They emerged in the early 80s with an EP called 'Folk of the 80s', a work released in 1980 that showed the Doroschuk family's interest in the electronic sounds of the progressive rock scene. After picking up some local success, the group erupted onto the international scene a couple of years later with their hit single "The Safety Dance". Parent album 'Rhythm of Youth' did very well, reaching all the way to the #13 slot on the Billboard 200 chart. Touring showed that they had captured their own distinctive audience.
Still, the band faced a tough time living up the expectations put upon them by the success of "The Safety Dance", which had a popular music video and hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up tune "I Like", similar in synthpop spirit, received far less airplay. Their 1984 album 'Folk of the '80s (Part III)' showed the group in flux, the ever shifting 80s music scene seemingly leaving them behind.
Though saddled with the 'one hit wonder' label, Men Without Hats burst back into American and Canadian popular consciousness with their 1987 release 'Pop Goes The World'. The title track reached the #20 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and, showing a return to form, the group also devised a compelling music video that had considerable interest. The songs themselves showed a mix of lyrical bite and meta-commentary on the nature of fame as well as understated, even children's music inspired instrumentation and vocals.
"Pop Goes The World" ended up being also featured in the 1987 comedy film 'Date with an Angel', and it became the fifteenth biggest selling single in South Africa for 1988, showing the international appeal of the band. Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk alongside Lenny Pinkas made-up the group at that point. The touring band incorporated Bruce Murphy on keyboards and guitar, Marika Tjelios on bass, Richard Sampson on drums, and Heidi Garcia on vocals and keyboards.
Their next album, 'The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century', was released in 1989. Though getting a bit of interest from having featured a cover of ABBA's song "S.O.S.", the commercial failure of the album showed that their audience had significantly dwindled. The musicians on the album were essentially the touring band from 'Pop Goes the World'.
The band lasted as an electronic group as such into the early 90s, but they decided to drastically change their sound for 1991's 'Sideways'. The aptly-tilted album saw them aping contemporary alternative rock. Alienating many fans, the album didn't even relieve an American release. Soon after this deep career setback, the band officially disbanded.
As time went on, the group's iconic international hits "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes The World" continued to receive major airplay, leading some to label the group as a 'two hit wonder'. Ivan Doroschuk and keyboardist Bruce Murphy would record several demos in 1993, for a concept album tentatively titled 'UFO's are Real'. Yet it never was released.
After a few more years, Ivan Doroschuk returned to being a solo artist with the album 'The Spell' in 2000. He decided to perform simply as Ivan. In 2003, Men Without Hats partly reformed, and Ivan self-released the album 'No Hats Beyond This Point'.
On September 24, 2010, Ivan Doroschuk reformed Men Without Hats as a full group, with three hired backup musicians, and his band appeared at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Performing ten songs from the Men Without Hats back catalog, the Ivan-fronted band (described by the Austin American-Statesman as "simply singer Ivan Doroschuk and some hired guns" and by Stefan as a "tribute band") began the "Dance If You Want Tour 2011" with a well attended and positively received performance at Austin's South by Southwest event in March 2011. At the North by Northeast festival in Toronto on June 18, Ivan announced that Men Without Hats would be releasing a new studio album and that it tentatively would be entitled 'Folk of the 80s: Part IV'.
On June 19, 2011, the group played at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Stefan Doroschuk, though rumored to be returning to his brother's group, announced his intention to continue working separately. On March 6, 2012, Ivan Doroschuk's band announced via Facebook that their upcoming album would be called 'Love in the Age of War'.
On 22 April 2012, Men Without Hats released the new single "Head Above Water" from the aformentioned album. Their line-up at that time was Ivan Doroschuk, Lou Dawson, James Love and Rachel Ashmore. 'Love in the Age of War' finally came out on May 22, 2012 in Canada and on June 5, 2012 in the U.S. Their seventh album, it was also the group's first full studio release after a nine-year hiatus.
The band's 2013 tour found them traveling to San Diego, California as well as Mexico City. Going into 2014, the group is still going strong. See: http://safetydance.com/
Body
Men Without Hats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bum, bum, bum
Bum, bum, bum
Bum
Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
Look out your window
It's a sunny day
And you're on my mind
It's sunny anyway
And when the sun goes down
Don't be afraid
It's just the game she plays
When the moon's around
Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
And it illuminates your body
Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Your body
I love your body
Bum, bum, bum, bum
Look out your window
See a funny face
And then you realize
That you see those eyes
Nearly every day
So you go outside
And you look around
And you touch the ground
In a sunny way
And it illuminates your body
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Bum, bum, bum
It illuminates your body
Bum, bum, bum
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Your body
I love your body
Body
Your body
I love your body
Oh, hey
And it illuminates your body
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Yeah, it illuminates your body
Yeah, it illuminates your body
The Men Without Hats song "Body" is a simple pop song that is about how love illuminates one's body, even when the sun doesn't shine. The chorus, which repeats multiple times throughout the song, emphasizes the illuminating effect that love has on one's body, with the lyrics "And it illuminates your body, yeah it illuminates your body, your body, I love your body."
The opening verses set up the scene of a sunny day and how the singer thinks of their lover even when the sun isn't shining. As the song progresses, the imagery shifts to a funny face seen outside the window and the realization that those eyes are seen every day. The singer then goes outside and touches the ground "in a sunny way," emphasizing the warm and bright feeling that their love brings them.
Overall, "Body" is a straightforward love song that uses visual and sensory language to convey the physical and emotional effects of love on the body. It is a catchy and upbeat tune that celebrates the simple pleasures of being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Bum, bum, bum
Repetition of a sound, perhaps to create a rhythm or a catchy tune.
Look out your window
A call to attention and to observe one's surroundings.
It's a sunny day
A description of the weather, indicating that it is pleasant and bright outside.
And when the sun don't shine
Acknowledging the possibility of less-than-perfect weather.
And you're on my mind
The weather isn't the artist's primary focus; this is a love song, so the object of affection is on their mind.
It's sunny anyway
Despite any potential sources of negativity, a positive attitude can still prevail.
And when the sun goes down
A shift in time, from day to night.
Don't be afraid
An attempt to reassure the listener, possibly towards the idea of wandering outside at night.
It's just the game she plays
Personifying the moon as a player in a game.
When the moon's around
The indication that the song is still being sung at night.
And it illuminates your body
Possibly a metaphor for the moon highlighting part of the singer's significant other.
Yeah, it illuminates your body
A repetition of the idea, reinforcing it.
Your body
A focus on the physicality or shape of the significant other.
I love your body
The singer's expression of affection for their significant other's physical form.
Look out your window
A repetition of an earlier line.
See a funny face
Possible acknowledgement of seeing something, perhaps a passerby, who makes them smile or laugh.
And then you realize
The artist is now assuming or imagining the thoughts and feelings of the listener.
That you see those eyes
A description of the people the listener sees the most often.
Nearly every day
Indicating that the singer and the listeners are together quite often.
So you go outside
Encouraging the listener to act on their feelings or desires.
And you look around
Further urging the listener to observe their environment.
And you touch the ground
A physical action that connects the listener to their surroundings, possibly indicating a grounding or calming effect.
In a sunny way
The indication that even this small action can be viewed positively.
Bum, bum, bum
Repetition of a sound, used throughout the song.
Oh, hey
A casual, conversational tone as the song reaches its end.
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.