Formed circa 1968/69, the original core members included percussionist Patrick Olive, guitarist Franklyn De Allie and drummer Ian King, along with bass player Tony Wilson, pianist Larry Ferguson and with Jamaican-born songwriter/vocalist Errol Brown. For Apple, they released a reggae version of "Give Peace A Chance", and backed Mary Hopkins on "Think About Your Children" before the Apple label dissolved. In 1970, they signed to Rak Records, a label owned by UK producer Mickie Most who had the group compose the final chart hit for Herman's Hermits. On their own they were to become one of the U.K's best loved charts groups, with 25 UK top 40 hit singles in their career. Hot Chocolate enjoyed their first UK hit in 1970 with "Love Is Life" followed by many more U.K. Top 10 hits including "I Believe (In Love)," "Brother Louie" (a stateside #-1 for U.S Stories), "A Child's Prayer," "Put Your Love In Me," "No Doubt About It," "Girl Crazy," "It Started With A Kiss" and "What Kinda Boy You Looking For (Girl)."
While popular in the U.K, it wasn't until 1974 that they secured a U.S record deal with Big Tree records, releasing the single "Emma", and becoming associated with burgeoning disco scene with "Disco Queen." Their second US album featured "You Sexy Thing" which hit #3 on the US top 40 charts. By 1978 they were affiliated with Infinity Records in the U.S and hit #6 on the charts with "Every 1's A Winner." 1979 sees the band release the LP "Going Through The Motions" obviously burning out on disco, but still commercially aiming for the dancefloor market with the irionic track "Mindless Boogie". They continued for some years afterwards but never regained the chart action or a U.S label, with lead singer Errol Brown finally leaving in 1987, basically putting an end to the group.
In 1992, with a new line-up, manager and agent, Ric Martin, took control over the band's bookings and live appearances. Hot Chocolate continue to make live appearances in the UK and Europe. A minor resurgence in interest in Hot Chocolate's music occurred after the 1998 film "The Full Monty" used "You Sexy Thing" prominently in the soundtrack. Errol brown was also known under the nickname, "the singing malteser" due to his bald head.
Heartache No.9
Hot Chocolate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You look like a dream
but it's obscence the way you play your game.
You treat them like a number without a name.
Lovers used
their hearts abused
I'm gone without a trace.
Don't you know it's time to mend your ways?
I'm not gonna play that part.
I'm gonna be the one to change your mind
You're never gonna break my heart.
When I'm down I'll be the only one
I'll never be known as heartache number nine.
One to three were way before me
and four was a friend of mine -
They fail for your lies time after time.
Five and six were here and gone
they didn't last too long
And seven and eight were next in line.
Don't wanna be heartache number nine - . . .
It's been eight times that love's walked in and out of your life
But it's all in the past 'cause I'm here to stay
oh baby.
Heartache number nine - heartache number nine -
When I'm down I'll be the only one
I'll never be known as heartache number nine.
Heartache number nine - . . .
Don't wanna be heartache number nine - heartache number nine
Hot Chocolate's song Heartache No.9 is a commentary on a love interest who has a history of heartbreaks and failed relationships. The singer is aware of the person's history and doesn't want to fall into the same cycle of being treated like a number without a name. The song references the people who came before and highlight their stories of being misled by the love interest. However, the singer is determined not to become "heartache number nine" and is willing to stick around to show the love interest a better way to treat one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Heartache number nine - heartache number nine -
The singer is identifying themselves as a victim of heartache caused by the person they are addressing.
You look like a dream
The person they are addressing seems to be physically attractive.
but it's obscence the way you play your game.
The person they are addressing is manipulating and mistreating their romantic partners.
You treat them like a number without a name.
The person they are addressing is not providing emotional intimacy to their partners and sees them as disposable.
Lovers used
The person they are addressing has had multiple romantic partners in the past.
their hearts abused
The person they are addressing has broken the hearts of their former lovers.
I'm gone without a trace.
The singer has decided to leave the person they are addressing to avoid further heartache.
Don't you know it's time to mend your ways?
The artist is asking the person they are addressing to change their behavior and become more emotionally invested in their romantic relationships.
Don't wanna be heartache number nine -
The artist does not want to be the next victim of the person they are addressing.
I'm not gonna play that part.
The artist is choosing not to participate in the toxic cycle that the person they are addressing is perpetuating.
I'm gonna be the one to change your mind
The singer believes that they can reform the person they are addressing and encourage them to treat their partners better.
You're never gonna break my heart.
The artist is confident that they will not fall victim to the person they are addressing's pattern of mistreatment.
When I'm down I'll be the only one
The singer is saying that they will always choose to rely on themselves rather than expecting emotional support from the person they are addressing.
I'll never be known as heartache number nine.
The singer is determined not to become just another victim of the person they are addressing's behavior.
One to three were way before me
The person they are addressing has had at least three previous romantic partners.
and four was a friend of mine -
The fourth partner that the person they are addressing had was someone the artist knew previously.
They fail for your lies time after time.
The artist is saying that the person they are addressing has repeatedly deceived their partners in past relationships.
Five and six were here and gone
The fifth and sixth partners that the person they are addressing had did not last very long in their relationships.
they didn't last too long
The fifth and sixth partners of the person they are addressing had short-lived relationships with them.
And seven and eight were next in line.
The person they are addressing has already had seven or eight romantic partners before meeting the artist.
It's been eight times that love's walked in and out of your life
The person they are addressing has had eight previous romantic relationships.
But it's all in the past 'cause I'm here to stay
The artist believes that they will be able to maintain a long-lasting relationship with the person they are addressing.
oh baby.
A term of endearment used to emphasize the singer's affection for the person they are addressing.
Heartache number nine - heartache number nine -
Repetition of the opening lines to reiterate the artist's experience of heartache caused by the person they are addressing.
Don't wanna be heartache number nine - heartache number nine
Reiteration of the singer's reluctance to fall victim to the person they are addressing's behavior.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL ALLEN STURKEN, DAVID GRANT, EVAN A. ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amanda Ryan
Video is terrible. Errol Brown should be out front.