Michael Aston (vocals) was the poetic, goth-leaning side of the twin brothers while Jay Aston’s distinctive banshee-like, wailing vocals supplied Gene Loves Jezebel with one of their many trademark quirks.
Originally called Slav Aryan, Gene Loves Jezebel began in 1980 with the brothers, guitarist Ian Hudson, and a drum machine. The Astons grew up in Porthcawl, South Wales, making the move to London in 1981. With a new home, and shortly thereafter, the new name, the trio played several live shows and was signed by Situation Two. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel's demo and a single "Shaving My Neck." The band then added bassist Julianne Regan followed, Regan was replaced by Ian Hudson on Bass (and Albi DeLuca took over the guitar role) and went on to form All About Eve, Gene Loves Jezebel underwent a dozen or so line up changes between 1981-1985 alone! The band was really about the twins after all.
The band released two more singles in 1983 before their debut album Promise peaked at number 8 in the U.K.'s indie charts. In 1984, the group recorded a John Peel radio session for BBC and toured America with fellow Welsh artist John Cale. The second album, Immigrant, was released in mid-1985. However, during an agonizing American tour for Immigrant, founding member Ian Hudson suffered a nervous breakdown and was replaced by former Gen X guitarist James Stevenson.
During 1986, the group moved contract to Situation Two's parent company, Beggar's Banquet Records and distribution rights in USA to Geffen Records. The subsequent promotion increased pop-chart success for the group. The single "Sweetest Thing" briefly hit the Top 75 in U.K. and the album, Discover, reached number 32 in UK Albums Chart. At this time, the group also found heavy rotations on college and alternative radio stations across America. The band had slowly turned their attention to dance music. The slick and catchy guitar hooks of singles "Desire" and "Heartache" leapt to #6 and #72, respectively, on Los Angeles' famous New Wave station, KROQ. Later that year, Chris Bell became the band's fifth drummer.
Gene Loves Jezebel's fourth album, The House of Dolls, was released late in 1987 and yielded the singles, "20 Killer Hurts" and "The Motion of Love" that grazed the U.S. pop charts. The third single from The House of Dolls, "Suspicion", for the first time, surfaced on The Billboard Hot 100. Despite rising mainstream success, the new pop-oriented direction proved to be too polished and commercial for the poetic and more goth-like brother, Michael. He parted ways with Jay in 1989.
While Michael pursued his solo work, Jay continued using the Gene Loves Jezebel name and recorded two albums, Kiss of Life in 1989, followed by Heavenly Bodies. reached #68 on Billboard's Hot 100. Three years later, Jay Aston and company released Heavenly Bodies, which did well in Europe and on American college radio. Unfortunately, after dispointing record sales record sales and the collapse of Savage Records (David Bowie) American label folded one year later, and, after a few more live shows, so did Gene Loves Jezebel.
While Jay performed occasional acoustic shows under his own name, Michael played with members of Scenic, then formed a new band called the Immigrants (re-named Edith Grove) and later released a pimarily acoustic solo album, Why Me, Why This, Why Now. Michael and Jay began working together again throughout the 90's , and also recorded two songs for a GLJ best-of compilation "from the mouths of Babes' on Michael Aston's label Bonnaire records , released in September 1995.
A reunion tour followed in 1997, but the brothers' reconciliation was short-lived. In October 1997, Jay sued his twin brother over rights to the name "Gene Loves Jezebel" after leaving the band. After a protracted court battle, Jay eventually dropped all charges "with prejudice" meaning Michael can never be challenged for the name again and consequently Michael owns the exclusive rights to the mark. Michael also trademarked "Gene Loves Jezebel" and toured both the U.S. and the U.K. extensively supporting Gene Loves Jezebel releases: Love Lies Bleeding (1999) - Live in Voodoo City (1999) - Giving Up the Ghost (2001) – and Exploding Girls (2003)
Kiss of Life
Gene Loves Jezebel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't I be like you?
Flying so high as a kite
Never knowing what you do it for
When you are young
No one tells you anything
They just hope you don't make the same mistake and become
Oh, I would wait a thousand years
I'd roll a thousand stars
I'd wait until the sun eclipsed the moon
Oh, I would give the kiss of life
If only you would say
Oh, come live with me and love me
And, I will surely stay
I will stay
Oh, why can't I be like you?
Always so wrong, but so right
Never knowing what you'd do it for
For you are young, no one tells you anything
I just hope you don't make the same mistakes and become
Just like them
And, I would wait a thousand years
I'd roll a thousand stars
I'd wait until the sun eclipsed the moon
Then, I would give the kiss of life
If only you would say
Come lay with me and love me
And, I would surely stay, I will stay
(What are you wondering?)
(What are you hungry for?)
(Why do you worry?)
Oh, I will wait a thousand years
To share my world with you
I'll wait until the sun should kiss the sky
Oh, I would give the kiss of life
If only you would say
Oh, come lay with me and love me
Ah, tell me that you'll stay, I'll stay
Tell me you'll stay, tell me you'll stay
Say you'll you'll stay
(What are you wondering?)
(What you hungry for?)
(Why do you worry?)
(What are you waiting for?)
I would give
I would give
I would give you the stars
Till the moon is lovers own
I will follow wherever you are
(My kiss for your dreams)
Oh, I would give the kiss of life
If only you would stay
Come lay with me and love me
And I will surely stay, I will stay
The song “Kiss of Life” by Gene Loves Jezebel is a powerful love song about yearning, devotion, and the fear of growing old. The lyrics explore the idea of living in the moment and the fear of losing that feeling as time goes on. The singer, who seems to be older than the person they are singing to, wishes that they could be as carefree as the young person they are addressing. They reference the idea that youth is fleeting and that nobody teaches you how to navigate life, rather they hope you don’t make the same mistakes as those before you. The refrain “I would give the kiss of life if only you would stay” is a promise and a plea that if the object of affection would stay and promise to love them, the singer would give everything, even their life.
The repeated questions of “what are you wondering? What are you hungry for? Why do you worry?” seem to be the older person trying to comfort and reassure the young person. Ultimately, the song is about the fear of losing the one you love, the fear of growing old and the fear that you will become like the people who came before you. The singer is desperate to hold onto the passion, the possibility, and the feeling of being alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, yeah
Expressing affirmation in response to a thought or question
Why can't I be like you?
Questioning why someone cannot be similar to the person they admire or envy
Flying so high as a kite
Being carefree and enjoying life to the fullest
Never knowing what you do it for
Being unaware of the reasons or motives behind one's actions
When you are young
Referring to the period of youth or adolescence
No one tells you anything
Implying a lack of guidance, advice, or mentorship during one's formative years
They just hope you don't make the same mistake and become
Suggesting that the singer's mentors or elders have made errors in their past and hope their protégés do not follow the same path
Just like them
Reiterating that the artist does not want to emulate the people who have not offered them guidance
Oh, I would wait a thousand years
Hyperbolizing the length of time the artist would wait for someone they yearn for
I'd roll a thousand stars
Metaphorically expressing the ability and willingness to do anything for the loved one, even the impossible
I'd wait until the sun eclipsed the moon
Using another hyperbole to emphasize the singer's commitment and dedication to the loved one
Oh, I would give the kiss of life
Symbolizing the artist's willingness to save, protect, and nurture the loved one at all cost
If only you would say
Referring to the loved one, suggesting that the singer's dedication is conditional upon the loved one's reciprocation
Oh, come live with me and love me
Requesting the loved one to move in with the singer and reciprocate the romantic feelings
And, I will surely stay
Promising not to leave the loved one if the loved one reciprocates the feelings
Oh, why can't I be like you?
Reiterating the artist's yearning to be more like the admired or envied person
Always so wrong, but so right
Contrasting the admired or envied person's spontaneous, recklessness with the artist's more cautious and calculated approach to life
Never knowing what you'd do it for
Repeating the sentiment of being unaware of the admired or envied person's motivations
For you are young, no one tells you anything
Echoing the earlier sentiment of lacking guidance or mentorship in one's youth
I just hope you don't make the same mistakes and become
Repeating the earlier warning to avoid emulating those who do not provide guidance
And, I would wait a thousand years
Repeating the earlier hyperbolic statement about waiting for the loved one
Then, I would give the kiss of life
Echoing the earlier symbol of the artist's willingness to protect and nurture the loved one
Come lay with me and love me
Repeating the earlier request for the loved one to reciprocate and join the singer in a romantic relationship
Ah, tell me that you'll stay, I'll stay
Implied response to the loved one's reciprocation of the artist's romantic feelings, pledging to stay in a relationship
What are you wondering?
Asking what the loved one is contemplating or deliberating
What are you hungry for?
Asking what the loved one craves or desires
Why do you worry?
Questioning that the loved one's worries or anxieties are unfounded or unnecessary
What are you waiting for?
Asking what the loved one is waiting for to make the next move in their relationship
To share my world with you
Expressing the desire to reveal the artist's interests, aspirations, and life with the loved one
Till the moon is lovers own
Imagining the moon as a symbol of romantic union between the singer and the loved one
I will follow wherever you are
Assuring the loved one that the singer is devoted to following their lead and being with them wherever they go
My kiss for your dreams
Symbolizing the artist's desire to help and support the loved one's aspirations and aspirations
Tell me that you'll stay, I'll stay
Reiterating the artist's readiness to stay if the loved one reciprocates the romantic feelings
Say you'll stay
Directly requesting that the loved one commit to a relationship
I would give you the stars
Repeating the sentiment of being willing to do the impossible and the grandiose for the loved one
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON BELL, JAMES STEVENSON, JOHN PETER ASTON, PETER RISINGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonvarneyhall
One of the most under appreciated bands. This takes me back to my youth, maybe I’m biased but the 80’s were the best time to grow up in. Great music stands the test of time. Still rockin in 2018.
@joecapman7135
How can anyone say the 80s was. Not the best decade of music ever. Never will we hear music like this today. The music today so sad
@dafodoil
I was listening to this group when the rest were listening to complete 🤦🏻♀️like poison or motley crew.
@cathsalazar9930
One of their best! Love in GLJ 38 years now! Never will stop!......👍❤️🇺🇸🙏🔥
@patrickobrien1947
Such a beautiful song for a newly wed couple to share their first dance too❤❤
@Beba574
Abigail kanashimi true, I wish this plays on my wedding too
@carmenaliaga6245
Un temazo, una voz extraordinaria de Jay Aston, gracias.👏👏👏👏👍♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙋
@scottsargent3614
Easily one of the best ,all types of music, bands I've ever heard...plus love songs galour...love songs!!!
@kjkvr1568
This song has been in my heart for my one for 30 yrs now
@kevinallen6197
Broken hearts never mend