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/
I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think you've got the perfect plan
To charm everyone you see
And playing any game you can
(Push, push) but I've got news for you
(Push, push) I hope it don't hit you too hard
One of these days while you're at play
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down
Pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down (know where you are)
Room by room
You make our lives a stress and strain
Using the power ploy
All you do is pass around
Hearts you use as play toys
(Push, push) you've been playing madly
(Push, push) with every mind in town
So what you gonna do when you look up one day
And see your playhouse tumbling down
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down
Pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down (I know where you are)
Room by room
You think you've got it all set up
You think you've got the perfect plan
To charm everyone you see
And playing any game you can
(Push, push) you've been flaking madly
(Push, push) with every mind in town
Oh, what you gonna do when you look up one day
And see your playhouse tumbling down
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down
Pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down (I know where you are)
Room by room
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down (push, push)
Pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down (I know where you are)
Room by room by room, oh
(Push, push)
The lyrics to Paul Young's song I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down is a warning to a manipulative and scheming individual that thinks they have everything under control by playing games with people's emotions. The singer of the song is calling out this person on their behavior and threatening to expose them by tearing down their metaphorical "playhouse" which represents their life and everything they have built for themselves. The use of the phrase "push, push" implies that the manipulator is always pushing their luck and trying to get away with more than they should, but the singer has had enough and is ready to take action.
The first verse sets the scene and introduces the manipulator. They think they have the perfect plan to charm and manipulate everyone they meet, but the singer sees right through them. The second verse goes on to call out their behavior of using people as "play toys" and causing stress and strain in others' lives. The repeated use of "push, push" in both verses is a way of mocking the manipulator and their constant attempts to control everything and everyone around them.
The chorus repeats the singer's warning that they will tear the manipulator's playhouse down "room by room," meaning they will systematically expose all of their lies and manipulations until everything they have built falls apart. The final verse is a reiteration of the singer's message, that the manipulator can't keep playing their games forever and will eventually face the consequences of their actions.
Overall, the lyrics to I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down are a powerful and direct confrontation of toxic behavior that is still relevant today. It is a reminder that people's actions have consequences and that manipulating and using others will eventually catch up with you.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you've got it all set up
You believe that you have arranged everything to go according to your desires
You think you've got the perfect plan
You are convinced that your plan is well-designed and infallible
To charm everyone you see
You use your words and actions to manipulate and ingratiate yourself with all whom you encounter
And playing any game you can
You engage in any behavior that you believe will benefit you, regardless of its moral standing
(Push, push) but I've got news for you
I have a warning for you that you need to hear
(Push, push) I hope it don't hit you too hard
I hope that my warning does not have a negative impact on you
One of these days while you're at play
At some point while you are engaged in your manipulative behavior
I'm gonna catch you off guard
I will catch you unaware and unprepared
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down
I will dismantle your carefully orchestrated facade
Pretty soon
It will happen quickly
Room by room
Piece by piece, each bit of your plan will be exposed and destroyed
You make our lives a stress and strain
Your actions cause those around you to feel anxious and uncomfortable
Using the power ploy
You manipulate others through exerting power over them
All you do is pass around
You treat other people's emotions as disposible
Hearts you use as play toys
You treat the feelings of others as a game to be won
(Push, push) you've been playing madly
You have been behaving recklessly, with little regard for the consequences
(Push, push) with every mind in town
You have attempted to manipulate and influence everyone in the community
So what you gonna do when you look up one day
What will you do when you realize that your plan is falling apart?
And see your playhouse tumbling down
As your facade is dismantled and your true character is exposed
(Push, push) you've been flaking madly
Your behavior has been erratic and unreliable
Oh, what you gonna do when you look up one day
What actions will you take when you realize that your actions have consequences?
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down (push, push)
I will work to expose and dismantle your manipulative behavior
Room by room by room, oh
Every aspect of your plan will be torn apart and revealed
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EARL RANDLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JariBehm
Can you imagine this song without Pino's bass work? I can't. Amazing bass lines.
@SPAZZOID100
Nope. I just wish it were louder in the mix.
@tonyzed6831
That bassline is truly amazing!
@jackieclark8253
Pino Palladino!!! 🔥🔥
@drbkap3
@@jackieclark8253 I was actually coming here to say “hey is that Pino Palladino?” Lol. I’m a big who freak and he’s toured with them a lot since Entwistle’s death. Loved Paul Young in the 80s but forgot who his band was. Except the fabulous wealthy tarts of course! 😂😂😂
@jackieclark8253
@@drbkap3 …🤣🤣🤣 Yeah ,I found out this was Pino when I first heard it on the radio! I looked up the credits immediately! 🤣
I know the original songwriter personally (Earl Randle) from my hometown (Memphis)
@user-digitalfarmgirl
Ain't it just?
@user-digitalfarmgirl
@@drbkap3I'm looking up more work from that super talented bassist. Bassists are so underrated in bands, but without the bass , there is no backbone to the piece. When I was playing in bands, as a keyboardist, I practised non- stop with my bassist, as our rhythm's synch & pace, was so much more important , than most would think.
@curiousgemini
Play tha funky music white boys! Great Vocals and that famous bassline.
@glandauf
After almost 40 years, this track sounds almost as fresh as if it was recorded yesterday. Great performance, great video.