Originally called "Arabicus Pulp" (although they shortened it to Pulp within a year), the band achieved sudden success some thirteen years after their formation and became known during the Britpop era as much for their music as for frontman Cocker's antics (notably conducting a stage invasion during Michael Jackson's performance of Earth Song at the 1996 BRIT Awards).
Achieving little success off the back of a Peel session in 1981, Pulp were finally able to release their debut album, It, in 1983. This album and its 1986 follow-up, Freaks, showcased a Pulp keen on Nick Drake (notably on the It single, My Lighthouse), with strong folk roots and little sign of the tendencies for storytelling and acid house music which would eventually bring forth success.
After the release and commercial flop of "Freaks", the band disbanded for a year, but reformed a year later to record a third album, Separations. Delayed for three years after its recording, Separations showed Cocker's increasing exposure to acid house, featuring multiple synths, and a hit single, My Legendary Girlfriend, which helped Pulp's career start to rocket.
Their next single, Babies, which would eventually feature on their 1994's commercial breakthrough His 'n' Hers, and it was the first example of the Pulp-sound most listeners associate with the band--cheap synths, rolling guitars, and Cocker's deadpan vocals telling a story. "His 'n' Hers" in sound, was lumped in with the Britpop movement of the time, receiving commercial and critical acclaim. However, it was the 1995 single Common People, which finally saw them become known, eventually charting at number 2 in the UK charts. Awash with Britpop guitars, catchy keyboard lines and that trademark Cocker vocal performance it has remained a favorite. A successful appearance at Glastonbury that summer cemented their fame, and their success was subsequently confirmed by the release of Different Class, which arrived at the peak of the Britpop movement and featured this song and other UK hits as Disco 2000 and Sorted for E's & Wizz.
Their last two albums, 1998's darker This Is Hardcore, -an album that marked the end of the Britpop era- and 2001's more downbeat We Love Life were commercial successes, but Pulp were no longer as famous or trendy as they had been in the height of Britpop. Following their curation of a music festival, Auto, in 2002, the band announced that they would be embarking on an "indefinite hiatus".
In 2003, Jarvis Cocker released an album as Relaxed Muscle and then two solo efforts, 2006's Jarvis and 2009's Further Complications.
On 8th November 2010, it was announced that the band with its most relevant lineup will reform to play a series of gigs in summer 2011.
Discography:
It 1983
Freaks 1986
Separations 1992
His 'n' Hers 1994
Different Class 1995
This Is Hardcore 1998
We Love Life 2001
Official website:
http://www.pulppeople.com
Night That Minnie Timperley Died
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it shines so bright - brighter even than the sun".
That's what Minnie thinks as she walks to meet her brother,
Who is nearly two years older, on a Saturday night.
He's DJ-ing at some do on the edge of town on the night
That Minnie Timperley died.
It's such a beautiful world, you're such a beautiful girl.
But Minnie, Minnie if I could I would give you the rest of my life.
How can a girl have sex with these pathetic teenage wrecks?
Football scarves, the girls drink halves & her brother's crying 'cause he has lost his decks.
Outside the air was cool, an older guy sitting in his car asked if Minnie needed a ride.
He thought he was still dangerous - paunchy, but dangerous -
On the night that Minnie Timperley died.
It's such a beautiful world, you're such a beautiful girl.
And he only did what he did 'cause you looked like one of his kids.
But Minnie, Minnie if I could I would give you the rest of my life.
Minnie. Oh, Minnie I can feel the pain. Oh yeah
.
The lyrics of Pulp's song "Night That Minnie Timperley Died" describe the last night of a young girl named Minnie Timperley. The song is a vivid and heartbreaking account of Minnie's tragic death. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of an idyllic world, where a light shines on everything and everyone, brighter than even the sun. This is the world as Minnie sees it, as she walks to meet her brother, who is a DJ at a party on the edge of town.
The song then takes a darker turn, as we learn about the teenage wasteland that Minnie finds herself in. She is surrounded by pathetic wrecks with football scarves and girls who drink halves. Her brother is crying, having lost his decks (a reference to his DJ equipment). It seems like a world of small hopes and little joys. Outside, an older man in a car offers Minnie a ride. He may be paunchy and no longer dangerous, but he is still a predator. This is the "night that Minnie Timperley died."
The chorus is a haunting refrain about Minnie's youth and beauty, her potential and her pain. It is a lament for everything that she will never experience, everything that she lost on that terrible night. The final line, "Minnie, oh Minnie, I can feel the pain," conveys a raw empathy for the girl and for anyone who has suffered a similar fate.
Overall, "Night That Minnie Timperley Died" is a powerful and poetic expression of the tragedy of youth destroyed by violence. It is a reminder of the dangers that lurk in the world and the vulnerability of those who are still finding their way.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a light that shines on everything & everyone.
Minnie feels hopeful and optimistic about the world, believing that there is a positive force that affects everything and everyone.
And it shines so bright - brighter even than the sun.
She believes that this light is powerful and overwhelming, shining brighter than even the biggest star in the sky.
That's what Minnie thinks as she walks to meet her brother,
Minnie's thoughts are consumed with positivity as she walks to meet her brother.
Who is nearly two years older, on a Saturday night.
Minnie is meeting her DJ brother on a Saturday night, who is a little bit older than her.
He's DJ-ing at some do on the edge of town on the night
Her brother is DJ-ing at a party on the outskirts of town later that night.
That Minnie Timperley died.
Unfortunately, this same night, Minnie Timperley died.
It's such a beautiful world, you're such a beautiful girl.
The world is full of beauty and Minnie is a beautiful girl whose life was cut short.
So much that you want to try, the world wants to sleep with you tonight.
There is so much life to experience and Minnie has potential, but the world has sinister intentions tonight.
But Minnie, Minnie if I could I would give you the rest of my life.
The singer expresses their love for Minnie and wishes they could give her their life in exchange for hers.
How can a girl have sex with these pathetic teenage wrecks?
The singer questions how teenage boys, who are inexperienced and unremarkable, could have sexual relations with a girl like Minnie.
Football scarves, the girls drink halves & her brother's crying 'cause he has lost his decks.
The atmosphere is a typical teenage party, with football scarves and half-drunk girls, but there is also chaos as Minnie's brother is upset about losing his DJ equipment.
Outside the air was cool, an older guy sitting in his car asked if Minnie needed a ride.
There is a contrast between the frenzy inside the party and the cool, calm outside where an older man offers Minnie a ride in his car.
He thought he was still dangerous - paunchy, but dangerous -
The man in the car perceives himself as still attractive and alluring, despite his paunchy appearance.
On the night that Minnie Timperley died.
Unfortunately, Minnie's decision to accept the ride led to her death that same night.
And he only did what he did 'cause you looked like one of his kids.
The man who gave Minnie a ride only committed his heinous act because she reminded him of one of his own children.
Minnie. Oh, Minnie I can feel the pain. Oh yeah
The singer expresses empathy for Minnie's pain and suffering, and the hurt that her loved ones must feel after her tragic death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, MARK ANDREW WEBBER, NICK BANKS, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
al cl
Can't believe I've only just found this, absolutely brilliant performance of one of their best songs
Clare Malcomson
And six years later... Idem!! xx
Guy Incognito
Amazing to watch Mark evolve from kind of a fan club prez to touring musician to guitar whiz when Russel left. He could definitely hold his own and Pulp absolutely requires a guitar player who has a lot of creativity.
Zoe & Zeppelin Dodds
I cry x I feel the pain, I’ve felt it. Thank you Jarvis xxx
Ciaran O Sullivan
A major,B minor , D + G major are the 4 basic chords for this great song.
thehawleysmouth uk
went to see this at birmingham academy in 2001, love this
Rolando Hinojosa
Very Good!
roy evans
anybody got the full show available??
alex fernando Huenten
Awesome
GossamerReverb
WOW!!!!