Their first ever single was Out There in the Jungle (Polydor 1976), but the height of their career came with the two Robert Jan Stips produced albums 10 Mistakes and Back to 78, both released in 1978.
They came to popularity just after the height of punk, but were regarded as more post-punk, veering more towards the mainstream pop. They were much admired for their live performances, which had great humour--even slapstick. Their biggest hit in their native Netherlands is Disco Really Made it (#11 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1978), but their most well-known song internationally is Beep Beep Love (from the album Ten Mistakes), which enjoyed some success in both U.K. and U.S.
The U.K.'s Radio & Records voted them "Top Newcomer '78". In July 2006 the Japanese girl band Puffy AmiYumi recorded a new version of Tokyo, originally recorded by Gruppo Sportivo in 1978.
Gruppo Sportivo kept recording and performing on and off until December 2013, when the group announced and performed their (initially) final show in Haarlem, The Netherlands. However, they reformed in 2018 and released a new studio album the same year, titled Great. They went on another promotional tour which ended in 2019.
In the summer of 2021 they began recording new music, with - for the first time again in over 40 years - Robert Jan Stips as the producer.
One Way Love
Gruppo Sportivo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eight days a wheek I wrote to you
You didn't call me, you gave me no reply
We could have been happy, you and I
Baby I'm in love with you, don't tell me that it's true
You met another guy, I'm so blue
Yes baby it's a one way love, from me to you
I didn't see you yesterday
I should have know better, you're like a butterfly
I think of you as tears go by
Baby I'm in love with you, don't tell me that it's true
You met another guy, I'm so blue
Yes baby it's a one way love, from me to you
wanna hold you wanna tell you
that I love you I'm a leo baby
a hundred good ways to start a letter
but my love hurts, baby it's a one way
baby it's a one way love
Ooh lalala, ooh lalala, ooh lalala, ooh lalala
You met another guy, I'm so blue
Yes baby it's a one way love, from me to you
Ooh lalala, ooh lalala, ooh lalala, ooh lalala
oooh-oooh
(c) Hans Vandenburg
The song "One Way Love" by Gruppo Sportivo tells the story of unrequited love, where the singer confesses his love to the person he desires and is heartbroken to find out that they do not feel the same way. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is hopelessly in love, spending all their time and energy trying to win over the object of their affection. The repetition of the phrase "baby I'm in love with you" emphasizes the singer's feelings of love and longing.
The chorus, "Yes baby it's a one way love, from me to you," reveals the sad truth that the singer's feelings are not reciprocated. Despite this, the singer cannot help but continue to love the person, as evidenced by the line, "wanna hold you wanna tell you that I love you." The use of the phrase "like a butterfly" to describe the object of the singer's affection implies that they are flighty and difficult to catch, ultimately leading to heartbreak and sadness.
Overall, "One Way Love" is a melancholy and wistful song that captures the pain of unrequited love. Despite the singer's best efforts, they are unable to win over the person they desire, leading to a sense of longing and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
I must have been the greatest fool on earth
I acted very foolishly in pursuing a love interest who was not interested in me.
Eight days a week I wrote to you
I did everything in my power to get your attention and affection, even going so far as to write to you more than once a day.
You didn't call me, you gave me no reply
Despite my efforts to reach out to you, you chose not to respond in any way, leaving me feeling ignored and unimportant.
We could have been happy, you and I
I truly believe that if we had given ourselves a chance, we could have found happiness together.
Baby I'm in love with you, don't tell me that it's true
I am expressing my feelings to you, but also hoping that you will tell me that you feel the same so that we can be together.
You met another guy, I'm so blue
To my disappointment, you have found someone else to love, leaving me feeling sad and defeated.
Yes baby it's a one way love, from me to you
I have been putting all my effort into this relationship, but unfortunately it has been one sided from the beginning.
There must have been a new kid in town
I'm suggesting that there is someone new in your life, which is why you have not been responding to my overtures.
I didn't see you yesterday
I may have missed seeing you or hearing from you recently, which leads me to further believe that something has changed.
I should have known better, you're like a butterfly
I now realize that you are not someone who is easy to catch or keep in one place.
I think of you as tears go by
Thinking of you makes me sad and brings tears to my eyes.
wanna hold you wanna tell you that I love you
I have strong feelings for you and want to express them physically and emotionally.
I'm a leo baby
I am revealing my astrological sign, perhaps in the hopes of finding a common bond or shared traits.
a hundred good ways to start a letter
There are many different phrases and strategies I could use to express my love to you, but none of them have worked so far.
but my love hurts, baby it's a one way
Despite my best efforts, this love has brought me pain and disappointment, and it seems that I have been the only one invested in it all along.
Ooh lalala, ooh lalala, ooh lalala, ooh lalala
This repeated refrain may express my general frustration or be a way for me to cope with the sadness and rejection I am experiencing.
oooh-oooh
This vocal sound is likely another part of the song's refrain or chorus, perhaps signaling the end of the song.
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronkluyvevan6662
Ruig ..en simpel.. good sound// Dank je..!
@geoffolehane
A lovely song that few people actually heard.
@63lee
Wow. Listening to all this has made my day.
@frankebisch7168
15 jaar zijn en dan DIT!?!?!!!😢...😂
@leonardc.middelkamp1797
Incantevole
@philiplittmann9437
GREAT
@kjelt1963
Yes, it's also on a combine album (CD) called Back to 19 Mistakes You can order it also via I-tunes and 7 digital (see also last.fm )
@garysheppard226
Check out mission a paris,henri,dreamin also by gruppo.
@AlexanderSchmidt1962
Original album is "Back to 78"! You can find the best tracks of their early albums on "19 Mistakes" (highly recommended!) This music takes me straight back to 1982 when I saw them perform live in German TV's Rockpalast https://youtu.be/pNKErPNFdG0
Made me buy all their albums straight away!
@garysheppard226
Original album was "MIS TAKES" from 1978. (I THINK !!!!)