Kershaw played guitar and sang in a number of underground bands from about 1976 before deciding on a career as a songwriter. However, he ended up performing his own songs rather than giving them to others, and signed a deal with MCA Records in 1983, which spawned a debut single, "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", which just missed out on the UK Top 40. At the beginning of 1984, he made his breakthrough when "Wouldn't It Be Good", featuring a video of Kershaw as a chromakey-suited alien, reached Number 4 in the UK charts. He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from debut album Human Racing , including the title track and a successful re-issue of his debut single, which ultimately proved his biggest hit as a performer when it got to Number 2 in the UK.
Despite winning awards, attracting admirers for his writing such as Elton John & Eric Clapton. He gainied a huge teenage fanbase, Kershaw was not without his critics. Some complained that he did too much onstage when he had a competent backing band called the Krew to play all the required guitar and keyboard parts of his songs.
Kershaw, who was married to long-time love and backing singer Sheri, then released a single called "The Riddle", which would send fans, journalists and linguists into overdrive, as each tried to establish what the meaning was behind the strange set of circumstances and clues which Kershaw put in the verses and chorus (though it in fact later turned out to be hastily created nonsense). Another major hit, it was also the title track of his second album, which also spawned two more UK Top 10 hits, "Wide Boy" and "Don Quixote".
In July 1985 Kershaw was among performers at Live Aid, Wembley Stadium. His star began to wane soon afterwards and he enjoyed only one more UK Top 40 hit, the debut single from his third album, Radio Musicola. Radio Musicola, despite receiving critical acclaim, was a flop in the UK charts. After this, Kershaw teamed up with 'We Built This City' producer Peter Wolf for his fourth album, The Works. After neither Kershaw or Wolf were happy with the results, Kershaw re-recorded the album with producer Julian Mendelsohn. The Works failed to chart in the UK, but it’s debut single, One Step Ahead, charted at No. 55. The albums failure led to him being dropped by MCA Records.
After The Works, Kershaw retired from recording music in favour of his original career path as a songwriter. His prowess as a songwriter served him well in 1991 when his song The One And Only, appeared on the soundtrack to the Brittish movie Buddy's Song and in the American film "Doc Hollywood", and provided a UK Number 1 single for the star of the film, Chesney Hawkes (son of the Tremeloes' Chip Hawkes). In 1993 The Hollies had a minor hit with another of his songs, The Woman I Love. Kershaw featured prominently as a vocalist on Tony Banks’ album Still, along with penning some of the tracks.
1999 saw the release of the Britpop-styled 15 Minutes, a collection of songs that are generally more personal and mature, and that he could not envisage being recorded by other artists. Both this and the more commercial To Be Frank (2001) are stylistically different from his earlier work by being underpinned by acoustic guitar rather than synthesiser.
These were followed by 'You’ve Got To Laugh', another collection of acoustic-led songs and 'EI8HT', a commercial MOR pop album brought on by the 80s revival and also led to the return of synthesisers in his music. Kershaw released his latest album, Oxymoron, in 2020 and is in the process of releasing a series of EPs, Songs from a Shelf. He still performs regularly.
For more information visit the official site at http://www.nikkershaw.net
Somebody Loves You
Nik Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rolling on the big wave
Wish that I could dive right in
Shiny faces,
Glowing in the light rays
Smiling at me, sink or swim
I put my words upon their lips
I put my body at their finger tips
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there
you gotta see those hands
It's my party
I don't have to impress
I don't have to try too hard
Yeah it's my party
I don't have to care less
I can always play my part
They know my face and they know my name
They know my shamelessness
but not my shame
And
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there
you gotta see those hands
Reaching out, reaching up for somebody
And I'm the only one they see
Lucky break just as well they don't realise
That I need them much more
than they need me
Hello home boy
Welcome to the real world
Say what planet have I been on
Time to wake up
Time to smell the roses
Who's gonna love me when they've gone
What will I do without my wishing well
What will I say if I can't talk about myself
I may be crazy, you can call me mad
I call it simple you call it sad
But
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there
you gotta see those hands
In "Somebody Loves You," Nik Kershaw takes the listener on a journey through the ups and downs of fame and recognition. He paints a picture of a sea of faces, a crowd of fans rolling on a big wave, all looking up at him with shiny faces and glowing in the light rays. Kershaw describes feeling like he has to put his words upon their lips, put his body at their finger tips, and play a part that is expected of him. Yet despite this pressure and the fear of being forgotten, he also feels a sense of love and understanding from his fans that makes it all worth it.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this feeling of being loved and understood, even when the pressures of fame seem overwhelming. Kershaw sings, "It feels like somebody loves you, somebody understands. It gets like you gotta be there, you gotta see those hands." He describes the joy of being able to simply be himself at his own party, without having to impress anyone. Yet he also acknowledges the fleeting nature of fame and the fear of being forgotten: "Who's gonna love me when they've gone? What will I do without my wishing well? What will I say if I can't talk about myself?"
Overall, "Somebody Loves You" is a poignant reflection on the joys and pressures of fame. Kershaw captures the sense of euphoria and adrenaline that comes from performing in front of a big crowd, as well as the fear and loneliness that can come from being in the public eye. Yet ultimately, the song is about the power of love and understanding to make it all worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Sea of faces
There are many people around me.
Rolling on the big wave
The crowd is moving like a wave.
Wish that I could dive right in
I wish I could go into the crowd and be a part of it.
Shiny faces,
The faces of the people are bright and cheerful.
Glowing in the light rays
Their faces are lit up by the light.
Smiling at me, sink or swim
They are happy and accepting of me, whether I succeed or fail.
I put my words upon their lips
I imagine that they are saying things that I want to hear.
I put my body at their finger tips
I am willing to do whatever they want.
And
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there
you gotta see those hands
I feel like someone loves me and understands me. It's important to be a part of the crowd and feel their energy.
It's my party
I don't have to impress
I don't have to try too hard
Yeah it's my party
I don't have to care less
I can always play my part
I am in control of my own life and I don't have to try too hard to fit in. I can be myself and still have fun.
They know my face and they know my name
They know my shamelessness
but not my shame
The people in the crowd recognize me and accept me for who I am, even though they don't know my weaknesses or faults.
Reaching out, reaching up for somebody
And I'm the only one they see
Lucky break just as well they don't realise
That I need them much more
than they need me
The crowd is looking for someone to connect with, and I am lucky that they have chosen me. But I also rely on their acceptance and support more than they realize.
Hello home boy
Welcome to the real world
Say what planet have I been on
Time to wake up
Time to smell the roses
Who's gonna love me when they've gone
I am reminded that I need to face reality and find love and acceptance outside of the crowd. Eventually, they will move on and I will be left alone.
What will I do without my wishing well
What will I say if I can't talk about myself
I may be crazy, you can call me mad
I call it simple you call it sad
Without the crowd, I won't have my usual coping mechanisms. I worry about what I will say and how people will perceive me. Some people may see me as crazy, but I see it as simple and sad.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NIK KERSHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LEAU
Sea of faces
Rolling on the big wave
Wish that I could dive right in
Shiny faces,
Glowing in the light rays
Smiling at me, sink or swim
I put my words upon their lips
I put my body at their finger tips
And
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there
you gotta see those hands
It's my party
I don't have to impress
I don't have to try too hard
Yeah it's my party
I don't have to care less
I can always play my part
They know my face and they know my name
They know my shamelessness
but not my shame
And
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there
you gotta see those hands
Reaching out, reaching up for somebody
And I'm the only one they see
Lucky break just as well they don't realise
That I need them much more
than they need me
What will I do without my wishing well
What will I say if I can't talk about myself
I may be crazy, you can call me mad
I call it simple you call it sad
But
It feels like somebody loves you,
somebody understands
It gets like you gotta be there you gotta see those hands
Caddy Callaghan
I am blown away by Nik's songwriting and have only just discovered him!!!??!!! A master!! 😍
bmo shareholder apple shareholder
I'm probably his biggest fan. I have all his albums and I play them a lot.
Anastasia Ozerova
He has also written 90%, if not all, of his songs completely on his own. I know because I studied his lyrics and the credits
Lewis Morrison
He really is a master 😊👌 Such feeling! ❤
Aubin de MONTFALCON
A lot of people discovered him when he came back in the late 90s, but they don't always make the link with his past albums from early 80s.
APG
The One and only is written by him too.
SPARTA_JKD
One of the most underated guitarist's this country has produced either on acoustic or electric. Great song writer.
tak178
YES!
TAKE ONE MUSIC
when I was a kid listening to him, I never gave a second thought..... now as a musician myself, i listen to him intently to every note ......a true genius
TEEMAN75
15 Minutes was/is a truly fantastic album.