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/
On Tuesday
Men Without Hats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Tuesday, you came and made me warm,
On Tuesday.
On Tuesday, you made me fly, much higher than before
On Tuesday, you made me cry, and made me smile for more
Cause, love is something I adore
On Tuesday.
On Tuesday, you saved my life, I was nothing but a wall
Cause, love is something I adore
On Tuesday.
It was only make believe, then along came Tuesday
Changed everything, on Tuesday
On Tuesday, you wave goodbye, you step into the storm
On Tuesday, you save my life, a smile will keep me warm
On Tuesday, you made me cry, like a child being born
On Tuesday, you made me high, I'll be flying ever more
Cause, love is something I adore
On Tuesday
It was only make believe.
Then along came Tuesday
Changed everything
On Tuesday.....
The lyrics to Men Without Hats' song On Tuesday express the power of love to transform and uplift a person's life. The song starts with the arrival of someone, presumably a lover, who comes in from the storm and brings warmth to the singer's life. The repeated phrase "On Tuesday" emphasizes the specific day that marks the turning point in the singer's life, when love takes hold. The song's imagery is poetic, with lines like "you made me fly, much higher than before" and "I was flying on the floor," which capture the dizzying, euphoric feeling of falling in love.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest that this newfound love has not only brought joy, but also emotional turmoil. The singer is moved to tears and made to feel like a child being born, suggesting a powerful rebirth or transformation that comes with the experience of love. There is also a sense of danger and risk, as the lover leaves in the storm and the singer is left to fend for themselves. But the power of the love that was kindled on Tuesday is enough to sustain the singer, who knows that the memory of that day will keep them warm.
Overall, Men Without Hats' On Tuesday is a song that celebrates the transformative power of love. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, capturing both the joy and pain of falling in love, and the way that love can change a person's life for the better.
Line by Line Meaning
On Tuesday, you came in from the storm.
The singer's lover arrived to their home on a rainy day, possibly seeking refuge from the harsh weather.
On Tuesday, you came and made me warm, On Tuesday.
The lover's presence brought warmth and comfort to the singer. Additionally, this happened specifically on a Tuesday.
On Tuesday, you made me fly, much higher than before
The lover made the singer feel uplifted and euphoric.
On Tuesday, you made me cry, and made me smile for more, Cause, love is something I adore, On Tuesday.
The lover's actions made the artist emotional, but they still cherished the experience because of their love for the person. This happened on a Tuesday.
On Tuesday, you saved my life, I was nothing but a wall
The lover metaphorically rescued the artist from feeling stuck or stagnant.
On Tuesday you made me high, I was flying on the floor, Cause, love is something I adore, On Tuesday.
The lover made the singer feel exuberant and full of joy, even to the point of being physically unable to stand up. Despite any potential discomfort, the singer still loved the person and appreciated the experience, which happened on a Tuesday.
It was only make believe, then along came Tuesday Changed everything, on Tuesday
The singer's life was once imaginary or unfulfilled until this Tuesday, when the arrival of the lover changed everything.
On Tuesday, you wave goodbye, you step into the storm
The lover had to leave and go back out into the bad weather.
On Tuesday, you save my life, a smile will keep me warm
Even though the person left, their previous actions and love towards the artist left a lasting impact that could be a source of comfort.
On Tuesday, you made me cry, like a child being born
The lover's emotional impact was strong enough to compare to the intense emotional response seen in the birth of a child.
On Tuesday, you made me high, I'll be flying ever more, Cause, love is something I adore, On Tuesday
The lover's previous actions made the singer feel so good that it would last even after the lover left. The singer still greatly valued and appreciated their love, and it all occurred on a Tuesday.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IVAN DOROSCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind