Yan (Jan Scott Wilkinson) - Vocals, guitar
Noble (Martin Noble) - Guitar
Hamilton (Neil Hamilton Wilkinson) - Bass, vocals, guitar
Wood (Matthew Wood) - Drum
Phil Sumner - Cornet, Keyboards
Abi Fry - Viola
Yan, Hamilton and Wood are school friends from Kendal in Cumbria. They were in a number of bands together while at school, but after finishing his exams Yan moved to study at Reading University, where he met guitarist Noble. A few years later Hamilton and Wood moved down to join them and form a band.
They played some gigs and produced a 4 track demo in Reading as British Air Powers, before relocating to Brighton in search of a more vibrant music scene. "British Sea Power" was actually the name of one of these demo tracks, and was eventually reworked into Carrion. In Brighton, BSP amassed a strong local following, due mainly to their own club night called "Club Sea Power". The club nights featured many different support bands, and other forms of entertainment such as a 1930s fashion show, and were most frequently hosted at the Freebutt and the Lift (the latter has now closed down).
Their debut single, Fear of Drowning, was issued in limited numbers of their own Golden Chariot label. The artwork for the B side "A Wooden Horse" borrows heavily from the dust cover of the 1950 book "The Wooden Horse" that details the escape of Allied POWs during WWII. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records saw the band live and in September 2001 signed them to his label. A number of singles were issued on the label, and Eamon (Eamon Hamilton) was recruited to play live keyboards in autumn 2002.
The Decline of British Sea Power, the band's debut album, was released in June 2003 to critical acclaim. A single from the album, "Carrion", became the band's first Top 40 single. The album only charted in the lower reaches of the UK Album Chart, but turned out to be a word of mouth success, shipping well over 60,000 copies over the following two years and allowing them to play sell-out UK tours to venues of over 1,000 people.
The follow-up, Open Season, was released in early April 2005, and also enjoyed wide critical praise. It showcased a more accessible, produced sound and charted at #13 in the UK Albums Chart. Lead single It Ended on an Oily Stage charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart a week earlier.
British Sea Power have a reputation for elaborate and well-thought out live shows and won the 2004 Time Out London Live Band of the Year award. The stage is often decorated with foliage and plastic birds and sets generally finish with a semi-improvised song called "Rock in A", which sometimes lasts for over 20 minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foliage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum, and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. Their tours often include unusual venues such as the Scillonian Club on the Isles of Scilly, Grasmere Village Hall, the St. John Boste Social Club in Kendal, Cumbria and Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall.
The band have built up an eccentric image in interviews and press releases; some of which is based on fact, other times merely whimsical building of outward personas. This has included giving journalists grid references at which to meet them, and expressing obsessions with Field Marshal Montgomery and bird watching.
The band has a fiercely loyal and devoted hardcore fanbase, sometimes referred to as the Third Battalion.
At the beginning of 2006, it was announced that Eamon had left British Sea Power to concentrate on his own band Brakes. The group spent part of late 2006 working on new material in Montréal, and are preparing a DVD.
In 2007, American Laundromat Records announced that British Sea Power would record a version of the Pixies' "Caribou" for an album called "Dig For Fire - A Tribute To Pixies."
In October 2007, the band went on tour throughout the east coast of America to showcase their new 5-track EP, Krankenhaus EP. In November 2007, they toured a variety of unusual locations in the UK including a seaside cafe in Saltdean, East Sussex; a ferry across the River Mersey, Liverpool; the Tan Hill Inn, the UK's highest inn; All Saints Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and White Mischief, an indoor festival mixing live bands with unusual vaudeville acts.
Their Krankenhaus? EP was released digitally for purchasable download in October 2007 and was released on CD and vinyl on November the 20th. Their third album, Do You Like Rock Music? was released on 14th January 2008 in the U.K. and scheduled for release on 12th February 2008 in the U.S. Prior to their tour in support of Do You Like Rock Music? (visiting Ireland, UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany and US), Wood injured his back and had to be temporarily replaced by Tom White of Electric Soft Parade and Brakes fame.
In January 2008 the keyboard and cornet player ended up in hospital after being knocked unconscious when he attempted a stage dive. The crowd at Leeds Irish Centre failed to catch Phil Sumner, who jumped off a 12-foot PA system landing head first. The press department at Rough Trade Records reported "The impact knocked him out. Thankfully an ambulance was quickly summoned and he was whisked away, bloody and unconscious and despite a concussion, a broken molar and a maze of stitches in his chin, a very groggy Phil is expected to make a full recovery." In spite of this, he returned to the stage with the rest of the band a day later in Kendal.
In February 2008, the band appeared on Later with Jools Holland, playing Waving Flags, Canvey Island and No Lucifer. They were ably accompanied by a small number of the London Bulgarian Choir and a display of Cumbrian wrestling. The band are also scheduled to play at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Latitude, T in the Park and Bestival.
In May 2009, British Sea Power released their fourth album, Man of Aran. Several tracks on this album are remakes of older songs, such as the main riff from North Hanging Rock which features in the new track Boy Vertiginous. The album comes paired with a DVD containing the Robert J. Flaherty film 'Man of Aran', a silent film with music from the album dubbed in.
In October 2010, British Sea Power released the seven track 'Zeus' ep and announced the release of their next album, 'Valhalla Dancehall' in January 2011.
In November 2011, the band started hosting a regular club evening in Brighton called "Krankenhaus" that recalled some of their Club British Sea Power events. DJ sets, friends of the band and general BSP hijinx.
On 9 August 2021, British Sea Power announced they were changing their name to Sea Power. In a statement the band explained:
"In recent times there’s been a rise in a certain kind of nationalism in this world – an isolationist, antagonistic nationalism that we don’t want to run any risk of being confused with. It’s become apparent that it’s possible to misapprehend the name British Sea Power, particularly if someone isn’t familiar with the band or their recordings. We’ve always been internationalist in our mindset, something made clear in songs like Waving Flags, an anthem to pan-European idealism. We always wanted to be an internationalist band but maybe having a specific nation state in our name wasn’t the cleverest way to demonstrate that. We very much hope the band’s audience won’t be affronted by this adjustment to the name. We’d like to make it clear that removing the word “British” does NOT indicate any aversion to the British Isles whatsoever. We all feel immensely fortunate to have grown up in these islands. Several or our songs are filled with love and awe for this place. We do love these lands. We all still live within the British Isles, but we are now just Sea Power. We feel the name change comes in part from the band’s audience – who at a good show will shout out, “Sea Power! Sea Power!” Maybe this name change has been there for years, shouted in our ears. It’s just taken us this long to realise – to hear what was there in front of us… "
Please Stand Up
British Sea Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These motorway exit gates
Are calling to me dearly
And I need a place to go
And even numbers on a timetable
Arrivals and departures and
Those places, names
If there's anyone asking, did you get a rush?
There's no point in asking, it wasn't enough
There's nobody else here, so please stand up
If there's anyone asking, did you get a rush?
There's no point in asking, it wasn't enough
There's nobody else here, so please stand up
The occultation of a summer sun
Was burning holes in everyone
Defenseless, what was left inside could finally escape
It seemed as if the streets had melted
It seemed as if the air was scented
I wish all of time could be like this
If there's anyone asking, did you get a rush?
There's no point in asking, it wasn't enough
There's nobody else here, so please stand up
Oh oh, oh my love
If there's anyone asking, did you get a rush?
There's no point in asking, it wasn't enough
There's nobody else here, so please stand up
And then all of the sudden it's all better better
A little excitement makes us wetter wetter
Oh my love
Again, again, again, again my love
The song Please Stand Up by British Sea Power talks about the singer's need to find some quiet place away from the chaos of the world. The busy motorway exit gates are calling them, and they feel the urge to find a peaceful place to go. They talk about numbers and timetables, arrivals, and departures, emphasizing how strange everything seems in this fast-paced world. They wonder if anyone felt the same rush, but it wasn't enough for them. They urge everyone to stand up and embrace the moment, the excitement, the rush of life.
The song then talks about the occultation of the summer sun, the burning holes in everyone, and how it finally allows everything to escape. The streets seem to have melted, and the air is scented with freedom. They wish every moment could be like this, free, and unstrained. The song ends with the plea to stand up, urging everyone to let go of their inhibitions and embrace the rush of life.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was co-written with Abi Fry, a viola player who played with British Sea Power. Another fact is that the song was released in the UK as a limited edition 7" vinyl, with a different mix of the song on the B-side. The song was also used in the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 14. The band members have said that the song was inspired by their childhood memories of watching Top of the Pops on TV. The band often introduces the song with the phrase "Please stand up, out of respect for popular music." The music video for the song features the band members in a surreal, dreamlike setting, playing their instruments while surrounded by wild animals. The song was also featured in the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
Chords:
Verse: A, C#m, E, B
Chorus: F#m, B, C#m, A
Bridge: D, F#m, B, E
Line by Line Meaning
Take me somewhere quiet please
I need to escape from the motorway and find a peaceful place.
These motorway exit gates
The exit gates on the motorway are calling to me.
Are calling to me dearly
I am really drawn to finding a way off the motorway.
And I need a place to go
I need to find a quiet and peaceful place to escape to.
And even numbers on a timetable
The arrival and departure times at train stations seem strange to me.
Arrivals and departures and
The coming and going of train journeys seem surreal.
Those places, names
The names of the train stations and places of arrival and departure seem unfamiliar.
Never seemed so strange before
I have never felt so distant and unfamiliar with the world around me.
If there's anyone asking, did you get a rush?
Has anyone asked me if I feel excited?
There's no point in asking, it wasn't enough
Even if someone asked, my feeling of excitement did not last long.
There's nobody else here, so please stand up
I feel alone, is anyone else here besides me?
The occultation of a summer sun
The blocking of the summer sun.
Was burning holes in everyone
Everyone was affected by the intense heat of the summer sun.
Defenseless, what was left inside could finally escape
Without any defense, people's true feelings and emotions could finally come out.
It seemed as if the streets had melted
It appeared as if the roads were melting in the heat of the day.
It seemed as if the air was scented
The air smelled sweet and fragrant on this special day.
I wish all of time could be like this
I wish every moment of life could be joyful and special like this moment.
Oh oh, oh my love
Expressing delight and love for this special moment.
And then all of the sudden it's all better better
Suddenly things have taken a turn for the better.
A little excitement makes us wetter wetter
A thrilling moment can cause us to feel more alive and on edge.
Again, again, again, again my love
Expressing a desire to repeat and experience this wonderful moment again.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARTIN NOBLE, JAN SCOTT WILKINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JOAQUIM OLIVA I SALA
2007 : “ Porta'm a un lloc tranquil, si us plau
Aquestes portes de sortida de l'autopista
Ara em criden intensament
I necessito un lloc on anar
I números parells en un horari
Arribades i sortides
I aquells llocs
Aquells noms.
Abans no semblava tan estrany
Aquells llocs
Aquells noms
Res semblava tan estrany abans
Si hi ha algú que et pregunta : has tingut pressa ?
No té sentit preguntar, no n’hi ha prou
No hi ha ningú més aquí
Per tant, sisplau, aixeca’t
No té sentit preguntar, no n'hi ha prou
No hi ha ningú més aquí,
Així que, sisplau, aixeca’t
Aquell sol d’estiu que desaparegué
Després de cremar a molts
Estàvem indefensos, sense poder escapar
Conscients de que no podríem escapar
Semblava com si els carrers s'haguessin fos
Semblava com si l'aire tingués olor a foc
M'agradaria que tot el temps fos així
Oh, oh, amor meu
Si hi ha algú que et pregunta : has tingut pressa ?
No té sentit preguntar, no n’hi ha prou
No hi ha ningú més aquí
Per tant, sisplau, aixeca’t
No té sentit preguntar, no n'hi ha prou
No hi ha ningú més aquí,
Així que, sisplau, aixeca’t
I de sobte tot va millor
Una mica d'emoció ens humireixa
Oh, el meu amor !!
De nou, de nou, de nou,
De nou, amor meu !! “
Casey Haynes
such an underrated band... they are really talented
Tyler Sweet
Wonderful song from the mighty 'Sea Power'. No longer 'British' but 'Internationalist' apparently.
Ciaran Byrne
What an amazing song. Loved it instantly as soon as the guitar kicks at the start, it's like, oh yes this is going to be great. Just discovered this band this is the first song I listened to. Completely addicted now. Best British band of the last 10 years!
S Y
Make that 20 years.
multinez
I adore this album.
bigkat2510
Oh man brings me back, saw these guys live, opening for The Killer in 2004
Anthony Quinn
So underrated have always been in my top ten list
thereverendization
What a superb band...
bo go
Blissfully good. This band is better than anything I've heard in ages.
Ed Banks
one of the best bands around today, love them