Career - Formation and split up:
Living in a Box was formed in 1985 in Manchester. The group named themselves after the first song they had recorded together in the studio. It was, in fact, this song that had brought them together first. Vere and Critchlow were recording the demo version of the tune in a studio also being visited by Richard Darbyshire, an independent recording artist at the time. Richard was invited to join his two future band-mates in the studio to record vocals for the track, and the three officially became a band.
Released two years later, "Living in a Box" was their most commercially successful single, peaking at #5 on the UK Singles Chart and became the bands only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The single was featured on the group's self-titled debut album, which also included follow-up singles "Love is the Art," "So the Story Goes," and "Scales of Justice." While "So the Story Goes" was the only one of these additional singles to crack the US Billboard Hot 100, all three songs charted in their home country, where the band continued to enjoy more success. Their follow-up album, Gatecrashing in 1989 proved to be even more successful in the UK, generating two Top Ten hits, "Blow the House Down" (which featured Queen's Brian May on guitar) and "Room in Your Heart". The album itself peaked at #21. Artistic differences, as well as changes to their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before a third album could be released.
After Living in a Box:
Frontman Richard Darbyshire has continued his long-standing music career, writing songs for artists such as Lisa Stansfield and briefly enjoying modest success as a solo artist. His solo album, How Many Angels (1994) has been re-released several times (beginning in 1999, when it was re-issued under the title of Love Will Provide) with various new and unreleased tracks.
Anthony "Tich" Critchlow and Marcus Charles Vere temporarily retired from the music industry after the band split. Tich runs his own company providing bespoke illumination and lighting installations.
After a brief break, Vere changed direction and produced an award-winning series of educational DVDs called Here Comes A...! For pre-school aged children; topics include live-action films about tractors, diggers, trains and fire engines. The business moved online in early 2017 as Kids Trucks TV and has become a phenomenal success on YouTube. In May 2016, Vere was credited with writing the songs "Viva Love," "Flames of Desire," "Kiss Me Goodbye" and "Ten Below Zero" on the Top 5 ABC album Lexicon of Love II.
Living in a Box reform:
In 2016, Living in a Box reformed with British soul singer Kenny Thomas replacing Darbyshire. Since then the band has appeared at live festival events in the UK such as Let's Rock, Rewind and Flashback throughout the summer of 2016 and through 2017.
Legacy:
The song "Living in a Box" was later covered by Bobby Womack, who had also worked with Living in a Box on the single, "So the Story Goes."
Love Is the Art
Living in a Box Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking love may come or go
Taking time to realize
Energy will break the ice
Believe the word right from the start
Lay down your heart, love is the art
Energy will break the ice
Believe the word right from the start
Lay down your heart, love is, love is the art
Make it
Love is the art
Take it
Love is the art
Make it
Love is the art
Take it
Moving up, keeping cool
Fading out the golden rule
Don't give out, don't give in
A charming heart is not a sin
Believe the word right from the start
Lay down your heart, love is, love is the art
Make it
Love is the art
Take it
Love is the art
Make it
Love is the art
Take it
(If you want my heart, you can take it)
Love is the art
Make it
(If you want my love, you can make it)
Love is the art
Take it
(If you want my heart, you can take it)
Love is the art
Make it
(If you want my love, you can make it)
Love is the art
Take it
(Love can tell your heart)
Ooh-ooh...
(Your love is the art)
Love is the art
Take it
Love is the art
Make it
Love is the art
Take it
Love is the art
Believe the word right from the start
Lay down your heart, love is the art
Believe the word right from the start
Lay down your heart, love is the art
"Love Is the Art" by Living in a Box is a song about the power of love and the need to be patient in order to experience it. The opening lines set the tone by describing the initial feelings of uncertainty and doubt that can come with falling in love. However, the lyrics suggest that by taking time and allowing one's energy to break through the ice, one can rediscover the beauty and power of love. The chorus reinforces this idea with the repeated lyrics of "Make it, love is the art, take it, love is the art." This repetition implies that love is something that one must actively create and pursue in order to experience its benefits.
The second set of verses continue this theme of perseverance and patience, with the lyrics "Moving up, keeping cool, fading out the golden rule." This line implies that there may be societal expectations or norms that interfere with the pursuit of love, but one must remain steadfast and true to oneself in order to pursue it. The final lines of the song reinforce this message with the repeated call to "believe the word right from the start, lay down your heart, love is the art."
Overall, "Love Is the Art" is a song that encourages listeners to persevere, be patient, and actively pursue love in order to experience its joys and benefits. The message, while simple, is one that many listeners can relate to and find comfort in.
Line by Line Meaning
Starting up, feeling low
Beginning a new relationship, unsure and down about it
Thinking love may come or go
Considering the possibility that love may not last forever
Taking time to realize
Needing to have patience to understand love
Energy will break the ice
Putting in effort and enthusiasm will help overcome initial awkwardness
Believe the word right from the start
Have faith in love and trust it from the beginning
Lay down your heart, love is the art
Be vulnerable and open yourself up to express love
Moving up, keeping cool
Moving forward in the relationship while staying relaxed and composed
Fading out the golden rule
Rejecting conventional wisdom that may hinder the expression of love
Don't give out, don't give in
Don't lose hope or compromise in love
A charming heart is not a sin
It's okay to be charismatic and loving to win someone's heart
Make it Love is the art Take it
Embrace love and make it a part of your life
(If you want my heart, you can take it)
Love is the art
Expressing willingness to offer one's heart in love
(If you want my love, you can make it)
Love is the art
Expressing willingness to participate in creating a loving relationship
(Love can tell your heart)
Ooh-ooh...
(Your love is the art)
Love is an instinctive feeling that comes from the heart
Believe the word right from the start
Lay down your heart, love is the art
Reinforcing the importance of having faith in love and being open to it
Contributed by Landon W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.