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/
Unbelievable
EMF Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What the
What the, was that?
You burden me with your questions
You'd have me tell no lies
You're always asking what it's all about
But don't listen to my replies
But when I do I'm a fool
These times I've spent, I've realized
I'm going to shoot through
And leave you
The things, you say
Your purple prose just give you away
The things, you say
You're unbelievable
Oh!
What the
What the, was that?
You burden me with your problems
By telling me more than mine
I'm always so concerned
With the way you say
You always have to stop
To think of us being one
Is more than I ever know
But this time, I realize
I'm going to shoot through
And leave you
The things, you say
Your purple prose just give you away
The things, you say
You're unbelievable
Oh!
What the
One
What the
One
What the
One
What the, was that?
Seemingly lastless
Don't mean you can ask us
Pushing down the relative
Bringing out your higher self
Think of the fine times
Pushing down the better few
Instead of bringing out the clues
To what the world and everything you answer to
Brace yourself with the greatest of ease
I know this world ain't what it seems
What the, was that?
It's unbelievable
You burden me with your questions
You'd have me tell no lies
You're always asking what it's all about
And don't listen to my replies
You say to me I don't talk enough
But when I do I'm a fool
These times I've spent, I've realized
I'm going to shoot through
And leave you
The things, you say
Your purple prose just give you away
The things, you say
In thought I love you more
The things, you say
Your purple prose just give you away
The things, you say
You're unbelievable
Oh!
What the
One
What the
You're so unbelievable
One
What the
One
What the
You're unbelievable
It's unbelievable
Oh!
What the
One
What the
One
What the
What the, was that?
You're unbelievable
The song "Unbelievable" by EMF is about a toxic relationship that has become too burdensome to continue. The singer is being bombarded with constant questions and problems from their partner, who refuses to listen to their answers and advice. They feel suffocated and frustrated, and eventually decide that they need to leave the relationship in order to be happy. The lines "You're always asking what it's all about / But don't listen to my replies" and "You say to me I don't talk enough / But when I do I'm a fool" highlights the communication breakdown and the unbalanced power dynamic in the relationship.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "You're unbelievable," which can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one hand, it can be a sarcastic comment on the partner's behavior and attitude, implying that they are so unrealistic and unbearable that they are almost unbelievable. On the other hand, it can also be read as a commentary on society as a whole, with the singer expressing disbelief at the ways in which people treat each other in relationships.
Overall, "Unbelievable" is a song that speaks to the frustration and pain of being trapped in a difficult and unhealthy relationship, and of trying to free oneself from that situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh!
Expression of surprise or disbelief
What the
Expression of confusion or astonishment
What the, was that?
Expression of confusion or shock
You burden me with your questions
You overwhelm me with your inquiries
You'd have me tell no lies
You expect me to only tell the truth
You're always asking what it's all about
You frequently inquire about the meaning of things
But don't listen to my replies
But you do not pay attention to the answers I provide
You say to me I don't talk enough
You tell me that I do not communicate sufficiently
But when I do I'm a fool
But when I do communicate, you see me as foolish
These times I've spent, I've realized
I have come to acknowledge the time I have spent in this situation
I'm going to shoot through
I am going to depart quickly
And leave you
And abandon you
The things, you say
The words you use
Your purple prose just give you away
Your exaggeration reveals your true intentions
In thought I love you more
I used to love you more in my thoughts or feelings
Seemingly lastless
Appearing as if it will never end
Don't mean you can ask us
That does not give you the right to question us
Pushing down the relative
Suppressing the natural state of our relationship
Bringing out your higher self
Fostering the best within yourself
Think of the fine times
Remember the good moments
Pushing down the better few
Discouraging the positive aspects in us
Instead of bringing out the clues
Rather than revealing insights or evidence
To what the world and everything you answer to
To the way the world works and how you respond to it
Brace yourself with the greatest of ease
Prepare yourself calmly and ably
I know this world ain't what it seems
I understand that the world may be misleading
You're so unbelievable
You are astonishing or incredible
It's unbelievable
This is extremely startling or hard to accept
One
Expression of surprise, disbelief, or frustration
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Zachary Sebastian Rex Foley, Mark Simon De Cloedt, James Saul Atkin, Derran Gene Brownson, Ian Dench
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emftheband
Make sure to listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/39oSLGo3HkaeYXzUEGgAGQ
@braedon1986
Thank you for the memories! Love you to the moon and back!
@gazhazzler1916
Britpop killed your music
@GUSTAVTT
are you still there????? man, this is amazing!!!!!
@abril9571
💕😍👌
@revinhatol
Sounds a bit profane, that's why this version comes up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGFVnflE4Zo
@DeathSOAD
1991 - this song is awesome!
2024 - this song is awesome!
@e............
copied comment
@jenhodge9018
Agreed ❤❤❤❤❤❤
@JoshHipHopLivin
Your point?