Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats is a Canadian new wave rock and synthpop group from Montre… Read Full Bio ↴Men Without Hats is a Canadian new wave rock and synthpop group from Montreal, Quebec, Canada that formed in 1977, achieving their most popularity in the 80s. Best known for their international top 40 hits "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes The World", they're characterized by the deep, expressive vocals of their lead singer Ivan and their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. Men Without Hats were always, at the core, Ivan Doroschuk (who also has released solo work as Ivan) and his brother Stefan Doroschuk joining up with various other members, which have included a third brother, Colin Doroschuk, as well as Jeremy Arrobas, Tracy Howe, Roman Martyn, and Allan McCarthy.
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/
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/
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Men Without Hats Lyrics
04 I Got The Message [Chorus] I got the message and the message is clear I really…
05. The Safety Dance Ss-ah-ff-ee-tt-yy Safety-dance! Ah we can dance if we wa…
1999 It's a very special kind of life no one's really quite…
21St Century Safety Dance Pseudo instrumental You could dance if you want to In vari…
All We Do How high is the light above Is everybody thinking 'bout a…
Antarctica Antarctica -- Antarctica Antarctica -- Antarctica Ice age is…
Antartica Antarctica - Antarctica Antarctica - Antarctica Ice age …
Ban The Game Isn't it strange Or isn't it just like me To change again I…
Body Bum, bum, bum Bum, bum, bum Bum, bum, bum Bum Bum, bum, …
Bright Side of the Sun Somewhere in the distance When we fall in love again Planets…
Christina's World Into your world Little rain will fall And have you heard …
Close To The Sun By the light of the moon I gazed at your…
Cocoricci Cocoricci, de tango des voleurs cocoricci, the thieves' tan…
Cocoricci (Le Tango Des Voleurs) Cocoricci, de tango des voleurs cocoricci, the thieves' tang…
Dancing In the Moonlight Tell me, tell me once, I can't remember We were dancing…
Devil Come Round Well it was early in the morning, but it could…
Dreaming I always thought that everything That I believe is true Now …
Editions of You Well I'm here looking through' an old picture frame Just…
Eloise & I Oh, if I had a wish I'd fall in love With…
Everybody Knows I heard you whisper on the train You weren't as free…
Everybody's Selling Something More 4/4s in the neighborhood Banging on the same guitar Dre…
Fall Down Gently She was only a girl, it was nobody's world And she…
Folk of the 80's Folk of the 80's Well you can change your mind- it'll…
Freeways Artist: Men Without Hats Song: Freeways, this is a be-Side o…
Freeways (Euromix) Oh ah oh oh ah ahhh ah ahhh Oh ah oh oh…
Gravity Is My Enemy He walks into the room Doesn't even know his name He's looki…
Harry Crews Don't say you won't See your mother ? I hope she don't…
Head Above Water It doesn't seem right I want to say no But the only…
Here Come the 90 Talk about the world I see it everyday Talk about your hea…
Hey Men Hey! Somebody told me to live is a lie But I know…
Hey Superstar Hey superstar Hey superstar Hey superstar You left your l…
How Does It Feel How does it feel To feel no arms surround you? How does…
I It makes you wonder just who they really are They say…
I Am the Walrus I am he as you are he as you are…
I Got The Message [Chorus] I got the message and the message is clear I really…
I Know Their Name I know their name. I saw their picture in the…
I Like It makes you wonder just who they really are They say…
I Sing Last / Not for Tears We've been told lies. We've been herded around Taken for…
I'm In Love Mom is talking on the phone talking to her agent Got…
Ideas for Walls So many things in my head, I've always had them…
In California Take me to the river Where the streets are made of…
In The 21St Century When the river runs dry, what will we say Na na…
In the Meadow I asked the silver one on one Tell me who I…
In The Name of Angels Jenny had a vision Jenny had a vision of her mother…
Intro Can you hear me out there? Can you hear me? Can you…
Intro / Walk on Water Here is the water The one that rushes From our hearts into…
Jenny Wore Black Jenny wore black Jenny wore white - WHITE! And jenny was rea…
Kenbarbielove I got rings wrapped around my brain I got a t-shirt…
Live And Learn I would walk the plank Swallow fire Rule the waves I'd ta…
Living in China They got the red book, they got the new look All…
Lose My Way On this count Ok One two three four Summer leaves when autum…
Lost Forever Unheard of love was dreaming inside her hair The facts of…
Love Mom is talking on the phone talking to her agent Got…
Love's Epiphany I wrote down this poem by the light of the…
Messiahs Die Young All of those things that I wanted to say Well you…
Modern Dancing Modern, modern, modern, modern dancing Modern dancing, moder…
Moonbeam One two three four (Love-Love-Love-Love) You, you were on a …
Mother's Opinion Mother's opinion is that we're too young to be old And…
Nadine I said nadine, whatcha thinkin' of? Why don't you love me…
No Dancing No dancing No dancing No dancing! No dancing And people tr…
O Sole Mio O Sole Mio? O Sole mio O Sole mio Ha huh ha So high…
On Tuesday On Tuesday, you came in from the storm. On Tuesday, you…
Pop Goes The Pop Goes The World Men Without Hats Johnny played guitar, J…
POP! Goes the world Pop Goes The World Men Without Hats Johnny played guitar…
Rhythm of Youth Things like explosions well they scare me half to death but…
Roses When my time is done Cover me in roses When my time…
S.O.S I'd like to dedicate this song to mother earth Where are…
S.O.S. I'd like to dedicate this song to mother earth Where are…
Safety Dance We can dance if we want to We can leave your…
Safety Dance (club mix) Ssss-Aaaa-Ffff-Eeee-Tttt-Yyyy Safety Dance! We can dance if…
SAFETY-DANCE We can dance if we want to We can leave your…
Saftey Dance Ss-ah-ff-ee-tt-yy Safety-dance! Ah we can dance if we wa…
Security Security (Everybody Feels Better With) ---------------------…
Sideways Step inside the reason why we look together then we…
Telepathy Internet killed the video star Internet killed the video st…
The End Matadors, monkeys, a million balloons As we walk through the…
The Girl With The Silicon Eyes She wakes up in the morning and the newspaper feeds…
The Great Ones Remeber Imagine yourself on the verge of committing An act that you…
The Great Ones Remember Imagine yourself on the verge of committing An act that you'…
The Real World Excuse me sir, Could you tell me how to get to…
The Safety Dance We can dance if we want to We can leave your…
The Safety Dance (extended version) Ssss-Aaaa-Ffff-Eeee-Tttt-Yyyy Safety Dance! We can dance if…
Things in My Life There are things I will never remember And there are things…
This War When the sun beats down on the cold cold ground in…
Today Tomorrow Yesterday I can remember walking Underneath the trees Heading home o…
Treblinka Only in America Only in America I walk, I try to learn,…
Underneath The Rainbow Safety Dance 21st century It's one small step for And one g…
Unsatisfaction I'm never satisfied when the answers could be real I…
Utter Space I come from outer space at least I think I…
Where Do Boys Go? We walked around in circles singing ooo ha o I said…
Where Do The Boys Go? (Extende We walked around in circles singing ooo ha o I said…
You & Me Prologue: Knew you were only fooling when you turned arou…
Your Beautiful Heart Your beautiful heart is everywhere It's underground, it's i…