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/
No Parlez
Paul Young Lyrics
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There's no debate.
It's a stand off situation,
No time to arbitrate.
You've gone as far as you can
So call in the middle man.
For this is your policy,
You just don't wanna talk with me.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
No the plot is deep
Between the two. Parlez
What compromise
Will ever do?
NO With word, letters with proof,
So we learn to tell the truth. Parlez
Oh, this is your policy,
You just don't wanna talk to me.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Around the conference table,
Talking on the telephone.
Who speaks for him that speaks for you?
You control the no-go zone.
You've gone as far as you can
So call in the middle man.
For this is your policy,
You just don't wanna talk with me.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You hate your children.
Oh yeh, you hate your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
In “No Parlez” by Paul Young, the lyrics speak of a relationship that has hit a stand-off. There are no questions or debate and there seems to be a deep plot between the parties involved. The person in question refuses to talk and wants to involve a mediator to help them communicate. However, it is revealed that this is not the first time this has happened and that the person in question refuses to listen to those they dislike. The theme of hate is present throughout the song, particularly in relation to the person’s own children. The song ends with a repeating chorus that highlights the idea that children are being put in a dangerous situation.
The lyrics suggest that there is a disagreement between two parties and that the situation has reached a deadlock. The idea of a mediator being called in indicates that the parties are unable to reach a solution on their own. The theme of hate is present throughout, particularly towards children. The lyrics suggest that the person in question is refusing to listen to others, including their own children, despite placing them in a dangerous situation. The idea of putting the hammer in the hands of the children is a metaphor for putting them in a risky situation where they may not have the knowledge or skills to cope.
Line by Line Meaning
No questions
There are no queries or uncertainties.
There's no debate.
There is no argument or discussion.
It's a stand off situation,
Both parties are at stalemate.
No time to arbitrate.
There is no time for mediation or negotiation.
You've gone as far as you can
You have reached your limit or the maximum extent.
So call in the middle man.
Involve a third party mediator.
For this is your policy,
This is your approach or strategy.
You just don't wanna talk with me.
You don't want to communicate with me.
Oh yeh, you hate your children to rise,
You have animosity towards your children's successes.
You hate your children.
You have contempt for your children.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
You entrust significant responsibilities to your children despite disliking them.
No the plot is deep
The situation is complex and intricate.
Between the two. Parlez
The conflict exists between two parties who need to have a conversation.
What compromise
What solution that accommodates both parties.
Will ever do?
Is possible?
NO With word, letters with proof,
Only with evidence and documentation can the truth be revealed.
So we learn to tell the truth. Parlez
We must be honest and have a dialogue.
Around the conference table,
Taking place within a meeting or discussion.
Talking on the telephone.
Communicating via phone call.
Who speaks for him that speaks for you?
Who represents you in the negotiations, and who do they represent?
You control the no-go zone.
You are in charge of the restricted or off-limits area.
Still you put the hammer in the hands of the children.
Despite your aversion towards your children, you still give them significant power and responsibility.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANTHONY MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind