They played soulful, funky pop jazz and were initially signed to Phonogram Records' Mercury imprint. The first came to notice of the UK music and style press when they hooked up with photographer Andy Warhol for the video of the 1986 single Misfit. This featured the band in New York and at one point featured Ben Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot dancing down a side street whilst Andy Warhol referenced Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by dropping pieces of white card in time to the music (an efect that would also be copied by INXS in the Mediate of 1988).
Their debut album Keep Your Distance entered the British charts at number one in May 1987, and stayed in the Top Ten for 13 weeks, however the release of that album's "Free" lost some of the momentum by limping to only Number 56 in the UK charts.
The bands second album Getahead was lead by an upbeat funky track called "Name and Number". Even though this record only reached Number 14 in 1989, the "Hey How You Doin'" refrain would find itself in the Top Ten two years later as part of the De La Soul song "Ring Ring Ring (Hey Hey Hey)".
After the lack-leisure performance of Getahead and second single First Place, Curiosity (as they were now billed) found themselves dropped from Mercury Records. However three years after the release of that single they returned to the UK Top Ten as a three piece on RCA Records, with a cover of Johnny Bristol's Hang on in There Baby. However the band's follow ups (covers of I Need Your Lovin' and Gimme the Sunshine) flopped in the UK, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets.
In the 2000s the band reformed for an appearance on a National Lottery midweek show on BBC 1 and since then Ben Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot has toured under the name Curiosity Killed the Cat on a number of 1980s revival packages.
Since Curiosity disbanded, Ben has, by request, continued to perform both live and in the studio and has recently teamed up with dance supremos "Element" (AKA Bimbo Jones) who have already produced remixes for the likes of Deep Dish, Usher and The Bodyrockers. They are also the co production duo responsible for "Meck's" "Thunder In My Heart Again".
Band members
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (vocals; * 19 May 1965)
Julian Brookhouse (guitar; * 15 May 1963)
Nick Thorp (bass; * 25 October 1964)
Miguel Drummond (drums; * 27 January 1964)
Mile High
Curiosity Killed the Cat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
playing a game burstling sounds from all around
the DJ gonna throok our face
Watching all those clows go by fascination then
entertain singin':
Won't heart you won't heart you won't heart you back
won't heart you won't heart you won't hear you back
Neither friends or neither form moving fast that moving
my heart get to your soul
Watching all those gablers by I made and make not sound
to blame with all those sounds from all around
I really can't take it no more but guys sweet the score
is for me before cars seems to claim singin':
Won't heart you won't heart you won´t heart you now woo
Won't heart you won't heart now you won´t heart you
back
Neither friends nor neither form moving fast than movin
slow I ain't got that time I walkin on fellas my heart
get to your soul to your soul
Neither friends nor neither form I'm begin you please
(moving fast than moving slow) you got on my knees
I ain't got that time I'm walking on fellas my heart
fellas my heart fellas my heart get to your soul get to
your soul
The clowns gather around and the questions back
like why doesn't snow from the from the sky
their open just to prove yourself
To any looking now from no one else
We're singin': Won't hurt you, won't hurt you...
The Curiosity Killed the Cat's song Mile High describes a night out at a club. The lyrics talk about the feeling of being lost in the crowd and watching people around while the music is playing loud. The singer talks about not having time to waste and walking past all the fellas trying to get to the soul of the one he desires. The chorus repeats the line "Won't hurt you, won't hurt you," indicating a reluctance to open up or commit to anyone.
The second verse continues the theme of not having time for games, while the clowns gather around, and people ask strange questions. The singer seems overwhelmed by the noise and the people around, with bursts of sound from all directions. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the singer's desire not to show vulnerability or hurt. Overall, the song creates a sense of disorientation and seeking for something substantial, but not finding it in the crowded club scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Shifting and on myself make the feel like you're
When I move and dance on my own, it feels like you're there with me
playing a game burstling sounds from all around
The music is like a game, and the sounds are exploding all around me
the DJ gonna throok our face
The DJ is going to blow our faces off with the music
Watching all those clows go by fascination then
Watching all the people go by is fascinating to me
entertain singin': Won't heart you won't heart you won't heart you back
I'm singing that I won't hurt you, but you also won't love me back
Neither friends or neither form moving fast that moving slow I ain't got that time and walkin'all fellas my heart get to your soul
I don't care about friends or appearances, I'm moving at my own pace and trying to connect with your soul
Watching all those gablers by I made and make not sound to blame with all those sounds from all around
I'm watching the people talking but I'm not making any noise, even though there are sounds everywhere
I really can't take it no more but guys sweet the score is for me before cars seems to claim singin'
I can't handle it anymore, but I'm trying to make the best of it and enjoy the music, even though the cars are trying to take over
Won't heart you won't heart you won´t heart you now woo Won't heart you won't heart now you won´t heart you back
I won't hurt you, but I also won't love you now or ever
Neither friends nor neither form moving fast than movin slow I ain't got that time I walkin on fellas my heart get to your soul to your soul
I don't care about friends or appearances, I'm moving at my own pace and trying to connect with your soul
Neither friends nor neither form I'm begin you please (moving fast than moving slow) you got on my knees I ain't got that time I'm walking on fellas my heart fellas my heart fellas my heart get to your soul get to your soul
I'm begging you regardless of friends or appearances (whether we're moving fast or slow), and although I'm walking on my own, my heart is trying to connect with your soul
The clowns gather around and the questions back like why doesn't snow from the from the sky their open just to prove yourself To any looking now from no one else
The clowns are asking questions like why doesn't it snow from the sky, and they're just trying to prove themselves to anyone who's looking
We're singin': Won't hurt you, won't hurt you...
We're singing that we won't hurt you but we also won't love you
Writer(s): Miguel Drummond, Nicholas Bernard Thorp, Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, Julian Godfrey Brookhouse Copyright: Curio Sounds Ltd.
Contributed by Kaelyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Calogero Castaldo
Shifting air and atmosphere makes you feel like you're playing the game
Earthly sounds from all around the DJ's going through a phase
Watching all the cars go by fascination entertains, singing
"I won't hurt you, I won't hurt you, I won't hurt you bad"
"I won't hurt you, I won't hurt you, I won't hurt you bad"
Neither friend or neither foe
Moving fast and moving slow
I ain't got that time
I'm walking on thin ice, mile high
To get to your soul
Watching all those jailbirds cry "I'm innocent, I'm not to blame"
With earthly sounds from all around "I really can't take it no more!"
Black ice streets as cold as can be, the forecast seems to claim, singing
"I won't hurt you, I won't hurt you, I wont hurt you, no no I won't"
"I won't hurt you, I won't hurt you now, I won't hurt you bad"
Neither friend or neither foe
Moving fast and moving slow
I ain't got that time
I'm walking on thin ice, mile high
To get to your soul... to your soul...
Please!...
(Neither friend or neither foe)
I'm begging you please!...
(Moving fast and moving slow)
You gotta leave!...
(I ain't got that time)
I'm walking on thin ice, mile high
Thin ice, mile high, thin ice, mile high
To get to your soul...
To get to your
(Soul...)
The crowds gather round and the questions fly
Like "why does the snow fall from the sky?"
You're hoping just to prove yourself
'Cause you ain't looking out for no one else
They're singing:
(I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya...)
Won't hurt you bad
(I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya...)
No no no no no no no
(I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya...)
Won't... hurt ya, won't hurt ya, won't hurt ya, yeah
Can't touch you babe
(I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya...)
Won't... can't touch ya, won't hurt ya
(I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya, I won't hurt ya...)
Won't hurt ya... can't touch ya babe
Simon Tolley
I remember rushing down to Woolworths when this album was released. I played it death...and then played it some more.
geeme peese
80's in my mind , my soul & in my heart for ever ...
Curiosity Killed the Cat Fan
I heard someone say that we get the best art when there are times of struggle. So in the 80s there were political problems, Apartheid, Cold War etc. People were able to put the problems into music, films, TV and people used these things as escapism.
geeme peese
in 1987 I was 12 years old, and almost all the music until the end of the 90's for me marked the best years of my life and I have good memories ... probably because the world in general - even with his problems - was with a better mood and gave more space to musical creativity. Greetings from Chile ! :)
Curiosity Killed the Cat Fan
It seems like people had a lot of fun in the 80s.(I'm showing my age, shhhhhh)
Júlio Guerra
i cant belive i spend my youth in the 80's and only now that at 48 im discovering this great band
Ricardo Frugoli
We are two on this great discovery. I'm 52 and rediscover they on spotify, but in youtube there's more to listen.
Curiosity Killed the Cat Fan
Better late than never.
Alison Cleeton
My fave by far x: )
Curiosity Killed the Cat Fan
Ben has an amazing voice