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.
Glorious
Marc Almond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That no one told
A revelation
To behold
It gave me answers
It showed me the way
It made me stronger
Every day
It allayed the fear
It could happen here
Oh it's only love
That moves us on
Feelings
Wider than the sky
Surround me on all sides
Gently floating down
In a symphony of sound
That wakes me every day
Urging me to pray
The story's told at last
A doubting past
Has gone away
I heard a story
Again retold
A revelation
Glorious
I had the answers
I found the way
I was feeling stronger
Glorious
So don't you fear
It can happen here
Oh it's only love
Moving us on
Feelings
Wider than the sky
Surround me on all sides
Gently floating down
In a symphony of sound
That wakes me every day
Urging me to pray
The stories told at last
A doubting past
Has gone away
Glorious
Glorious
Feelings
Wider than the sky
Surround me on all sides
Gently floating down
In a symphony of sound
That wakes me every day
Urging me to pray
The stories told at last
A doubting past
Has gone away
Glorious
Glorious
The lyrics to Marc Almond's song "Glorious" speak to the transformative power of love and the realization that comes with it. Almond sings about having heard a story that was never told before, something that revealed the answers he had been seeking and showed him the way. This revelation made him stronger every day and allayed the fear that had been holding him back. He encourages the listener not to fear, that it can happen to them too, that love is what moves us on.
The feeling of love is described as being "wider than the sky" and surrounds Almond on all sides. He is gently floating down in a symphony of sound that wakes him every day and urges him to pray. The story he heard is finally told and the doubts from his past have gone away, leaving him feeling glorious.
Overall, the song is a powerful testament to the transformative power of love and the bravery required to open oneself up to its possibilities. It encourages the listener to let go of their fears and embrace the glory that comes with love.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard a story
I learned of something new that many people do not know about.
That no one told
It was not openly discussed or shared.
A revelation
It was a surprising and enlightening discovery.
To behold
Something worth seeing or experiencing.
It gave me answers
It provided me with solutions to certain problems.
It showed me the way
It helped me understand the right path to take or the right actions to perform.
It made me stronger
It gave me added courage and determination.
Every day
Consistently and continually.
It allayed the fear
It reduced or eliminated anxiety or apprehension.
It could happen here
It is not impossible or unlikely to occur in my own situation or circumstances.
Oh it's only love
Love is the only force that motivates us and makes us better as individuals and as a society.
That moves us on
It is love that propels us forward and improves our lives and the world around us.
Feelings
Emotions, experiences, and sensations.
Wider than the sky
Extremely vast and all-encompassing.
Surround me on all sides
I am completely enveloped by them and cannot escape them.
Gently floating down
Moving in a delicate and peaceful manner.
In a symphony of sound
A harmonious blend of different sounds, creating a beautiful melody.
That wakes me every day
It is a daily reminder of the beauty and wonder of life.
Urging me to pray
Encouraging me to connect with something greater than myself and to seek wisdom and guidance.
The story's told at last
Finally, the truth is revealed and we can understand the full picture.
A doubting past
A history of skepticism or disbelief.
Has gone away
It is no longer present or relevant.
Glorious
Wonderful and magnificent.
Again retold
The story was told once before but is now being shared again.
I had the answers
I knew the solutions to the problems before anyone else.
I found the way
I discovered the correct path to take before anyone else.
I was feeling stronger
I was becoming more and more confident and self-assured.
So don't you fear
There is no need to be afraid or anxious.
Glorious
Wonderful and magnificent.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHANN GUNNAR JOHANNSSON, MARC ALMOND PETER, PETUR HALLGRIMSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R Smith
I think this is one of Marc's best songs ever and the video is just absolutely his best too. Such a beautiful song. When it was released it should have been a massive hit. It makes me so angry that bbc radio 1 won't play music from older artists so the youngsters of today only get to hear the drivel they're treated to these days. It's a sin as the pet shop boys would sing. I'm just so glad I grew up in the generations when music was fun and edgy and out there. Marc Almond, trailblazer. Glorious indeed.
Laurie B.
Whenever this song pops up in my playlist, it gives me chills. Still.
Joey DeMento
It is so wonderful to finally be able to instantly access this video. The album Stranger Things that this single is taken from is simply magic. Thank you, Marc!
Karen McLaren
Never fails to lift my mood, spirit, soul!
blackpool321
Fabulous as always Marc.
niall mc carthy
Beautiful , Positive & Uplifting .
Laurie B.
I love this song!
Barry West
One of his best songs and no comments!
Barry West
Pity that this was not released during early 1990's; for a certain top ten!
Music Music Music
Absolutely Fabulous..