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)
Someone Like You
Icehouse Lyrics
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Was it so very long ago
There were times
There were so many times
Holding on
And it comes only
Once in your life
There maybe just a chance
I'll live with you
Maybe you
Maybe someone like you
Someone like you
If a day should go by and I'm without you
Moves so slowly it never ends
All the while
Wondering how it could be
Does he know
That it comes only once in your life
[Chorus]
Someone like you
Someone like you
Someone like you
Once in your life
Someone like you
Want someone like you
In the song "Someone Like You" by Icehouse, the singer wonders about the person they are looking at and reminisces about their past. The singer wonders if it was a long time ago when they were once holding on to something or someone. The chorus suggests that there is a chance that the singer will live with the person they are referring to, or someone like them. The song revolves around the idea that there is only one special person who comes into your life, and if you miss that chance, you may never experience that kind of connection again.
The lyrics suggest a sense of longing for someone that the singer may have once had, or someone they had yet to meet but hope to find soon. The song's melancholic tone accentuates the message that the singer is conveying - the need to find that one person who makes all the difference. The repetition of "someone like you" emphasizes the idea that this person is unique and special, and the singer is willing to search for that person for the rest of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I wonder some times as I look at you
I often wonder about you just by looking at you
Was it so very long ago
Is it really a long time since we met?
There were times
There were moments
There were so many times
There were countless moments
Holding on
Keeping faith
And it comes only
It happens just once
Once in your life
Only once in your lifetime
[Chorus]
Repeat the following lines
There maybe just a chance
May be there is a small hope
I'll live with you
I can spend my life with you
Maybe you
May be it is you
Maybe someone like you
May be someone similar to you
If a day should go by and I'm without you
If a whole day passes by without you
Moves so slowly it never ends
The day moves extremely slow and never seems to end
All the while
All along
Wondering how it could be
Thinking about how it would be like
Does he know
Does he understand
[Chorus]
Repeat the following lines
Someone like you
A person like you
Once in your life
Only once in your lifetime
Someone like you
A person like you
Want someone like you
I am looking for someone like you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Arthur Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind