Since 1980, Icehouse has released seven albums, several compilations, and music from collaborations with other artists including dance companies. Their 1987 album 'Man of Colours' was released at the apex of their fame and international success. It is considered by many to be the band's magnum opus.
As 'Flowers', Icehouse built up a strong following as a live act around Sydney, Australia, noted for their distinctive cover versions of songs by a wide range of acts including T-Rex and Brian Eno. After signing to the independent Regular Festival Records label, they released their debut single, "Can't Help Myself", which hit the Australian Top 10 in June 1980. This was followed by their first album 'Icehouse', which also made the Top 10 and became one of year's biggest selling albums in Australia. The album made use of synthesisers, especially the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5.
Further singles "We Can Get Together" and "Walls" both hit the Top 20. A European single from this album, "Icehouse", created some interest in the U.K., partly because of a memorable music video. Sensing the possibility of international success, the band decided to change their name in early 1981 to avoid confusion with Scottish group The Flowers. As Icehouse, they spent most of 1981 touring the UK, Canada and US, where "We Can Get Together" hit #62. A single release, "Love In Motion", recorded by Davies alone but the first to be credited to the band's new name, duly hit the Australian Top 10 in November 1981.
In January 1982, the band's original line up split, resulting in Davies recording Icehouse's much-anticipated second album, 'Primitive Man', on his own, with assistance from Keith Forsey, who later worked with Simple Minds. Released in August 1982, Primitive Man was another huge Australian hit and became Icehouse's international breakthrough. The hit single "Hey Little Girl" reached the UK Top 20 and has remained their most regularly played song. Another strong track from this album was "Great Southern Land", which made the Australian Top 5 and was later featured in the late 1980s film 'Young Einstein'.
In 1985, Davies' musical standing was further enhanced when he was commissioned to compose and record the score for the acclaimed Sydney Dance Company production of Graeme Murphy's dance work 'Boxes'. Icehouse's third album, 'Sidewalk', was far more sombre and reflective, featuring the tracks "I Don't Believe Anymore" and "Someone Like You". After this album the band made further inroads into the U.S. market with their 1986 release 'Measure for Measure', which featured none other than Brian Eno as a listed band member.
Icehouse's next work, 'Man of Colours', was their best-selling album. It contained the hit singles "Crazy" and "Electric Blue" (a song co-written by John Oates from the band Hall and Oates). Both singles reached the US Top 20, with "Electric Blue" hitting the #7 slot. With this album, the band reached an international zenith, never surpassing this level of popularity and exposure again.
In 1995, Davies was again involved with the Sydney Dance Company's production of Berlin. The musical score is a collection of cover versions of songs by David Bowie, Brian Eno, Simple Minds, The Psychedelic Furs, Frank Sinatra, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, XTC, Talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, PiL, The Cure and Killing Joke, which saw him collaborating with pianist Max Lambert in the development of the music.
As well as recording the score to the ballet, Davies performed these songs live with Icehouse at each show. He was an intrinsic part of the ballet, in a role similar to the one in Boxes. Iva was extremely successful in creating a translation from the dancers to the audience. Berlin was an instant success and ran for two seasons. Both shows were the most commercially successful that The Sydney Dance Company have had to date.
On 16 August 2006, Icehouse were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame along side acts such as Midnight Oil, Divinyls and Rose Tattoo. Also in 2006, Icehouse featured prominently on the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown with 14 songs selected including:
*"Man Of Colours"
*"Electric Blue"
*"We Can Get Together"
*"Don't Believe Any More"
*"Great Southern Land" (which came in at number 12)
Anything Is Possible
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they made a deal and they drew the line
And they built a wall right across the town
We ran, but we could not hide
We were fifty years marching round and round
We were fifty years when the wall came down
Anything is possible in this world
Where they wasted days on the borderline
And they saw themselves living underground
And they ran, but they could not hide
They cut the rocks and they laid the stone
They made themselves a tower, here in Babylon
Anything is possible in this world
Hey yeah, I never could explain
We`re all playing a game we could never win
Hey yeah, I`ll never understand
We just wander all over the same old ground
Oh, I, I had the strangest dream
And you shook your head and you looked at me
And said `open your eyes and maybe you will see...`
Anything is possible in this world
Anythni-ooh!
Give up
Want to try again?
The song "Anything Is Possible" by Icehouse is a reflection of a dream the singer had. The first verse describes a scene where a wall is built across a town, forcing people to march for fifty years before the wall is finally taken down. The second verse describes a situation where people are living underground, and trying to build a tower in Babylon. The chorus asserts that "Anything is possible in this world." The song suggests the idea that people have the power to overcome any obstacle or challenge they face.
The lyrics convey a message of hope and encouragement to listeners that whatever they may be facing, they can overcome it. The song also highlights the importance of perseverance, as evidenced by the fifty years the people marched before the wall finally came down. The final verse suggests that it is possible to change one's perspective and gain a more positive outlook on life, as the singer is encouraged to open their eyes and see the possibility of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I, I had the strangest dream
The singer had a peculiar dream
And they made a deal and they drew the line
A deal was made, and a line was drawn
And they built a wall right across the town
A wall was constructed across the town
We ran, but we could not hide
The artist tried to hide but couldn't
We were fifty years marching round and round
They marched in circles for fifty years
We were fifty years when the wall came down
The wall was destroyed after fifty years
Anything is possible in this world
This world offers endless possibilities
Where they wasted days on the borderline
They spent days on the border without purpose
And they saw themselves living underground
They envisioned living underground
They cut the rocks and they laid the stone
They cut rocks and built a structure
They made themselves a tower, here in Babylon
They built a tower in Babylon
Hey yeah, I never could explain
The artist couldn't explain something
We're all playing a game we could never win
We're playing a game with no chance of success
Hey yeah, I'll never understand
The singer will never comprehend something
We just wander all over the same old ground
We keep walking over familiar soil
And you shook your head and you looked at me
Someone shook their head and looked at the artist
And said 'open your eyes and maybe you will see...'
They suggested opening one's eyes to see clearly
Anything is possible in this world
This world has boundless opportunities
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVOR ARTHUR DAVIES, ROBERT GRANT KRETSCHMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kelly A
"open your eyes & maybe you will see, anything is possible in this world" 😊 this is the motto i live by, thank you Icehouse!! 👍😊🌏
Bianca Wilson
Love this !
ideas man
Great times growing up listening to icehouse I wouldn't change a thing we lived like there was no tomorrow back in the days!
Phillina
Love Iva’s hair. Classic! ♥️
Andrea Jones
Such an energetic performance!
Beauty Marisol90
I love this song! And I love Icehouse!
Lynda Whiteman
Love this incarnation of icehouse
Andy Smith
Fabulous track. Code Blue really was an excellent album💖
126er
WOW....I was 15yrs old when this song came out.I vaguely remember the music video but I remember the song...
THANKYOU YOUTUBE 👍
George Mathie
This is such a fun video it's good to see Iva and the boys having a blast