Roxy Music became a successful act in Europe and Australia during the 1970s. This success began with their self-titled debut studio album in 1972. The band pioneered more musically sophisticated elements of glam rock while significantly influencing early English punk music, and provided a model for many new wave acts while innovating elements of electronic composition. The group also conveyed their distinctive brand of visual and musical sophistication with their focus on glamorous fashions. Ferry and co-founding member Eno have had influential solo careers. Eno became one of the most significant British record producers of the late 20th century. Rolling Stone originally ranked Roxy Music No. 98 on their greatest artists list ("The Immortals – The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time"), but dropped the group from the list when they updated it in 2011.
Roxy Music's final studio album was Avalon (1982), which was certified Platinum in the United States. In 2005, the band began recording what would have become their ninth studio album—and their first album with Eno since 1973 (he wrote two songs for it and also played keyboards). However, Ferry eventually announced that the material from these sessions would instead be released as a Ferry solo studio album, with Eno playing on "a couple of tracks", and that he believed the group would never again produce a record as Roxy Music. The album was released in 2010 as the Ferry solo studio album Olympia. It featured contributions from Eno, Manzanera, and Mackay (amongst many other session players).
In 2011, Roxy Music played a series of 40th-anniversary shows, but went inactive as a performing entity following the concerts. In 2019, Roxy Music were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2022, Roxy Music reformed for a tour to mark the 50th anniversary of their debut studio album.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxy_Music
Studio albums
Roxy Music (1972)
For Your Pleasure (1973)
Stranded (1973)
Country Life (1974)
Siren (1975)
Manifesto (1979)
Flesh and Blood (1980)
Avalon (1982)
Bitter Sweet
Roxy Music Lyrics
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A sad affair
I've opened up my heart
So many times
But now it's closed
Oh my dear
Every salted tear
It wrings
Bitter, sweet applause
But when the show's in full swing
Every once in a while
High stepping chorus lines
Mean I'm forgetting
Mein lullaby, liebchen
How rich in contrast
Love can be
Sometimes I'm quite amused
To see it twist and turn
To taste, both sweet and dry
These vintage years!
Lovers you consume, my friend
As others their wine
Nein, das ist nicht
Das ende der welt
Gestrandet an leben und kunst
Und das spiel geht weiter
Wie man weiss
Noch viele schönste, wiedershen
And now, as you turn to leave
You try to force a smile,
As if to compensate,
Then you break down and cry
The lyrics in Roxy Music's song Bitter-Sweet capture the essence of a bittersweet ending to a relationship. The singer expresses the sadness they feel as they try to move on from a past relationship. They have already opened up their heart so many times, but now that it is closed, it seems that the tears they shed are pointless. The "salted tears" that they shed are a reminder of the bitterness of the ending, and the applause that comes from the pain they've expressed only highlights the tragedy of it all.
The chorus lines of the song suggest that despite the sadness of the situation, there are moments of joy in the memories of their past love, and the contrasting emotions of happiness and sorrow from those moments. They find comfort in this realization, but it's only temporary, as the pain quickly re-enters the picture. The reference to both sweet and dry vintage years speaks to the complexity of the relationship, how it aged or matured, and how their memories of it are similarly complex. As the singer tries to move on, they observe others doing the same, but acknowledge that each person has their own way of moving on. The final verse captures the sadness and longing of the singer as their former lover leaves, trying to put on a brave face but ultimately breaking down in tears.
Line by Line Meaning
Well this is such
A sad affair
The situation is incredibly sorrowful
I've opened up my heart
So many times
I've been vulnerable on multiple occasions
But now it's closed
Oh my dear
But now I'm protecting myself
Every salted tear
It wrings
Every tear is painful
Bitter, sweet applause
Applause that is both happy and sad
But when the show's in full swing
Every once in a while
High-stepping chorus lines
Mean I'm forgetting
Mein Lullaby, Liebchen
During an energetic performance, at times I forget about my personal pain and heartbreak
How rich in contrast
Love can be
Love can be both beautiful and difficult
Sometimes I'm quite amused
To see it twist and turn
To taste, both sweet and dry
These vintage years!
Sometimes I find it fascinating to observe the ups and downs of love, like savoring different notes of an aged wine
Lovers you consume, my friend
As others their wine
You can be just as entwined and engulfed by lovers as by drinking wine
Nein, das ist nicht
Das ende der welt
Gestrandet an leben und kunst
Und das spiel geht weiter
Wie man weiss
Noch viele schönste, wiedershen
No, this is not the end of the world. We may be stranded but life and art continue. As we know, there are many more beautiful goodbyes to come
And now, as you turn to leave
You try to force a smile,
As if to compensate,
Then you break down and cry
As you attempt to leave, you try to fake happiness but instead, you break down and cry because of the pain you're feeling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW MACKAY, ANDREW EDWIN MACKAY, BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind