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/
Softly Whispering I Love You
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Echoes of your voice are calling still from my dreams
Softening the chill of the breeze
Through my window
I can see the moon glow
Painting silver shadows on a rose coloured land
A world we walk hand in hand
In a day of gold covered by the glow of new love
And the scent of you invades a cool evening air
I can close my eyes and you're there
You're in my arms still
Oh I know your soft kiss
Turning into music every beat of my heart
When I hold you close to my heart
And I hear your voice whispering I love you
I can feel your warm face, ever close to my lips
And the scent of you invades a cool evening air
I feel you there in my arms still
Oh I know your soft kiss
Is turning into music every beat of my heart
And I hear your voice whispering I love you
Oh I know I need you
I feel you there in my arms still
I keep to forget
I love you
The song "Softly Whispering I Love You" by Paul Young is a love ballad that speaks of a lover's yearning for his significant other. The opening line of the song, "Softly whispering I love you," suggests a gentle, intimate moment between the two individuals. The echoes of the lover's voice still resonate in the singer's dreams, suggesting that the memory of their love lingers on even in sleep.
The second verse of the song paints a picture of a beautiful, idyllic world where the lovers walk hand in hand. The imagery is rich with the moon painting silver shadows on a rose-colored land, representing the romance and beauty of their love. The singer can feel his lover's warm face close to his lips and her scent invading the cool evening air, evocative of the profound affection that they share.
In the final verse of the song, the singer confesses his need for his lover and how her soft kiss is turning into music every beat of his heart. The central message of the song lies in the final line, "I keep to forget, I love you," suggesting that the singer cannot let go of his love for his significant other, and the memories of their time together will always remain with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly whispering I love you
The singer loves someone and whispers their love quietly.
Echoes of your voice are calling still from my dreams
The singer hears the person they love speaking in their dreams.
Softening the chill of the breeze
The person's voice in the singer's dreams provides comfort amid a chilly breeze.
Through my window
The artist is looking outside.
I can see the moon glow
The artist can see the moon shining.
Painting silver shadows on a rose coloured land
The moonshine creates shadows that blend with the colors of the landscape.
A world we walk hand in hand
The singer and the person they love walk together.
In a day of gold covered by the glow of new love
Their love is new and shines like gold.
I can feel your warm face, ever close to my lips
The artist can sense the warmth of the person's face close to their lips.
And the scent of you invades a cool evening air
The person's scent fills the artist's surroundings on a cool evening.
I can close my eyes and you're there
The singer can imagine the person they love with closed eyes.
You're in my arms still
The artist feels like they are still holding the person they love in their arms.
Oh I know your soft kiss
The singer is aware of the person's gentle kisses.
Turning into music every beat of my heart
The person's kisses feel so passionate that they become a rhythm of the singer's heartbeats.
When I hold you close to my heart
The singer loves holding the person they love close to their heart.
And I hear your voice whispering I love you
The artist hears the person they love whispering their love.
Oh I know I need you
The artist knows that they need the person they love.
I keep to forget
It is unclear what this line means.
I love you
The singer loves the person they're addressing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER FREDERICK COOK, ROGER JOHN REGINALD GREENAWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ian Black
I never understood why this guy wasn't bigger than he was. Very underrated
Swede McGuire
He had an immense following, not sure what you're saying.
Andrew JS
He was very big in the UK in 1983/84/85. Wherever I Lay My Hat was number one in 1983.
Susan Duke
I can remember seeing him in the Spurs pub in Tottenham when he was with the Streetband! He left an impression on me then, he is very underrated - has so much talent
Andrew JS
@Susan Duke Have you seen him since then?
Susan Duke
@Andrew JS No I haven’t unfortunately, was a long time ago lol
Margaret Roberts
What a singer, fantastic voice ,one of the best ,love all his songs
Margaret Roberts
Thank you P ,for taking the time and trouble to reply to me ,all the best for your and your families future xxx
Soninha Marron
Com essa voz,doce,suave,sexy e encantadora,esse cantor faz qualquer cançao se tornar inesquecível.
Julie Denholm
I have his album and it's fantastic! I absolutely love this song Paul, it sends shivers through me every time, sending my best wishes 💜