1. BETTY is an alternative… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1. BETTY is an alternative rock group from New York City.
2. Betty (ベティ) was formed in July 2005 by 勇 and たら.
3. A Belgian TV-personality that released some singles like "Gek op jou" and "Boys, boys, boys".
4. A U.S Hard/Psych band from the 70's.
5. A female singer-songwriter from Mexico, was a member of the 90s pop group "Voces". Released the album "Alma Desnuda" in 2005 on Univision Music
6. An Armenian Junior Eurovision 2014 representant (full name Elizabeth Danielyan).
1. BETTY is an alternative rock group from New York City, The group originated in Washington, D.C. and traces its lineage to a birthday party for Dodie Bowers (the original owner of the 9:30 Club). The band's harmonies and unique lyrics attracted a cult following in the vibrant alternative music scene and among gay/lesbian audiences. A "BETTY Rules" t-shirt, an early marketing item of the band, appears on one of the AIDS quilts.
In the late 1980s the band relocated to NYC. The name of their first album, "Hello, BETTY!" comes from the standard opening for all their appearances. In 1995, the band expanded by adding lead guitar and drums to the initial line-up primarily of vocals with electronic accompaniment.
Betty appeared in every episode of the 1986 HBO Series Encyclopedia, singing educational songs each centered around a particular word, as well as performing the opening and closing theme songs. The members involved were Alyson Palmer/Amy Ziff/Elizabeth Ziff, although they were credited in the show's opening titles as simply "Betty".
In 2003 the group starred in its own off-Broadway show BETTY RULES directed by Rent's Michael Greif. The musical ran for 6 months at the Zipper Theatre. The show has since been performed in Chicago at the Lakeside Theatre and at Theater J in Washington, DC. BETTY has appeared as a regular guest artist on the television show The L Word, for which they provided the theme song.
Line-up:
Elizabeth Ziff (vocals, guitar)
Alyson Palmer (vocals, bass)
Amy Ziff (vocals, cello)
Tony Salvatore (lead guitar)
Mino Gori (drums)
2. Betty (ベティ) was formed in July 2005 by 勇 and たら.
JaME: Tara, the former bassist of Panic Channel, left this last band because of hearing problems. After his hospitalization, he decided to create the duo Betty with Yuu, the former Never Crazy vocalist. They had taken part in only six events, but within that time they released their maxi-single Aka of which all 2000 copies were sold out.
The newly arrived reinforcements for Tara and Yuu weren’t completely unknown to the music scene as Toki, formerly Tsubasa, was in Panic Channel, while Setsuki played guitar in Karen, and Kasumi took care of drums in Gimikku.
On March 13th 2006, an exceptional sold-out live celebrated the end of Betty and the beginning of 176BIZ in the well-known Takadanobaba Area. The maxi-single Shinkai ni oboreta Sakana was released on March 22nd, points out a more rebel side of the band, especially in songs such as Dekiai and Drag on downer. They went on with more lives until the oneman "the scReaM of pRiMe" on June 20th.
176BIZ spend the whole summer preparing their first album Atelier which was planned to be released in September of 2006 in two different versions. The limited version, which included a PV of the song Aqua on top of the 10-tracks regular album, was quickly sold out.
The band will participate in the Christmas 2006 celebration their label Danger Crue records organized which will take place in nothing less than the Nippon Budôkan (10000 seats) where gathered bands as S.O.A.P, MUCC, SID, girugämesh, Tetsu69 will also perform.
Impossibly Blue
Betty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Friday afternoon)
I took a trip on a train
(Took a trip on a train)
On a train to you
(Took a trip on a train)
I did not notice the crowd
I did not know I was singing out loud
(No no no)
Or that the pain was through
(Friday afternoon)
Just that the sky was impossibly blue
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Impossibly blue
Once upon a time
(Once upon a time)
I wished on a star
I swallowed a line
Believing you were the one
(You were the one)
I did not notice the signs
(I did not notice the signs)
A kiss or two and I forgot to mind
(No no no)
And the dreams you spun
(You were the one)
Your eyes were impossibly blue
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Impossibly blue
How long
(How long)
Too, too long
(Too long)
How long
(How long)
So long
Sunday morning, train left at dawn
(Train left at dawn)
No one could see through the mask I have on
Or hear the crying I do
(Hear the crying I do)
All the love and the wine
Could not stop me
I made up my mind
Now, darling, I am sorry, too
(Hear the crying I do)
I am impossibly blue
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Before I left I made sure you were, too
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Impossibly blue
Impossibly blue
The opening lines of Betty’s song, Impossibly Blue, set the scene on a late Friday afternoon on a train ride. The singer is transporting themselves physically – on a train journey – but also emotionally; travelling towards the object of their affection. The singer in this story doesn’t notice the world passing them by – they are lost in thought and inner dialogue. The singer is so consumed by their desire that they cannot even remember the moment they begin singing aloud. The pain they feel is all-consuming, yet their love is strong enough to push them on. All they can focus on is the sky that is impossibly blue - the beauty is symbolic of hope and potential. The sky is shown as a counterbalance to the emotional turmoil in the singer’s heart.
The second verse emphasizes the singer’s single-minded approach to love. They wished upon a star, believing they had found "the one”. However, they didn’t notice the warning signs and missed the fact that the love was unrequited. As in the first verse, the blue appearance is our cue for the depth of feeling - this time in a bad case. Yet again, Betty's lyrics have an emotive but simple rhyme. Here, every other line rhymes – perhaps reinforcing the close but ultimately not close enough nature of the singer's love.
It’s in the final verse that the singer makes their way back from that Friday afternoon train ride, this time on a Sunday morning, on their way back from the object of their affection. Unrequited love has not been kind – they feel like they’ve lost everything – their dignity, self-worth and hope. The singer cannot hide their true identity behind a mask any longer, and they are crying because of a failed relationship. What was once love is now regret – the singer has made up their mind to move on, no matter how hard it might be. The final line resonates with the blue sky imagery from the first verse, but in a different context – the singer has transferred their despair and heartache to the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
4:15 Friday afternoon
Betty sets the scene of when this all happened.
(Friday afternoon)
Reinforces the time frame.
I took a trip on a train
Betty travels on a train to see someone she cares for.
(Took a trip on a train)
Reinforces the mode of transportation Betty used.
On a train to you
Betty's train ride leads her to see someone she cares about.
(Took a trip on a train)
Reinforces the mode of transportation Betty used.
I did not notice the crowd
Betty was too consumed by her own thoughts to notice anything else.
(I did not notice the crowd)
Reinforces the point that Betty was consumed by her own thoughts.
I did not know I was singing out loud
Betty was so distracted that she was unaware of her surroundings.
(No no no)
Betty emphasizes that she was not aware of what was happening around her.
Or that the pain was through
Betty was in a lot of pain, but was not yet able to see that it would eventually pass.
(Friday afternoon)
Reinforces the time frame.
Just that the sky was impossibly blue
Despite everything, Betty still found the sky to be beautiful.
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Reinforces the beauty of the sky.
Once upon a time
Betty is reflecting back on a past memory.
(Once upon a time)
Reinforces that Betty is reflecting back on a past memory.
I wished on a star
Betty held onto a hope for the future.
I swallowed a line
Betty believed something that was not true.
Believing you were the one
Betty was under the impression that this person was meant for her.
(You were the one)
Reinforces Betty's belief that this person was meant for her.
I did not notice the signs
Betty ignored any warning signs about this person.
(I did not notice the signs)
Reinforces that Betty ignored any warning signs.
A kiss or two and I forgot to mind
Betty was easily swept up in this person despite any warning signs.
(No no no)
Betty emphasizes that she ignored any warning signs.
And the dreams you spun
This person created a sense of false hope or expectations.
(You were the one)
Reinforces Betty's belief that this person was meant for her.
Your eyes were impossibly blue
Betty was swept up in this person's charming and captivating traits.
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Reinforces the captivating nature this person held over Betty.
How long
Betty is questioning how long she has been holding onto this hope.
(How long)
Reinforces Betty's questioning.
Too, too long
Betty has held onto this hope for longer than she should have.
(Too long)
Reinforces Betty's belief that she has held onto hope for too long.
How long
Betty repeats her questioning, further emphasizing it.
(How long)
Reinforces Betty's questioning.
So long
Betty is at the point where she is done holding onto hope.
(Train left at dawn)
Reinforces the time frame.
Sunday morning, train left at dawn
Betty is leaving this person and the situation behind her as she travels away on the train.
No one could see through the mask I have on
Betty is hiding her pain from those around her.
Or hear the crying I do
Betty is crying on the inside and no one can tell.
All the love and the wine
Betty tried to use love and alcohol to fill the void, but it did not work.
Could not stop me
Betty had made up her mind and was firm in her decision to leave this situation behind.
I made up my mind
Betty has decided to move forward without this person.
Now, darling, I am sorry, too
Betty has come to the realization that this person was not meant for her and she regrets everything that has happened.
(Hear the crying I do)
Reinforces Betty's hidden pain.
I am impossibly blue
Betty is consumed with sadness and regret over this situation.
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Reinforces the feeling of sadness and regret.
Before I left I made sure you were, too
Betty wants the other person to also feel sadness and regret for what has happened.
(Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh)
Reinforces Betty's desire for the other person to feel the same sadness and regret.
Impossibly blue
Betty ends the song emphasizing just how sad and regretful she feels.
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.