Their biggest hit via the singles chart in the UK came with 'Labour of Love', a punchy, identifiable record which reached #6, spending a total of 16 weeks on the chart (they also managed to secure two top ten albums, 'Seduced and Abandoned' and 'Remote / The Bitter Suite' in the late 1980s). Their only other top 20 hit arrived with 'Looking For Linda' in 1989, though both their 'Violently (Your Words Hit Me)' EP in the same year and a remix of 'Labour of Love' in 1993 scored them top 30 successes.
Hue & Cry have witnessed a minor rebirth in the last couple of years thanks to finishing in the final seven of 'Hit Me Baby One More Time', an ITV1 show in the UK in which artists and bands who faded from the public eye were given the chance to perform their best-known numbers and a cover version in order to win public votes (the overall winner then being given a recording contract). Shakin' Stevens won the contest, but H&C managed to rouse a huge number of votes thanks to both their trademark hit and a highly entertaining performance of Beyonce's 'Crazy in Love'.
Since the programme's success, the Kane brothers have been touring their native Scotland, have signed to a new label and have a brand-new website and forum set up for them (www.hueandcry.co.uk). They also have a new album in the pipeline, due for release sometime in the near future.
2) Hue & Cry is an all female trio from San Francisco, CA.
Ordinary Angel
Hue & Cry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fills me with happiness
It's joy for a while 'till the first of the month
Then I'm chasing my tail again
I want a life that's bigger than me
'Cause I'm crushing myself to death
Tell you what I don't need
No heaven sent deity
'Cause I'm an ordinary angel
Winning tiny victories
And though the ordinary angels fly
Their wings weigh heavily
I try to be a daily genius
There's no idea beyond my reach
With all the angels and the geniuses
My company I'm gonna keep
I'm watching the news and I feel my face
Hanging like plasticene
Now I see the plot, I've got the plan
Every move is transparent to me
Profit and power's turning the world
And I'm leaning against the spin
Give me a vision please
And I don't mean heavenly
I am an ordinary angel child
Walking with the daily geniuses
Flying as high as I can...
The song 'Ordinary Angel' by Scottish duo Hue & Cry is about a person who is struggling to keep up with the expectations of society and themselves. The opening lines refer to a credit card, which the person feels brings them temporary happiness but ultimately leaves them chasing their own tail when bills arrive. The lyrics touch on the desire for a life that is bigger than one's own and the pressure to achieve greatness, which the singer is literally crushing themselves with. The lines "No heaven sent deity…'Cause I'm an ordinary angel, winning tiny victories" suggest that the singer does not look for divine intervention or inspiration but instead, finds joy in the small things that they accomplish.
The chorus repeats the phrase "ordinary angel," emphasizing that the singer, like everyone else, is not perfect but is still deserving of love and appreciation. The line "their wings weigh heavily" recognizes that even though being an ordinary angel might not seem like a big deal, it can still be a heavy burden to bear. The next verse sees the singer watching the news and feeling overwhelmed by the greed and corruption they see. They express a desire for a vision, but not one that is heaven-sent. They're looking for a sense of direction that comes from humanity rather than the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
I got the card, delivers the goods
I received a card that brings me happiness and fills me with joy.
Fills me with happiness
The card I received brings me immense joy.
It's joy for a while 'till the first of the month
However, the joy that the card brings starts to fade at the beginning of every month.
Then I'm chasing my tail again
After the joy fades away, I get caught up in a never-ending cycle.
I want a life that's bigger than me
I desire a life that is above and beyond me.
'Cause I'm crushing myself to death
Currently, I am struggling and pushing myself to my limit.
Tell you what I don't need
There are things I don't require in life.
No heaven sent deity
I don't believe in God or a higher power.
'Cause I'm an ordinary angel
Despite everything, I consider myself to be an ordinary angel.
Winning tiny victories
Although small, I celebrate each little achievement.
And though the ordinary angels fly
Even though ordinary angels can fly, they still face their fair share of problems.
Their wings weigh heavily
Despite being able to fly, the burden placed upon them is heavy.
I try to be a daily genius
I make a conscious effort to be a genius every day.
There's no idea beyond my reach
There are no limits to the ideas that I can grasp.
With all the angels and the geniuses
I want to surround myself with likeminded people who are also angels and geniuses.
My company I'm gonna keep
I choose to keep company with such people.
I'm watching the news and I feel my face
As I watch the news, my facial expression shifts.
Hanging like plasticene
I feel my face contort, like plasticine.
Now I see the plot, I've got the plan
As I process the news, I come up with an idea or plan of action.
Every move is transparent to me
I am able to see through the actions of those in power and their motives.
Profit and power's turning the world
The world is being driven by profit and power.
And I'm leaning against the spin
Despite the chaos, I am going against the flow.
Give me a vision please
I desire a vision of a better world.
And I don't mean heavenly
I don't want a vision of heaven, I want to see improvement on earth.
I am an ordinary angel child
Just like any other person, I am ordinary and imperfect.
Walking with the daily geniuses
Surrounded by like-minded individuals, striving for excellence.
Flying as high as I can...
I am constantly pushing myself to reach new heights, physically and mentally.
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.