He started off learning to play the violin but soon switched to piano. From the age of 16 he played in bars, and won a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. Jackson did not like the prospect of being a serious composer, and moved towards pop and rock.
His first band was Arms and Legs which collapsed after two unsuccessful singles. He then spent some time in the cabaret circuit to make money to record his own demos.
In 1978 a producer heard his tape, and got him signed to A&M Records. The album Look Sharp! was recorded straight away, and was released in 1979, quickly followed by I'm the Man and Beat Crazy in 1980. He also collaborated with Lincoln Thompson in reggae crossover.
The Joe Jackson Band was very successful and toured extensively. After the breakup of the band, Joe took a break and recorded an album of old-style swing and blues tunes, Jumpin' Jive, featuring songs of Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, and most prominently, Louis Jordan. He went on to record Night and Day, an album that paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and less directly, to New York City) and was his last album to hit the Top 10, peaking at #4.
He recorded another record that was heavily influenced by jazz, pop and jazz standards, and salsa, Body and Soul, which hit #20, containing the hit You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want).
Jackson followed with Big World, a three-sided double record (the fourth side consisted of a single centring groove and a label stating "there is no music on this side"). The instrumental Will Power set the stage for things to come later, but before he left pop behind he put out two more cerebral and celebratory albums, Blaze of Glory and Laughter and Lust. For some years he drifted away from the pop style, going on to be signed by Sony Classical in 1997, which released his Symphony No. 1 in 1999 for which he received a Grammy award.
Night and Day II in 2000 lacked strong pop hooks though, as usual with Jackson, displayed fine lyrics and some elegant songwriting. Volume 4 in 2003 reunited the original band and was well received. A promotional CD, bundled with the initial release, of the 'live' band playing some of Jackson's strongest material was widely admired.
Jackson is also an author, having written A Cure for Gravity, published in 1999, which Jackson has described as a "book about music, thinly disguised as a memoir". It traces his early musical life from childhood until his 24th birthday. Life as a pop star, he suggested, was hardly worth writing about.
In 2004 Jackson performed a cover of Common People with William Shatner for Shatner's album Has Been.
He has actively campaigned against smoking bans in both the USA and the UK, writing a 2005 pamphlet The Smoking Issue and issuing a satirical song (In 20-0-3) on the subject.
In 2008 the album Rain was released by Joe Jackson. Like its predecessor Volume 4, it featured members of the 'Joe Jackson Band', this time minus guitarist Gary Sanford.
Currently he lives in Kreuzberg, Germany.
Discography:
1979 - Look Sharp!
1979 - I'm The Man
1980 - Beat Crazy
1981 - Jumpin' Jive
1982 - Night and Day
1983 - Mike’s Murder, (Soundtrack)
1984 - Body and Soul
1986 - Big World
1987 - Will Power
1988 - Live 1980/86
1988 - Tucker, (Soundtrack)
1989 - Blaze of Glory
1991 - Laughter & Lust
1994 - Night Music
1997 - Heaven and Hell
1999 - Symphony No. 1
2000 - Summer in the City: Live in New York
2000 - Night and Day II
2002 - Two Rainy Nights, (Live)
2004 - Volume 4
2004 - Afterlife, (Live)
2008 - Rain
2011 - Live Music, (Live)
2012 - The Duke
love at first sight
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I sit here watching you sleeping
I only wish that I could remember your name
But I know it's written on a matchbook somewhere
And maybe I'll find it, and maybe I'll care
Or maybe you'll fix me with one of those stares
And put up a fight
As you flash me a smile like a diamond
And just for a moment I almost believe
In love at first light
I propose a breakfast of coffee and aspirin
You laugh, suggesting a raw egg or two
But oh, was it ever so good being bad?
Like a couple of vampires, deliciously mad
Saying this is the best blood that we've ever had
So we drank it all night
And if we untangle the webs that we weave
Then maybe there's room for more laughter
'Cos just for a moment I almost believe
In love at first light
Feeling cold
You put a robe 'round my shoulders
Smile and pull one of your favorite books form my shelf
Let's opens the curtains and let out the dark
And if the sun doesn't melt us and there's still a spark
And we do something human like walk in the park
The spark could ignite
So maybe I'm moonstruck, or maybe naive
But I know there's a God and a devil
So maybe I'm crazy enough to believe
In love at first light
In "Love at First Sight," Joe Jackson sings about waking up next to someone whose name he cannot remember. While he watches her sleep, he wonders if he'll ever find out her name or care enough to look for it. However, when she awakes, she greets him with a dazzling smile, and they share a moment of connection that feels like love at first light. They discuss their wild night and decide to have breakfast together before possibly taking a walk in the park. Jackson's lyrics explore the sense of uncertainty and excitement that comes with a new relationship, as well as the rollercoaster of emotions that accompanies moments of vulnerability and intimacy.
The song features a unique blend of musical styles and influences, including jazz, new wave, and pop. Jackson's lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and symbolism that create a rich, complex narrative. He describes his feelings using metaphors like "moonstruck" and "deliciously mad," evoking a sense of ecstasy and simultaneously suggesting that their connection might not be entirely sane. However, the song's overall tone is one of hope and optimism, suggesting that their relationship might be able to endure despite its tumultuous beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the crack of noon
It's already midday and the singer is watching their lover sleep.
I only wish that I could remember your name
The singer doesn't remember their lover's name but knows it's written on a matchbook somewhere.
And maybe I'll find it, and maybe I'll care
The singer is unsure if they will even bother finding their lover's name or if it will even matter in the end.
Or maybe you'll fix me with one of those stares
The artist anticipates their lover waking up and potentially giving them a certain look.
And put up a fight
The artist is open to the possibility of a conflict with their lover, which could be exciting or passionate.
As you flash me a smile like a diamond
The singer is relieved when their lover wakes up and greets them with a dazzling smile.
And just for a moment I almost believe
In love at first light
The singer is swept up in the moment and thinks that they might be falling in love with their lover at first sight.
You laugh, suggesting a raw egg or two
The artist suggests having coffee and aspirin for breakfast, while their lover has a lighthearted response suggesting raw eggs instead.
Like a couple of vampires, deliciously mad
The artist and their lover partake in some wild, possibly dangerous behavior and enjoy it to the fullest extent.
So we drank it all night
The artist and their lover drank blood all night, continuing their wild antics.
And if we untangle the webs that we weave
If the singer and their lover can sort out any messes they make, there might be more joy and laughter in their future.
Then maybe there's room for more laughter
If they can sort out any potential issues, there might be an opportunity for more joy and laughter together.
'Cos just for a moment I almost believe
In love at first light
The singer still thinks that they might be falling in love at first sight, but it's possible that it's just fleeting infatuation.
You put a robe 'round my shoulders
The singer's lover is thoughtful and caring when they notice how cold the singer feels.
Let's opens the curtains and let out the dark
The two of them open the curtains and bring in the daylight, symbolically shedding light on their relationship and any uncertainties they have.
And if the sun doesn't melt us and there's still a spark
And we do something human like walk in the park
The spark could ignite
If they can continue to enjoy each other's company and engage in everyday activities like taking a walk in the park, they might be able to keep the spark alive and deepen their connection.
But I know there's a God and a devil
The artist is aware that there are good and evil powers at play in the world.
So maybe I'm crazy enough to believe
In love at first light
Despite the uncertainties, the singer is still hopeful and possibly a bit foolish for thinking that their connection with their lover could be true love from the start.
Contributed by Micah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.