Davies and Icehouse extended the use of synthesizers particularly the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 ("Love in Motion", 1981), Linn drum machine ("Hey Little Girl", 1982) and Fairlight CMI (Razorback trailer, 1983) in Australian popular music. Their best known singles on the Australian charts were "Great Southern Land", "Hey Little Girl", "Crazy", "Electric Blue" and "My Obsession"; with Top Three albums being Icehouse (1980, as Flowers), Primitive Man (1982) and Man of Colours (1987).
Icehouse's iconic status was acknowledged when they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 16 August 2006. ARIA described Icehouse as "one of the most successful Australian bands of the eighties and nineties... With an uncompromising approach to music production they created songs that ranged from pure pop escapism to edgy, lavish synthesised pieces..." Icehouse has produced eight Top Ten albums and twenty Top Forty singles in Australia, multiple top ten hits in Europe and North America and album sales of over 28 times Platinum in Australasia alone. As of 2006, Man of Colours was still the highest selling album in Australia by an Australian band.
Flowers were formed in Sydney in 1977 by Iva Davies (vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, oboe), a classically trained musician, and their main creative force; with bass player Keith Welsh. Davies was working as a part-time cleaner at a squash court managed by Welsh's mother, they lived nearby and were both interested in forming a band. Additional musicians used by Flowers in 1978 were Michael Hoste on keyboards and Don Brown on drums. The band built up a strong following as a live act around the pub circuit, providing distinctive cover versions of songs by Roxy Music, David Bowie, Lou Reed, T-Rex, Ultravox and Brian Eno. By the middle of 1979 John Lloyd (ex-Paul Kelly and the Dots) replaced Don Brown on drums, with Anthony Smith (who was sometimes called Adam Hall), on keyboards, replacing Michael Hoste who remained associated with the band and later rejoined. After signing to the independent Regular Records label, distributed by Festival, Flowers released their debut single in May 1980, "Can't Help Myself" (written by Davies), which hit the Australian Top 10 in June 1980. This was followed by their debut album Icehouse, which reached #4 on the National albums chart and became one of the year's biggest selling albums in Australia. The album, co-produced by Cameron Allan (Mental As Anything's producer) and Davies, made use of synthesisers, including the Minimoog, Solina Strings and Oberheim OB 1. Hoste co-wrote four tracks with Davies and played additional keyboards, with Smith continuing to provide the main keyboards. Further singles "We Can Get Together" and "Walls" from Icehouse also hit the Top 20.
Flowers' popularity was recognised when they were awarded the 1980 TV Week / Countdown Rock Awards 'Johnny O'Keefe New Talent Award' ahead of The Dugites, INXS and Karen Knowles. They were also nominated for 'Best Album' and 'Best Album Cover' for Icehouse but lost on both to Cold Chisel's East, Iva Davies was nominated as 'Best Songwriter' but lost to Cold Chisel's Don Walker. At the award ceremony, Flowers performed "Icehouse" with Davies framed within a cube of white neon tubing. In early 1981, Flowers signed to Chrysalis Records for European, Japanese, UK and U.S. releases; they had to change their name due to legal restrictions and to prevent confusion with a Scottish group The Flowers. Their last performance under the name Flowers was on 27 June 1981 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, they chose the name of their album to become known as Icehouse.
Can't Help Myself
Ice House Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's the kind, hey,
That's the kind I want to meet
I think I'm making it up
I should be putting it down
And it's beginning to show
I get it fixed in my head
And it won't let go
Oh, I can't help myself
When I feel this way
I want to be someone else
When I get this feeling
It gets in my system
I can't put the brakes on
Now she's walking next to me
That's the place, yeah,
That's the place I want to be
I think I'm making it up
I should be putting it down
And it's beginning to show
I get it fixed in my head
And it won't let go
The lyrics to Ice House's song Can't Help Myself describe a feeling of infatuation that is both intense and distracting. The singer sees a woman walking down the street and is immediately captivated by her. He can't stop thinking about her, and even as he tries to focus on other things, she remains fixed in his mind. He feels like he's "making it up" as he fantasizes about being with her, and his obsession is beginning to affect his behavior. But despite his efforts to control himself, he finds that he cannot "put the brakes on" his desire.
This song captures the experience of being consumed by lust or attraction, to the point where it becomes all-consuming and even overwhelming. The lyrics speak to the idea that sometimes, no matter how much you try to resist or rationalize your feelings, you simply can't help the way you feel. The repetition of the chorus, with its insistent repetition of the phrase "I can't help myself," reinforces the idea of being caught in a cycle of desire that feels unstoppable.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes walking down the street
I see her approaching while walking on the road.
That's the kind, hey,
That's the kind I want to meet
I am attracted to her just by her looks in this moment.
I think I'm making it up
I should be putting it down
And it's beginning to show
I am not sure whether my thoughts for her are real or just my imagination, and it is starting to reflect in my actions.
I get it fixed in my head
And it won't let go
My feelings for her are stuck in my mind, and I cannot get rid of them.
Oh, I can't help myself
When I feel this way
I want to be someone else
I cannot control myself when I feel this emotion, and I wish to be someone entirely different.
When I get this feeling
It gets in my system
I can't put the brakes on
This sensation becomes a part of my being and takes over me entirely, and I cannot stop it.
Now she's walking next to me
That's the place, yeah,
That's the place I want to be
She is walking beside me, and this is exactly where I want to be right now.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Arthur Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@justinmorgan2126
"Can't Help Myself"
She comes walking down the street
That's the kind, hey,
That's the kind I want to meet
I think I'm making it up
I should be putting it down
and it's beginning to show
I get it fixed in my head
and it won't let go
Oh, I can't help myself
when I feel this way
I want to be someone else
When I get this feeling
it gets in my system
I can't put the brakes on
Now she's walking next to me
that's the place, yeah,
that's the place I want to be
I think I'm making it up
I should be putting it down
and it's beginning to show
I get it fixed in my head
and it won't let go
@johnkauppi7078
Totally 80's cool. What a great decade we Gen X's lived in ! I've never really left it.
@Him_He_Me
Man so many great songs on this album!!!!!
@Armourlego
The older I get the more I relate to this awesome song.... Icehouse are a quintessentially perfect Australian band. The echo effect of their tracks is so reminiscent of the sound of Australia. Vast & deep. Just so f@&king good.
@peterthomas6486
Mate, when I was 15-16 when this came out, it was like I discovered a new religion, it completely blew me away, bought both their first 2 singles and the album, I feel, Aussie music sort of turned a new leaf with this band.
@Scotty-P
Last night on a bus home, three different Indians yammering away on their phones. I whistle to try and drown out the one closest to me. Up at the back of the bus a fellow begins; in an even better move, playing this on his phone to do the same. It's bittersweet; to say the very least, what the sound of 'Australia' is like now.
@MegaDRjohn
its... flowers... icehouse was later
@rickydumas9994
Same band, they had to change the name during their first UK tour due to a legal challenge from Scottish band The Flowers.
@rachelled6763
I think I was 13 and the first Flowers song I heard and was instantly in love with Iva Davies. He really is a stunning frontman. Now I'm older, I am awed by the talent of the band, the musicianship, songwriting. Icehouse were one of the very best of the new wave/punk era in Oz. So glad to have grown with them. 🩷🩷
@Theire1
I grew up in Buttcrack Ohio and when i wanted this album I went to the local record store . They did not have it but ordered it for me . I could pick it up in a month.... kids have it too easy now lol
@RekimNZ
Watched this awesome rock band play at Mornington Racecourse (Feb, 2024, Red Hot Summer Tour) sounded just perfect ! - So glad I have heard this live now !