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)
Street Cafe
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If there was just one more chance
I'd take it again
You know I'd take it again
You turn and it's gone forever
In time you forget
You know that's love
It's only love
And no matter where the days have left you
Every day ends at the street cafe
The street cafe
And no matter where the road may take you
Every time it brings you back to the street cafe
It's where you have to be
Well the people may come and go but
Here the street and the scene is just
The way that it was
The way that it was
No nothing will ever change here
Maybe a smile reminds you
Now and again
You wonder now and again
When another night will take you nowhere
You go down to the street cafe
And any time you know the crowd can hide you
The days end at the street cafe
Yeah the street cafe
You turn and it's gone forever
In time you forget
You know that's love
You know it's only love
But no matter where the days have left you
Every day ends at the street cafe
The street cafe
And no matter where the road may take you
Every time it brings you back to the street cafe
Yeah the street cafe
Oh no no no
No matter where the road may take you
We'll meet again someday
You know we'll meet someday
Someday at the street cafe
The song Street Cafe by Icehouse is a poignant piece about memories and love. The lyrics reflect an intense sense of nostalgia and longing for the past, for there are no tomorrows, just one more chance, and a desire to take it again. The emotions run deep as the song continues with the constant reminder that love is what remains, even when everything else fades away. The street cafe is a symbol of this love and nostalgia - the people may come and go, but the street and the scene remains the same.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the street cafe and its significance in the lives of those who go there. It is a place where people gather and form memories, where they are happy, safe, and comfortable. It is a place that reminds them of the past and gives them the courage to face the future. Even when another night takes them nowhere, they always return to the street cafe where they know the crowd can hide them. The song acknowledges the inevitability of change but also the comfort of finding familiarity, love, and happiness in a place that remains constant.
Overall, Street Cafe captures the essence of love, memories, and the importance of a place in our lives that continually draws us back, providing solace and comfort in moments of vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
If there were no tomorrows
In situations where the future is uncertain
If there was just one more chance
Given the opportunity to start again
I'd take it again
I would relive the same experience
You know I'd take it again
My desire to relive the experience
You turn and it's gone forever
Moments that pass by quickly
In time you forget
The fading memories of that moment
You know that's love
The emotion that weaves all experiences together
It's only love
Love is the sole reason for reliving the past
And no matter where the days have left you
Wherever we end up after our experiences
Every day ends at the street cafe
Where memories are shared and relived
The street cafe
The place where we meet to recall the past
And no matter where the road may take you
The journey we take in life
Every time it brings you back to the street cafe
Returning to the memories of our past
It's where you have to be
The cafe is the only place where we can truly remember
Well the people may come and go but
People are transient, memories stay
Here the street and the scene is just
The memories felt at the cafe
The way that it was
The specific moment being remembered
No nothing will ever change here
The memories remain constant despite the changes around us
Maybe a smile reminds you
A small gesture that reignites our past memories
Now and again
Occasionally remembering our past moments
You wonder now and again
Wondering if others remember the same moments as us
When another night will take you nowhere
Moments when we feel lost and directionless
You go down to the street cafe
The physical place we go to remember
And any time you know the crowd can hide you
The comfort of anonymity among others at the cafe
Yeah the street cafe
The place where we can truly remember and be ourselves
Oh no no no
Expressing uncertainty and doubt
No matter where the road may take you
Regardless of where life takes us
We'll meet again someday
The hope of meeting again to relive our memories
You know we'll meet someday
The confidence of meeting again to reminisce
Someday at the street cafe
The specific place where we hope to meet again
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVOR ARTHUR DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FrankyGun
I thank the lord on my knees every day for having been a teen in the 80s. I got that timing right! Anyone who missed the 80s missed out on LIFE, simple as that!
@aerotuc
I got the best of both ,the 70s and 80s.
@winstontye2514
Icehouse… so many iconic songs
@kevinforbes2945
Was lucky enough to see Icehouse play at Therbarton Town hall in Adelaide in the mid 80s.
@freoboy
If you weren't around in the 80's you were robbed.
@52missouri
If you were born in 1952 you saw them all.
@jaynietee000
@@52missouri and 1962. How lucky were we. ❤️ Saw these guys live so many times. So good. We had live music 5 nights a week and so many choices. Wish I had a time machine. 😀❤️ Stay safe,
@johnscala7870
Hell Yeah!! Totally Agree! Robbed So Much!! Best Decade for SO MUCH Cool music & Bands!!✌️✌️
@al5612
Not even kidding, I feel like I have been robbed.
@Oldmatedylmusic
Luckily now we can all go back in time with YouTube and listen to all the classic 70s 80s hits,which I love