The duo comprises DJs Matt Black & Jonathan More, formed in London, England… Read Full Bio ↴The duo comprises DJs Matt Black & Jonathan More, formed in London, England around 1986. During their career they have encompassed a wide range of styles from hip hop and rap to electronica and jazz-inflected sounds. They began working together in the mid-eighties on the (then) pirate radio station KissFM. Shortly thereafter they released their first single, Say Kids, What Time Is It?, which marked the first stirrings of the UK's dance/cutup scene. This was followed by their influential remix of Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full, which made the top 10 and was voted best remix of the year. Featuring a prominent Ofra Haza sample and a slew of other vocal cutups, it is now regarded as both a hip hop classic and a breakthrough in the remix field.

Their first major hit as Coldcut was the house-inflected People Hold On, featuring a then-unknown Lisa Stansfield. The single took the U.K. by a storm, and the subsequent album featured such luminaries as Junior Reid (on the single "Stop This Crazy Thing") and Queen Latifah.

In 1991 they started their own record label, Ninja Tune, which continues to release groundbreaking and extremely diverse music by a small army of like-minded artists. In 1997 the duo unveiled their own real time video manipulation software, VJamm. Coldcut's current live and DJ sets rely on video as much as records, taking the concept of multimedia performance into largely uncharted territory.

Conceptually, Coldcut owes as much to the ideas of beat writer and cut-up theorist William S. Burroughs, 1970s art / industrial group Throbbing Gristle, and the religious writings of J. R. "Bob" Dobbs as much as to hip-hop originators like Grandmaster Flash or later innovators Double D and Steinski.

Recognizing the power inherent in Burroughs' cut-up technique and its presence in hip hop music, More and Black have relentlessly pushed the D.I.Y. ethic and an understanding of play as a means of fostering greater interaction with and understanding of the world around you. The similarities between this ethos and that of hacking need hardly be stated. Ninja Tune uses a corporate facade to communicate via the marketplace itself, an idea first implemented by Throbbing Gristle via their own Industrial Records imprint.

One of the key aspects of the Ninja Tune ethos, Stealth, implies that their following of DJs and listeners are "agents" in a Burroughsian sense, propagating the D.I.Y. ethic of play as an essentially subversive act by replaying and manipulating media under the radar of mainstream culture. Nowadays Coldcut reach a worldwide audience through their syndicated radio show Solid Steel. Black has recently (2003) worked with Penny Rimbaud (ex Crass) on Crass Agenda's Savage Utopia project.

In 2006, Coldcut released their fifth album, Sound Mirrors. single True Skool featured rapper Roots Manuva and featured an Indian sample from a cult Bollywood era, making the track popular on the bhangra and desi scene and with most of the British Asian urban nation.

Make Up Your Mind
Coldcut Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Long time, girl, I have got feelings for you
I know it's been hard what I put you through
I've only been thinking 'bout myself
I never intended to hurt you being with someone else
My heart is yours and I'm here to let you know
Keep holding on, baby girl, don't let go, oh

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want to fight

Just wanna love you, won't you make up your mind
Woah, woah, woah

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want leave
Just wanna love you, won't you say it's for keeps?
Woah, woah, woah

It's been a long time, girl, I have got feelings for you
I know it's been hard what I put you through
I've only been thinking 'bout myself
I never intended to hurt you being with someone else
My heart is yours and I'm here to let you know
Keep holding on, baby girl, don't let go, oh

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want to fight
Just wanna love you, won't you make up your mind
Woah, woah, woah

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want leave
Just wanna love you, won't you say it's for keeps?
Woah, woah, woah

Gyal if ya lovin' up me life I'm turnin'
I'm tellin' dem outside a Tommy gun a firin'
A feminine ah de talk and pants is in
She said me wanna gyal tell me all about

My heart is yours and I'm here to let you know
Keep holding on, baby girl, don't let go, oh

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want to fight
Just wanna love you, make up your mind
Woah, woah, woah

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want leave

Just wanna love you, say it's for keeps?
Woah, woah, woah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Make Up Your Mind Dub" reveal the singer's heartfelt plea to their partner. Although they have hurt their partner in the past, they recognize that they have been selfish and want to make amends. The singer confesses that they have been thinking only of themselves and did not mean to hurt their partner by being with someone else.

The singer's heart belongs to their partner, and they reassure them to hold on and not let go. The chorus reinforces the singer's desire to be with their partner and to love them without any fights. They want their partner to make up their mind and love them in return.

The bridge features Ce'Cile, who sings in Jamaican Patois. Her verse emphasizes the importance of having a loving partner in her life and that she would even defend her partner when necessary. Despite the language barrier, her message aligns with the singer's plea for their partner to reciprocate their love.

Overall, the lyrics convey a message of reconciliation and a longing for a loving relationship that is worth fighting for.

Line by Line Meaning

Long time, girl, I have got feelings for you
I have felt strongly about you for a while now, my dear

I know it's been hard what I put you through
I understand it hasn't been easy for you due to my actions

I've only been thinking 'bout myself
I have been selfish and only considering my own desires

I never intended to hurt you being with someone else
I never meant to cause you pain by being with someone else

My heart is yours and I'm here to let you know
I want you to know that my heart belongs to you

Keep holding on, baby girl, don't let go, oh
Hang in there, my dear, and stay with me

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want to fight
I want to love you without any arguments or conflict

Just wanna love you, won't you make up your mind
I simply want to love you, but I need to know if you feel the same way

I wanna love you, girl, I don't want leave
I don't want to leave, I want to stay and love you

Just wanna love you, won't you say it's for keeps?
I just want you to confirm that our love is forever

Gyal if ya lovin' up me life I'm turnin'
If you are the one making my life better, I'm committed to you

I'm tellin' dem outside a Tommy gun a firin'
I will defend you if anyone tries to come between us

A feminine ah de talk and pants is in
This woman is talkative and confident, and she's got style

She said me wanna gyal tell me all about
She wants me to share everything with her

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Cecile Charlton, Dominic Smith, Elan Atias, Jonathan Moore, Matt Black, Thomas Bell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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