1. A currently active m… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists by this name:
1. A currently active metal band from Atlanta, Georgia
2. A disbanded Australian synth pop and indie rock group of the 80s
1. Dear Enemy formed in early 2005 from the ashes of some of Atlanta's best-known local groups, determining that they needed to join together to form a new metal project. They were motivated by a single desire: to completely eliminate egos and distractions by making the hardest, most direct music they can, with the broadest possible appeal. In nature, the "Dear Enemy" effect occurs when powerful rivals agree to cooperate for the greater good rather than slug it out, still remaining at odds yet challenging that energy positively.
The difference between their past efforts and Dear Enemy became evident on the group's 2005 demo, produced by Brian Parker. Songs like "Days Of Regret" and "Rise Up" go straight for the jugular, as jackhammer riffs and precision rhythms explode into melodies that leave you no choice but to pump your fist and sing along.
Already in their short life as a band, Dear Enemy has opened for such national acts as Chevelle, Three Days Grace, Dark New Day, Hoobastank, Nonpoint, Silent Civilian, Burn Season and more. They continue to make waves reaching fans all over the world with their unique promotional techniques, their persistance, and their overdriven work ethic. It doesn't hurt that the band is known as one of the most approachable in the scene. The future looks bright for this powerhouse quintet and the sky is the limit to what they can do with their hard hitting riffs, memorable vocal melodies and undeniable live show.
In the meantime, Dear Enemy plans to follow its own motto, and keep its friends close, and its enemies dear. Except by the time everyone gets a listen...the band may not have any enemies left.
2. Dear Enemy was an Australian group that got started in 1982. Breaking up in 1988, the band is one of the best cases for the term 'one hit wonder' since that term's invention. Their classic tune "Computer One" achieved a number of things, not just mixing synthpop with spirited indie rock but also being an astonishingly close predictor of the future given how the narrator seeks the help of a powerful computational friend after his girlfriend left him and treats the machine akin to a spiritual guide almost (the song's mingling of man with machine being like the songs of Kraftwerk and OMD). Nonetheless, the group was a rock n roll band at heart, interested in pursuing a far more conventional sound in most of their other work, and the dichotomy proved their undoing.
The Australian band took their name from the 'Ginger Meggs' comic strip, in which the hero receives letters from his rival which are always addressed to 'Dear Enemy'. Coming out of Melbourne, the group formed in 1982 and had an original lineup of vocalist Ron Martini, guitarists Chris Langford and Les Barker (ex-Benders), keyboardist Martin Fisher (ex-Little Heroes), bassist Peter Leslie (also ex-Little Heroes), and drummer Ian Morrison. Prior to life as "Dear Enemy", they had played together as a covers band called Stonewall.
The band picked up a strong following on the live circuit shortly. In 1983, the guys signed a recording contract with the American label EMI/Capitol, making history one of the first Australian bands signed direct to an overseas label. The band recorded their debut album, titled 'Ransom Note' in the U.S. under the guidance of producer Peter McIan, who had been responsible for releases by Men at Work and Mondo Rock. In fact, the band were signed with the specific condition that Peter McIan oversee the recording sessions. The album generated three singles that the group felt were destined to be hits.
The first of which, "Computer One", was written in America by Langford and Fisher, and the track had a mellow, melancholic tone in which indie rock and synthpop became mixed, with a music video involving all sorts of computer-related items created. As stated before, the somewhat prophetic tune caught on to a huge audience across the world and proved to be Dear Enemy’s one and only major hit, peaking at #5 on the Australian charts in late 1983. While the guys naturally celebrated, it soon became clear that their smash success ended up being something like a 'black sheep hit', expectations piled on them as they went on.
The band's second single, "The Good Life", stalled at #39 a few months later, providing something of a bad omen. The slide continued with the third single, "Kids On The Street", failing to chart. 'Ransom Note' itself sold more than 25,000 units and reached #15 on the national album charts, which the band celebrated, but critics then and now have panned the album for being heavily uneven in quality terms from song to song. At any rate, the band were between a rock and a hard place yet felt determined to push themselves back into mainstream popularity.
Dear Enemy released a new single a few months later, with the track, "New Hero", being featured on the soundtrack to the Australian motion picture 'Street Hero'. The single only reached #93, however. A couple of lineup changes, with Joey Amenta replacing Barker in April 1985, and two more flop singles, "Stay" and "You're Right, You're Right", followed over the next four years before Dear Enemy’s system crashed, The guys called it a day at the end of 1988.
Dear Enemy did record tracks for a second album during this period, but contract and legal problems meant that the album didn't see the light of day. Ron Martini also released a CD entitled Big Night Out in 1996 with backing band The Missiles Of Love. Ian Morrison went onto perform with Goanna.
In 2000 EMI released a CD Best of Dear Enemy (Ransom Note and Beyond) which was a compilation of all the band's releases, this was followed in 2004 by a Best of, which was basically Ransom Note and the inclusion of the single "New Hero".
The Good Life
Dear Enemy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gets up for work his mouth's still yawning
Leaves his wife to sleep the day alone
As he rides the train he thinks of the pay he brings home day after day
By ten o'clock it's time for tea break
His cup in his hand he plans the escape
A simple note could always break the news
He only wants a good life
She wants to be a good wife
Scotch and rye help them through the hard time
They only need it 'cause they feel so alone
So alone
Five o'clock it's time for leavin'
Runs for the train
His mind's still schemin'
Could she stand to face her life alone
He hesitates but once again
He's on his way home
And he only wants a good life
She wants to be a good wife
Scotch and rye help them through the hard time
They only need it 'cause they feel so alone
So alone
The lyrics to Dear Enemy’s song, The Good Life, tell the story of a man who wakes up early every morning to go to work while his wife sleeps at home. He thinks about the pay he brings home day after day as he rides the train to work. During his tea break, he contemplates leaving his wife with a simple note. However, he is unable to do so and continues to think about the work he must do. The man and his wife only seek solace in scotch and rye to get through the hard times of feeling alone.
The lyrics showcase a common issue in modern society, where people feel trapped in their daily routine as they seek a good life with financial security. However, it comes at the cost of feeling alone and neglecting meaningful relationships in their life. The man in the song symbolizes the constant struggle of wanting a good life, but not knowing the right way to attain it. In contrast, his wife wants to be a good wife, but she's alone and faced with the possibility of being alone when he leaves.
Overall, Dear Enemy's song "The Good Life" encapsulates how people often seek comfort in materialistic things without realizing the consequences. They want to achieve financial success and live a good life, but it often means sacrificing deeper relationships and feeling alone.
Line by Line Meaning
He hits the alarm at six each morning
He wakes up at 6am, hitting the alarm, even though he's tired
Gets up for work his mouth's still yawning
He goes to work but is still tired, yawning as he starts his day
Leaves his wife to sleep the day alone
He leaves his wife at home while he goes to work
As he rides the train he thinks of the pay he brings home day after day
On his train ride to work, he thinks about the money he earns to support his family
By ten o'clock it's time for tea break
At 10am, he takes a break from work and has some tea
His cup in his hand he plans the escape
While holding his cup, he thinks about escaping from his daily routine
A simple note could always break the news
He could easily leave his current situation behind with a simple note
The lines of thought are lost as he thinks of the work he must do
He loses track of his thoughts thinking about the work he has to do
He only wants a good life
All he wants is to live a good life
She wants to be a good wife
His wife wants to be a good spouse
Scotch and rye help them through the hard time
They resort to drinking scotch and rye to cope with their difficult situation
They only need it 'cause they feel so alone
They turn to alcohol because they are lonely
Five o'clock it's time for leavin'
At 5pm, it's time for him to leave work
Runs for the train
He hurries to catch his train home
His mind's still schemin'
He is still thinking about escaping his current situation
Could she stand to face her life alone
He wonders if his wife could handle being alone if he left
He hesitates but once again
He considers leaving but changes his mind once again
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@frankshaw7325
I was Dear Enemy's Sound Engineer in the early 80s a great band very under rated.
@frankshaw7325
@EdChiarini Hi Ed they were a great band and I loved working with them, we had everything in the truck all the backline all the lighting rig and pa it was some of the best days of my life I still have their
original backdrop, look up Billy Boy on youtube the sound was recorded buy me from the foh desk take care, frank
@russellmcgoldrick5374
Hi frank,,,,
@SJS764
Frank can you tell me any of the location details for the Good Life video clip - location etc
I was a big fan when this group played in the 1980s and still love it in my late 50's
@gregsturgess3876
Great work mate thanks very much
@DJPashn
What are the band up to now?
@Subilon
I remember playing this song over and over in 1983.The good times (sigh)
@philmichelmore4227
A classic for me still think of 1983 with this song in mind love it!
@thegoodlife8956
Ive loved this song for years. Why cant i buy it on itunes or Spotify? I want to add it to my play lists. I dont know why it was never number 1 on the charts. I think this song was ahead of its time.
@MC-iw6nv
You have to be an Aussie to know this one..Personally I think this song is underrated.