In 1985 they enjoyed their first UK hit single, "Lean On me (Ah-Li-Ayo)", an anthemic song which was promoted with an unusual video in which a British sign language interpreter provided a translation of the song's lyrics. The following year, Red Box (with the help of numerous guest musicians) released the album The Circle and the Square.
Toulson-Clarke responded to WEA's request for something to appeal to American radio with the sardonic "For America", which lambasted what he saw as the style-over-content approach of the American media, as well as alluding to American military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. Unsurprisingly, the song was not a hit in the USA, though it did reach the top ten in several countries including the UK.
In 1990 they scored a club hit with Enjoy which was essentially a remix of an old B-side by Paul Oakenfold under the Solid Gold Easy Amex name. This record charted at Number 75 on Independent Radio's Network Chart (also used by Number One Magazine) but missed the Gallup UK Singles Chart as used by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. By now the 'group' was essentially just Simon Toulson-Clarke with the following Train single and Motive album more akin to solo releases. The Train single was pulled from shelves for reasons unknown to even the band, Motive got very little press, and Red Box ended up going on a hiatus. Toulson-Clarke continued to work in the music industry. In 1997, Toulon-Clarke, Alistair Gavin (who worked on Motive), and Phill Brown formed SPA and released an eponymous album, which itself was a concept album dedicated to deceased American comedian Bill Hicks.
In 2010, the current incarnation of Red Box is still headed up by the group’s original protagonist, Simon Toulson-Clarke who has gathered together a group of musicians for their new album "Plenty".
As well as Toulson-Clarke on vocals, the group includes Derek Adams (formerly of Dream Academy and The Act) and the young singer-songwriter, Emily Maguire. Unlike the early, frenetic days of the 1980s, Red Box had the relative luxury of time and space to work on "Plenty". As Simon explains, they 'were able to apply a fine filter to the whole process; selecting the material and working through the best possible arrangements that they could find for each song'.
In 2019, their fourth studio album Chase the Setting Sun was released.
Discography - Singles:
* Chenko (Cherry Red Records CHERRY 73 - Jan 1984)
* Saskatchewan (Sire Records W9157)
* Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo) (Sire Records W 8926 - Aug 1985) UK #3 (Gallup)
* Chenko (WEA YX 59 - Jan 1986)
* For America (WEA YZ 84 - Oct 1986) UK #10 (Gallup)
* Heart Of The Sun (WEA YZ 100 1987) UK #71 (Gallup)
* Chenko (Tenka-Io) (WEA YX 125 - Jan 1986) UK #77 (Gallup)
* Enjoy - with Solid Gold Easy Amex (Eastwest Records YZ 466 - May 1990) UK #75 (Network Chart)
* Train (Eastwest Records YZ 531) - Oct 90
Discography - Albums
* The Circle & The Square (WEA), 1986
* Motive (EastWest), 1990
* Plenty (Cherry Red Records) 2010
* Chase the Setting Sun, 2019
Chenko
Red Box Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with your metal
and our stones
we're hybrid
divided
hide the wind and earth
and fire forever
our fingers to the bone
we're hybrid one sided
what can we do...
live our lives like you?
we're hybrid misguided
hide the wind and earth
and fire for ever
it's over
chenko tenka io
this compromise
this village I despise
we're hybrid
collided
hide the wind and earth
and fire forever
it's over
chenko tenka io
The song "Chenko" by Red Box is a commentary on the contrast between the industrialized world represented by "your metal" and the natural world symbolized by "our stones." The singer notes that we are "hybrid" and "divided" between these two worlds, attempting to "hide the wind and earth and fire forever." This suggests that while we use the natural world to fuel our progress, we also try to ignore our dependence on it. The second verse continues in this vein, with the singer lamenting the sacrifices we make to industrialize, using the metaphor of honing our fingers to the bone to represent the hard work and toll it takes on our bodies and the earth. Despite our progress, the singer questions whether we can truly live our lives in harmony with the natural world.
The refrain of "hide the wind and earth and fire forever" takes on new meaning in the final verses. The singer declares "it's over" and repeats the refrain, adding "chenko tenka io" which translates to "the emperor said it's over." This suggests that our attempts to hide our impact on the natural world are futile and that a reckoning is coming. The singer also addresses the idea of compromise, noting that the "village" of our society is something they "despise." This could refer to the idea that the compromises we make to expand our society come at too great a cost to the natural world.
Overall, "Chenko" is a somber commentary on the state of our relationship with nature and the tensions between progress and sustainability. The singer paints a picture of a world where we are divided and hybrid, unable to fully embrace either industrialization or nature.
Line by Line Meaning
we stand alone
We are by ourselves
with your metal
With your technology
and our stones
And our traditional ways
we're hybrid
We are a mix of old and new
divided
Torn between different cultures
hide the wind and earth
Ignoring nature and its elements
and fire forever
Focusing on technology and power indefinitely
and now we hone
We work hard to improve ourselves
our fingers to the bone
We work tirelessly
we're hybrid one sided
We lean towards one side of our cultural divide
what can we do...
We struggle with the question of how to live our lives in this hybrid culture
live our lives like you?
Should we abandon our traditions and fully embrace technology?
we're hybrid misguided
We are lost in our hybrid culture
it's over
The struggle is over
chenko tenka io
A reference to the end of a war in Japanese history
this compromise
The hybrid culture is a compromise between old and new ways
this village I despise
The artist dislikes the town or community where they live
we're hybrid collided
The cultural clash within the singer's self has caused conflict
it's over
The conflict is resolved
chenko tenka io
A reference to the end of a war in Japanese history
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON TOULSON-CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Baskijka
....TYLKO ZIEMIA PRZETRWA
Wiċhċala kin heya
pe lo ma ka
kin leela tenkan yunkelo
eha pelo ehankeċon
wiċayaka pelo
Starzy ludzie
mówią
tylko Ziemia przetrwa.
Mówiliście prawdę.
Nie mylicie się.
pieśni pochodzą z książki Dee Browna: „Pochowaj me serce w Wounded Knee. Indiańska historia amerykańskiego zachodu"
@zosiasak6791
Ja nadal tego słucham...Polska...2024
@Sebastian-ow9uh
Ten kawałek robi mi dobrze od dziecka,cudowny utwór ukazujący magię i esencję lat 80tych które już niestety nigdy nie wrócą i takiej muzy nie będzie już nigdy...pozdro rocznik79.😄
@brygidakowalska1670
POZDRO ,ROCZNIK '67.
@hsifnoilliram6379
75
@Tycini1
Nie będzie też takiej jaka była w 2000-2010 ani takiej jaka była w 1900-1920
@kama714
Mam podobne odczucia. Rocznik 71
@dj_FanTomasz_TV
Siema no to był najpiekniejszy czas i prawdziwa muzyka!!!pozdro rocznik 74
@WojakOd7Bolesci
Już nie piszę kto z polski łapka w górę bo to był u nas hit!
@tadeuszligas8338
Był i jest!
@Harfa_Traw
Polska w 2023 słucha nadal! :)