In total, the duo had 34 singles chart hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Because of that chart success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing even The Everly Brothers. In 2003, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were also placed #15 on the Billboard Magazine list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and the #1 duo, while VH1 placed the duo as #99 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
From their first hit in 1974 onwards, Daryl Hall and John Oates' smooth, catchy take on Philly soul brought them commercial success— including six number one singles and six platinum albums as referred to before. Hall & Oates' music was well-constructed and produced; at their best, their songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of arena rock and new wave.
Daryl Hall, born on October 11, 1946, began performing professionally while he was a student at Temple University. In 1966, he recorded a single with Kenny Gamble and the Romeos; the group featured Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, who would all become the architects of Philly soul. During this time, Hall frequently appeared on sessions for Gamble and Huff. In 1967, Hall met John Oates, a fellow Temple University student. Oates was leading his own soul band at the time. The two students realized they had similar tastes and began performing together in an array of R&B and doo wop groups. By 1968, the duo had parted ways, as Oates transferred schools and Hall formed the soft rock band Gulliver; the group released one album on Elektra in the late '60s before disbanding.
After Gulliver's breakup, Hall concentrated on session work again, appearing as a backup vocalist for The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and The Intruders, among others. Oates returned to Philadelphia in 1969, and he and Hall began writing folk-oriented songs and performing together. Eventually they came to the attention of Tommy Mottola, who quickly became their manager, securing the duo a contract with Atlantic Records. On their first records — Whole Oates (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973), War Babies (1974) — the duo were establishing their sound, working with producers like Arif Mardin and Todd Rundgren and removing much of their folk influences. At the beginning of 1974, the duo relocated from Philadelphia to New York. During this period, they only managed one hit — the number 60 "She's Gone" in the spring of 1974.
After they moved to RCA in 1975, the duo landed on its successful mixture of soul, pop, and rock, scoring a Top Ten single with "Sara Smile." The success of "Sara Smile" prompted the re-release of "She's Gone," which rocketed into the Top Ten as well. Released in the summer of 1976, Bigger than the Both of Us was only moderately successful upon its release. The record took off in early 1977, when "Rich Girl" became the duo's first number one single.
Although they had several minor hits between 1977 and 1980, the albums Hall & Oates released at the end of the decade were not as successful as their mid-'70s records. Nevertheless, they were more adventurous, incorporating more rock elements into their blue-eyed soul. The combination would finally pay off in late 1980, when the duo released the self-produced Voices, the album that marked the beginning of Hall & Oates' greatest commercial and artistic success. The first single from Voices, a cover of Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," reached number 12, yet it was the second single, "Kiss on My List" that confirmed their commercial potential by becoming the duo's second number one single; its follow-up, "You Make My Dreams" hit number five. They quickly released Private Eyes in the summer of 1981; the record featured two number one hits, "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," as well as the Top Ten hit "Did It in a Minute." "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" also spent a week at the top of the R&B charts — a rare accomplishment for a white act. H20 followed in 1982 and it proved more successful than their two previous albums, selling over two million copies and launching their biggest hit single, "Maneater," as well as the Top Ten hits "One on One" and "Family Man." The following year, the duo released a greatest-hits compilation, Rock 'N Soul, Pt. 1, that featured two new Top Ten hits — the number two "Say It Isn't So" and "Adult Education."
In April of 1984, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Hall & Oates had surpassed Everly Brothers as the most successful duo in rock history, earning a total of 19 gold and platinum awards. Released in October of 1984, Big Bam Boom expanded their number of gold and platinum awards, selling over two million copies and launching four Top 40 singles, including the number one "Out of Touch." Following their contract-fulfilling gold album Live at the Apollo with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick, Hall & Oates went on hiatus. After the lukewarm reception for Daryl Hall's 1986 solo album, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, the duo regrouped to release 1988's Ooh Yeah!, their first record for Arista. The first single, "Everything Your Heart Desires," went to number three and helped propel the album to platinum status.
However, none of the album's other singles broke the Top 20, indicating that the era of chart dominance had ended. Change of Season, released in 1990, confirmed that fact. Although the record went gold, it only featured one Top 40 hit — the number 11 single, "So Close." The duo mounted a comeback in 1997 with Marigold Sky, but it was only partially successful; far better was 2003's Do It for Love and the following year soul covers record Our Kind of Soul.
Ice
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I saw that pretty smile of yours meet mine
And I'd help you make it through if only I knew
What in the world I could do for you
The last thing I want is to have my problems on your mind
Let's talk about the weather, how's your newest lover
Hope it treats you sweet and kind
And it seems to me our lives are like the ice inside this now paper cup
We both start out with a job o do, but age
And fade away till we get swallowed up
Baby, I don't want to bring you down by singing such a sad line
But I do blieve me creeds are true
So what's the use of wasting time
The hell with philosophy, 'cause right it's just you and me
And everything's fine
See our lives are like the ice inside this now paper cup
We both start out with a job o do, but age
And fade away till we get swallowed up
You see our lives are like the ice inside this now paper cup
We both start out with a job o do, but age
And fade away like the ice me and you
Just melts and fades away till we get swallowed up
The lyrics to "Ice" by Hall & Oates are an insightful reminder of the fleeting nature of life. In the first verse, the singer reminisces on a past relationship, mentioning that it has been a long time since he saw his lover's smile. He expresses his wish to help her but admits that he doesn't know how. He doesn't want to burden her with his problems, so he changes the subject to her new lover.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on how our lives are like ice in a paper cup, starting with a purpose but inevitably fading away with age. He acknowledges the sadness in this realization but ultimately decides to focus on the present moment and enjoy what he has while he still can.
The chorus drives home this message, repeating the metaphor of life being like ice that eventually melts away. Despite it all, the singer concludes that he and his companion are fine and content in the present moment.
Overall, "Ice" is a poignant reminder to live fully in the present and appreciate what we have before it's gone.
Line by Line Meaning
She said: you know Johnny, it's been such a long time
She acknowledged that it had been a while since they last met.
Since I saw that pretty smile of yours meet mine
She remembered how Johnny's smile used to make her happy.
And I'd help you make it through if only I knew what in the world I could do for you
She offered support to Johnny and wished she had a way to help him overcome whatever he was going through.
The last thing I want is to have my problems on your mind
She didn't want to burden Johnny with her own issues.
Let's talk about the weather, how's your newest lover
She redirected the conversation to a more light-hearted topic.
Hope it treats you sweet and kind
She wished the best for Johnny's new love interest.
I can take care of me, can't you see I've got it all figured out
She reassured Johnny that she was doing well and didn't need his help.
And it seems to me our lives are like the ice inside this now paper cup
She compared their lives to the melting ice in a cup, where they start with a purpose but eventually fade away.
We both start out with a job o do, but age
They both have goals and aspirations when they're young, but time catches up with them.
And fade away till we get swallowed up
In the end, they will disappear completely.
Baby, I don't want to bring you down by singing such a sad line
She didn't want to dampen Johnny's mood with her gloomy thoughts.
But I do blieve me creeds are true
She had faith in her beliefs, despite their melancholic nature.
So what's the use of wasting time
She questioned the point of dwelling on something that was inevitable.
The hell with philosophy, 'cause right it's just you and me
She disregarded philosophical discussions because they weren't relevant to their current situation.
And everything's fine
She wanted to focus on the present and enjoy their time together.
See our lives are like the ice inside this now paper cup
She repeated her earlier comparison of their lives to melting ice.
We both start out with a job o do, but age
Again, she emphasized that they both began with aspirations but would age and fade away.
And fade away like the ice me and you
Just like the melting ice, they too would disappear into nothingness.
Just melts and fades away till we get swallowed up
The final line repeats the idea of their lives slowly disappearing until they are completely consumed by time.
Contributed by Peyton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.