Allegedly nicknamed "King Monkey" by Dodgy's drummer Mathew Priest. Brown is well known to standout from the crowd and had his own unique style, whilst in The Roses he used to often wear big baggy flares and his landmark t-shirt with banknotes on. He now has a more casual look: Adidas Jackets, tracksuit bottoms, army trousers and a pair of shades. He is also recognisable for his varying hairstyles including: Blonde mohawk (early Stone Roses days) short (also early Stone roses days) undercut (similar to John Squire's) Big Hair (1989) bob cut (early 90's) Skinhead and his most well known hairdo long and shaggy with a fringe.
He has had two top 5 singles in the UK, My Star and Dolphins Were Monkeys. In 2005 he collaborated with Noel Gallagher from Oasis for the track Keep What Ya Got. He has also collaborated with U.N.K.L.E. on two tracks, 1999's Be There and Reign in 2004.
Recently Brown has started playing Stone Roses songs during gigs, fuelling speculation that a reunion may be on the cards. But In September 2005 Ian appeared to rule out a Stone Roses reunion saying "there's more chance of me reforming the Happy Mondays than the Roses". Happy Mondays in fact have reformed, but yet Brown appears pessimistic about a likelihood of any reunion. A reunion would also hinge on the co-operation of Roses guitarist John Squire who recently stated his desire to turn his back on music and focus on painting.
His latest album, My Way, was released September 2009.
El Mundo Pequeno
Ian Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que quieres
Cuando el mundo es tan grande why tan pequeno al mismo tiempo
Que quieres
Que quieres
Cuando el mundo es tan grande why tan pequeno al mismo tiempo
Que tienes todo
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
E por ti que no tienes nada
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
Cuando los dias hallan pasado
Why la noche ha empesado
Why las estrellas empizan a caer del cielo
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
Solo te puedo amar
The lyrics of Ian Brown's song El Mundo Pequeño express the vastness of the world and the limitations of individuals. The lines "Que quieres/Que quieres/Cuando el mundo es tan grande y tan pequeño al mismo tiempo" translate to "What do you want/What do you want/When the world is so big and yet so small at the same time?" This highlights the fact that although the world is huge, humans are limited by their resources, time, and space. The repetition of "Solo te puedo amar" ("I can only love you") expresses a sense of helplessness and acceptance to those limitations. Brown acknowledges that he cannot do everything, cannot solve every problem, and cannot fulfill every desire, but he can love someone with everything he has.
The song goes on to contrast the wealth of some with the poverty of others with the line "Que puedo hacer por ti/Que tienes todo" ("What can I do for you/When you have everything"). Brown acknowledges the imbalance of the world and the limited power of individuals to change it. The final lines "Solo te puedo amar" repeated emphasize that love is the only thing he can give to someone who has nothing.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the extent of powerlessness that individuals experience in a world that is so vast and often unequal, and the only thing they can control is their love for others.
Line by Line Meaning
Que quieres
What do you want, what do you desire?
Cuando el mundo es tan grande why tan pequeno al mismo tiempo
Despite the vastness of the world, it can still feel small sometimes
Que puedo hacer por ti
What can I do for you?
Que tienes todo
You already have everything
Solo te puedo amar
All I can do is love you
E por ti que no tienes nada
Even though you may feel like you have nothing, I still only have love for you
Cuando los dias hallan pasado
When the days have passed
Why la noche ha empesado
And the night has started
Why las estrellas empizan a caer del cielo
And the stars begin to fall from the sky
Solo te puedo amar
All I can do is love you
Solo te puedo amar
All I can do is love you
Solo te puedo amar
All I can do is love you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Francis Dunnery, Ian Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind