pictures of them with an Instamatic camera.
The following verses become more sexual in nature, with the lover tearing away the singer's shirt and rubbing an ice cube on their chest. The lover also pays the singer £20 and promises to put them in a magazine. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the singer would do anything for the lover because they are gorgeous, and that the singer knows the lover will get them through.
The lyrics of the song seem to depict an unhealthy relationship dynamic, with the singer seemingly enamored with their partner despite the latter's possessive and objectifying behavior. However, some interpretations suggest that the singer is aware of their partner's flaws but chooses to ignore them due to their physical attraction. Overall, the song's lyrics paint a complicated and nuanced picture of a relationship that is simultaneously alluring and unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember that tanktop you bought me
You once bought me a tanktop which I still remember
You wrote 'you're gorgeous' on it
You wrote the phrase 'you're gorgeous' on that tanktop
You took me to your rented motor car
You showed me your rented motor car and took me for a ride
And filmed me on the bonnet
You recorded a video of me on the car's front hood using a camera
You got me to hitch my knees up
You asked me to lift my knees up towards my chest
And pulled my legs apart
You separated my legs and made me pose a certain way
You took an instamatic camera
You used a specific type of camera called 'instamatic camera'
And pulled my sleeves around my heart
You made me wrap my sleeves around my heart area for a photo
Because you're gorgeous
You are very attractive and desirable
I'd do anything for you
I'd go out of my way to please you
I know you'll get me through
I have faith in you that you'll be there for me when I need you
You said my clothes were sexy
You complimented my clothing as being arousing and seductive
You tore away my shirt
You ripped off my shirt in a forceful manner
You rubbed an icecube on my chest
You ran an ice cube over my bare chest, possibly as an act of foreplay
Snapped me till it hurt
You took many pictures of me, even when it became painful or uncomfortable
You said I wasn't cheap
You praised me for not being a low-quality or low-value person
You paid me 20 pounds
You gave me twenty pounds as some form of compensation
You promised to put me in a magazine
You made a commitment to feature me in a magazine
On every table in every lounge
You envisioned me being on display everywhere in every space
Know you'll get me through
I strongly believe you will help me overcome any obstacle or difficulty
Know you'll get me through
I have complete trust in you to support me no matter what
Know you'll get me through
I am confident that you will be there for me when I need you most
Writer(s): Jones Steven Michael
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.