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)
Heaven
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven
The band in Heaven plays my favorite song
They play it once again, they play it all night long
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens
Everyone will leave at exactly the same time
Its hard to imagine that nothing at all
could be so exciting, and so much fun
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens
When this kiss is over it will start again
It will not be any different
It will be exactly the same
It`s hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, could be so much fun
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens
The song "Heaven" by the Australian band Icehouse is a meditation on the ephemeral nature of earthly pleasures, and the possibility of finding a more permanent source of satisfaction. The bar in the song is not just any bar - it is called Heaven, and it is a place where the band always plays the singer's favorite song, on an endless loop. This hyperbolic version of paradise, where nothing ever changes and nothing ever happens, is set against the backdrop of a party where everyone is having a great time, and where the excitement builds until the moment when the party ends and everyone leaves together.
The repetition of the lyrics "Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens" seems to suggest a sense of ennui or frustration with the limitations of worldly experience. The fact that the band plays the same song all night long, and that every partygoer will leave at the same time, creates a sense of inevitability and even boredom. But at the same time, there is a sense of delight in the sheer pleasure of the moment, as well as a resignation to the fact that life goes on, and that nothing ever really changes.
Overall, "Heaven" is a wistful and atmospheric song that captures the paradoxical nature of our desires - the longing for both permanence and novelty, for familiarity and excitement. It is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of human experience, and the need to find meaning in the everyday moments of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone is trying to get to the bar
All individuals are striving to reach the establishment
The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven
The title of the venue is Heaven
The band in Heaven plays my favorite song
The musical ensemble in Heaven performs the track I enjoy the most
They play it once again, they play it all night long
The band repeats the song continuously all evening
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens
Heaven is a location where nothing significant or noteworthy ever occurs
There is a party, everyone is there
A celebration is in progress, and every person is present
Everyone will leave at exactly the same time
Each individual will depart simultaneously
Its hard to imagine that nothing at all could be so exciting, and so much fun
It is difficult to envision that a lack of activity could be captivating and amusing
When this kiss is over it will start again
Once this embrace concludes, it will promptly repeat
It will not be any different
This occurrence will not possess any variances
It will be exactly the same
The situation will be identical
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens
Heaven is a location where nothing significant or noteworthy ever occurs
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE, JERRY HARRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind