His first serious band was The Wilde Flowers (1964-1967) with Hugh Hopper, Robert Wyatt and Richard Sinclair. This early hippie group transformed into Soft Machine. While the Softs went on, others split to form Caravan and Gong. Ayers put together his own band Kevin Ayers & The Whole World featuring Lol Coxhill, David Bedford and a very young Mike Oldfield.
Ayers' career was littered with great music and fine collaborations with more fine artists like Danny Thompson, John Cale, Nico, Brian Eno, Ollie Halsall and Wizards of Twiddly. With 18 albums to his credit Kevin Ayers was the Guru Banana
In 2007, Ayers recorded in a Glasgow studio with long-time admirers Teenage Fanclub, contributions came from Euros Childs from Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, Francis Reader from the Trash Can Sinatras, Robert Wyatt provided his eerie Wyattron in the poignant Cold Shoulder. Phil Manzanera contributed to the brooding Brainstorm, Hugh Hopper from Soft Machine played bass on the title track Unfairground and Bridget St. John, a British Folk singer beloved of the late John Peel, duetted with Ayers on Baby Come Home, the first time they had sung together since 1970 on Shooting at the Moon. The resulting album Unfairground was released in September 2007.
Ayers died, apparently in his sleep, at his home in the South of France on the 18th of February 2013. He was 68.
Interview
Kevin Ayers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay, tantas cosas que quiero
Decirte yo quiero
Hacer por ti
But first we must dance
Private cotillion style
One lady's fantasy
Exclusive shopping spree
Mansions await, your scent
That smells just like treasure
Dining with me in suites
That overlooks the shore
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Dancin' with a rich man
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Shall we dance, shall we dance, shall we dance?
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
Dancin' with a rich man
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
Kissing the feet of you
While listening to bonsais
And your angelic grace
Wearing Victoria
Passionate love with you
Hearing you, "Oh, oui oui"
Some antique jewelry from
Kenshire’s gallery
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Dancin' with a rich man
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Shall we dance, shall we dance, shall we dance?
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
Dancin' with a rich man
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
And when you'll elevate
Like visions of grandeur
Mademoiselle and me
Behind the villa doors
Sunsets on yellow sand
That’s where we rendezvous
Chapels of Valentine
Is just to name a few
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Dancin' with a rich man
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
Dancin' with a rich man
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Dancin' with a rich man
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
Shall we dance, shall we dance, shall we dance?
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
Dancin' with a rich man
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
The lyrics to "Interview" by Kevin Ayers describe a wealthy man trying to win over a woman by offering her luxuries such as a trip to Milan and dining in suites overlooking the shore. The woman is described as having angelic grace and wearing Victoria, which could refer to Victoria's Secret lingerie. The man imagines himself dancing a private cotillion with the woman, kissing her feet while listening to bonsais and antique jewelry from Kenshire's Gallery. The two plan to rendezvous at sunsets on yellow sand near chapels of Valentine.
The song seems to be a tongue-in-cheek critique of materialism and how some people believe they can win love by offering material goods. The title "Interview" suggests that the man sees his relationship with the woman as a transactional one and is trying to win her over like he would in a job interview. However, the woman's thoughts and feelings are not included in the lyrics, which could imply that the man is not really interested in her as a person.
Overall, "Interview" is a bittersweet commentary on how money and material goods can sometimes be prioritized over genuine connections and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay, tantas cosas que quiero
Oh, so many things I want to do and say to you
Decirte yo quiero
I want to tell you
Hacer por ti
To do for you
But first we must dance
But first, let's dance
Private cotillion style
Dance in a private, elegant style of dance
One lady's fantasy
Experience the fantasy of a lady
Trip to Milan tonight
Travel to Milan tonight
Exclusive shopping spree
Have a luxurious shopping trip
Mansions await, your scent
Stay in mansions that are fragrant like treasure
That smells just like treasure
That smells desirable like treasure
Dining with me in suites
Dine with me in luxurious hotel suites
That overlooks the shore
Overlooking the beautiful scenery of the shore
As we move, then we touch, then we dip
As we dance together, we touch and dip
Dancin' with a rich man
Dancing with a wealthy man
Shall we dance, shall we dance, shall we dance?
Let's dance together, shall we?
As we turn, then we stare, then we kiss
As we turn in dance, we stare into each other's eyes and then share a romantic kiss
Kissing the feet of you
Showing adoration and reverence to you
While listening to bonsais
Enjoying the sound of bonsai trees
And your angelic grace
And the beauty of your gentle and pure character
Wearing Victoria
Wearing luxurious lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret
Passionate love with you
Experiencing intense and romantic love with you
Hearing you, "Oh, oui oui"
Hearing you say, "Oh, yes yes" in a French accent
Some antique jewelry from Kenshire’s gallery
Getting some antique jewelry from Kenshire's art gallery
And when you'll elevate
And when you rise to greater heights
Like visions of grandeur
Like majestic visions
Mademoiselle and me behind the villa doors
Spending intimate time with you behind the doors of our luxurious villa
Sunsets on yellow sand
Witnessing beautiful sunsets on yellow sand beaches
That’s where we rendezvous
That's where we meet up
Chapels of Valentine
Visiting chapels dedicated to Saint Valentine
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT S. KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cargumdeu
That voice was golden. He was also a true outsider, by upbringing, by nature, as impossible for the music industry to order as the wind. I'm glad he's specialist taste, at least 90% of people are musically challenged.
@rockets4kids
I only saw him once at a small club in Baltimore in the 1990s. Probably not more than 50 people in the venue. Definitely one of those magical moments.
@soulnik
1:19 Kevin says his voice is not commercial and thank goodness for that.
I could hear him talk all day.
@PurityVendetta
As Kevin explains, music should be a pleasure and enjoyable. The music industry sucks all of the pleasure out of the creative sensitive people who are it's heart. Although I was never in a famous band it was great fun. I ended up working on the technical side of the music industry and it was horrible. People running the machine are in it for the quick money and care nothing for the artist and their work. I enjoyed working as a sound designer and engineer in regional repertory theatre than I ever did one music.
@daisywrabbit
poor tortured soul.
so much beauty cane from so nuch pain.
⚡️💙⚡️
@raulmacias1311
I wish Kevin had never left The Soft Machine. I believe they had a few more albums in them. Kevin was a Pop/Rock/Psychedelic Star!
Quote by Rock Journalist Nick Kent ~ "Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett were the two most important people in British Pop music. Everything that came after came from them."
R.I.P. KEVIN AYERS.
@MrDanielphenix
It would have been impossible to carry on on Soft machine....ratledge was too strong and the music of the sixties were dead by 69...so instead we had Joy of a toy wich is better than SM 2 and 3
@sonoflung
We got so much great music as it is from both Soft Machine and Kevin Ayers after they went their separate ways. Who knows what they would have recorded had they stayed together. Changing that musical history would be like hitting on 18 in blackjack.
@raulmacias1311
@@sonoflung
I have read that Kevin was extremely exhausted after touring with "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" on that extensive '68 tour of America.
@johnmenanno2152
Same I feel he was at his best when in soft machine