Bucks Fizz performed the timeless classic tune Making Your Mind Up, together with the now famous skirt ripping dance routine. This was one of the most up-tempo songs of the evening, and with only two rounds of voting to go, it was a three-way tie between Germany. the UK and Switzerland. Switzerland were yet to vote and gave eight points to the UK, but Nil Points to Germany. Despite the final jury giving Germany maximum points, Bucks Fizz won the contest.
This victory was to set them up for a career that was to be as successful as any British Eurovision winner before, or since. They went on to be one of the most popular bands of the 80s with a string of hit singles and albums.
Making Your Mind Up was a number one for the group in nine different countries and received gold disc status in four countries.. This was promptly followed by a further two top twenty hits - Piece Of The Action and One Of Those Nights - and a self-titled album which went Gold in the UK and Platinum in Australia.
After winning the contest, the group built on their success with other awards and accolades. In November 1981, they won Best Song Award at the Yamaha Song Contest (oriental Eurovision) in Tokyo with the song Another Night.
Their next single, released in November 1981, The Land Of Make Believe went Gold before Christmas of that year and went on to become one of their most popular songs, reaching Number One in three countries and winning the Amplex Golden Reel Award for one million copies sold.
In 1982, the success for Bucks Fizz continued and in April of that year the group's fourth single, My Camera Never Lies, went straight to Number One in the UK. This was followed in May by the group's second studio album, Are You Ready, which went Gold immediately. This also produced another hit, Now Those Days Are Gone, which reached number 8 in the UK charts.
1984 was to be an eventful year. Bucks Fizz toured the UK on a 7 week sell out tour.
1983 saw the release of If You Cant Stand The Heat which reached number 10 in the UK charts. This was followed by Run For Your Life. Both singles were featured on the group's third studio album, Hand Cut, which charted at number 15 in the UK.
Later that year saw the release of When We Were Young, a slightly different sound with Jay on lead vocal. London Town followed and then a Greatest Hits album which finished the year on a high.
Three more singles were released: Talking In Your Sleep, Golden Days and I Hear Talk which was a surprise club hit in America. Fate was to deal the group a devastating blow that year: whilst on tour in December there was a horrific Coach crash which resulted in the serious injury of Mike Nolan.
As Mike was on the road to recovery Bucks Fizz received yet another blow as Jay Aston decided to depart the group after a scandalous affair with the bands Manager which made front page of all the tabloids.
Auditions were held in London for a Jay Aston replacement. About 800 girls turned up to audition and finally Shelley Preston was recruited to replace Jay.
1986 saw Bucks Fizz back on top of the charts with a new look, a new record deal with Polydor and a new single called New Beginning. The single reached number 8 in the UK charts and was a great success.
A further two singles were also released this year: Love The One Your With" and Keep Each Other Warm, together with what would be their 5th studio album, Writing On The Wall.
The single Heart Of Stone was released in 1988. This would later be covered by Cher a couple of years later.
Shelley Preston decided to leave the group in 1990 to pursue solo projects and the group continued as a trio.
The group's albums are currently available on CD, as well as a recently released Best Of CD/DVD which made the top 40 in May 2007.
Heart of Stone
Bucks Fizz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love's wings are broken all too soon
We never learn
Hurt together, hurt alone
Don't you sometimes
Wish your heart was a heart of stone
We turn the wheel, and break the chain
We're dreamers in castle's made of sand
The road to Eden's overgrown
Don't you sometimes
Wish your heart was a heart of stone
Look at the headlines
Big crowd at the crazy house
Long cue for the joker's shoe
Ten rounds in the ring with love
Do you lose and win
Or win and lose
Sweet rain, like mercy in the night
(Lay me down, wash away the sorrow)
Caress my soul and set it right
(Lay me down, show me your tomorrow)
Summer tears, winter and the moment's flown
Don't you sometimes
Wish your heart was a heart of stone
Mercy, mercy, wish your heart was a heart of stone
Get the picture
No room for the innocent
Peak season in lonely town
Knocked out of the ring by love
Are you down and up
Or up and down
I ask the river for a sign
(In a dream, we go on together)
How long is love supposed to shine
(In a dream, diamonds are forever
But you and I, hurt together, hurt alone
Don't you sometimes
Wish you heart was a heart of stone
Mercy, mercy, wish your heart was a heart of stone
(With a heart of stone, you'll be well protected)
Don't you sometimes
Wish your heart was made of stone
(With a heart of stone, you'll be well connected)
The opening stanza of "Heart of Stone" by Bucks Fizz captures the fleeting nature of love and the vulnerability of the human heart. The image of "Love's wings" being "broken all too soon" demonstrates the transience of love and the disappointment that often follows. Despite our experiences of pain, we "never learn" and continue to subject ourselves to the same emotional turmoil. This is further emphasised in the line "Hurt together, hurt alone" which highlights both the universality of human pain, and the fact that our suffering can often mark us off from others.
The second verse speaks to the resilience of human beings in the face of adversity. We are builders, fighters, and dreamers, pushing ourselves to our limits in our pursuit of happiness. We turn the wheel and break the chain, laugh at pain, and build our castles. The reference to the "road to Eden" being "overgrown" implies that the path to happiness is difficult to navigate, but our dreamer mentality allows us to continue despite setbacks. However, in moments of pain, we may find ourselves wishing for "heart of stone" - the ability to shield ourselves from harm and to be impervious to the hurt and disappointment that often comes with love.
Line by Line Meaning
Beneath the white fire of the moon
Under the pale light of the moon
Love's wings are broken all too soon
The feeling of love fades away quickly
We never learn
Despite our experiences, we do not learn from our mistakes
Hurt together, hurt alone
We suffer through the pain of love both with others and by ourselves
Don't you sometimes
Do you ever
Wish your heart was a heart of stone
Wish that you did not feel heartache
We turn the wheel, and break the chain
We try to change our lives and break free from our past
Put steel to steel, and laugh at pain
We confront the pain of love with strength and humor
We're dreamers in castle's made of sand
Our fantasies are fragile and can easily fall apart
The road to Eden's overgrown
Our journey to happiness is obstructed and difficult
Look at the headlines
Read the news stories
Big crowd at the crazy house
Many people are acting foolishly
Long cue for the joker's shoe
People are willing to be made fools of
Ten rounds in the ring with love
We endure many emotional battles with love
Do you lose and win
Do you experience both winning and losing
Or win and lose
Or do you experience both losing and winning
Sweet rain, like mercy in the night
The rain is soothing and helps ease the pain
(Lay me down, wash away the sorrow)
(Let me rest and forget my sorrows)
Caress my soul and set it right
Comfort me and help me feel better
(Lay me down, show me your tomorrow)
(Let me rest and hope for a better future)
Summer tears, winter and the moment's flown
We experience tears and heartache throughout the seasons, and time passes quickly
Get the picture
Understand the situation
No room for the innocent
There is no place for the pure-hearted
Peak season in lonely town
It is a lonely time when everyone else is happy
Knocked out of the ring by love
Love can knock us down and defeat us
Are you down and up
Are you feeling both sadness and happiness
Or up and down
Or are you feeling both happiness and sadness
I ask the river for a sign
I seek guidance from nature
(In a dream, we go on together)
(In a dream, we continue our journey together)
How long is love supposed to shine
How long does love last
(In a dream, diamonds are forever)
(In a dream, love lasts forever)
But you and I, hurt together, hurt alone
We share the pain of love, but also experience it alone
Mercy, mercy, wish your heart was a heart of stone
I wish I did not feel heartache
(With a heart of stone, you'll be well protected)
(Not feeling emotions will protect you)
Don't you sometimes
Do you ever
Wish your heart was made of stone
Long to not feel emotions
(With a heart of stone, you'll be well connected)
(Not feeling emotions will help you fit in)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEXANDER HILL, THOMAS 'FATS' WALLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Collings
One of the most criminally under-rated songs ever.
mainrmdj
Couldn't agree more! Should have been a hit for Bucks Fizz as should many of their other great songs.
Rodney Hrvatin
You know, Bucks Fizz is often used a punchline for jokes about 80's pop but this song (along with a large number of their singles) show that they were actually an outstanding band with great writers and producers behind them. They deserve far more credit than they get.
ZanduckTV2
Rodney Hrvatin The curse of Eurovision.
edna butler
Never even heard of BF let alone their being used as a punch line. In any case I like both versions
HughJackass2
@edna butler You must be American.
Rich Edwards
Unfortunately 'Making Your Mind Up', in my view one of their weakest songs, is also their best known.
Gillian Edgeworth
One of my top two favourite BF songs. New Beginning being the other one. Love them both
Gary Cronshaw
How can this song have had so few views and likes? It is absolutely brilliant.
Hazel Clacy
One of my favourites