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)
This Time
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pushing back
Lost and lonely
And I know it so very well
Spending hours by the river
Walking through the still of night
Oh was it here that I saw you?
Way downtown there's a promise of something
In the lights on the avenue
As he turned the corner
Maybe just a step away
There's no mistake when you find it
[Chorus: ]
This time
It feels so right
Yes I know it
This time
I can be so very sure
Oh yeah
There's something good lasts forever
This time
Now she's so down in my mind
Oh this time
This time
This time
Well they say
Love is blind
But I tell you
There's one thing
That I'm certain of
Someone very special
Just as night has come my way
And I believe we can make it
[Chorus: ]
This time
This time
It feels so right
Yes I know it
This time
Now she's so down in my mind
Oh this time
There's something should last forever
This time
Now she's so down in my mind
Oh this time
That something good last forever
This Time
Now she's so down in my mind
This Time
It feels so right
Yes I know it
This Time
The song "This Time" by Icehouse is a haunting and introspective ballad about a man who is lost and lonely, but has found someone special that he believes can make everything feel right this time. The opening lyrics of "Hear me crying, pushing back, lost and lonely" set the tone for the rest of the song, conveying a sense of desperation and yearning for something more. The singer spends hours by the river and walks through the still of night, trying to find a way forward. He wonders if it was here that he saw the person he's been searching for. The imagery of the lights on the avenue and turning a corner reinforce the idea that he's seeking a new direction in his life.
The chorus repeats the phrase "This time" as a mantra, emphasizing the idea that this time, things will be different. It feels so right, and he can be very sure that something good will last forever. He's convinced that he's found someone very special and that they can make it work, even though love is said to be blind. The repetition of "this time" reinforces the idea that he's been searching for something for a long time and now that he's found it, he's not going to let it go.
Overall, "This Time" is a hopeful but melancholy song that captures the feeling of being lost and searching for something more. It's a reminder that sometimes it takes a long time to find what you're looking for, but when you do, it can be worth the wait.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear me crying
I am expressing my emotional pain through tears and vocalizations.
Pushing back
I am resisting negative thoughts or influences that are trying to overwhelm me.
Lost and lonely
I feel directionless and lacking human connection.
And I know it so very well
I am intimately familiar with the feeling of being lost and lonely.
Spending hours by the river
I am taking time to reflect and seek solace in nature.
Walking through the still of night
I am making a conscious effort to be alone and in quiet surroundings.
Oh was it here that I saw you?
I am reminiscing about a past encounter with someone and wondering if it took place in this location.
Way downtown there's a promise of something
In the bustling city center, there is a feeling of opportunity and excitement.
In the lights on the avenue
The flashing lights of the cityscape are mesmerizing and alluring.
As he turned the corner
This person is approaching a new path or opportunity.
Maybe just a step away
Success or happiness is within close reach, but not yet attained.
There's no mistake when you find it
When a person discovers something that is truly right for them, they will know it without a doubt.
This time, It feels so right
The current situation or relationship brings a sense of certainty and positivity.
Yes I know it
I am confident in my feelings and decision-making.
I can be so very sure
I feel extremely confident and certain about the current situation.
Oh yeah, there's something good lasts forever
The artist believes that the positive aspects of their current situation will endure.
Now she's so down in my mind
The artist is consumed with thoughts of this particular person.
Well they say, love is blind
The singer acknowledges the common phrase regarding the irrationality of love.
But I tell you, there's one thing that I'm certain of
The singer is sure of their feelings for this person, despite the potential irrationality of love.
Someone very special
This person is of great significance to the artist for emotional reasons.
Just as night has come my way
The artist has encountered this person during a difficult or vulnerable time.
And I believe we can make it
The artist has faith in the potential for a successful and fulfilling relationship with this person.
This time, it feels so right
The singer is extremely confident in the current relationship and its chances of success.
There's something good lasts forever
The artist is hopeful that the positive aspects of the relationship will endure.
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LEE LOUGHNANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind