Marc Almond has had a long and varied career spanning circa 40 years. During this time, after a career with Soft Cell and Marc and the Mambas, he has collaborated with an extremely wide range of artists including Antony and The Johnsons, Jools Holland, Siouxsie Sioux, Nick Cave, P.J. Proby, Nico, Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps, Neal X (on the albums Fantastic Star and Open All Night), Marie France, Agnes Bernelle, Lydia Lunch, Gene Pitney on the #1 UK single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart", Foetus (a.k.a. J. G. Thirlwell), Jimmy Somerville of The Communards and Bronski Beat, Psychic TV, Coil, Sally Timms of Mekons, King Roc, John Cale and David Johansen of The New York Dolls and German band Rosenstolz.
Almond initially shot to fame in the early 1980s as one half of synth duo Soft Cell, whose combination of drama and peep show sleaze set to an electronic beat gave them hits such as "Tainted Love" (UK #1), "Bedsitter" (UK #3), "Torch" (UK #2), "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" (UK #3), "Soul Inside" (UK # 16), "What?" (UK #3) and the club hit "Memorabilia". They were first spotted by David Oddie, boss of Wakefield based Ambergris Records in a Bradford club, who passed his enthusiasm onto Dead Good Records in Lincoln, famous for their Hicks From The Sticks compilation, who in turn approached Polygram, the newly formed amalgam of Polydor and Phonogram. Although Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 just before the release of fourth album, This Last Night In Sodom, the duo reunited in 2001 for live shows and in 2002 released a new album entitled Cruelty Without Beauty, from which the single "The Night" (UK #39) was taken.
His biggest UK hits as a solo artist have been cover versions; the aforementioned 1989 number one duet with Gene Pitney and another near chart-topper in 1991 with David McWilliams' "The Days of Pearly Spencer", which peaked at #4. In 1985, he duetted with Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat on a cover of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love (Medley)" and it hit #3. The highest UK positions his self-penned singles have reached so far have been "Stories of Johnny" (#23 in 1985), "Tears Run Rings" (#28 in 1988) and "Adored and Explored" (#25 in 1995).
Almond's work runs the gamut from electronica and dance music to French chanson, traditional piano ballads, and Russian romance songs, as exhibited on his 2003 album Heart on Snow. Influences include David Bowie, a childhood hero of his, as well as early 1960s Northern Soul and disco. Other major influences have been Scott Walker from Walker Brothers and Jacques Brel, 12 of whose songs Almond reworked in English for his 1989 album Jacques. Almond's own lyrics are a creative expression of what he sees and are not to be confused with his own life. He also operates a record label, Blue Star Music, on which he has released many of his solo and collaborative records in the UK.
Almond currently lives in the Bermondsey area of south east London. In his autobiography he describes previously living in Earl's Court, in a converted church in Fulham and most memorably in Soho's Berwick Street, where he lived in a flat overlooking the Raymond Revuebar.
Champagne
Marc Almond Lyrics
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Champagne wakes and checks the time
It's hard to keep a cup of coffee down
When there's so much on your mind
Kicks a cockroach 'cross the bedroom floor
Checks the mirror, grabs some clothes
Waits for the aching to subside
And they say you're doing fine
They're just playing with your mind
And they never even know your name
But they all want you to shine, to glitter all the time
They all want a little taste of Champagne
Takes the subway, early afternoon
Downtown to Eighth Avenue to the Show Palace Theater
Where Champagne bares all
In a low rent, nude revue
In the darkness, shadow people
Stare at Champagne glassy eyed
Takes the tips and imitates a smile
Waits for the aching to subside
And they say you're doing fine
They're just playing with your mind
And they never even know your name
But they all want you to shine, to glitter all the time
They all want a little taste of Champagne
Later in a room, on a little glass pipe
Sweet dreams to help him forget his life
He leans on the wall, rolls back his eyes
And says to all the aching, "Goodbye"
The lyrics of Marc Almond's song Champagne tell the story of a struggling performer living in New York City. The song begins with Champagne waking up early in the morning and checking the time. Despite being unable to keep down a cup of coffee due to the weight on their mind, they get dressed, kicks a cockroach across the floor, and makes their way downtown. Champagne works as a stripper at the Show Palace Theater, where they are forced to showcase their body in a low-rent, nude revue. The audience, full of shadow people, stares at Champagne with glassy eyes, and the performer takes the tips, imitates a smile, and waits for their aching to subside.
The chorus of the song speaks to Champagne’s struggles to make it in the entertainment industry. They are told they are "fine" by those around them, but in reality, those people are just "playing with [their] mind." Despite the fact that nobody knows their name, everyone wants them to shine and glitter all the time, like Champagne.
The song ends with Champagne, tired from their day, using a glass pipe to forget about their life's overwhelming difficulties. They lean on the wall, roll back their eyes, and bid farewell to the aching. Overall, the song Champagne is a poignant and melancholic depiction of the harsh realities endured by many performers and people living in New York City.
Line by Line Meaning
A winter morning sun in New York
The song sets in a winter morning in New York City.
Champagne wakes and checks the time
A person, identified as Champagne wakes up and checks the time.
It's hard to keep a cup of coffee down
The person finds it difficult to drink coffee due to stress.
When there's so much on your mind
The person seems to be troubled with many thoughts.
Kicks a cockroach 'cross the bedroom floor
The person kicks a cockroach across the bedroom floor indicating his living in a low-standard apartment.
Checks the mirror, grabs some clothes
The person checks in the mirror and gets dressed up.
Waits for the aching to subside
The person seems to be in pain and waits for it to subside.
Where to find it? No one knows
The person is searching for something but nobody knows where to find it.
And they say you're doing fine
It is sarcastic when people say the person is doing fine.
They're just playing with your mind
People saying he is doing fine are messing with his head.
And they never even know your name
The person is anonymous to those who think he is doing fine.
But they all want you to shine, to glitter all the time
People want the person to sparkle all the time.
They all want a little taste of Champagne
People want something to do with Champagne.
Takes the subway, early afternoon
The person takes the subway in the early afternoon.
Downtown to Eighth Avenue to the Show Palace Theater
The person goes to Show Palace Theatre located in the downtown area on 8th Avenue.
Where Champagne bares all
Champagne takes off his clothes as part of the show.
In a low rent, nude revue
The show seems to be a low-budget strip show.
In the darkness, shadow people
The theater has dark surroundings with many shadowy people.
Stare at Champagne glassy eyed
The people in the theatre watch Champagne as if they are lost.
Takes the tips and imitates a smile
Champagne takes the tips thrown at him and smiles fake.
Waits for the aching to subside
The pain doesn't go away, and Champagne stays in wait for it to end.
Later in a room, on a little glass pipe
In a different room, a person smokes a little glass pipe.
Sweet dreams to help him forget his life
He takes it to forget about his life.
He leans on the wall, rolls back his eyes
He leans towards the wall with his eyes rolled back.
And says to all the aching, "Goodbye"
He says goodbye to the pain.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARC ALMOND, WILLIAM MARTIN VINCENT MCGEE, Billy Mcgee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind