The baseball-capped, baggy-shorted EMF-- standing for either 'Epsom Mad Funkers' or, in the words of their eponymously titled song, 'Ecstasy Mother Fuckers' (the band could never quite make up their minds)-- made their first attack on the U.K. music scene in the autumn of 1990 with the Jesus Jones-influenced Top 10 single "Unbelievable." Sampling hard-hitting U.S. comic Andrew Dice Clay, the single was a catchy pop pile-up featuring fresh-faced vocalist James Atkin's sneery schoolboy vocals, band leader Ian Dench's swaggering rock guitar and a booming bassline, courtesy of Zac Foley. mischief-maker Derry Brownson (keyboards), and Mark Decloedt (drums).
The new social scene of 'Madchester' had exploded in 1990, and every previously no-hoper band with half an idea sold their souls to hitch a ride on the ensuing 'indie dance' bandwagon. EMF's ideas were better formed than most, despite the fact that they had been signed by a major label (EMI/Parlophone) after only a handful of gigs. Denounced as beered-up party animals by some and cider-drinking country bumpkins who'd struck lucky by others, the group cultivated a hedonistic young upstart image that ensured that they felt as at home on the cover of Smash Hits as they did the NME.
Steered through these giddy times by the older, somewhat Svengali-like figure of guitarist and songwriter Dench, who had already enjoyed previous limited success with the band Apple Mosaic, the quintet quickly dispatched identikit follow-up singles in "I Believe" and "Children," with little drop in quality or commercial impact. By this stage, "Unbelievable" was breaking the band in the U.S., but their debut single's worldwide success was to hang heavy on their shoulders in years to come. In May 1991, EMF released their debut album, titled 'Schubert Dip' ("If ever I'm short of a chord sequence, I nick one from Schubert", Dench was quoted as saying), which contained all the band's singles to date and already felt like a greatest hits collection. Similarly it topped the charts, although the fourth single, "Lies," like much of the rest of the album (with the possible exception of the slower tune "Girl of an Age"), paled in comparison with their initial batch of exuberant singles. It also drew attention from Yoko Ono's lawyers, who objected to the single's use of a sample of John Lennon lyrics recited by her husband's murderer, Mark Chapman.
With 'Schubert Dip' becoming a million-selling album, the group's members were international superstars, the album hitting #12 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. while tracks such as the aforementioned I Believe" and "Lies" being Top 40 American hits as well. The band then took to hanging out in L.A. with such luminaries as Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, getting tattoos, getting high and talking big about making a 'real' rock record. When second album 'Stigma' appeared in late 1992, heralded by the noisy single "They're Here" and the 'Unexplained' EP (containing a rowdy cover of seminal proto-punk band the Stooges' "Search and Destroy"), it was interpreted by many as a deliberate attempt by EMF to distance themselves from their teenage fan base.
Though they may have won some respect from the critics by going for a harder, less straightforward sound, the album wasn't received as well as hoped, sliding quickly out of the charts and selling only a fifth of its predecessor's total. The limitations of Atkin's voice were also readily apparent against the crunchier guitar backing. Perhaps the band had been partying too hard and simply forgot to write some tunes; "Around the time of Stigma, I was pumping myself full of anything", bassist Foley would later admit. At any rate, listeners that had bought into the band's ethos of catchy pop meets indie-fueled dance music flocked to other groups, and the band's success had been crippled.
With the band either touring or doing nothing during 1993–94, there was a hiatus in the group's recording career, and many assumed that EMF had simply split up until the single "Perfect Day" appeared from nowhere in early 1995. Though it was the band's breeziest, grooviest single for a long while, it failed to recapture their previous fortunes. The album that followed, 'Cha Cha Cha'-- from which Massive Attack/Neneh Cherry producer Johnny Dollar had walked out during the sessions-- stubbornly refused to shift units. "Bleeding You Dry", the next single to be pulled from the album, seemed titled perversely appropriate.
The summer of 1995 saw the band abandoning promotion of 'Cha Cha Cha' and teaming up with comics Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer on a quirky cover of The Monkees' pop rock hit "I'm a Believer". Although this commercial move ensured the band appeared on Top of the Pops again-- wearing gaudy Mike Nesmith wigs and miming badly no less-- many critics smelled the stench of desperation. Their self-promoted follow-up, "Afro King", seen in some quarters as a return to their alternative dance origins, and in others as too little too late, failed to do as well. Though influencing many later British rock groups, said groups had very well eclipsed them completely. The band were subsequently dropped by their label and, with no other offers forthcoming, called it a day.
In 2001, EMF reformed and released a greatest hits album. They played a number of comeback shows in the UK, and even sold out the London Astoria in June of 2001. However, on January 3, 2002, Foley died due to an overdose of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, barbiturates and alcohol. He was aged 31. The remaining members of EMF played just four more gigs in late 2002, before deciding to split up for the final time. Still, sporadic reunions have taken place since then, although with the band's future still murky.
http://www.emf-theband.com/
EMF
EMF Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all of my dreams
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I couldn't leave her if I tried
No not if I tried
I thought love was more or less a giving thing
Seems the more I gave the less I got
What's the use in tryin'
All you get is pain
When I needed sunshine I got rain
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I'm in love and I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
Not if I tried
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all of my dreams
What's the use of trying
All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine I got rain
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I'm in love and I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
No not if I tried
Not if I tried, no
'Cause I'm a believer
Yes I'm a believer
The lyrics to EMF's "I'm A Believer" describe a story of a person who was once skeptical about love and discouraged by past experiences, but who suddenly finds true love and becomes a "believer." The opening lines demonstrate the doubt and disappointment the singer has experienced in the past with love. However, the chorus suggests the transformative power of experiencing true love, as the singer proclaims "not a trace of doubt in my mind" and affirms his belief in love. The second verse delves into the previous efforts the singer has made to find love, but notes that they have resulted in pain and frustration. Despite this, the singer ultimately finds their true love, leading to the confident repetition of the chorus at the end of the song.
Overall, the song is an optimistic and relatable ode to the power of love to transform someone's perspectives and outlook on life. The song also uses a classic pop and rock sound, with jangly guitar riffs and upbeat drums, which helps to underscore the hopeful message of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
I used to believe that love is only for fiction stories
Meant for someone else but not for me
I thought love only existed for others, excluding myself
Love was out to get me
I believed love was deliberately trying to harm me
That's the way it seemed
This perception seemed to be my reality
Disappointment haunted all of my dreams
Every idea I had about happy relationships only led to depressing outcomes
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
My perception of love changed when I met her
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I have complete faith and trust in my emotions for her
I'm in love, and I'm a believer
I am in love and my outlook on love has changed for the better
I couldn't leave her if I tried
I am so in love that I could never imagine myself trying to leave her
No not if I tried
Even if I wanted to leave her, my love is too strong and I couldn't do it
I thought love was more or less a giving thing
I used to think love was about what one could give
Seems the more I gave the less I got
The more I put into my relationships, the less I seemed to get back
What's the use in tryin'
I became discouraged and questioned the effort I put into my relationships
All you get is pain
I only received pain and hurt in return for my love
When I needed sunshine I got rain
When I was looking for happiness, I only found sadness and disappointment
Not if I tried
Even though I could try to leave her, my love is too strong
No not if I tried, no
I am confident that I could never leave her
'Cause I'm a believer
My outlook on love has changed and I believe in it now
Yes I'm a believer
I am now a confident believer in love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Neil Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Offensive Username
Having thrown away my cassette tape, I finally found EMF's best track by searching for "hidden track". Unbelievable is so overrated.
JackHP
Offensive Username Unbelievable may be a very good song but its decently not the best in the album
Nathan Clarke
Lol yeah I used to play this as loud as I could (when my parents weren't home lol). When I first got Schubert Dip I fell in love with this track!
Offero 04
I dont think 'Unbelievable' is over rated but I would agree that the hidden track is easily their second best song, if its not 'unbelievable's equal :)
And my god how old are we! lol
Andrew Cleland
This must have been absolutely awesome live.
A.C.E. Vella
Always made sure my headphones were plugged in properly when I played this at home as a 14 year old. My dad would have thrown a fit if he heard it haha
Nikki Johnston
Still have there autograph from the early 90s even got drinking with them back stage bloody fantastic
JT1985
Fucking love this !!!!!!!
Pete K
Saw them live at toads place new haven. Brilliant show
Fajar Moenir
@Pete K Toad's place is a legendary place man..I saw many acts there. Too bad I didn't get a chance to see the stones there coz I heard the news late. I was living in Bridgeport during the 80s