My Life Story were a 1990s pop group regarded as part of the Britpop moveme… Read Full Bio ↴My Life Story were a 1990s pop group regarded as part of the Britpop movement. Fronted by singer/songwriter Jake Shillingford, the group was formed in London c.1991 and inherited the name from an earlier group in which Shillingford had appeared. A cross between a pop group and a chamber orchestra, the band's sound was heavily oriented toward orchestral instruments.

At the time of their debut single, Girl A, Girl B, Boy C (1994), the group had a regular line-up of twelve members. Though the membership fluctuated continually, it rarely dipped into single figures until 1999, when their third and final album credited just four regular members, though most of the former line-up were still used as session players.

The group released three albums: Mornington Crescent (1995), The Golden Mile (1996) and Joined Up Talking (1999). They enjoyed the most success at the time of their second album, which spawned four singles that entered the lower half of the UK top 40.

The spirit of the band lives on in Shillingford's current project, ExileInside, which draws its influences from 1980s electronica, thus replacing the lush orchestral sounds of My Life Story with a quirky retro synth based sound. Former members of My Life Story Aaron Cahill and Mal Campbell appear in the line up, and the material is engineered by George Shilling. Shilling also produced many My Life Story tracks, including most of the Golden Mile album.

Shillingford has also presented an electronica music show on Essex-based community radio station Phoenix FM.

In March 2006 the band announced that they would be reforming to play some shows in support of their forthcoming "Best Of" album, and have just released a new album, "Megaphone Theology" which is a collection of b-sides and rarities.

Sparkle
My Life Story Lyrics

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The greatest living painter
Painted in a painted corner
The greatest on the earth has never stepped on land
I′m standing on a gold mine
I could make it all mine all mine
But I don't want your money just your...
If you took my hand would I still be blind
′Cos you don't sparkle, you don't shine

Sparkle in my eyes
And if you took my hand would I still be blind
You don′t sparkle, you don′t shine
Sparkle in my, sparkle in my eyes

The greatest living singer
Stuck inside a damp bedsitter
The greatest on the earth has never stepped on land
For services rendered
A party full of great pretenders
The champagne wasn't chilled such a dreadful oversight
Oh why

If you took my hand would I still be blind
Cause you don′t sparkle, you don't shine
Sparkle in my eyes
Oh no you, you don′t sparkle in my eyes

If you took my hand would I still be blind
Cause you don't sparkle, you don′t shine
Sparkle in my eyes
And if you took my hand would I still be blind
You don't sparkle, you don't shine
Sparkle in my eyes

Oh no you, you don′t sparkle, sparkle in my eyes
You don′t sparkle

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to My Life Story's song "Sparkle" convey a sense of disappointment and disillusionment with expectations of fame and success. The songwriter compares the greatest living painter and singer to emphasize their supposed greatness and talent, yet they are seemingly trapped by circumstances beyond their control. The painter is stuck in a painted corner, while the singer is confined to a damp bedsitter (a small, dingy apartment). Despite their talent, they have never truly achieved recognition on a larger scale, as if they have never even stepped on land.

The singer, on the other hand, feels like they are standing on a gold mine, implying that they possess a wealth of potential and opportunity. However, they express a lack of interest in material wealth, stating "I don't want your money, just your...". This open-ended statement could suggest that what they truly desire is genuine human connection or love.

The repeated refrain, "If you took my hand, would I still be blind?", suggests a desire for someone to come into their life and bring them clarity or a sense of purpose. They long for someone who can "sparkle" or shine in their eyes, someone who can illuminate their world with joy and inspiration. The disappointment in the lack of sparkle and shine from others is palpable, indicating a yearning for something more meaningful and profound.

Overall, "Sparkle" seems to be a reflection on the longing for genuine connection, artistic recognition, and a desire to escape the mundane and unfulfilling aspects of life.

Line by Line Meaning

The greatest living painter
A highly talented artist who is currently alive

Painted in a painted corner
Created masterpieces within a limited scope or confined environment

The greatest on the earth has never stepped on land
Referring to someone exceptional who has never experienced the ordinary or traditional way of life

I′m standing on a gold mine
Recognizing the immense value or potential in a specific situation or circumstance

I could make it all mine all mine
Acknowledging the possibility of seizing the opportunity and benefiting greatly from it

But I don't want your money just your...
Expressing a desire for something more meaningful and valuable than material wealth

If you took my hand would I still be blind
Questioning whether a certain person's presence can truly bring clarity and enlightenment

′Cos you don't sparkle, you don't shine
Stating that the person lacks a certain aura or radiance

Sparkle in my eyes
Referring to the absence of a special glow or attraction in one's perception

The greatest living singer
An exceptionally talented vocalist who is currently alive

Stuck inside a damp bedsitter
Trapped in a small, uncomfortable living space

The greatest on the earth has never stepped on land
Similar to the previous reference, emphasizing the exceptional nature of the person who has never experienced a conventional lifestyle

For services rendered
Expecting recognition or compensation for actions or contributions made

A party full of great pretenders
Attending an event where many individuals are not true to themselves or pretending to be something they're not

The champagne wasn't chilled such a dreadful oversight
Expressing disappointment or dissatisfaction with a mistake made, specifically regarding the temperature of the champagne

Oh why
Asking a rhetorical question to express frustration or confusion

Oh no you, you don′t sparkle in my eyes
Reaffirming that the person lacks the desired shine or attraction

Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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