Dubstar released their debut album 'Disgraceful' on Food Records in the Autumn of 1995 to worldwide critical and commercial success. Disgraceful features four UK Top 40 singles including the dreampop classic Stars, perennial radio favourite Not So Manic Now and The Day I see You Again, a ballad that revisits a broken relationship that's been covered by artists as diverse as Claudia Brücken and Bon Bob Club. A timely female led version of Billy Bragg's St Swithin's Day caught the imagination of the music press; an instrumental version was even used as the theme for the BBC's coverage of the Euro '96 football championship.
The follow up album Goodbye was released two years later and spawned another three UK Top 40 singles including No More Talk, a number one radio hit in the UK. Both albums were produced by Stephen Hague.
Third album Make It Better was released in 2000 and includes the fan-favourite Self Same Thing, their last single for Food Records. A belated compilation 'Stars…the best of Dubstar' was released by EMI in 2004.
Following a twelve year hiatus, Dubstar announced the recording of new material in 2012 and release their fourth, as yet untitled album in 2013, again working with Stephen Hague.
Not So Manic Now
Dubstar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mind's twisting
I was making myself the usual cup of tea
When the doorbell strangely rang
Because I've been up here for a while
I'm starting to feel the monotony of the tower block
I'm not so manic now
And she's lifting and throwing to the wall
The post-natal harmonies of youth
When this younger man, twenty-five
Advantageously took away her pride
The wind's whistling
My mind's twisting
I was making myself the usual cup of tea
When the doorbell strangely rang
I staggered shaking slowly to the door
Through the frosted panel I could see you
Your intentions as a salesman truly cush
You endeavored as a psycho just to push
And whilst lifting and throwing to the wall
My puny structure of an aging OAP
No reason why you chose my flat
Breathing deeply in a trance
The wind's whistling
My mind's twisting
I was making myself the usual cup of tea
When the doorbell strangely rang
I'm not so manic now (not so manic now)
I'm not so manic now (not so manic now)
I'm not so manic now (not so manic now)
I'm not so manic now (not so manic now)
Because I've been up here for a while
I'm starting to feel the monotony of the tower block
I'm not so manic now
I can uphold the weight of those neighbours
And she's lifting and throwing to the wall
The post-natal harmonies of youth
When this younger man, twenty-five
Advantageously took away her pride
I'm not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
Not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
Not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
Not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
I'm not so manic now
Not so manic now
The lyrics of Dubstar's song 'Not So Manic Now' describe a scene of someone who has been living in a tower block for a while and is becoming bored of their mundane existence. The wind is whistling, and their mind is twisting as they make a cup of tea, when the doorbell rings unexpectedly. The singer is not expecting any visitors and peeks through the frosted panel to see a salesman, who turns out to be a psycho trying to push their way in.
Meanwhile, another neighbor is heard lifting and throwing something to the wall, likely the post-natal harmonies of youth, as the younger man who took away their pride is mentioned. Despite this chaos, the singer seems to have found some level of comfort in their situation and is not so manic anymore. They have been up in the unit for a while and feel the monotony of the surroundings, but they can still uphold the weight of their neighbors.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the experience of people who live in tower blocks, who experience isolation and boredom, but also find comfort in the familiarity of their surroundings. It also touches on the darker aspects of living in close quarters with neighbors who can be unpredictable and difficult to deal with.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind's whistling
I can hear the wind blowing outside my window
My mind's twisting
My thoughts are becoming jumbled and confused
I was making myself the usual cup of tea
I was engaging in my normal routine
When the doorbell strangely rang
The doorbell rang unexpectedly
Because I've been up here for a while
Being isolated in my tower block for a long time
I'm starting to feel the monotony of the tower block
I'm getting bored with the repetitiveness of living in a tower block
I'm not so manic now
I'm feeling calmer and more in control of my emotions
I can uphold the weight of those neighbours
I can handle the burdens of my neighbors
And she's lifting and throwing to the wall
She's violently expressing her emotions
The post-natal harmonies of youth
The happy memories of her youth when she had children
When this younger man, twenty-five
When a young man entered my life
Advantageously took away her pride
He took advantage of her and made her feel ashamed
I staggered shaking slowly to the door
I walked hesitantly and nervously to answer the door
Through the frosted panel I could see you
I peered through the frosted glass to see who was there
Your intentions as a salesman truly cush
I realized you were just a salesman trying to make a sale
You endeavored as a psycho just to push
You tried to pressure me like a crazed person
My puny structure of an aging OAP
My frail, elderly body
No reason why you chose my flat
There was no apparent reason why you came to my apartment
Breathing deeply in a trance
I tried to calm myself down by taking deep breaths
I'm not so manic now (not so manic now)
I feel more relaxed and in control (repeated for emphasis)
Not so manic now
I'm not as emotionally unstable
I'm not so manic now
I'm feeling much better mentally
I'm not so manic now
My mental state has improved
I'm not so manic now
I'm not feeling as mentally unwell
Not so manic now
I'm not in such an unstable state of mind
I'm not so manic now
I'm in a more positive and stable mental state
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thelemming6409
There is absolutely nothing to dislike about this song. An absolute classic of it’s time.
@hoagy_ytfc
This is absolutely wonderful. But I'm going to suggest that the Brick Supply original is even better.
@jackjude
@@hoagy_ytfcyeah, the original is usually the best. I'm sure most covering artist agree. 👍
@1mcshandy
I loved this track so much that I drove my student flat mates insane by playing it over and over again. This track is the second best track of the 90's - only being beaten by the mighty St Ettiene's He's on he phone (Disco dancing heaven).
@pauldavies9417
McShandy McDonald your top 2 90's songs are mine too, thankyou, likeminded
@lpvlpb9365
Hes on the phone played at my roller disco party wen I was 11 !!!
@paulswaddle8031
Same here ! Was a student who played it over and over and over again . Beautiful song .
@ultraonyx
Paul Davies hahahha. Mine too next to Mono
@chasetheskies
Totally agree
@elizabethbell4697
One of my favourite tunes from 1995. A totally lost group. They deserved more praise than they received. I wish them well.