The band was founded in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire in 1979 as a four piece avant-garde instrumental group called Art Nouveau, with Nick Beggs on bass guitar, Steve Askew on lead guitar, Stuart Neale on keyboards and Jez Strode on drums. Art Nouveau released a track called "The Fear Machine". The single sold a few hundred copies, and was played on the John Peel show, but the band could not get a record deal.
In 1981, they advertised for and auditioned lead singers, and finally chose Christopher Hamill. He made his profile, and therefore that of the band, catchier by using an anagram of his surname for his stage name, becoming Limahl. The name of the band was then changed to Kajagoogoo. Writing out the phonetics of a baby's first sounds gave them "GagaGooGoo". With a little bit of "casual" alteration it became Kajagoogoo.
The band attracted the interest of three record labels (and Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes) while performing at the Embassy Club in London. The band was signed to EMI in July of 1982, and Rhodes was signed to produce their first album, White Feathers. The debut single "Too Shy" was released in January of 1983 and went to the top of the charts (before any of Duran Duran's singles had done so, Rhodes noted ruefully). Follow-up releases "Ooh to Be Ah" and "Hang on Now" both reached the UK top twenty as well.
The band fired Limahl in 1983 after a huge disagreement, with Beggs taking over as singer, but the hits dried up completely. They tried a relaunch as Kaja in 1985 which failed, and they broke up for good in 1986.
Limahl enjoyed a briefly successful solo career, scoring a hit with the movie theme song "Neverending Story" in 1984.
The band briefly joined forces again on VH1's Bands Reunited (26 January 2004, Season 1, Episode 6) and performed at the Scala club in London, England for the show.
In 2007, Nick Beggs, Steve Askew and Stuart Neale continued to play together as Kajagoogoo.
June 24th, 2007 saw the release of "Rocket Boy" the first Kajagoogoo single in 22 years. The single received airplay on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show in the UK.
In September 2007 Kajagoogoo performed the opening set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Kajagoogoo is back!
They have since formally reunited. In February 2008, Kajagoogoo, under new manager Bradley Snelling, announced their reunion. on April 7, 2008 a new contract was signed with all of the original band members, Nick Beggs on bass guitar, Steve Askew on lead guitar, Stuart Neale on keyboards, Jez Strode on drums and Limahl on vocals bringing the band back together officially for the first time in 25 years.
Kajagoogoo are back! and a new website Kajagoogoo has been launched! An entire Free Album "Gone to the Moon" and tracks can be downloaded at their offical website, www.kajagoogoo.com
The website was created to mark the reformation of all original 5 band members, Nick, Limahl, Jez, Steve and Stuart.
Here you will find all the latest information on the band, live dates, band member info as well as some official Kajagoogoo goodies, mp3's, photos, downloads and more!
Charm of a Gun
Kajagoogoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Knock knock open up, ain't seen her before
What's your name she said to me, you look the playful kind
I an the angel you require come to waste your time
So I took some time to cool out, chase away the fear
A man comes up to offer me some heavy smoking gear
I said no thanks a lot, I don't shoot that stuff
Stop and look around, or maybe you won't get much older
People with ambition, there is danger round the corner
Some people live on the streets by night
And calm with a charm of a gun
Some people live on the streets alright
And calm with a charm of a gun
In this world we're living in, a very narrow line
Separates sanity we cross it all the time
If by chance the lunatic, should get the final vote
This can be your serenade, I will row the boat
If you're passing through you better keep your engine running
Keep from asking questions if you want to keep on living
Some people live on the streets by night
And calm with a charm of a gun
Some people live on the streets alright
And calm with a charm of a gun
The lyrics of Kajagoogoo's Charm of a Gun can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of living a life on the fringe, where danger lurks around every corner. The song begins with a lady knocking on the singer's door, inviting him to let her into his life. She introduces herself as an angel, but the singer seems wary of her playful demeanor.
As the song progresses, we hear the singer reflect on his life, where he meets a man who offers him some drugs. The singer refuses, but the man gets angry and pulls a gun on him. The lyrics here serve as a stark reminder that those who seek solace in the streets may be putting themselves at risk of violence and danger.
The chorus of the song, 'Some people live on the streets by night and calm with a charm of a gun', is a reflection of how some individuals living on the streets have adapted to their environment, finding a sense of calm and control through the use of weapons. The singer warns listeners to be cautious when passing through, to keep their engine running and refrain from asking questions if they want to keep living.
Overall, Charm of a Gun is a cautionary tale about the dangers of living a life on the streets, where violence and danger abound. It serves as a warning to those who may think that living on the fringes is a simple escape from society's pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night a lady came knocking at my door
A woman approached me at my residence
Knock knock open up, ain't seen her before
She knocked at my door, but I did not recognize her
What's your name she said to me, you look the playful kind
She asked for my name and commented on my demeanor
I am the angel you require come to waste your time
She claimed to be the person I needed, but was only here to waste my time
So I took some time to cool out, chase away the fear
I took a break to calm down and eliminate my fear
A man comes up to offer me some heavy smoking gear
A man approached me and offered drugs
I said no thanks a lot, I don't shoot that stuff
I politely declined his offer of drugs
He looked mad, a gun came out, no ain't good enough
He became angry and revealed a gun when I rejected his offer
Stop and look around, or maybe you won't get much older
It is important to be aware of your surroundings to ensure survival
People with ambition, there is danger round the corner
Those with aspirations should be cautious as there may be threats lurking nearby
Some people live on the streets by night
Some individuals are homeless and live on the streets at night
And calm with a charm of a gun
These individuals are composed and dangerous, possessing a weapon
Some people live on the streets alright
Some homeless individuals are able to survive on the streets
And calm with a charm of a gun
These individuals remain composed and potentially violent with a weapon
In this world we're living in, a very narrow line
There is a small distinction between sanity and madness in our world
Separates sanity we cross it all the time
We often step over the line between sanity and instability
If by chance the lunatic, should get the final vote
If a mad person were to obtain authority or power
This can be your serenade, I will row the boat
This could lead to our destruction, and I will do my best to avoid it
If you're passing through you better keep your engine running
If you are in the vicinity, it is imperative to remain prepared to leave quickly
Keep from asking questions if you want to keep on living
It is safer not to inquire or get involved if you want to stay alive
Contributed by Liliana J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bandit
on Frayo
Limahl was fired before the album "Islands"