They incorporated the sounds of string ensembles, vocoders and dub echos into rock songs, thereby creating a very sophisticated studio version of rock. The musical content of ELO songs often went far beyond usual chord structures, mixing pop songwriting with classical romanticism and synthesized sounds. The band claim that their music "picks up where The Beatles' 1967 song I Am the Walrus left off."
Formed in 1970 by Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan (the remaining members of the 1960s rock group The Move). The band used cellos, violin, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound. This was an idea Roy Wood initially had while with The Move, to take rock music in a new direction. In 1970 when Carl Wayne left the The Move, Jeff Lynne, front man with fellow Brum band Idle Race, responded to Wood's second invitation to join the line-up, with the lure of starting the new band. To help finance the fledgling project, two more Move albums were released during the recording of their eponymous first album in 1971 which produced the UK hit 10538 Overture. In the US this album was released with the mistaken title of No Answer, due to a mix-up with an uncompleted telephone call to the American label and subsequent secretarial message.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. With most of the media attention focused on Roy Wood, differences in musical direction, and a disastrous first live outing, it was no surprise when the band went through the first of its many line-up changes as Wood took Hugh McDowell and Bill Hunt with him to form Wizzard. Despite the music press's predictions that the band would fold without Wood, Jeff Lynne stepped up to lead the band, with Bevan remaining on drums, bassist Richard Tandy switching to moog synthesizer, Michael d'Albuquerque on bass, Mike Edwards, Colin Walker (cello) and Wilfred Gibson replacing Steve Woolam on violin. They released ELO 2 in 1973, from which came their first U.S. chart hit, a hugely elaborate version of the Chuck Berry classic Roll Over Beethoven. After their second album, violinist Gibson was dismissed and replaced by Mik Kaminski. They also released On The Third Day in 1973, with Mike Edwards playing all the cello parts due to Colin Walker leaving the band. Later that same year saw the return of Hugh McDowell, who had jumped ship the year previous, to replace cellist Colin Walker.
In 1974 Lynne hired a thirty-piece orchestra, choir and Louis Clark, then began work on the next LP Eldorado, A Symphony, a concept album about dreams, scoring their first U.S. Top Ten hit with Can't Get It Out Of My Head in 1975. Eldorado would become ELO's first gold album.
After the release of Eldorado, bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt and cellist Melvyn Gale joined, replacing de Albuquerque and Edwards respectively.
The band split in 1983. In 1985, Lynne, Tandy and Bevan reunited and recorded the album "Balance of Power". This reunion was short lived and the band split once more in 1986. Bev Bevan and Louis Clark, with the consent of Lynne, toured and recorded as ELO Part II from 1988 until Bevan's retirement in 1999. In 2000, Lynne and Tandy reformed Electric Light Orchestra and released a new record, "Zoom". "Zoom" proved to be a commercial failure, and the duo split once more in 2001.
In 2014, following support from BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, Lynne and Tandy reunited as a part of BBC Radio 2's "Festival in a Day" to perform under the new billing, "Jeff Lynne's ELO", a name Lynne devised as a response to ELO tributes, imitation bands, and offshoots who used ELO to promote their own tours.
In February 2015, Jeff Lynne's ELO performed at the Grammy Awards with Ed Sheeran, and in September of that year they announced a new album would be released under Columbia Records. Jeff Lynne's ELO - Alone in the Universe was released on November 13, 2015, and was ELO’s first album of new material in almost 15 years.
The second album under Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Jeff Lynne's ELO - From Out of Nowhere, was released on November 1, 2019.
There is more than one artist with the name "ELO". The vast majority of scrobbles to "Electric Light Orchestra" are for the rock band from England.
ELO, is a South Korean singer, who debuted with the album, 8 Femmes, on August 26, 2016.
21st Century Man
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suitcase in your hand
They won't get you very far
Now you're a 21st century man
Fly across the city
Rise above the land
You can do 'most anything
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow (tomorrow)
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
What will it bring?
One day you're a hero
Next day you're a clown
There's nothing that is in between
Now you're a 21st century man
You should be so happy
You should be so glad
So why are you so lonely
You 21st century man?
You stepped out of a dream
Believing everything was gone
Return with what you've learned
They'll kiss the ground you walk upon
(21st-century man)
Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow (tomorrow)
You still wander the fields of your sorrow (sorrow)
Tomorrow, 21st-century man
(21st-century man)
(21st-century man)
"21st Century Man" by Electric Light Orchestra is a song about the paradox of living in the modern world. The lyrics talk about how one can have all the material things and technological advancements but still feel lonely and lost inside. The song highlights the gap between the promise of progress and the reality of human life, which the singer compares to a dream. The lyrics suggest that while we might be living in an era of unprecedented technological advancement, we are still grappling with the same old existential questions that have troubled humans for centuries. Ultimately, the song seems to be saying that in order to find happiness, we need to look within ourselves and not to external factors.
The opening verse of the song sets the scene of a 21st century man with a penny in his pocket and a suitcase in his hand. The second verse describes how such a man can fly across the city and rise above the land, implying that he has access to all the latest technology and can do almost anything. However, the chorus suggests that despite all this, the 21st century man is unhappy and lonely. The third and fourth verses talk about how one day the man can be a hero and the next a clown, implying the instability of modern life. In the fifth verse, the singer insists that the 21st century man should be happy and glad but wonders why he is so lonely. The song ends with the advice that in order to escape this reality, one should return with what they've learned and not be a 21st century man.
Line by Line Meaning
A penny in your pocket
You may have some money, but it's not enough to take you far.
Suitcase in your hand
You've got your belongings, but they won't guarantee your success.
They won't get you very far
Your financial or material possessions are not enough to ensure your progress.
Now you're a 21st century man.
Despite your limitations, you are now living in the modern world.
Fly across the city
You have access to modern transportation that can take you places quickly.
Rise above the land
You can elevate yourself and your perspective by taking advantage of technology.
You can do 'most anything
There are endless possibilities and opportunities available in this era.
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
You may be embracing modern technology, but you are still burdened by past emotions and pain.
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
You are still dealing with emotional baggage and past traumas that have not been fully resolved.
One day you're a hero
You may experience moments of success and acclaim.
Next day you're a clown
However, you may also experience moments of failure or embarrassment.
There's nothing that is in between
Life in the 21st century can be extreme and unpredictable, with little room for middle ground.
You should be so happy
You have access to all the opportunities and resources the modern world has to offer.
You should be so glad
You have reason to be thankful for the privileges and conveniences of modern life.
So why are you so lonely
Despite all the advantages of modern society, you are still struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation.
You stepped out of a dream believing
You had high hopes and expectations for your life in the 21st century.
Everything was gone
Your expectations did not match up to reality, and you may feel disillusioned with modern life.
Return with what you've learned
Take the lessons you've learned and apply them to your future endeavors.
They'll kiss the ground you walk upon.
If you can turn your experiences into successes, others will give you the admiration and respect you deserve.
Things ain't how you thought they were
Reality may have shattered your optimistic view of modern life.
Nothing have you planned
You may feel lost and directionless, without a clear plan for the future.
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
Start small and take what you have to build towards your goals.
You're not a 21st century man
You may live in the modern world, but you are still struggling to find your place in it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jonni IInferno
.
.
A penny in your pocket
Suitcase in your hand
They won't get you very far
Now you're a 21st century man.
.
Fly across the city
Rise above the land
You can do 'most anything
Now you're a 21st century man.
.
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
.
One day you're a hero
Next day you're a clown
There's nothing that is in between
Now you're a 21st century man.
.
You should be so happy
You should be so glad
So why are you so lonely
You 21st century man
.
You stepped out of a dream believing
Everything was gone
Return with what you've learned
They'll kiss the ground you walk upon.
.
Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man.
.
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
21st century man
.
.
Fernando velazquez
A penny in your pocket
Suitcase in your hand
They won't get you very far
Now you're a 21st century man.
Fly across the city
Rise above the land
You can do 'most anything
Now you're a 21st century man.
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
One day you're a hero
Next day you're a clown
There's nothing that is in between
Now you're a 21st century man.
You should be so happy
You should be so glad
So why are you so lonely
You 21st century man
You stepped out of a dream believing
Everything was gone
Return with what you've learned
They'll kiss the ground you walk upon.
Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man.
Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
21st century man
Dalequio
Esta hermosa balada pertenece al álbum " Time " ( 1981 ) , del cual también recomiendo estos otros temas lentos :
" Rain is falling " ( " Cae la lluvia " )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLI_mnryWc
" Ticket to the Moon " ( " Pasaje a la Luna " )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_WoY3pX9nE
" The lights go down " ( " A media luz " )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTI4Qt8sbw4
" When time stood still " ( " Cuando el tiempo se detuvo " ) : Esta canción fue lado B.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tls8Neie2Q
Saludos desde Chile.
Lord Pasta
I was born in 2000 which makes me a real 21st-century man. The lyrics take on a whole different meaning for me, but it still works 100%. "you should be so happy, you should be so glad. so why are you so lonely, you 21st-century man" coming from a song written in 1981 literally makes my hair stand on end. This song is actually more aware of the state of modern society than modern society itself is.
Bernard Morris
@Willie Gordon Me too.
Bernard Morris
@Willie Gordon Yes, it's well documented that Jeff Lynne was massively influenced by The Beatles.
Bernard Morris
Jeff's dark glasses have the power of looking into the future.
Ketjow
u were born in XX century
Zephaniah 3:17
"Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow, you still wander the fields of your sorrow". Brilliant line, I think many of us have been there.
Darren Bethell
@Michael King who ? Jeff Lynne?
Michael King
Yep, always living in the past...
Darren Bethell
@Willie Gordon absolutely Jeff Lynne is a Beatles fanatic
Willie Gordon
@Darren Bethell I've always wondered was ELO influenced by the Beatles? I hear a lot of Beatles in their lyrics and instrumentals.