Other important members included Valerie Etienne, who participated in the recording of all their albums, along with other musicians such as Mick Talbot on keyboards, Crispin Taylor on drums, Ernie McKone on bass guitar, Mark Vandergucht on guitar, and Steve Ameedee, otherwise known as Uncle Big Man (dancer). Ski Oakenfull replaced Mick Talbot on keyboards in 1994. The band split in November 1997 after musical differences over the direction of travel, with Crispin Taylor starting a Cliff Richard cover band. The band announced a return in 2023, including a new album and several live gigs.
Career
The group's first single, a reworking of Curtis Mayfield's Freddie's Dead called Frederick Lies Still, was released in June 1988. It was also the first release on the Acid Jazz label. Their second release was on Let the Good Times Roll by The Quiet Boys in 1989. The Quiet Boys was an alias used by acid jazz pioneer Chris Bangs who then went on to produce Galliano.
Galliano's first album release was In Pursuit of the 13th Note in 1991, which was produced by Bangs. Their second album A Joyful Noise Unto the Creator was released in 1992. Galliano achieved the peak of its success in 1994 with The Plot Thickens, which peaked at number eight in the UK Albums Chart. Two UK top 40 singles were released from the album: Long Time Gone (a cover of a David Crosby song from the self-titled first album by Crosby, Stills & Nash) and Twyford Down. The latter was a comment on the road building protests taking place at the time and the protest at Twyford Down in particular, and they were joined onstage by anti-roads protestors to make appeals to the audience. The album was well-received, making the NME's list of top 50 albums of the year. Following its release, Galliano performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1994 and returned to play the NME Stage in 1995. Galliano's fourth and final studio album :4 was released in 1996. This included the track, Slack Hands, which was used in the title sequence of Kevin Reynolds' 1997 film, One Eight Seven, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Galliano broke up in 1997. Gallagher together with Etienne formed Two Banks of Four. Gallagher also performs solo using the names Earl Zinger, William Anderson and together with Alex Patchwork as The Diabolical Liberties.
In the spring of 2023, Galliano announced a return, including a new album and a few live gigs in the summer that year. The band played twice at Gilles Peterson's "We Out Here" festival in August 2023, playing covers of Harvest for the World and Uptown Top Ranking alongside their original material.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliano_(band)
Discography
In Pursuit of the 13th Note (1991)
A Joyful Noise Unto the Creator (1992)
The Plot Thickens (1994)
:4 (1996)
Golden Flower
Galliano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to turn we into me
Black and blue form the struggle
Yet still my people no free
People wandering homeless
Children can't find no bed
Still despite all this madness
Birds are flying high within the castle tower
Chattering for the secret of the golden flower
Birds are flying high within the castle tower
Chattering for the secret of the golden flower
Pirates ruling the nation
Scoundrels thieving the sea
See and blind hear and deaf
Ignoring your mother's plea
People laughing at murder
Children coughing up lead
Still despite all this madness
There is a space in my head
Birds are flying high within the castle tower
Chattering for the secret of the golden flower
Though the road may be rocky
And the way selfdom sweet
Let the sound of this music
Help keep the wight off your feet
People duing from hunger
Children crying for bread
Still despite all this madness
There is a space in my head
Birds are flying high within the castle tower
Chattering for the secret of the golden flower
The lyrics to Galliano's song "Golden Flower" are a poignant and thought-provoking commentary on the state of the world today. The first verse speaks to the idea that money and material possessions have become the driving force in society, leading to a division between people and a lack of freedom. The imagery of being black and blue from the struggle suggests that this pursuit of wealth is causing damage to individuals and communities. Despite this, there is a sense of hope in the line "still my people no free," as if acknowledging that there is an underlying desire for change and equality.
The second verse delves into the issues of homelessness, poverty, and the exploitation of resources by those in power. The line "there is a space in my head" suggests that amidst all the chaos and despair, there is still a place for hope and positivity. The chorus brings in the metaphor of birds flying high in a castle tower, representing the freedom and life that still exists despite the hardships faced by many. The "golden flower" they are chattering about represents a universal search for something greater, a quest for meaning and purpose.
The final verse speaks to the struggle of everyday life, but the music becomes the saving grace that helps keep one's spirits up. The repeated line "still despite all this madness, there is a space in my head" reinforces the idea that even when everything seems insurmountable, there is still a place for hope and positivity.
Overall, Galliano's "Golden Flower" is a powerful commentary on the state of the world today, addressing issues of inequality, poverty, and exploitation while maintaining a sense of hope and positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Money striving to tear us
The constant pursuit of money and individualism is causing societal divide
Trying to turn we into me
The emphasis on individualism is leading to a lack of community and togetherness
Black and blue form the struggle
The struggle to survive in such a divided society is physically and mentally exhausting
Yet still my people no free
Despite living in an apparently 'free' world, people are still suffering and oppressed
People wandering homeless
The problem of homelessness is prevalent and widespread
Children can't find no bed
Children are also victims of homelessness and lack of resources
Still despite all this madness
Despite the chaos and pain in the world, there is still hope
There is a space in my head
There is room for positivity and optimism in the face of adversity
Birds are flying high within the castle tower
Freedom and happiness are visible, even in a seemingly unattainable place
Chattering for the secret of the golden flower
People are searching for something to bring them happiness and freedom
Pirates ruling the nation
Those in power are corrupt and selfish, leading to a lack of equality and justice
Scoundrels thieving the sea
Even the natural resources of the world are being taken and exploited by greedy individuals
See and blind hear and deaf
People are turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the issues facing the world
Ignoring your mother's plea
Advice and wisdom from those who care is being disregarded
People laughing at murder
The disregard for human life is leading to a desensitization and trivialization of violence
Children coughing up lead
Children are being harmed by the pollution and toxins present in the world
Though the road may be rocky
Even though life may be difficult and challenging
And the way selfdom sweet
And even though the easy way out may seem tempting
Let the sound of this music
Let the positive and inspiring nature of art and music guide us
Help keep the wight off your feet
Help us to stay grounded and strong, even in the face of adversity
People duing from hunger
The issue of hunger and lack of basic resources is still prevalent
Children crying for bread
Children are particularly vulnerable and affected by these issues
Contributed by Chloe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.