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.
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When You
EMF Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're on another high climb, lost cause
To save us all
From the start of it all
Say to me, you're feeling fine
This time is ours, time is hype
Talk about, get on out another
When will I see you
I see the days passing by
When will you say it
I need your words saying
When will your words
Tow the line
And when you're here, don't be here
'Cause all I see are your lips
And when you're mine, smile with grace
Because it's the last time, I see your face
When you're mine
When will you do it
When will your hands touch mine
When will I feel yours in mine
When will you say it
I need your word saying
When will your words tow the line
The song "When You're Mine" by EMF features lyrics that encourage a lover to express their feelings openly and honestly. The singer is pleading for their lover to let them know that everything is okay and that they are feeling fine. They feel that they have lost their way and need reassurance that things will work out. The singer sees time as precious and wants to make the most of it. They ask for another chance to save their relationship and are waiting for their lover to make a move or express their love. The singer longs for affection from their partner and wishes that they could feel their touch. However, they also acknowledge that sometimes when things do not work out, it is better to walk away gracefully than to cause further pain.
The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and desperation, as the singer is reaching out to their lover to save their relationship from falling apart. The repeated phrase "when will you say it" highlights the singer's frustration and eagerness for their partner to express their love. The chorus is particularly impactful, with the singer noting that once they are around their lover, they cannot help but be drawn to their lips. The final line paints a picture of a bittersweet moment, as the singer knows that the next time they see their lover's face, it will be the last.
Line by Line Meaning
Say to me, you're feeling fine
Ask me to tell you how I'm doing, but really asking for reassurance that you're still important to me.
You're on another high climb, lost cause
You're chasing after something that's not worth pursuing, and it's causing you to lose sight of what's really important.
To save us all
In an attempt to fix our relationship and make everything okay again.
From the start of it all
From the very beginning of our connection.
This time is ours, time is hype
Our relationship is important and exciting right now, and we should cherish the moments we have together.
Talk about, get on out another
Let's discuss our feelings and work towards a solution.
Chance for us all
An opportunity for both of us to improve and grow together.
When will I see you
When will we have another chance to be together and work on our relationship?
I see the days passing by
I'm aware that time is passing and our chance to fix things is slipping away.
When will you say it
When will you tell me how you really feel and what you want from our relationship?
I need your words saying
I'm desperate for you to express yourself and be open with me.
Tow the line
Follow the rules and expectations of our relationship.
And when you're here, don't be here
When we're together, don't just physically be present - be emotionally present and engaged with our connection.
'Cause all I see are your lips
When we're together, all I notice is your physical appearance, and it's not enough to sustain our relationship.
And when you're mine, smile with grace
When our relationship is strong and we're both committed to it, let's cherish our time together and approach it with gratitude and joy.
Because it's the last time, I see your face
This may be our last chance to fix things in our relationship before it's too late, so let's make the most of it.
When you're mine
When we're both committed to our relationship and actively working towards improving it.
When will you do it
When will you take action and make changes to improve our relationship?
When will your hands touch mine
When will we have physical and emotional connection in our relationship?
When will I feel yours in mine
When will we be able to support each other emotionally and physically?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Derran Gene Brownson, Ian Dench, James Saul Atkin, Mark Simon De Cloedt, Zachary Sebastian Rex Foley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrPhenom444
New EMF fan here!
When Your Mine is my 2nd favorite off the first album 🔥🎵
Michael James
Mt favourite EMF tune of all time, I always liked the version on the B side of the I believe single, I wore that tape out!
Heroes Zeros
Awesome!
Jenna_Hell
Lovely 😌
Ricardo Sousa
Amazing
Cristiano C.H.
Louco...!!!