After an education in the arts, music and drama, by the age of 15, Tzuke spent most of her time writing poems which she turned into songs and playing folk clubs, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. She went to Island Records to try and get a record deal and after she'd played two songs was asked if she had any more. She replied that she had twenty, which she didn't, and they asked her to come back and record them the following week. She didn't return, but their interest made her realise that she could have a career in music.
In 1977 Tzuke went to see managing director David Croker at Elton John's label 'Rocket Records' as their motto was "a label for artists". She played them a few songs, one of which was "Stay with Me Till Dawn" and was immediately signed to the new label. Judie and collaborator Mike Paxman spent the next six months or so recording her first album Welcome to the Cruise at Air Studios in London, with producer John Punter.
The first single was released in the summer of 1978, entitled "For You" and was greeted with great critical acclaim and substantial air-play but only reached the top 40.
This was to all change with the release of the Welcome to the Cruise album and the single "Stay with Me Till Dawn". The song stayed in the UK charts for 16 weeks, and she made three live appearances on Top of the Pops. The song became a firm favourite and is still played regularly on radio in the U.K. It has appeared on dozens of compilation albums and regularly appears in lists of all time most popular songs.
With the success of her debut album, Judie and Mike put together the first Judie Tzuke band. Paul Muggleton on guitar and backing vocals and Bob Noble on keyboards, along with bass player John Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich.
Tzuke and her band then toured for the next 18 months and made her second album Sportscar at Virgin's Manor studios, in Oxfordshire.
In 1980, Tzuke and her band toured America for three months as support to Elton John. The tour was well received, but during the tour Elton John decided to change the US distribution for his Rocket label from MCA to the new Geffin label. MCA consequently decided to stop all tour support and promotion for the acts on the Rocket label, which meant that Judie was playing to huge audiences, including 450,000 people in New York's Central Park, but no-one knew who she was and her records were not available in the shops.
She recorded her third album I Am the Phoenix, followed by another lengthy UK tour which culminated in appearances headlining the Glastonbury CND Festival and some summer festivals in Europe. She then made the decision to leave Rocket and to sign with Chrysalis Records.
Judie was by this time selling out halls all over the UK and in parts of Europe. Her next album Shoot the Moon was recorded mainly at Rockfield studios in Wales and was released in 1982.
During the spring tour two sell out shows at the Hammersmith Odeon (now The Carling Apollo) were recorded and later that year the acclaimed live album Roadnoise was released.
Judie, Mike and Paul wrote new songs and went to Mayfair studios in London to record her fifth album, augmenting her stage band with a number of other musicians.
Throughout the late 80s and 90s, Judie has continued to record and tour, and has set up her own record label. In addition, she is now successfully writing songs for other artists.
www.tzuke.com
Jerry McGuire
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't know you needed company
I didn't know you wanted something from me
I would have given you all that I had
To be closer
I was on fire
Standing right there in your shadow
I could be rescued if you'd come inside
Of my life
And I thought it was all in my head
I could be everything
You wanted me to be
I could be the right one for you
And like they say in the film "Jerry Maguire"
You complete me
I complete you
You complete me
I was in bed
Dreaming of you on my pillow
Instead I saw a face in the mirror
It said I would be mad if I didn't believe
We could be more than just in my head
I could be everything
You wanted me to be
I could be the right one for you
And like they say in the film "Jerry Maguire"
You complete me
I complete you
When I'm in pieces falling apart
Without you I come undone
Come undone
I could be everything
You wanted me to be
I could be the right one for you
And like they say in the film "Jerry Maguire"
The lyrics of Judie Tzuke's song "Jerry McGuire" speak about newfound feelings of love and the realization of needing someone in one's life. The singer was alone and did not realize that they needed company until they met someone who brought out strong feelings of desire in them. The singer is willing to give all that they have to be closer to this person, and they feel incomplete without them. The lyrics reference the famous line from the movie "Jerry Maguire" when the singer says "You complete me."
Line by Line Meaning
I was alone
I didn't have anyone in my life and I was oblivious to the fact that you needed somebody
I didn't know you needed company
I was ignorant about your desire for companionship
I didn't know you wanted something from me
I had no idea that there was something specific that you desired from me
I would have given you all that I had
If only I knew, I would have used all my energy to give you everything you wanted
To be closer
I wished for more intimacy with you
I was on fire
You had a way of igniting me, and I couldn't resist you
Standing right there in your shadow
I was always next to you, but never in the spotlight
My eyes blinded by all the desire I felt
My emotions overpowered me, and I was unable to perceive things clearly
I could be rescued if you'd come inside
If only you would get involved in my life, it would have felt like a lifesaver
Of my life
I wanted you to be a part of my existence
And I thought it was all in my head
I imagined that all of these feelings were just a figment of my imagination
You complete me
You bring out the best in me, and make me feel whole
I was in bed
I was lying in my bed, contemplating my thoughts
Dreaming of you on my pillow
I longed for you, and my pillow served as my imaginary partner
Instead I saw a face in the mirror
When I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw the reflection of a person who was preoccupied by thoughts of you
It said I would be mad if I didn't believe
The voice in my head warned me to believe in the possibility of an us
We could be more than just in my head
You and I could have been an actual couple, instead of just a fantasy
When I'm in pieces falling apart
When I'm struggling and broken
Without you I come undone
You're the only one who can keep me together
Come undone
I fall apart when you're not around
I could be everything
I had the potential to fulfill all of your desires
You wanted me to be
I could have been the person you needed if you had only let me
I could be the right one for you
I could have been perfect for you
And like they say in the film "Jerry Maguire"
To convey the full extent of my feelings, I'll borrow from the movie Jerry Maguire
I complete you
In every way, I complement and enhance your life, as you do mine
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.