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.
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The Rise Of Heart
Judie Tzuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To me you were a memory
I laughed at everything you said
But you'd still come running
And from the start
The rise of heart
I was just another spectator
A different time, a different place
Now you're a mystery
You've got something that I need
Don't you believe that?
Right from the start
The rise of heart
I just have to be a spectator
The rise of heart
The rise of heart
You came alone
You thought you saw a light inside of me
Too close to home
There is no place for us that I can see
You know that sometimes love must die
To keep away the heartache
And there's no way for you and I
So please stop running
'Cause if we start
The rise of heart
I won't wanna be a spectator
The rise of heart
The rise of heart
(You know what I want to be)
You came alone
(I won't only want to be one of your spectators)
You thought you saw a light inside of me
Too close to home
There is nowhere for us that I can see
You came alone
You thought you saw a light inside of me
Too close to home
There is nowhere for us that I can see
You came alone
You thought you saw a light inside of me
Too close to home
There is nowhere for us that I can see
The Judie Tzuke song, The Rise Of Heart, is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and relationships. The beginning of the song sees a reminiscing of the early days of the relationship, where the singer was initially intrigued by the person but not yet invested in them. The phrase, "I laughed at everything you said, but you'd still come running" implies the person's tenacity despite the initial indifference. However, as the relationship progresses, it becomes more complex, and the singer acknowledges that the person has something they need.
The verse, "right from the start, the rise of the heart, I just have to be a spectator" signifies the recognition of the singer's passivity in the relationship. They are drawn to the person but are stuck in the role of spectator because they are not fully invested in the relationship and reluctant to take the plunge. As the song progresses, the singer realizes that if they start down that path, the rise of the heart, they will no longer want to be a spectator. However, the reality of their situation is that there is no place for them, and the relationship is doomed to fail.
Overall, The Rise Of Heart is a song about the push and pull of relationships, the complexities of emotions, and the reluctance to take action for fear of getting hurt. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and desire while acknowledging the inevitability of heartache, creating a powerful and emotionally resonant piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when you first knew my name
I recall the moment you learned my name
To me you were a memory
You held no significance to me
I laughed at everything you said
I found humor in everything you spoke
But you'd still come running
Nevertheless, you persisted in pursuing me
And from the start
Even at the beginning of our acquaintance
The rise of heart
I felt a stirring in my heart
I was just another spectator
However, I remained a mere onlooker
A different time, a different place
It was a different point in time and location
Now you're a mystery
Currently, you are a puzzling enigma
You've got something that I need
You possess something that I require
Don't you believe that?
Do you not agree with me?
You know that sometimes love must die
You recognize that occasionally love must end
To keep away the heartache
In order to avoid the pain
And there's no way for you and I
We have no future together
So please stop running
I implore you to cease evading me
Cause if we start
Because if we begin a relationship
I won't wanna be a spectator
I do not desire to remain a bystander
You came alone
You arrived unaccompanied
You thought you saw a light inside of me
You presumed you detected a spark within me
Too close to home
Our relationship is uncomfortably close
There is no place for us that I can see
I cannot envision a future for us
You know what I want to be
You understand my desires
I won't only want to be one of your spectators
I desire to be more than just an observer
Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.