Growing up with an older brother Mark and a younger sister Joanne, Young first went to work at the Vauxhall Motors factory and in his spare time played in several bands as bass guitarist. The first group for which he became lead singer was Kat Kool & The Kool Kats. In the late 1970s he joined the Streetband, who had one Top 20 hit in the UK, with the humorous, novelty track "Toast", reaching No. 18 in November 1978.
In December 1979 the Streetband broke up and Young formed the Q-Tips, who established their name by playing live and supporting The Who on their 1982 tour but had no chart hits in the UK, although their single "Letter Song" did enjoy minor success in mainland Europe.
The Q-Tips went their separate ways in 1982, and Young was signed by CBS Records as a solo performer, uniting the fields of New Wave and Soul. His first two singles, "Iron Out the Rough Spots" and a cover of Nicky Thomas’ "Love of the Common People" had no success, but the third, a cover of the Marvin Gaye B-side "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" was No. 1 in the UK singles chart for three weeks in the summer of 1983, the first of fourteen British Top 40 singles.
Similar success followed all over Europe. In the UK, follow-up single "Come Back and Stay" reached No. 4, and a re-release of "Love of the Common People" made it to No. 2, while his début album No Parlez was certified platinum in various countries.
Young's style at the time was a warm, approachable white soul, though he sometimes received playful criticism for his fashion decisions. However, his choice of an Antony Price leather suit for the cover of No Parlez was impractical for stage, where an energetic show dictated more robust clothing.
1984 was a difficult year for Young, as his first heavy promotional and live concert tour of America affected his vocal cords to the extent that he couldn't sing at all for most of the year. He recovered, however, to famously perform the opening line to the Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and his second album, The Secret of Association, secured his future success in the U.S., Japan and Australia. Young's biggest worldwide hit came from this album in 1985 with a version of Daryl Hall & John Oates's album track "Everytime You Go Away". The song reached #1 on the U.S. pop charts.
His third and fourth albums, Between Two Fires, in 1986, and Other Voices, in 1990, were commercial failures (though the latter was a success in the US) but a popular duet, "Senza una donna-Without a Woman", with Italian blues singer Zucchero in 1991 and a corresponding greatest hits album (which also featured duets with Clannad and Joni Mitchell) returned him to success. It also included a new track, 'I’m Only Foolin Myself'. He sung "Radio Ga Ga" with Queen in 1992, at the tribute concert to the recently deceased Freddie Mercury.
In 1992, Paul Young formed Los Pacaminos, a Tex-Max style live band including other top-class musicians such as Jamie Moses and the late Matt Irving. The group have released two albums, with a third scheduled for released in 2024.
In 1993, Young released The Crossing, which produced his first solo Top 20 hit since 'Everytime You Go Away', 'Now I Know What Made Otis Blue'. After this, Young was freed from his contract with CBS. In 1994, he released the covers album Reflections, which was a commercial failure.
He reformed the Q-Tips for a short series of concerts that year in 1993. A year later he suffered significant vocal damage, which has followed him ever since. He contributed to the Vangelis album Voices in 1995. Young sang the British national anthem "God Save the Queen", on the eve of England's Euro '96 semifinal match against Germany.
In 1997, he released his final album to feature original material on EastWest Records. The album featured his final UK Top 40 hit, 'I Wish You Well' and abandoned soul in favour of a more country style somewhat similar to that of Garth Brooks. In 2006 and 2016, he released covers albums, Rock Swings On The Wild Side of Swing and Good Thing, with the former being only released in Germany.
Paul still actively tours solo and with Los Pacaminos and is releasing a new albums both solo and with his group in 2023. He spends his time with his family and following his past time of cooking.
www.paul-young.com/
Hot Fun
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hot fun and happy times,
Hot fun the outside line.
I remember a happy time,
Days were hot and the ground was dry.
Who cares what we left behind
'Cause you know you are a friend of mine.
And we don't need to worry now.
We got hot fun making happy times,
Hot fun and happy times,
Hot fun the outside line.
Sitting on a cliff top high,
Sun was hot and my mouth was dry.
I remember tears in your eyes.
Catch a falling star from the skies.
So we talk and talk and talk
And we're never gonna stop.
We got hot fun making happy times,
Hot fun and happy times,
Hot fun the outside line.
Feel the summer in your bones,
Sister Autumn chaperones
Meeting people from a Northern town.
Don't care if the car breaks down.
You won't find us getting low.
Do we really have to go?
We got hot fun making happy times,
Hot fun and happy times,
Hot fun the outside line, yeh ooh.
Hot fun making happy times,
Hot fun and happy times,
Hot fun the outside line.
The lyrics to Paul Young's song "Hot Fun" express nostalgia for a joyful time in the past, where the weather was hot and the days were carefree. The lyrics describe memories of conversations with friends, sitting on a high cliff and watching the stars, and going on an adventure with someone in a car. Throughout the song, the repeated refrain of "Hot fun making happy times" emphasizes the idea that this memory is associated with carefree fun and happiness.
The lyrics also emphasize the idea of friendship throughout. The singer notes that, at this time, he had someone to share his love with, and that they didn't need to worry about anything. This reinforces the idea that, during this time of happy memories, the support and companionship of friendship made the experience all the more enjoyable.
Overall, the lyrics evoke a wistful longing for a time when things were simpler and happier. The emphasis on friendship and carefree fun suggest an idealized memory that holds a special place in the singer's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot fun making happy times,
Recalling a time of joy and laughter
Hot fun and happy times,
Looking back at a happy time shared with friends
Hot fun the outside line.
Getting away from it all and enjoying an adventure in nature
I remember a happy time,
Reflecting on cherished memories
Days were hot and the ground was dry.
Recalling a past summer when it was hot and dry outside
Who cares what we left behind
Focusing on the present and not dwelling on the past
'Cause you know you are a friend of mine.
Reaffirming a cherished friendship
We got someone to share our love
Enjoying the love and companionship of a significant other
And we don't need to worry now.
Being content in the moment and not stressing about the future
Sitting on a cliff top high,
Savoring a breathtaking view from a high place
Sun was hot and my mouth was dry.
Feeling the heat of the sun on a hot summer day
I remember tears in your eyes.
Recalling a moment of vulnerability and emotion
Catch a falling star from the skies.
Embracing possibility and opportunity
So we talk and talk and talk
Enjoying conversation and never wanting it to end
And we're never gonna stop.
Being in the moment and enjoying the present conversation
Feel the summer in your bones,
Experiencing the essence and vitality of summer
Sister Autumn chaperones
Acknowledging the seasonal changes and transitions
Meeting people from a Northern town.
Interacting and connecting with people from different backgrounds
Don't care if the car breaks down.
Not worrying about minor setbacks or inconveniences
You won't find us getting low.
Maintaining a positive and upbeat attitude
Do we really have to go?
Expressing reluctance to leave and return to reality
Hot fun making happy times,
Reiterating the fun and joy had in the past
Hot fun and happy times,
Reflecting on the positive memories shared with friends
Hot fun the outside line, yeh ooh.
Emphasizing the adventure and escape of enjoying nature
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IAN KEWLEY, PAUL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind