Tovey began his musical career after studying performance art at Leeds Polytechnic, but started recording upon his move back to his native London, UK. The songs of his early career (under the pseudonym) all feature synthesizers plus, sometimes, machine sounds like that of an electric razor or an electric drill. Almost all of his songs create a dark, mystical atmosphere, with Gadget's voice hovering monotonously over then unheard of, groundbreaking and still brilliant synthesizer sound effects. The lyrics are either very earnest, discussing subjects like guilt or life and death, or convey a black, sarcastic humour.
Initially, Fad Gadget was merely a moniker for Tovey, but as time went on a band was formed (although keeping Tovey as the main focal point). His longest-serving sidekick was drummer Nick Cash. Other members were keyboardist David Simmonds, bassist Peter Balmer, guitarist & bassist David Rogers and viola player & backing vocalist Joni Sackett
Singles included Back To Nature, Ricky's Hand and Collapsing New People. Fad Gadget was the first artist signed to the then-fledgling Mute label, on which he released four full length albums, Fireside Favourites (1980), Incontinent (1981), Under The Flag (1982) and Gag (1984). After 1984's Gag, Tovey released a compilation, (The Fad Gadget Singles), and recorded five more albums under his own name, whose styles ranged from semi-industrial electronic ballads to folk-oriented protest songs. He last appeared on a European tour supporting his latest album in 1993 and then virtually disappeared for some eight years.
In 2001 Tovey (and Cash) resurfaced with a comeback appearance and subsequently supported Depeche Mode on the Exciter tour later that year, again under his pseudonym Fad Gadget and backed by members of Temple X, whose album he had been producing. (Depeche Mode cite Tovey/Gadget as an icon and a paragon, and his influences can be heard in their music.) Tovey died of a heart attack on 3 April, 2002, aged 45, having suffered heart problems throughout his life.
Stand Up
Fad Gadget Lyrics
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Don't let those silly bully boys push you around
If the doors slam in your face just kick them down
Watch those clockwork penguins all frown
Dreamers cannot beat
Stand on your own two feet
Stretch and grow my darling, reach for the stars
Out on Battledress babe, there'll be battle scars
Look at me I'm always complaining, seems I got it wrong
But now I'm sick of hearing that same sad song
Only fools will admit defeat
Stand on your own two feet
Stand up
Dreamers cannot beat
Stand on your own two feet
Stand up
The lyrics of "Stand Up" by Fad Gadget send a message of empowerment to anyone who feels downtrodden and powerless in the midst of bullies, difficult situations, or feelings of defeat. The song encourages the listener to take a stand, metaphorically speaking, by refusing to be mistreated or dismissed. Fad Gadget sings, "Get up little girl, stand your ground / Don't let those silly bully boys push you around," which could be interpreted as an appeal to women and girls to assert themselves in a patriarchal society that often seeks to limit their voices and choices. The line "If the doors slam in your face just kick them down" further emphasizes the need for resilience and persistence in the face of adversity.
Fad Gadget also acknowledges that pursuit of dreams can be challenging and that setbacks are a part of the process. The lines "Out on Battledress babe, there'll be battle scars / Look at me I'm always complaining, seems I got it wrong / But now I'm sick of hearing that same sad song" suggest that even those who have achieved success have faced obstacles and have had to learn from their mistakes. The song ultimately encourages listeners to stand up for themselves, grow and learn from challenges, and pursue their dreams with determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up little girl, stand your ground
Do not give up and face your challenges head-on
Don't let those silly bully boys push you around
Don't let others intimidate you or tell you what to do
If the doors slam in your face just kick them down
Do not give up easily and be assertive in achieving your goals
Watch those clockwork penguins all frown
Do not be swayed by societal norms or expectations
Dreamers cannot beat
Dreaming alone is not enough, action is required to achieve success
Stand on your own two feet
Be independent and take responsibility for your own actions and decisions
Stretch and grow my darling, reach for the stars
Keep striving for higher levels of excellence and success
Out on Battledress babe, there'll be battle scars
The path to success is challenging and involves overcoming obstacles
Look at me I'm always complaining, seems I got it wrong
Self-reflection is important to recognize areas for growth and improvement
But now I'm sick of hearing that same sad song
It's time to take action and make positive changes in your life
Only fools will admit defeat
Giving up means accepting failure, which is not an option for successful people
Stand up
Emphasizing the importance and urgency of taking action and believing in oneself
Dreamers cannot beat
Repeated to further emphasize the importance of taking action
Stand on your own two feet
Repeated to further emphasize the importance of being independent and responsible
Stand up
Repeated to leave a lasting impression and empower the listener to take action
Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.