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
Watching Nicky
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seventeen last June, thirty-four this May.
What else can I say about you, Nicky?
Oh no she's not painting any more.
Spends the evenings locked indoors, and now, something's just not going right for Nicky. Oh yeah.
Her mother said she'd mind the kid, and when it came she never did.
Now you're not smiling anymore, no Nicky.
I remember we went out and got stuck under a bridge.
The kids were throwing stones at me and Nicky.
If I could see her now, I'd shout across and say, "Hey Nicky - run away, do it now Nicky."
Because she's not painting any more.
She spends her evenings locked indoors, and now, something's just not going right for Nicky. Oh yeah.
Her mother said she'd mind the kid, but when it came she never did.
Now you're not smiling anymore, no Nicky.
Oh no no no no no no Nicky. Oh Nicky. Oh Nicky. Nicky.
Mamamamamamamamamama....
Oh she's not painting any more. Spends the evenings locked indoors, and now, something's just not going right for Nicky. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Nicky. Ma ma ma ma ma ma Nicky. Oh whoa whoa whoa whoa oh Nicky. Ma ma ma ma ma ma Nicky. Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah. Nicky.
The song Watching Nicky by Pulp portrays the life of a young girl, Nicky, who seems to have lost her creativity as she grows older and becomes a wife. The song expresses the sadness of watching her change from a vibrant girl to someone who has lost her passion and joy in life. The lyricist uses the metaphor of “all the life draining” out of Nicky, emphasizing the stark difference now that she has become a wife. Although the lyrics mention her age and the passing of time, the key issue highlighted is the loss of her artistic spark and the joy that it brought her. The lyrics give a glimpse of how the creative process enables us to express our emotions and experiences, and its absence leaves one in a state of melancholy.
The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who has given up her passions and is now stifled and trapped in her marital life. The lyrics suggest that she may have been forced into this life due to societal expectations of a woman's role. Her mother's failure to look after the child adds to her troubles, hinting at a lack of support system or friends who could help her get back on track. The song ends on a sad note, with Nicky's current state being summed up by the line, "now you're not smiling anymore, no Nicky."
Line by Line Meaning
Watching Nicky turn from a girl into a wife is like watching all the life drain out of Nicky.
Nicky's transformation from a girl to a wife has taken away all her spark and vitality.
Seventeen last June, thirty-four this May. What else can I say about you, Nicky?
Nicky has aged a lot since last June, and the transformation seems to have affected her negatively.
Oh no she's not painting any more. Spends the evenings locked indoors, and now, something's just not going right for Nicky. Oh yeah.
Nicky has stopped doing the things she used to love, and something seems to be troubling her.
Her mother said she'd mind the kid, and when it came she never did. Now you're not smiling anymore, no Nicky. Oh no no no no no no Nicky.
Nicky's mother promised to look after her child, but failed to do so. This neglect has affected Nicky's happiness.
I remember we went out and got stuck under a bridge. The kids were throwing stones at me and Nicky. If I could see her now, I'd shout across and say, 'Hey Nicky - run away, do it now Nicky.'
The artist and Nicky were once harassed by kids, and if the artist were to see her now, he would encourage her to get away from her troubles.
Oh she's not painting any more. Spends the evenings locked indoors, and now, something's just not going right for Nicky. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Nicky. Ma ma ma ma ma ma Nicky. Oh whoa whoa whoa whoa oh Nicky. Ma ma ma ma ma ma Nicky. Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah. Nicky.
The repetition of the previous verses emphasizes the fact that Nicky's life has become stagnant and joyless.
Contributed by Christopher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.