Australian new wave band Icehouse was formed in 1977, initially called 'Flo… Read Full Bio ↴Australian new wave band Icehouse was formed in 1977, initially called 'Flowers', by Iva Davies (born Ivor Arthur Davies, on 22 May 1955, in Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia). Inspired by art rock and avant-garde pop, Davies was the main creative force behind the band, being a classically trained musician. Band member Keith Welsh joined him on bass. For a number of years they also obtained the services of Bob Kretschmer, until he was replaced by young guitarist Paul Gildea.

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)

Loving the Alien
Icehouse Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Watching them come and go
The templars and the saracens
They're traveling the holy land
Opening telegrams
Torture comes and torture goes
Knights who'd give you anything
They bear the cross of coeuf de leon
Salvation for the mirror blind

But if you pray all your sins are hooked upon the sky
Pray and the heathen lie will disappear
Prayers they hide the saddest view
(Believing the strangest things, loving the alien)
And your prayers they break the sky in two
(Believing the strangest things, loving the alien)
You pray til the break of dawn
(Believing the strangest things, loving the alien)
And you'll believe you're loving the alien
(Believing the strangest things, loving the alien)
Thinking of a different time
Palestine a modern problem
Bounty and your wealth in land
Terror in a best laid plan
Watching them come and go
Tomorrows and the yesterdays

Christians and the unbelievers
Hanging by the cross and nail

Overall Meaning

The Icehouse song "Loving the Alien" is a reflection on the complex history of religion, violence, and colonization in the Holy Land. The lyrics describe the different groups who have traveled to Palestine over time, including the Templars and Saracens, and their ongoing struggles for power and control. The idea of salvation is also brought up, as some believe that by praying, they can have their sins forgiven and disappear. However, the chorus suggests that these prayers are not enough to solve the deeper problems of the region, and that belief in strange things (such as loving an alien) may be a way of coping with this.

The verses of the song touch on several themes. The first verse describes the struggles between the Templars and Saracens, who were in conflict over control of the Holy Land during the Crusades. The second verse references the ongoing conflicts between Jews and Palestinians over land and resources. The lyrics connect all of these historical struggles to the present day, suggesting that the violence and strife is ongoing and unresolved.

One interpretation of the chorus is that it suggests that prayer and belief in strange things can be a form of escapism from the harsh realities of life in the Middle East. By believing in something outside of themselves, people can find solace and hope in the face of ongoing struggles and conflicts. However, the final lines of the song suggest that this may not be enough to bring lasting peace and resolution to these issues.

Line by Line Meaning

Watching them come and go
Observing the constant traveling of people

The templars and the saracens
Both Christian and Muslim groups in the Holy Land

They're traveling the holy land
Journeying through a sacred territory

Opening telegrams
Receiving messages of both good and bad news

Torture comes and torture goes
Experiencing the harsh reality of torture, constantly repeating

Knights who'd give you anything
Generous knights willing to offer help

They bear the cross of coeuf de leon
Carrying the symbol of the Spanish crusade

Salvation for the mirror blind
Saving those who cannot see clearly for themselves

But if you pray all your sins are hooked upon the sky
Believing that confessing sins in prayer can absolve one of wrongdoings

Pray and the heathen lie will disappear
Prayer believed to remove the falsehoods of non-believers

Prayers they hide the saddest view
Finding solace in prayer and looking away from life's depressing aspects