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)
Heroes
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can beat them, just for one day
We can be Heroes, just for one day
And you, you can be mean
And I, I'll drink all the time
'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact
Though nothing, will keep us together
We could steal time, just for one day
We can be Heroes, for ever and ever
What d'you say?
I, I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim
Though nothing, nothing will keep us together
We can beat them, for ever and ever
Oh we can be Heroes, just for one day
I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day
I, I can remember (I remember)
Standing, by the wall (by the wall)
And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads)
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)
And the shame, was on the other side
Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever
Then we could be Heroes, just for one day
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
We're nothing, and nothing will help us
Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay
But we could be safer, just for one day
Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, just for one day
The lyrics to Icehouse's song "Heroes" describe two lovers who find solace in each other's company amidst the chaos and violence of the world around them. The opening lines, "I, I will be king, and you, you will be queen," suggest the couple's desire to rule their own kingdom, separate from the societal norms expected of them. The two are aware of the challenges that they may face, but they choose to stand by each other, claiming that nothing can drive them away.
The line "We can beat them, just for one day" reveals that the couple finds comfort in the thought that they can overcome their challenges, even if it's only for a short while. The idea of being heroes for just one day is a metaphor for seizing the moment, living in the present, and making the most of it. The chorus repeats this idea, emphasizing the couple's power to overcome obstacles by being together.
The following verses talk about the couple's flaws and how they don't prevent them from being in love. The lines "And you, you can be mean, and I, I'll drink all the time" portray the couple's imperfections. However, they are still devoted to each other, convinced that they are meant to be together.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I will be king
I will take control and be in charge
And you, you will be queen
You will rule alongside me
Though nothing will drive them away
No obstacle will stop us
We can beat them, just for one day
We can conquer and overcome our enemies for only one day
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can become great and admirable figures for only a short time
And you, you can be mean
You may act unkindly
And I, I'll drink all the time
I will consume alcohol regularly
'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact
The truth is we are in love
Yes we're lovers, and that is that
There's no denying our love for each other
Though nothing, will keep us together
No external force will keep us apart
We could steal time, just for one day
We can take time for ourselves for only a short time
We can be Heroes, for ever and ever
We can always be remembered as heroes
What d'you say?
Do you agree?
I, I wish you could swim
I wish you had the ability to swim
Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim
As gracefully as dolphins do
Though nothing, nothing will keep us together
No obstacle will keep us apart
We can beat them, for ever and ever
We can overcome our foes, now and forever
Oh we can be Heroes, just for one day
We can be great individuals for a brief time
I, I will be king
I will take control and be in charge
And you, you will be queen
You will rule alongside me
Though nothing will drive them away
No obstacle will stop us
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can become great and admirable figures for only a short time
We can be us, just for one day
We can be our true selves for a single day
I, I can remember (I remember)
I recall a past experience
Standing, by the wall (by the wall)
Being near a wall
And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads)
Gunfire passed by us
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)
We kissed as if nothing else mattered
And the shame, was on the other side
Those who should be ashamed are the ones against us
Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever
We can overcome our foes, now and forever
Then we could be Heroes, just for one day
We can become great individuals for a brief time
We can be Heroes
We can be admirable figures
We can be Heroes
We can be admirable figures
We can be Heroes
We can be admirable figures
Just for one day
For a brief period of time
We can be Heroes
We can be admirable figures
We're nothing, and nothing will help us
We are of lowly status and in need of help
Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay
Perhaps we are not telling the truth, so you should not linger
But we could be safer, just for one day
We could have temporary protection
Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, just for one day
For only a brief period of time
Contributed by Vivian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.