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.
If You Can
Bucks Fizz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you talk about friends you've been doing
It's no surprise
To discover the tricks you've been brewing
When you turn and run away
Take a look at how you've give up your fantasy
And if you can't stand the heat
If you can't stand the cold
Don't sleep on the floor
If you can't, if you can't bear to look
Wonder what you're missing
If you can't stand the heat
If you can't stand the heat
You're no competition
Can't stand the heat
Can't stand the heat
Don't play it down
When you don't have the power to hold it
Don't play the clown
If the joke gets no laugh when you've told it
Take a look at how you've give up your fantasy
When you turn and run away
And if you can't stand the heat
Keep out of the kitchen
If you can't stand the cold
Don't sleep on the floor
If you can't stand the heat
Wonder what you're missing
If you can't, if you can't bear to look
You're no competition
If you can't stand the heat
Can't stand the heat
Keep out of the kitchen
If you can't stand the cold
You're no competition
If you can't stand the heat
If you can't stand the heat
Can't stand the heat, ah
The lyrics of Bucks Fizz's song "If You Can't Stand The Heat" confront someone who is no longer living up to their own expectations or dreams. The lines "Don't tell me lies, when you talk about friends you've been doing, it's no surprise to discover the tricks you've been brewing" suggest that the person in question has been lying to themselves and others about the kind of life they've been living. The lyrics also imply that the person has not been able to handle the challenges that come with striving for their dreams, instead choosing to run away from them.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "if you can't stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen", is a common idiom that means if you can't handle the pressure or difficulty of a situation, you should not involve yourself in it. This phrase serves as a warning to the person being addressed in the song that if they can't handle the "heat" or challenges that come with pursuing their dreams, they should not attempt to do so at all.
Overall, "If You Can't Stand The Heat" is a song that encourages people to face their fears, stay true to themselves, and not give up on their aspirations even when faced with difficulty or adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't tell me lies
Do not lie to me
When you talk about friends you've been doing
When you discuss your friends, talk truthfully rather than boasting
It's no surprise
It is not unexpected
To discover the tricks you've been brewing
It is expected that you have been scheming
When you turn and run away
When you retreat and give up
Take a look at how you've give up your fantasy
Consider how you have abandoned your dreams
And if you can't stand the heat
If you cannot handle the pressure
Keep out of the kitchen
Do not get involved
If you can't stand the cold
If you cannot handle the uninviting situation
Don't sleep on the floor
Do not put yourself in an uncomfortable situation
If you can't, if you can't bear to look
If you cannot handle seeing the truth
Wonder what you're missing
Reflect on what you are not experiencing
You're no competition
You are not a threat
Can't stand the heat
Cannot manage the pressure
Don't play it down
Do not minimize something important
When you don't have the power to hold it
When you cannot handle the responsibility
Don't play the clown
Do not act foolishly
If the joke gets no laugh when you've told it
If your attempt at humor falls flat
You're no competition
You are not a rival
Can't stand the heat, ah
Cannot handle the pressure
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN BAIRNSON, ANDY HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
marmaladeatkins
This is a great song and holds up so many years later. It’s got so much funk!
ZanduckTV2
Have you checked out their kinda flamenco version on their Fame & Fortune album, Cheryl, Mike & Jay as OBF (Original Bucks Fizz). Also a band called Spiderbites recorded a rocky cover with Jay’s replacement Shelley Preston.
fountainpen44
This is such a perfect natural song, superb tune, great execution, super appealing. And smart lyrics to boot.
kevin allcock
what a band , superb , fantastic , amazing , running out of superlatives .
Infidel Castro
@MrAlwaysBlue Andy Hill. Genius.
MrAlwaysBlue
Hardly a band, I don't see any of them playing an instrument.
Chris Hannon
I love this band.. My first favourite group when I was about 10 onwards.
Mordecai Pladah
If I ever do an old school Vinyl night this tune is definitely going on the list. A Pop Funk gem...precursor to Ace of Base and similar type bands. Great production which captures something of the simplicity of the early 1980s.
jamie foyers
The first pop group I went to see live. Vaguely remember the show but this was one of their best tracks and a bit of a "guilty pleasure!".
DIANE TOPHAM
Great song no one cared about anything like who looked big or small . The world 2 day is crazy