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)
Stay Close Tonight
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold every moment
It may slip through your hands
Evening falls so slowly
So something warm as only
Summer nights can
Every smile that you catch
Is somehow lost in the crowd
And I know it's not easy
Oh girl you know me
There's no need to go now
All those tears you've wasted
When all the while
Everything was alright
So don't you be so sad now
You know that we can
Make it work out
When the moon and sun finds you
Well you can turn
To brand new day
All the love that I give you
Take all I have
No one can steal it away
[Chorus]
Tonight, tonight
Stay close tonight
Hold on, hold on
Stay close tonight
You and I belong here
Two of a kind together
Day after day
Outside the night is warm
Just close you eyes now
So come on, don't you cry
Oh tonight somehow special
I don't know how to tell you
The way that I feel
We could stay here forever
Never come down
Won't you say that you will
[Chorus x2]
Icehouse's song "Stay Close Tonight" carries an overarching message of staying in the present moment and appreciating the warmth and love around you. The opening lines of the song implore the listener to savor each moment as it passes because it may slip away from you. The song's verses describe a feeling of being lost in the crowd and missing out on small moments of joy and connection. The song's refrain of "Stay close tonight, hold on" urges the listener to hold onto those precious moments.
The second verse of the song suggests that the listener need not be sad because they are loved and cared for, and they can overcome any difficulties that may be weighing on them if they have someone to lean on. The bridge speaks to the timelessness of love, urging the listener to take all the love they can get and not let anyone take it away from them.
Overall, the song's message is a simple but profound one: cherish every moment, appreciate the love around you, and hold on tight.
Line by Line Meaning
Now as the day is closing
As the day is coming to an end
Hold every moment
Treasure every moment of the day
It may slip through your hands
Because moments are fleeting and may be gone before you know it
Evening falls so slowly
The night is taking its time to arrive
So something warm as only
It creates a feeling of warmth that can only be felt during summer nights
Every sound that you're hearing
All the sounds around you, big or small
Every smile that you catch
Every smile that you notice
Is somehow lost in the crowd
Gets lost amongst all the noises and actions around you
And I know it's not easy
I understand it's difficult
Oh girl you know me
You know me well enough
There's no need to go now
You don't need to leave just yet
All those tears you've wasted
All those tears you shed in vain
When all the while
When everything around you has been just fine
Everything was alright
You didn't have to worry about anything
So don't you be so sad now
You don't have to be sad anymore
You know that we can
We can fix everything
Make it work out
We can make everything better
When the moon and sun finds you
When night and day meet
Well you can turn
You can look to
To brand new day
A new beginning
All the love that I give you
All the love that I have for you
Take all I have
Take all of me
No one can steal it away
Nobody can take that love away
Tonight, tonight
This very night
Stay close tonight
Stay close to me tonight
Hold on, hold on
Hang in there, don't give up
Stay close tonight
Be with me tonight
You and I belong here
We are meant to be together
Two of a kind together
We are a perfect match
Day after day
Every day
Outside the night is warm
It's a pleasant night outside
Just close you eyes now
Just close your eyes
So come on, don't you cry
Don't be sad
Oh tonight somehow special
Tonight is special in some way
I don't know how to tell you
I don't know how to express
The way that I feel
How I'm feeling right now
We could stay here forever
We could be together forever
Never come down
Never leave this place and feeling
Won't you say that you will
Will you agree to stay with me?
Tonight, tonight
This very night
Stay close tonight
Stay close to me tonight
Hold on, hold on
Hang in there, don't give up
Stay close tonight
Be with me tonight
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivor Arthur Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind