Biffy, as they are often referred to, utilise a quiet/loud dynamic, constructing songs that can range from a whisper-quiet pick on the guitar, to huge walls of noise with massive distortion and crashing drums. Their sound has simplified somewhat in recent times yet still occasionally contains complex time signatures and heavy riffs. While Simon Neil sings lead, all three members provide vocals. "'Mon the Biffy!" is a well known chant amongst Biffy fans; it is usually shouted in between songs at gigs, or before the band come on stage. Some fans have reacted poorly to the band's recent output.
The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995 by fifteen-year-old Irvine-born, Ayr-raised guitarist Simon Neil, who recruited Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Screwfish. Barry was soon replaced by James Johnston, Ben's twin brother, and the three spent the next two years rehearsing, writing and covering songs. In 1997, they played their first gig as the support for a band called Pink Kross at a local youth centre. The trio then moved to Glasgow, where Neil went to the University of Glasgow and the Johnston twins went to Stow College, studying Electronics with Music and Audio Engineering respectively.They then progressed onto the bigger stage
After playing gigs around Glasgow and receiving positive and enthusiastic reactions from the audiences, the band were spotted by Dee Bahl, who soon became their manager. Bahl offered them a chance to release an independent single on Aereogramme's Babi Yaga record label. "Iname" was released on 28 June 1999, and led to the band being chosen by Stow College's Electric Honey record label to release a record. thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow... was released on 13 June 2000, and after hearing it, BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway gave the band airplay. A few days prior to the release of thekidswho..., the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park 2000 by a Beggars Banquet representative. Soon after, the band was signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet, and on 30 October 2000, they re-recorded and released the single, "27", which became Kerrang!'s Single Of The Week.
On 1 October 2001, one of the songs from thekidswho... was re-recorded and released as a single, "Justboy". This was repeated on 4 February 2002, when the song "57" was released. On 11 March, the band's debut album, Blackened Sky, was released to generally positive reviews. It was around this time that the band began touring extensively, including being the support for Weezer on 20 March at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. On 15 July, the fourth single from the album, "Joy.Discovery.Invention" was released as a double A-side with a newly recorded song, entitled "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys", which later appeared on The Vertigo of Bliss.
In 2003, the band retreated to the Linford Manor recording studio in Great Linford, Milton Keynes, England to record the follow-up to Blackened Sky. On 24 March, a new single was released entitled, "The Ideal Height", followed by another new single entitled "Questions and Answers" on 28 May. The band's second album, The Vertigo of Bliss was released on 16 June, to positive reviews, which focused on the more experimental style of the album in comparison to Blackened Sky, as well as the introduction of string sections.
In 2004, after touring relentlessly for The Vertigo of Bliss, the band retreated to Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouth, Wales to record a follow-up. As with the previous album, two singles were released before the actual album; "Glitter and Trauma" and "My Recovery Injection" on 9 August and 20 September, respectively. A digital download was also released; "There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake", on 31 May. On 4 October, the band's third album, Infinity Land was released, and on 14 February 2005, the last single from the album, "Only One Word Comes To Mind" was released. On 16 February, the band performed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" live from Maida Vale on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show. Simon Neil's side project, Marmaduke Duke, also released an album in 2005, The Magnificent Duke, and toured the UK, along with the Johnston twins accompanying on bass and drums, for it.
In 2006, Biffy Clyro left Beggars Banquet and signed a deal with 14th Floor, an offshoot of Warner Bros. In June, the band contributed a cover of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" to Kerrang!'s High Voltage!: A Brief History of Rock, which came free with Issue #1110 of the magazine. In September, the band moved temporarily to Canada to record their fourth album at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, and The Farm Studio in Gibsons, which they finished doing in November. The song "Semi-Mental" was released as a digital download on 25 December. In 2007, the song "Saturday Superhouse" was released on 14 May, where it reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart; the band's highest single chart position to date. On 14 May, the song "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies" was released, reaching #19 on the UK Singles Charts. On 21 May, Biffy were confirmed for T in the Park 2007, as well as being announced as one of the support bands for the 17 June gig at the new Wembley Stadium for Muse. On 1 June, Biffy were confirmed for Glastonbury 2007. On 4 June, Puzzle was released to critical acclaim, and eventually helped the band to reach their highest UK Albums Chart position ever, reaching #2 in the first week of release. On 6 June it was announced that Biffy were to support The Who at Marlay Park in Ireland. On 12 June, it was announced that "Folding Stars" was released as a single on July 16. On the 23rd of August 2007, Biffy Clyro were announced as the support act for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, for the Stadium Arcadium tour.
Some Kind of Wizard
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our lips have come undone
And you say its nothing
To discuss like eagles
And I'm floating face down
No sense makes sense to me at all
But your expression says it all
It's spreading to my tongue
Insert your own joke here
Quick unstitch my eyes
Before they stick together
And you say it's nothing to discuss like eagles
And I'm floating face down
No sense makes sense to me at all
But your expression says it all
No sense makes sense to me at all
...Said you'd never
But you keep what you hold
This changes everything
And what I want to say
I'm taking it back, taking it back from your history
The chase is everything
Everyone can see
Release the volume of our history
The lyrics of Biffy Clyro's "Some Kind of Wizard" resound with powerful imagery and metaphorical language. The song is about a painful or uncomfortable situation that the singer is experiencing, which is affecting them physically and emotionally. The first verse suggests that something is "spreading" from the singer's lungs and causing them to feel "floating face down." This could be interpreted as a feeling of suffocation or drowning, either physically or emotionally. The line "our lips have come undone" could be a reference to a relationship that is falling apart or a communication breakdown. The singer's partner, however, insists that there is nothing to discuss, which could be interpreted as a lack of empathy or understanding on their part.
The second verse highlights the confusion and discomfort that the singer is experiencing. The line "no sense makes sense to me at all" suggests that they are struggling to make sense of their situation, but their partner's "expression says it all." The line "insert your own joke here" could be interpreted as a desire to avoid facing the reality of their situation by using humor. The final verse suggests that the singer has been hurt by their partner's actions but is trying to take back control of the situation. They want to "release the volume of our history" - in other words, speak out about their problems and try to resolve them.
Overall, "Some Kind of Wizard" is a song about the difficulty of facing difficult situations in relationships and the importance of communication and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
It's spreading from my lungs
I feel a physical sensation that starts from my lungs and is spreading throughout my body
Our lips have come undone
We have stopped kissing or being intimate
And you say its nothing
You dismiss my concern or feeling as insignificant
To discuss like eagles
To talk about something frankly and openly, without fear or hesitation
And I'm floating face down
I feel lost, confused, and helpless
No sense makes sense to me at all
I cannot understand or make sense of what is happening
But your expression says it all
Your facial expression reveals what you are truly feeling or thinking
It's spreading to my tongue
The sensation or feeling is now affecting my ability to speak or communicate
Insert your own joke here
I am inviting you to make fun of me or the situation to lighten the mood
Quick unstitch my eyes
I need to open my eyes or become aware of something I have been avoiding or denying
Before they stick together
Before I become blinded by something or unable to see clearly
...Said you'd never
You promised that something would never happen
But you keep what you hold
You are holding onto something or someone that you said you wouldn't
This changes everything
This situation or revelation changes the way I view you or our relationship
And what I want to say
I have something important to say or express
I'm taking it back, taking it back from your history
I am trying to undo or reset something that happened in the past or that you said in the past
The chase is everything
Pursuing something or someone is the most important thing, even if it leads to negative consequences
Everyone can see
The outcome or conclusion is obvious or apparent to everyone
Release the volume of our history
Let go of the past or history that is holding us back, and move forward
Contributed by Jordyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.