In late 1968, Chappell and Lovich went to London, England to attend art school. It was there that Lovich first tied her hair into the plaits that later became a visual trademark, though at first she did it to keep her hair out of the clay when studying sculpture. Expressing a variety of artistic interests, she sought to find the best outlets for her work.
Over the following decade, Lovich attended several art schools, busked around the London Underground and appeared in cabaret clubs as an "Oriental" dancer. She also travelled to Spain, where she visited Salvador Dalรญ in his home. She played acoustic rock music around London, sang in the mass choir of a show called Quintessence at the Royal Albert Hall, played a soldier in Arthur Brown's show, worked as a "go-go" dancer with the Radio One Roadshow, toured Italy with a West Indian soul band, and played saxophone for Bob Flag's Balloon and Banana Band and for an all-girl cabaret trio, The Sensations. She recorded screams for horror films, adapted lyrics for French disco star Cerrone (including the sci-fi dance smash "Supernature," later recorded by Lovich in her own version) and worked with various fringe theatre groups. She was also one of thousands of people in the audience at the 1972 Lanchester Arts Festival when Chuck Berry recorded the risquรฉ "My Ding-a-Ling" for Chess Records. As the audience was encouraged to sing-a-long technically this could be described as her first appearance on record. The record was a No. 1 hit in the U.K. and the U.S.A.
In 1975, Lene joined The Diversions, a funk group that put out five singles and an album on Polydor Records without success. In 1978, disc jockey and author Charlie Gillett presented her to Stiff Records boss, Dave Robinson, who quickly signed her to a contract. Her first single for Stiff was "I Think We're Alone Now", a cover of a song originally performed by Tommy James & The Shondells.
Invited to join the Be Stiff Route 78 Tour on 1978, Lovich quickly recorded her first album for Stiff, Stateless, which spawned the remixed hit singles "Lucky Number" and "Say When." Lovich's musical style combined ethnic influences with then current punk rock and new wave.
Maintaining her long term writing partnership with Les Chappell, Lovich recorded the albums Flex and No-Man's-Land for Stiff over the next few years, as well as an EP titled New Toy, the title cut penned by touring band member Thomas Dolby. She also recorded vocals for the track 'Picnic Boy' by The Residents. Following her departure from Stiff, Lovich released "Don't Kill The Animals," a single with Nina Hagen, with whom she had previously appeared in Cha Cha, a film that also starred Herman Brood; together, the three created the film's soundtrack.
In 1989, after an absence of several years, she recorded the album, March which was only moderately successful and was not released until nearly a year after the album's single "Wonderland" had been issued and become an American dance hit. Lovich continues to perform in much the same style she did back in the 1970s and 1980s, with Les Chappell still at her side. In 2005 she appeared on Hawkwind's Take Me to Your Leader CD, as well as appearing occasionally on stage with them.
Lovich's first album since March, entitled Shadows and Dust received a limited release on Mike Thorne's Stereo Society label on September 13, 2005.
Lucky Number
Lene Lovich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For me, myself and I is all I've ever known
I never felt the need to have a hand to hold
In everything I do I take complete control
That's where I'm coming from
My lucky number's one
I've everthing I need to keep me satisfied
I'm having so much fun
My lucky number's one
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
I now detect an alien vibration here
There's something in the air besides the atmosphere
The object of the action is becoming clear
An imminent attack upon my heart I fear
The evidence is strong
My lucky number's wrong
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
Something tells me my lucky number's gonna be changing soon
Something tells me lucky number's gonna be oweoweoweoweoweowe
You certainly do have a strange effect on me
I never thought that I could feel the way I feel
There's something in your eyes gives me a wild idea
I never want to be apart from you my dear
I guess it must be true
My lucky number's two
This rearrangement suits me now I must confess
The number one was dull and number two is best
I wanna stay with you
My lucky number's two
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
Number two, number two
The lyrics of Lene Lovich's song Lucky Number is about a person who has always been independent and self-sufficient. The person never needed anyone else and always had complete control over everything they did. They never felt the need to have someone hold their hand, hence never cried when they were all alone. Their lucky number was always one, and they had everything they needed to keep them satisfied. However, the person's perception changes when they meet someone special. They feel an alien vibration and sense that something is changing. There is something in the air, besides the atmosphere, and they fear an imminent attack upon their heart. The person's lucky number is no longer one; it's wrong. They develop an attachment to someone and realize that their lucky number must change. They confess that the rearrangement suits them, and number two, which represents their attachment to someone, is better than number one.
The song is a reflection of the changes that can happen in a person's perception and attitude when they meet someone special. The person in the song has always been independent and self-sufficient, but they realize that there is more to life than being alone. They learn that being with someone special is better than being alone, which is represented by their change in lucky number from one to two.
Line by Line Meaning
I never used to cry 'cause I was all alone
In the past, I did not feel the need to cry because no one was around me.
For me, myself and I is all I've ever known
I have always been independent and self-reliant, and I have no expectations from others.
I never felt the need to have a hand to hold
I never felt the desire for emotional support or comfort from others.
In everything I do I take complete control
I am the one who takes charge of everything I am doing, and I am in control.
That's where I'm coming from
I am explaining myself and my state of mind to you.
My lucky number's one
The number 'one' is my favorite, and it brings me good luck.
I've everthing I need to keep me satisfied
I already have everything I need in life to keep me happy.
There's nothing you can do to make me change my mind
You cannot change my beliefs, thoughts, or actions because I am set in my ways.
I'm having so much fun
I am enjoying life and having a great time.
Something tells me my lucky number's gonna be changing soon
I have a strong feeling that my lucky number is going to change soon.
Something tells me lucky number's gonna be oweoweoweoweoweowe
I do not know what my future lucky number will be, but I am excited to find out.
You certainly do have a strange effect on me
I am noticing that you affect me in a peculiar way.
I never thought that I could feel the way I feel
I am surprised by the way you make me feel.
There's something in your eyes gives me a wild idea
There is something you are expressing through your eyes that is sparking an exciting concept in my imagination.
I never want to be apart from you my dear
I never want to be separated from you, my loved one.
I guess it must be true
It seems that my previous lucky number one is not my favorite anymore, and my new lucky number is two.
My lucky number's two
I feel that the number two is my new lucky number.
This rearrangement suits me now I must confess
I am confessing that this new rearrangement to the number two suits me well.
The number one was dull and number two is best
I am expressing that the number one was not exciting to me anymore, and the number two is the best for me.
I wanna stay with you
I want to be with you and not be separated from you.
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
These are exciting sounds of enjoyment and surprise in realizing that number two is the best for me.
Number two, number two
I am repeating the number two to emphasize that it is my new lucky number.
Lyrics ยฉ DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: CHAPPELL LOVICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Deedee 60
A real, unusual and unique song that came out of the Punk new wave scene! Loved her style!
MadFranko008
It's actually originally a 1960's hit written by "Ritchie Cordell " and recorded by "Tommy James and the Shondells" in 1967... ๐
Pleun
I love this lady, she is awesome โค๏ธ๐
raleighburner15
When I was ten I thought this was the craziest song ever now 38 years later I think it fucking brilliant
Jimi H
If they donโt play this at my funeral โฆ Iโm not going ๐
paolo benmore
Well you can play Going underground by The Jam.
Missing Sock
The drumming on this is insane! I don't know who's beating the skins, but he/she has serious stamina, not to mention superb timing.
MadFranko008
@ Missing Sockย : Twas aย sessionย musician/ drummer called Bobby Irwin... ;-)
Radio Galway
You've just explained my love for this song.
island hosting
First time I heard it for nearly 40 years - my first though was "great beat". Great drumming!