He is the eldest of three boys. His birthplace is Southampton, England, and he spent his early years in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, and attended the Royal Grammar School. He now lives with his family in Somerset, England.
When he was young, he used to give piano lessons. One of his clients was a girl named Jan Smith, who he later married. Whilst working with her, a vehicle crashed into their van, injuring Jan. She claimed compensation and used the money to buy Howard a synthesiser, a Moog Prodigy. The shop delivered two by mistake, and Howard liked the combination of the two so much that he paid for the extra one.
He hit the charts in 1983 with a song called "New Song," which made it into the UK top ten. Speaking with Songfacts, Jones explained the song is his manifesto, and why he wanted to get in the music business and write songs to begin with. Said Jones: "I was working in the factory at the time - I was doing the gigs at night and I was working in the factory. And I wanted to say to people, 'You can. It is possible to do what you really want to do if you've got enough guts and determination. You can do what you're really good at in this life if you set your mind to it.' And so really that's what that song's about. It's about letting go of fear and seeing both sides of an argument and throwing off the things that hold you back mentally."
Jones subsequently had three more hits over the next twelve months and a UK Number 1 album, Human's Lib. He acquired a hardcore fanbase made up of both starstruck teenagers and more mature music lovers, who saw the musicianship which went into the electronic sounds of his songs. His mother ran his fan club. Jones was a close temporal and stylistic contemporary of Nik Kershaw, and the two musicians were often conflated in the affections of the contemporary pop audience.
Howard was known as a respectable face of pop, combining innovative synthesiser music with strong feelings on animal rights and life's excesses. In his early days, he performed with a mime artist called Jed Hoile, who used to do improvised choreography while doused in white paint as Howard played behind him.
In the summer of 1984, he released a single called "Like To Get To Know You Well", which he said was 'dedicated to the original spirit of the Olympic Games'. Although it wasn't an official Olympic anthem for the Games in Los Angeles that summer, it caught on and was a huge worldwide hit. The sleeve featured the song title in ten different languages; while Howard sang the title line in French and German on the extended version. The song appeared in the film Better Off Dead.
Howard's second album was a ground breaking 'remix' album. It contained six songs, all but one of which had been previously released, but which appeared in elongated formats, including the multi-lingual version of "Like To Get To Know You Well". The album was called The 12 Inch Album and the sleeve featured a miniature Howard standing next to a 12-inch ruler.
When he released his second studio album, Dream Into Action, in 1985, he introduced his own backing band, including future Soul II Soul singer Caron Wheeler as one third of female backing vocal trio Afrodiziak. Playing bass guitar, meanwhile, was Howard's own brother Martin, who had to have an extra string added to his instrument to play some of Howard's bass lines, which were originally played on a keyboard without regard for the range of a real bass guitar. One of the singles released from this album, "No One Is To Blame", was later re-recorded and featured Phil Collins as drummer and producer.
In July 1985, Howard performed at Wembley Stadium as part of the Live Aid concert, singing his 1984 hit "Hide And Seek" while playing a piano belonging to Freddie Mercury.
Howard had his last UK Top 40 hit in 1986 and thereafter concentrated on production, songwriting and running a successful vegetarian restaurant, though he had Billboard Top 10 success in the States in the 1990s. His eldest son, Oisín (pronounced Osheen), was born in 1985 and is now an actor.
In 2005, he competed on the American TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time, losing to Irene Cara. Although he lost the in-studio vote to Cara, he won the online poll vote.
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Howard Jones is the current lead singer of American metalcore bands Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed.
Jones resides in Connecticut. His first success was in Connecticut with the band Blood Has Been Shed. After the release of The Novella of Uriel, the band went on tour, but Jones was eventually approached for a bigger project. Howard Jones replaced the lead singer of Killswitch Engage, Jesse Leach, in July of 2002, shortly after the release of Alive or Just Breathing, Killswitch Engage's Roadrunner Records debut album.
Meanwhile, Blood Has Been Shed released their third album, Spirals in 2003. Critical reviews were mixed, with some saying the album was a bit stray from the music found on I Dwell and Novella, while fans found it to be the band's most sonically-challenging album yet.
The first time KSE fans heard Jones they were impressed by him. Later he would be heard on the song "When Darkness Falls", which was first released on the soundtrack for the movie Freddy vs. Jason. Finally, Killswitch Engage released their first album with Jones as the new singer, as well as Blood Has Been Shed drummer Justin Foley. The End of Heartache would spawn two successful singles, "Rose of Sharyn" and the Grammy-nominated title track, "The End of Heartache". There was a minor spot of controversy with some fans over the Grammy nomination, as the song that was picked was a remixed version that would eventually appear on the Resident Evil: Apocalypse soundtrack. The differences between the original recording and the remixed version are the fact that the song is sung in a traditional singing style rather than using the original scream track that appears on the album, and several sections of the song have been shortened for a more commercially dynamic vision.
In November 2006, Killswitch Engage released their fourth album (and second with Howard Jones) entitled As Daylight Dies. The album has spawned the singles "My Curse" and "Arms of Sorrow", and it has been cited by the band through numerous interviews that the album recalls influences from bands in the NOLA music scene, as well as metal bands like Pantera and Machine Head.
Despite his front man role in Killswitch Engage, Jones is still the lead singer for Blood Has Been Shed.
Aside from singing, Jones has also taken on the role of a manager to new and upcoming artists. Currently, he manages two bands, Twelve Tribes, Mikoto, and also the producer Zeuss.
He is also known for his vocal styles, which include deep, booming roars, a higher, raspier scream, and operatic clean vocals. The clean style is absent from most of his work with Blood Has Been Shed, however, with Killswitch Engage, he usually makes use of all of his vocal styles in almost every song, particularly in As Daylight Dies and Holy Diver.
3. Howard Jones is an English folk singer and musician. He was a member of The Electropathics and currently performs with Albireo and as a solo performer.
Don't Always Look At the Rain
Howard Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drowning their sorrows, and mumblin', and forgot the fight
We can tip the balance we can break those barriers down
Little things count as much as the big and turn it all around
And it's oh, don't always look at the rain
No, don't look at the rain
They say everything has got to be proved, this isn't a nursery
And joseph who's five years old, stops fights in his playground yard
No more fights and bigotry, oh is it so hard
And it's oh, don't always look at the rain
No, don't always look at the rain
Ha, don't always look at the rain
And tell me, is it a crime to have an ideal or two
Evolving takes it's time, we can't do it all in one go
Doesn't have to drive us all mad, we can only do our best
Let the mind shut up, and the heart do the rest
In the song "Don't Always Look at the Rain" by Howard Jones, the lyrics address issues of pessimism, hopelessness, and loss of belief in oneself and in the world around us. The song begins with Jones acknowledging that some people have given up on their lives and are drowning in their sorrows. He reminds us that we can break barriers down and turn everything around by focusing on the little things as much as the big ones. Jones is saying that sometimes it is the small things that can make the biggest impact in our lives.
The second verse of the song deals with individuals who have lost their sense of mystery and wonder. Jones is reminding the listener that it is okay to believe in things that can't be proven - this is what makes life interesting and worth living. Joseph, a five-year-old boy, is used as an example of how one person can make a difference. Jones is calling for an end to fights and bigotry and asking if it really is so hard to achieve. The chorus repeats the message of the title, highlighting the importance of not always focusing on the negative aspects of life.
In the final verse, Jones asks if it is a crime to have an ideal or two. He emphasizes that change takes time and that it is essential to focus on doing our best rather than trying to do everything at once. Jones is suggesting that sometimes our minds can hold us back whereas our hearts can help us to move forward. Ultimately, the message of the song seems to be one of hope and encouragement to keep fighting and believing in oneself and in a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people I know have given up on their lives
I know some people who have lost hope in their lives.
Drowning their sorrows, and mumblin', and forgot the fight
They are trying to cope with their sorrows by drinking or mumbling, and have forgotten their motivation to fight.
We can tip the balance we can break those barriers down
We have the power to make a difference and overcome obstacles.
Little things count as much as the big and turn it all around
Small actions matter as much as big ones and can make a positive impact.
And it's oh, don't always look at the rain
Don't always focus on the negative aspects of life.
No, don't look at the rain
Don't let the rain (metaphor for negativity) consume you.
Some people I know have lost their feel for mystery
Some people have lost their sense of wonder and curiosity.
They say everything has got to be proved, this isn't a nursery
They believe everything has to be logically explained and justified, and it's not a childish game.
And Joseph who's five years old, stops fights in his playground yard
A young boy named Joseph is able to make a positive change by stopping fights in his playground.
No more fights and bigotry, oh is it so hard
It's not difficult to eliminate fights and prejudice if we try.
Ha, don't always look at the rain
Similar to the first 'don't always look at the rain' line.
And tell me, is it a crime to have an ideal or two
Is it wrong to have a couple of beliefs or goals?
Evolving takes it's time, we can't do it all in one go
Progress takes time and we can't achieve everything at once.
Doesn't have to drive us all mad, we can only do our best
We shouldn't let slow progress frustrate us, we can only try our best.
Let the mind shut up, and the heart do the rest
Don't overthink, let your heart guide you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HOWARD JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Elwell
I don't care what people may say, records like this are just not around these days.
Lukesters
How many here who heard it the first time round and were totally blown away that at a time where Duran Duran were sailing boats singing Rio, Howard was creating this masterpiece of an album which so many of us still turn to nearly 40 years later? Pretty sure I’m not on my own xx
Lukesters
@80s Synth Fan a demonstration of why surface and aesthetic will never be more important to real fans than music and lyrics. Thanks for the comment my friend xx
80s Synth Fan
The album budget probably only cost about 10% of the cost of the video for Rio.
Mel B
One of his best Songs ever!!!
Blue Greenglue
Day seven of my daily song dedication to my late husband, I found myself thinking of this song. It wasn't his favorite, but it is mine, and I feel like it epitomizes everything we both love about Howard Jones' music. A poignant, positive message.
NMACog
its a great album - his best you can tell he put his heart and soul into this album -feel it !
Echo Trip
Robert Christgau called it a rotating self-help book. That was meant as a bit of a put-down, but I can laugh along with the joke. I still love this album anyway.
Alicesings1
I was blessed to see Howard on Jan 29th 2020. I swear he doesn’t age. He sounded the same ( maybe better). He certainly has discovered a fountain of brilliance and youth ! Cheers 🎉🌼💜🌼💜🎶✌🏻xx
Torsten Richter
A Masterpiece !!