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)
Mysterious Thing
Icehouse Lyrics
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She says that it's all over now
She knows how to break me
She knows that it's easy
But when the rain is coming in
She calls me on the telephone, she says,
"Where did you get to?
So come on I need you"
It's a mysterious thing
Well it's something I can't explain
Mysterious thing
Got me under the spell again
It's a mysterious thing
Don't believe what my eyes can see
Mysterious thing
Strangest feeling is holding me
So give me an answer, girl
What must I do for your love?
She's gonna make you run around
She's gonna keep you hanging on
Wearing her black lace
Wild-eyed and reckless
But before you throw it all away
Just think of what it does to me
Why must I go on?
Wishing and praying
It's a mysterious thing
Well it's something I can't explain
Mysterious thing
Got me under the spell again
It's a mysterious thing
Don't believe what my eyes can see
Mysterious thing
Strangest feeling is holding me
So give me an answer, girl
What must I do for your love?
It's a
It's a
It's a mysterious thing
Give me an answer, girl
What must I do for your love?
It's a mysterious thing
Well it's something I can't explain
Mysterious thing
She's got me under the spell...under the spell
It's a
It's a
It's a
Don't believe what my
Believe what my
Believe what my eyes
Mysterious thing
Well it's something I can't explain, no, no
It's a mysterious thing
Heading under the spell under the spell
Mysterious thing
The song "Mysterious Thing" by Icehouse tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman who keeps leaving him and then coming back. Despite her constantly breaking his heart, he can’t help but fall for her again and again. She has a hold on him that he can’t quite explain, and he is tormented by the feeling that he can’t control his own emotions. When she leaves him, he tries to move on, but she always manages to lure him back, leaving him feeling helpless and under her spell. He pleads with her to tell him what he needs to do to win her love, desperate to break free from her grasp.
The lyrics, sung in a sultry and emotive tone, give the song a melancholic edge, as the singer struggles to come to terms with his intense, mysterious feelings for this woman. The refrain "It's a mysterious thing" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the sense of confusion and uncertainty that the singer experiences. Despite his pain, he cannot deny the hold that this woman has on him, and the song ends with him resigned to its power.
Line by Line Meaning
She tells me that she has to go
She informs me that she is leaving
She says that it's all over now
She declares that our relationship is over
She knows how to break me
She understands how to hurt my feelings
She knows that it's easy
She is aware that it is effortless to cause me pain
But when the rain is coming in
However, when she is feeling sad
She calls me on the telephone, she says, 'Where did you get to? So come on I need you'
She reaches out to me for comfort and support
It's a mysterious thing
Love is an enigmatic and ineffable emotion
Well it's something I can't explain
Love is indescribable
Mysterious thing
Love is a perplexing emotion
Got me under the spell again
Love has enchanted me once more
Don't believe what my eyes can see
My eyes are deceiving me when it comes to love
Strangest feeling is holding me
I am experiencing a strange, unexplainable sensation
So give me an answer, girl. What must I do for your love?
Tell me, what must I do to earn your love?
She's gonna make you run around
She will make you chase after her
She's gonna keep you hanging on
She will keep you in suspense and uncertainty
Wearing her black lace
She dresses in revealing black lingerie
Wild-eyed and reckless
She is impulsive and free-spirited
But before you throw it all away
Before you end the relationship
Just think of what it does to me, Why must I go on? Wishing and praying
Consider the emotional toll it will take on me, as I will be left sad and heartbroken
Heading under the spell under the spell
Being consumed by love
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Arthur Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind