Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as "The Lepers". The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the indie rock band (later Ted Mason, Matthew Shippley). A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length debut, called 'Mesh & Lace' and released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloomy gothic rock sound already patented by bands such as Bauhaus and Joy Division.
The follow-up album, titled 'After The Snow' and recorded by the same line-up, introduced warmer sounds and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the hit "I Melt With You") in contrast to the tinny bleakness of the debut, although keeping the same post-punk dramatic focus. The August 1982 release was well received in the U.S., selling 500,000 units, and the band relocated to New York, New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Their subsequent album Ricochet Days had a crisper production with hits such as "Ricochet Days" and "Hands Across the Sea".
By the time of Stop Start, released in the US by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) (later of March Violets) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial success, pushed by their label and subsequent producers. Grey returned to England to form a new outfit, but reconvened Modern English in 1990 with Davidson and Conroy. They released Pillow Lips on the TVT label, selling 300,000 units. Robbie Grey and band member Ted Mason co-wrote and produced a second release for TVT, recording with live strings and multiple harmonies. It received very little enthusiasm from TVT and has been seen as the least successful Modern English album. Locked into contractual obligations with TVT, Grey subsequently put the band on hold in 1991 to study and travel, and Mason handled the legal issues of getting out of the TVT deal.
In 1995, Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards), Ted Mason (guitar, vocals, production) recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. Robbie Grey continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit with Matthew and new guitarist Steven Walker writing new songs and playing them to packed audiences across the US, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music. The new lineup recorded a new album with legendary producer Hugh Jones who originally produced "I Melt With You." 2007 saw the repackaged–remastered re-release of Everything's Mad for the Mi5 Recordings label distributed by Caroline/EMI. A Modern English rarities album with unreleased material was expected in early 2008, but it became stalled.
The group put out their latest studio effort in 2010 with 'Soundtrack'. Said work reunited them with Hugh Jones, the producer of 'After the Snow'. As of 2013, Modern English has sold close to four million records worldwide, and they were present at the BMI awards in the Dorchester Hotel in London where Robbie Grey, Mick Conroy and guitarist Steven Walker were presented with a lifetime achievement award for 3 million radio plays of "I Melt With You."
Beauty
Modern English Lyrics
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There was sunshine in your eye,
All the people stared in wonder,
You sent shivers down my spine,
With your skin so soft and tender,
And your hair just like the sea,
I lost control of all my feelings,
And these words came out of me,
The last time that I saw you,
Your lips curved in a smile,
Made the day seem more inviting,
Made my life seem more worthwhile,
Then beauty shot it's arrow,
And it pierced right through my heart,
On it's tip there was a message,
I will read it from the start,
Beauty came to town today.
Why she didn't stay,
I don't know
Why she didn't stay,
I don't know
Why she didn't stay,
I don't know
Why she didn't stay,
I don't know
Beauty came to town today,
Words cannot explain,
It's so worthwhile,
Beauty came to town today,
Why she didn't stay,
I don't know
Why she didn't stay,
I don't know
The song "Beauty" by Modern English is a tribute to the ephemeral nature of beauty and how it affects the human experience. The lyrics describe the singer's encounter with beauty, first through a person they see and then as an abstract concept that simultaneously brings joy and pain. The song starts with the singer recalling the first time they saw someone who embodied beauty so completely that it made them feel overwhelmingly emotional. The description of the person's physical features - their soft and tender skin, hair like the sea - reinforces the idea that beauty is a physical sensation that can provoke a visceral response. The use of the phrase "shivers down my spine" also suggests that beauty has a profound effect on the body.
The second half of the song focuses less on the person who brought beauty to the singer's life and more on the concept of beauty itself. The singer describes how beauty gave their life meaning and explains how it became a sort of guiding force for them. However, they also acknowledge that beauty is fleeting and uncertain - the lyrics "Why she didn't stay, I don't know" are repeated multiple times as a sort of refrain. This phrase conveys the idea that beauty is something that cannot be grasped or held on to, no matter how desperately one might want to do so. Despite this recognition of beauty's transience, the singer seems to feel that its impact was worth the pain of losing it.
Overall, "Beauty" is a thoughtful reflection on the power of physical beauty and the emotional responses it can evoke. The song's lyrics invite the listener to contemplate their own experiences with beauty and how they have influenced their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time that I saw you,
When I laid eyes on you for the first time,
There was sunshine in your eye,
Your eyes sparkled with the radiance of the sun,
All the people stared in wonder,
Everyone around me was captivated by your beauty,
You sent shivers down my spine,
I was deeply affected by your presence,
With your skin so soft and tender,
The texture of your skin was delicate and velvety,
And your hair just like the sea,
Your hair was reminiscent of the waves of the ocean,
I lost control of all my feelings,
I was overwhelmed by my emotions,
And these words came out of me,
I couldn't help but express my thoughts,
Beauty came to town today, yeah.
Your arrival brought an indescribable beauty to this place.
The last time that I saw you,
The most recent time I had the privilege of seeing you,
Your lips curved in a smile,
You had a sweet and enchanting smile on your lips,
Made the day seem more inviting,
Your presence had a positive impact on my day,
Made my life seem more worthwhile,
Your existence added value to my life,
Then beauty shot it's arrow,
Suddenly, my life was changed for the better by something magnificent,
And it pierced right through my heart,
The impact of this amazing thing caused a deep emotional response in me,
On it's tip there was a message,
There was a profound meaning behind this experience,
I will read it from the start,
I will seek to understand and internalize the meaning of this experience,
Beauty came to town today.
This moment brought an exquisite beauty into my life.
Why she didn't stay,
I am unsure why this amazing experience did not last,
I don't know
It remains a mystery to me.
Words cannot explain,
I am unable to accurately capture the full impact of this moment in words,
It's so worthwhile,
This moment was significant and not without meaning,
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AARON DAVIDSON, MICHAEL FRANCES CONROY, ROBERT JAMES GREY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind