Belle and Sebastian released their first two albums in 1996: Tigermilk, recorded over three days, and If You're Feeling Sinister, recorded in a week, at the peak of the chamber pop movement. At first, some critics in Britain's music weeklies tied the band into the subgenre, yet the group was too pretty, too delicate, to bear that label. Through their first two years of public existence, the band shielded their personalities, submitting publicity photos featuring a girl, who was a friend of the band and reluctantly posing for photo shoots. Furthermore, they performed in odd venues, playing not only the standard coffeehouses and cafes, but also homes, church halls, and libraries.
Prior to the formation of Belle and Sebastian, Murdoch suffered from a protracted battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, which forced him to drop out of school and spend seven years living in his parents' home crippled by his condition.Whilst in his parents home, Murdoch wrote a short story about a boy named Sebastian and a girl named Isabelle based on the names from Madame Cecile Aubery's children's book Belle et Sebastian. On New Year's Day 1996, Stuart attended a party at which he met a young singer and cellist named Isobel Campbell. In a letter to his brother Fraser, Murdoch explained how he was making a single for Stow college at the end of February. Murdoch opted to use the name Belle&Sebastian for the project because it was occupying him at the time. Murdoch took to songwriting as an escapism from the four walls surrounding him in his room and eventually recorded demos with bassist Stuart David whom he met at a government training programme called Beatbox. Murdoch quickly met a series of other musicians through social and musical circles in his hometown Glasgow and they agreed to help with the Stow project. The members he found for this initial lineup were Stevie Jackson (guitar), Mick Cooke (trumpet), Chris Geddes (keyboards), Stuart David (bass), Richard Colburn (drums), and Isobel Campbell (cello). The Stow College record was to be issued by Electric Honey, but it turned into a full album. The course instructor Alan Rankine determined that Murdoch had enough good material to record a full LP and could do so if they could get it all done in three days, studio time allotted for the single. Murdoch and his musicians rose to the challenge and recorded ten tracks putting the songs in order as they would appear on the record and mostly completing them in just a few takes.
In May of 1996, Belle and Sebastian self-released their debut album, Tigermilk, on Electric Honey Records. Only 1,000 copies of the album, which was only pressed on vinyl, were released, but it unexpectedly became a sensation, earning terrific word of mouth throughout the UK. As a result, the band became slightly more than a school project — it became an actual band. If You're Feeling Sinister, released on the independent Jeepster label, followed in November of 1996. By the time the album was released in America on the EMI subsidiary The Enclave, it had earned considerable critical acclaim in the U.K. — not only from music weeklies, but from newspapers like The Sunday Times and magazines like The Face — and a large cult following; by some accounts, Tigermilk was being sold for as much as 75 pounds. Over the course of 1997, word of mouth continued to grow in America, even as the band pulled out of an American tour because The Enclave went bankrupt and closed.
As the band cult continued to build in 1997, Belle and Sebastian released three EPs — Dog on Wheels (May), Lazy Line Painter Jane (July), and 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light (October). Each subsequent EP placed higher on the indie charts and received great critical acclaim. Later in the year, violinist Sarah Martin became a member of the band. By the end of the year, the group finalized an American deal with Matador Records, issuing The Boy With the Arab Strap in September 1998. The following year saw the eagerly anticipated wide re-release of Tigermilk, the album that started it all. It was the biggest selling album but is unpopular with the group themselves. Following completion of 2000's Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, Stuart David left Belle and Sebastian to focus full-time on his solo project, Looper, being replaced by Bobby Kildea of V-Twin. In 2001, the group released two EPs — Jonathan David and I'm Waking Up to Us — and recorded the soundtrack for Todd Solondz's film Storytelling. Just before the soundtrack's release in spring 2002, Belle and Sebastian embarked on a comprehensive tour of the United States and Canada before returning to Europe for the summer festival season. Midway through the tour, Isobel Campbell left the band, citing the usual differences.
Another major change that soon took place was the band leaving Jeepster and Matador to sign with Rough Trade, with their next record, late 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, produced by the inimitable Trevor Horn (who also produced Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Yes, and scores of others). The record spawned the brilliant "Step into My Office, Baby" and "I'm a Cuckoo" singles, the latter of which was the group's biggest U.K. hit, reaching number 14 in early 2004. After a long worldwide tour that found Belle and Sebastian reaching new levels of success, they retired to Scotland and began preparing for the recording of their seventh full length album, The Life Pursuit, released in 2006.
In 2010, they released their eighth full length album, Write About Love.
Official website: www.belleandsebastian.com
The Magic of a Kind Word
Belle and Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is hard to take a breath
People fighting one another
And I feel there's nothing left
When I feel there's nothing left
Hey! Cut me loose, now I'm feeling fine, yeah, I'm feeling fine
Shake worldly blues, now I'm feeling fine, yeah, I'm feeling fine
You'd better stop, you'd better slow down!
And the man I know is sleeping
(No, he's gone)
Until those northern spirits send
All the magic of a kind word
(Of afar)
You will always be a friend
We take comfort in them
Hey! Cut me loose, now I'm feeling fine, yeah, I'm feeling fine
Shake worldly blues, now I'm feeling fine, yeah, I'm feeling fine
And there's enough to share to go around
You'd better stop, you'd better slow down!
(La la la la, woo!)
And you never see your brother
(He'll cut work)
You'll make him smile so see him someday
(Walk and wait)
If we're happier tomorrow
(Hope we'll try)
We'll be living for today
We'll be living for today
The song "8-Magic Kind of a Word" by Belle and Sebastian seems to be a reflection on the state of the world and the sadness that comes with seeing people fighting and constantly at odds with each other. The singer seems to be struggling with the weight of all the sorrow in the world and feeling helpless in the face of it all. However, there is a glimmer of hope in the chorus as the singer sings about feeling better and being able to shake off the "worldly blues." The song encourages the listener to take a step back from life's frenzied pace and enjoy the magic of a kind word or gesture.
The second verse introduces the idea of northern spirits and the magic they can bring into the singer's life. It seems there is someone the singer cares for who is sleeping, perhaps metaphorically or literally, and the hope is that they will receive the magic of a kind word and wake up feeling better. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the importance of slowing down and taking a moment to appreciate the good things in life, and there is a sense of camaraderie in the final lines as the singer encourages the listener to make someone smile and live for today.
Overall, the song is a thoughtful reflection on the state of the world and the need for kindness and empathy. It's a reminder to slow down and appreciate the simple things in life, and to find comfort in the connections we make with others.
Line by Line Meaning
When I think of all the sorrow
Reflecting on the sadness and despair in the world
It is hard to take a breath
Feeling overwhelmed and out of breath from the weight of it all
People fighting one another
Conflict and violence tearing people apart
And I feel there's nothing left
Feeling hopeless and defeated in the face of these problems
Hey! Cut me loose, now I'm feeling fine, yeah, I'm feeling fine
A moment of joy and liberation from the burden of sorrow
Shake worldly blues, now I'm feeling fine, yeah, I'm feeling fine
Shaking off the sadness and worries of this world
We're just like traffic in a big town
People moving quickly and chaotically through life
You'd better stop, you'd better slow down!
A warning to take a moment to reflect and appreciate life
And the man I know is sleeping
A loved one who is no longer present
(No, he's gone)
Confirming that this person has passed away
Until those northern spirits send
Hoping for some kind of spiritual connection or guidance
All the magic of a kind word
The power of a simple gesture of kindness
(Of afar)
Perhaps this kindness will come from far away or from a distant source
You will always be a friend
Assuring that the bond between friends remains strong even in death
We take comfort in them
Finding solace in memories and the enduring love of others
And there's enough to share to go around
Recognizing that there is abundance in the world
You'd better stop, you'd better slow down!
Reinforcing the need to take time and appreciate what we have
(La la la la, woo!)
A joyful interlude
And you never see your brother
Neglecting those who are closest to us
(He'll cut work)
Perhaps suggesting that this neglect will have consequences
You'll make him smile so see him someday
Hoping to one day reconnect and mend relationships
(Walk and wait)
Suggesting that this process may take time and patience
If we're happier tomorrow
Hoping that the future will be brighter and more joyful
(Hope we'll try)
Encouraging a proactive approach to creating a better future
We'll be living for today
Embracing the present moment and finding joy in the here and now
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAMPBE, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, SARAH MARTIN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Messis
No-one ever mentions, what a great drummer for this band is, so I will honour the guy, he's a brilliant drummer.
unplugged 7X
Your beat is correct.
homie413
I love Belle and Sebastian!!
Jess MacKendrick
"a dayglo west-coast pop song" that unfortunately got lost in the messiness around Isobelle leaving the group. very Mamas & Papas, especially the break, which sounds like a nod to "I saw her Again". their four-part harmonies were certainly colourful.
Sofía
I agree with all of you Isobelle Campbell is awesome!!!
Song To The Siren
@popopo1888 They are good but in my opinion not up there with the vocals in older songs such as Is It Wicked Not To Care?
George Armour
isobel is so cute
Song To The Siren
@Gioh2468 Well I just don't think they are the same these days.
Bjort t
Isobel left cos Stuart and her broke up