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)
The System
Icehouse Lyrics
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There will be a small explosion
Particles like dust
Are released and slowly growing
You will hear a tiny voice
And when you hear it, you will know it
A circuit has been broken
(The system, ECHOING)
Somewhere close to Hollywood
There will be a small explosion
Fires will be burning
Television cameras rolling
There will be one tiny voice
No one else will ever hear it
The silence has been broken
The system
The system is overloaded
The system is overloaded
Somewhere in the night sky
There will be a small explosion
Followed by a sudden flash
Over in an instant
You will see a star has died
And know exactly what hash appened
A pattern has been broken
Been broken
The system
The system is overloaded, overloaded
The system is overloaded, overloaded
The system
The system is overloaded
Somewhere in your mind
There will be a soft explosion
Chemicals have just collided
And there is no way of knowing
You will hear your own tiny voice
And you won`t even recognize it
The connection has been broken
The system
The system is overloaded
The system is overloaded, overloaded
The system
The system is overloaded, overloaded
The system
Overloaded
The song "The System" by Icehouse talks about different types of explosions happening in different places, but all are connected to a system that is overloaded. The first verse talks about an explosion in Siberia where particles are released and growing slowly. This explosion is followed by a tiny voice, and once heard, it means that a circuit has been broken. The second verse talks about a small explosion near Hollywood where fires will be burning, and television cameras will be rolling. Only one tiny voice will be heard, and the silence has been broken. The chorus then echoes the phrase "the system is overloaded," emphasizing that there is something wrong with the system.
The third verse talks about a small explosion in the night sky that will be quickly followed by a sudden flash, where a star has died. This pattern has been broken, and the system is still overloaded. Finally, the last verse talks about an explosion happening in the person's mind where chemicals have just collided, and there is no way of knowing what will happen next. They will hear their own tiny voice, but won't even recognize it. The connection has been broken, and the system is yet again overloaded.
Overall, the song talks about how everything is connected and how even the smallest of explosions can cause a ripple effect that can disrupt the system. The system can be interpreted as anything from society to the environment to our own bodies, and when it is overloaded, it can lead to chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere in Siberia
There is an anonymous, remote location in Siberia where a significant event is about to occur.
There will be a small explosion
An event of ostensibly modest scale is set to take place.
Particles like dust
Small fragments are released into the environment.
Are released and slowly growing
The fragments are expanding and increasing in number.
You will hear a tiny voice
A faint signal will become audible.
And when you hear it, you will know it
The signal is distinctive and easily recognizable.
A circuit has been broken
A critical connection has been disrupted, causing the signal.
(The system, ECHOING)
The term 'system' is repeated, conveying a sense of emphasis and importance.
Somewhere close to Hollywood
There is a nearby location to Hollywood where an event of significance is about to occur.
Fires will be burning
Flames will be visible and active.
Television cameras rolling
Media equipment is present to capture the event.
There will be one tiny voice
Only a single sound will be audible.
No one else will ever hear it
The sound will only be detectable by a small, select group.
The silence has been broken
The lack of sound has been interrupted and replaced with a new signal.
The system
The previously referenced structure is again indicated.
The system is overloaded
The system is struggling to handle its current load and is reaching its limit.
Somewhere in the night sky
There is an unidentified location in the sky where something will happen.
Followed by a sudden flash
An intense, short burst of light will occur after the initial event.
Over in an instant
The event will be very brief, happening quickly and then ending.
You will see a star has died
An astronomical phenomenon has taken place, evidenced by a visible change in the sky.
And know exactly what hash appened
The event can be easily identified and understood.
A pattern has been broken
The occurrence of a regular or established sequence has been disrupted.
The system
The subject of the song is again referenced.
The system is overloaded, overloaded
The system is again emphasized as being beyond its normal capacity.
Somewhere in your mind
There is an internal, cognitive aspect to the events being described.
There will be a soft explosion
A subtle, internal event will occur.
Chemicals have just collided
A physical and chemical interaction has taken place in the brain.
And there is no way of knowing
It is impossible to predict or prepare for this internal event.
You will hear your own tiny voice
The internal event will manifest itself in the form of a small sound or sensation.
And you won`t even recognize it
The internal event will be subtle and easily overlooked or dismissed.
The connection has been broken
An internal connection or expectation has been interrupted or altered by the event.
Overloaded
The song ends with a final, reinforcing indication that the subject is beyond its normal capacity.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Malcolm Chapman, Ivor Arthur Davies, Paul Wheeler, Paul Kenneth Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind