Holly Johnson is an artist, writer and musician (born William Johnson on Fe… Read Full Bio ↴Holly Johnson is an artist, writer and musician (born William Johnson on February 9, 1960 in Liverpool, England; name on passport William Holly Johnson). Some sources erroneously suggest he was born in Khartoum, a myth Johnson himself apparently started during an interview.

Actively involved in the Liverpool punk rock/new wave scene, Johnson played bass with Big in Japan and released several solo singles on the Eric's label, before finding fame as the lead singer and lyricist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who enjoyed considerable controversy and commercial success during their heyday in the early 1980s.

Holly left the group in 1987 after growing increasingly unhappy with their musical direction, but was immediately the subject of an injunction from the group's record company, ZTT Records, which cited his prior recording agreement and effectively barred him from releasing solo material with new label MCA Records.

Johnson famously embarked on a protracted legal battle with ZTT, the case finally being settled in Johnson's favour in 1989, the judge ruling that ZTT's original contract had constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade. The result represented a landmark legal outcome within the music business. Johnson's relationship with ZTT owners Trevor Horn and Jill Sinclair apparently broke down irretrievably due to the court case.

Johnson finally released his first solo album, Blast, which reached number one in the UK and spawned three hit singles. However, relations with MCA cooled over dissatisfaction with promotional budgets for his second solo album, Dreams That Money Can't Buy, released in 1991 after Johnson had left the label.

In November of that year, Johnson discovered he was HIV positive. This triggered a temporary withdrawal from the music business and public life in general. His condition was made public in April 1993. In 1994 his critically acclaimed autobiography, A Bone In My Flute, was published.

Since the mid 1990s, Johnson has worked primarily as a successful painter. His works have been exhibited at the Tate Liverpool, and The Royal Academy. He has contributed to Modern Painters magazine and the Paul Smith sponsored CARLOS magazine. He has continued to make music via his own Pleasuredome label, such as 1999's Soulstream, an album that includes a re-recording of "The Power Of Love", Johnson's de facto signature song.

Holly's 3 MCA albums have now been released on itunes via Universal.

Atomic City
Holly Johnson Lyrics

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Come on down, come on down
You'll never get to heaven
When you wear a frown
There's more to life than a TV gameshow
Where money wraps itself around your half Yeah

I'm gonna write your name in the book of angels
Laughing moment, curse the rising moon

When the whole world shatter
It's what you got inside that matters(Angel)
So spread your wings and fly away

From terror, fear and dismay(Angel)
It's much too late to say and cry
Forget the past just walk on

There's a party going on in Atomic City
Some are dancing but none are sitting pretty
There's a party going on in Atomic City
Some are slaves but none are sitting pretty

We've got no ozone
We got radiation
See the air pollution
From the power station

There's a party going on in Atomic City
Some are dancing but none are sitting pretty
La luna es hermosa ... yeah
La luna es hermosa ... yeah
Thank your lucky stars
We're not on Jupiter or Mars
Thank your lucky stars
We're not on Jupiter or Mars

Come on down, come on down
You'll never get to heaven if you wear a frown
Win a holiday a gameshow
Wrap tinsel around your halo
Beat the system before it beats you
Beat the system with your point of view
Beat the system, it's the only way
Beat the system or there'll be hell to pay

Thank your lucky stars
Your father's castrated
Your mother's sedated
Your brother's on the run
Sister's running round with everyone

I'm gonna write your name in the book of angels
Laughing moment curse the rising moon
Someday life's a mean machine
You step right through the TV screen(Angel)
Let's put the world to right
Don't give up the fight(Angel)

If time stood still on my windowsill
I'd squash it like a fly(Angel)

We've got no ozone
There's a party going on in Atomic City

Overall Meaning

The song Atomic City by Holly Johnson is a commentary on the dangers of technology and materialism in society. The lyrics are a call to action to reject these negative aspects of modern life and instead focus on inner values such as love, kindness, and human connection. The opening lyrics "Come on down, come on down, you'll never get to heaven when you wear a frown" urge listeners to let go of negativity and embrace positivity. The reference to a "TV gameshow" highlights the idea that society has become obsessed with fame, fortune, and competition at the expense of deeper values.

The chorus of the song describes a party in Atomic City, a place that represents a society that is polluted, dangerous, and oppressive. Some people are dancing, but none are sitting pretty, suggesting that even though people may appear to be enjoying themselves, they are not truly happy or fulfilled. The lyrics "thank your lucky stars we're not on Jupiter or Mars" emphasize that the problems faced in Atomic City are not isolated incidents but rather universal to all societies. The repeated reference to "Angel" throughout the song seems to represent hope and the belief that people can transcend the negative aspects of society by connecting with their inner selves.

Overall, Atomic City is a powerful critique of modern society's overreliance on technology, materialism, and consumerism at the expense of deeper values like compassion, empathy, and love.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on down, come on down
Join me in this world of Atomic City.

You'll never get to heaven When you wear a frown
Positivity is essential for finding joy in life.

There's more to life than a TV gameshow Where money wraps itself around your half Yeah
Materialistic pursuits don't bring true happiness.

I'm gonna write your name in the book of angels Laughing moment, curse the rising moon When the whole world shatter It's what you got inside that matters(Angel) So spread your wings and fly away From terror, fear and dismay(Angel)
Have a positive attitude and always be true to yourself to achieve true success.

It's much too late to say and cry Forget the past just walk on
Don't dwell on the past and keep moving forward.

There's a party going on in Atomic City Some are dancing but none are sitting pretty
Even in a place of chaos, some people find happiness.

We've got no ozone We got radiation See the air pollution From the power station
Atomic City is not a healthy place to live.

La luna es hermosa ... yeah Thank your lucky stars We're not on Jupiter or Mars
Despite the problems in Atomic City, there are still things to be thankful for.

Win a holiday a gameshow Wrap tinsel around your halo Beat the system before it beats you Beat the system with your point of view Beat the system, it's the only way Beat the system or there'll be hell to pay
Don't let society's expectations control your life, take control and make your own path.

Thank your lucky stars Your father's castrated Your mother's sedated Your brother's on the run Sister's running round with everyone
Atomic City is a place where things don't always go right.

Someday life's a mean machine You step right through the TV screen(Angel) Let's put the world to right Don't give up the fight(Angel)
Sometimes life can be tough, but it's important to fight back and try to make the world a better place.

If time stood still on my windowsill I'd squash it like a fly(Angel) We've got no ozone
The world can be a frustrating place, but we should still try to protect it.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN HARTMAN, HOLLY JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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