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/
Security
Men Without Hats Lyrics
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I know the feeling
I can see it in the mirror
It knows that I'm receptive
And it knows that I am here
It's always quite confusing
When I try to leave it home
And I feel I'm not alone
It is with me in the morning
It is with me late at night
It is always confidential
And it knows I'm always right
I can hide it in believing
What I'm doing is not a game
But the feeling keeps me feeling
That it's with me just the same
Something in the world seems right
And it is what I know
This is where I want to be
So this is where I go
Everybody feels better
Look inside and see
(radio radio)
Everybody feels better
With security
I put on my coat
And omit my hat
Get a grip on my umbrella
I'm not looking back
Everybody's different
But we're all quite the same
And the feeling's comprehensive
And the feeling is the range
It is with me in the morning
It is with me late at night
It is always quite supportive
And it knows I'm always right
I can hide it in believing
What I'm doing is not a game
But the feeling keeps me feeling
That it's with me just the same
Something in the world seems right
And it is what I know
This is where I want to be
So this is where I go
Everybody feels better
Look inside and see
(radio radio)
Everybody feels better
With security
I know the feeling
I can tell you when it's there
It's crawling up my socks
And it's running through my hair
It's always quite confusing
When I try to leave it home
I'll be walking going nowhere
And I'll feel I'm not alone
It is with me in the morning
It is with me late at night
It is always confidential
And it knows I'm always right
The feeling's there to tell me
What I'm doing is not a game
But the feeling keeps me feeling
That it's with me just the same
Something in the world seems right
And it is what I know
This is where I want to be
So this is where I go
Everybody feels better
Look inside and see
(radio radio)
Everybody feels better
With security
Something in the world seems right
And it is what I know
This is where I want to be
So this is where I go
Everybody feels better
Look outside and see
(radio radio)
Everybody feels better
With security
Everybody feels better
Look outside and see
(radio radio)
Everybody feels better
With security
Lyrics transcribed by Dave Mattingly (damatt01@ulkyvx.ct.louisville.edu)
The song "Security" by Men Without Hats expresses the importance of feeling secure in one's life. The singer acknowledges that the feeling of security is always with him, both in the morning and late at night. He considers the feeling to be confidential and supportive, and it gives him confidence that he is always right. The lyrics suggest that the sense of security is inseparable from the person and can be confusing when one tries to leave it behind.
The singer emphasizes the universality of the need for security, stating that everybody is different but quite the same, and that the feeling is comprehensive and encompasses the entire range of emotions. The repetition of the phrase "everybody feels better with security" reinforces the notion that security is not only desirable but essential to a sense of well-being. The song suggests that security is not something external that one can find but rather something internal that one carries with them.
Overall, "Security" is a heartfelt anthem for the importance of feeling secure in one's life. The song recognizes that the feeling of security is complex and multifaceted, encompassing different emotions and providing confidence and support. Ultimately, however, the song suggests that security is essential to human flourishing and that everybody needs it to feel better.
Line by Line Meaning
I know the feeling
I understand the sensation
I can see it in the mirror
I notice it in myself
It knows that I'm receptive
The feeling is aware of my openness to it
And it knows that I am here
It recognizes my presence
It's always quite confusing
It's often perplexing
When I try to leave it home
When I attempt to ignore it
I'll be walking going somewhere
I'll be moving with a purpose
And I feel I'm not alone
I feel a sense of companionship
It is with me in the morning
I experience it at the start of the day
It is with me late at night
I feel it at the end of the day
It is always confidential
It is always kept private
And it knows I'm always right
It agrees with me
I can hide it in believing
I can conceal it by believing
What I'm doing is not a game
My actions are not a trivial pastime
But the feeling keeps me feeling
But the sensation is still present
That it's with me just the same
That it remains with me in the same manner
Something in the world seems right
Something in the world feels correct
And it is what I know
And it is what I am aware of
This is where I want to be
I desire to be in this location
So this is where I go
Therefore, I will proceed here
Everybody feels better
Everyone is happier
Look inside and see
Look within yourself
(radio radio)
(radio signal sound effect)
With security
With a sense of safety and stability
I put on my coat
I wear my coat
And omit my hat
And exclude my hat
Get a grip on my umbrella
I grasp my umbrella
I'm not looking back
I am not dwelling on the past
Everybody's different
Everyone is unique
But we're all quite the same
But we are all similar
And the feeling's comprehensive
And the sensation is all-inclusive
And the feeling is the range
And the sensation is the extent
I can tell you when it's there
I am able to inform you of its presence
It's crawling up my socks
It feels like it is rising up my socks
And it's running through my hair
And it feels like it is flowing through my hair
The feeling's there to tell me
The sensation is present to inform me
That what I'm doing is not a game
That my actions are not a frivolous activity
Everybody feels better
Everyone is happier
Look outside and see
Look beyond yourself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IVAN DOROSCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind