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)
Man of colours
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the shuffle of worn out shoes
And the scent of the oil and brushes
Drifts down like a pale perfume
[Chorus: ]
And he says, "I...
I am a man,
A man of colors,
And I can see
See through the years,
Years of a man,
A man of colors"
And the old man rubs his failing eyes
And takes a moment to watch the view
From a window nobody knows is there
He can see the empty street below
[Chorus: ]
He says, "I keep my life in this paintbox
I keep your face in these picture frames
And when I speak to this faded canvas it tells me
I have no need for words anyway..."
[Chorus: ]
And he says, "I...
I am a man,
A simple man,
A man of colours,
And I can see
See through the tears,
Tears of a man,
A man of colours"
The song "Man of Colours" by Icehouse is a tribute to the power of art and the creative spirit. The lyrics describe an old man who spends his days painting in the attic, surrounded by the scent of oil and brushes. He sees himself as a "man of colours," a simple man who can see through the years and the tears of life. The chorus repeats this theme, emphasizing the importance of viewing life through a creative lens instead of getting bogged down by the hardships and mundanity of daily existence.
The second verse introduces a window that "nobody knows is there." This is a metaphor for the hidden perspective that artists often bring to the world. Through their work, they can offer new ways of seeing things, revealing hidden truths or overlooked details. The old man can see the empty street below, implying a sense of isolation and detachment from the wider world. However, his paintings allow him to connect with others and speak without the need for words.
In summary, "Man of Colours" is a celebration of creativity and the ways in which art can help us make sense of our lives. It suggests that by viewing the world through a creative lens, we can see beyond the surface-level struggles and heartaches of existence and find beauty and meaning in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a noise upstairs in the attic
The man hears a sound coming from the attic.
It's the shuffle of worn out shoes
The noise is from shoes that have been used for a long time.
And the scent of the oil and brushes
The man can smell the scent of oil paint and art brushes.
Drifts down like a pale perfume
The scent is light and fragrant.
And he says, "I...
I am a man,
A simple man,
A man of colors,
And I can see
See through the years,
Years of a man,
A man of colors"
The man sees himself as someone who can understand people, their experiences, and their emotions through his art.
And the old man rubs his failing eyes
The man rubs his eyes, which are getting weaker or are becoming less functional with time.
And takes a moment to watch the view
He pauses to appreciate the scenery outside his window.
From a window nobody knows is there
The man has a secret window that no one else knows about.
He can see the empty street below
The man can see the deserted street from his hidden window.
He says, "I keep my life in this paintbox
The man finds meaning and purpose in his art.
I keep your face in these picture frames
The man has created portraits of people that he knows well and loves.
And when I speak to this faded canvas it tells me
I have no need for words anyway..."
The man finds solace in painting because it allows him to express his thoughts and emotions without needing to use words.
And he says, "I...
I am a man,
A simple man,
A man of colours,
And I can see
See through the tears,
Tears of a man,
A man of colours"
The man sees himself as someone who is able to understand and empathize with other people's emotions through his art.
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVOR ARTHUR DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FrankyGun
When I have to depart from this life, I want to exist anew in the 80s eternally, and I would not miss a thing. I miss the good old times, where music and lyrics still meant something, where the word of a man was truthful and honest, where a handshake was a contract and not to be debated, a time where we were free, innocent and full of dreams and big plans... I miss the 80s so much it hurts! Icehouse brings me back there with each and every great song they have created. I love them so much for just that โค๏ธ
@plusbonus1165
Mate , it can happen !
@chrisplummer336
Watch Black Mirror TV Series. Episode called San Junipero.
@danielscotland1971
Me too.
@pash9956
Never heard of 'em. I miss Jimi.
@breambeau3354
โStanding on a โlimitโ of an โendlessโ oceanโ they sure do mean what they say, tell me in what world is the ocean endless if we are living on a ball that goes all the way around and meets in the same spot. They definitely do mean their words
@betsycallet1301
Iva's father Neville Davies played the title role in this video. Last week he died at age 94. The best way to show you condolences is to watch this video in his honor.
@vincegrant3450
R.I.P.
@scottdenny2281
RIP Neville
@FrankyGun
Iโll meet Neville and all of the Icehouse musicians in an eternal and beautiful whirlwind of the 80s when I leave this existance. My condolences and thanks for this amazing piece of art. I hope that Iva and Neville will be reunited in heaven. It will be as beautiful as this song. I love this song so much that I have tears in my eyes each time that I listen to it. It basically describes the word โbeautifulโ to a blind person in tunes. Icehouse, I love you! โค๏ธ