Released on the Rough Trade record label in 1981, "The Sweetest Girl" (also known as "Sweetest Girl") became Scritti Politti's first song to be a hit, peaking at #64 on the U.K. singles chart. According to the The Sweetest Girl Songfacts, was cited by The New York Times as one of the ten best singles of the year. Scritti Politti went on to enjoy significant success in the music charts in the U.K. and U.S. as the decade went on, rivaling slick new wave contemporaries such as Duran Duran, The Human League, Simple Minds, and others.
Following this period of fame, however, Gartside became disillusioned with the music industry and the related pressures of being an artist. He retired to the South Wales of his childhood for nearly a decade. He returned to music-making in the late 90s, releasing two critically-acclaimed albums (in 1999 and 2006). As well, the success of the 2006 Mercury Music Prize-nominated 'White Bread Black Beer' release proved to be a major comeback for Gartside. He toured the U.K., Ireland, the U.S.A., and Japan in the same year, these efforts being his first time performing live on stage for about twenty-five years.
Gartside is known for his distinctive, whispering vocal style; he was described by one critic as having "a voice that's eternally 14 years old". Born in Cardiff in 1956, Gartside attended Leeds Polytechnic and experienced the Sex Pistols' infamous 'Anarchy tour' in 1977. Like so many others who saw this musical and cultural car crash, he felt inspired to make music. As well, again like so many others, he swiftly became disillusioned with punk's stylistic parameters of the time. Following years of work evolving Scritti Politti's sound, the group's debut studio album, titled 'Songs to Remember', came out on 3 September 1982. Though not a commercial hit, the relase's eccentric set of influences,including 60s pop rock and 70s soul, and many philosophical lyrical references, with Gartside avoiding direct left-wing preaching in favour of confessional storytelling, brought the band serious critical praise.
In 1989, the British music magazine 'Record Mirror' placed 'Songs to Remember' at number fourteen in their critics' list of the best albums of the 80s. Nonetheless, heavy line-up changes occured after that album's release. When 1985's 'Cupid & Psyche 85' came out, that work proved both to be a commercial smash as well as to be innovative in terms its early use of the techniques of sampling and MIDI sequencing. Hit singles such as "Perfect Way", "The Word Girl", "Wood Beez", and "Absolute" brought the group legions of fans.
As stated before, Scritti Politti is known for being, at times, a commercially-friendly outfit, particularly during when Gartside worked with American producer and keyboard player David Gamson and drummer Fred Maher, yet its songs still retained a critically acclaimed, heavily poetic look on life (a factor which, no matter what sound or guise Gartside's current band may adopt, has always been carried through).
In a recent BBC Radio 2 interview, Gartside enthusiastically stated that he will be working on two further albums in the future, one being hip-hop based (a la 1999's Anomie & Bonhomie).
Recently, Gartside has been performing live with Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip - a fellow Mercury Music Prize nominee - and it is rumoured that the pair are currently writing a joint album.
Snow in Sun
Scritti Politti Lyrics
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I am calling, I am calling you
I was getting me down
Took a train into town
And the sun was shining brightly
Though the snow was falling lightly too
And how come I have strayed so far
And why everything came apart
In my head and heart now, love
You will never be without me
You will never need to doubt me
There'll be something good about me soon
Like sun in the city of snow
Like snow in the city of sun
I was watching you sleep
I've been watching you dream
Should we be beset with trouble
I would never let you come to harm
Looks like maybe we'll lose our home
Out of pocket and all alone
I should have worked and I should have known
Seen the dark clouds coming in
But you will never be without me
I'm beside you, never doubt me
There'll be something good about me soon
Like sun in the London snow
Like snow in the London sun
Undetermined, inessential
I am calling, I am calling you
You
You
You
You
The song "Snow in Sun" by Scritti Politti has an elusive quality to it that makes it difficult to pin down a specific meaning. However, it does contain several themes that can be interpreted in different ways. The opening line of "Correspondence or coherence, I am calling, I am calling you" seems to suggest a longing for connection or communication, as if the singer is trying to bridge a gap that has formed between themselves and another person or group.
The song then shifts to a description of a snowy landscape juxtaposed against a sunny day in the city, which serves as a metaphor for the contradictions and complexities of life. The singer reflects on their own personal struggles with feeling distant from a loved one, but also reminds them that they will always be there for them and that they believe something good will come out of the difficult times they are going through.
Later in the song, the singer watches their loved one sleeping and dreaming, and promises to protect them from any harm that may come their way. The final repetition of "You" suggests that this entire song is really just a message to this one person, telling them how important they are and how much they are loved.
Overall, the lyrics of "Snow in Sun" convey a sense of nostalgia and longing, as well as a desire to connect and protect those we care about. It speaks to the universal human experience of struggling with difficult times, but also finding hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Correspondence or coherence
The desire for communication or consistency in our relationship
I am calling, I am calling you
Asking for your attention and presence in my life
I was getting me down
I was feeling sad and discouraged
Took a train into town
I traveled to the city to clear my mind
And the sun was shining brightly
The weather was nice and uplifting
Though the snow was falling lightly too
Despite the external circumstances being contradictory
Made me think of how brave you are
I admire your courage and strength
And how come I have strayed so far
I'm reflecting on my choices and actions that have led us apart
And why everything came apart
I'm trying to understand what went wrong in our relationship
In my head and heart now, love
These thoughts and emotions are weighing heavily on me
You will never be without me
Assuring you of my unwavering commitment and support
You will never need to doubt me
Reassuring you that I am trustworthy and dependable
There'll be something good about me soon
I'm hopeful that I will turn my life around and become a better person
Like sun in the city of snow
Bringing warmth and light to a cold and harsh environment
Like snow in the city of sun
Adding beauty and tranquility to a bustling and chaotic place
I was watching you sleep
Observing your peaceful and vulnerable state
I've been watching you dream
Wondering about your aspirations and hopes
Should we be beset with trouble
In case we face difficulties and challenges
I would never let you come to harm
I will always protect and care for you
Looks like maybe we'll lose our home
It seems like we're facing a possible eviction or foreclosure
Out of pocket and all alone
We're struggling financially and emotionally
I should have worked and I should have known
I regret not being more responsible and foresighted
Seen the dark clouds coming in
I failed to anticipate the problems and hardships we're experiencing
But you will never be without me
Emphasizing my loyalty and devotion to you
I'm beside you, never doubt me
Reiterating my commitment and willingness to be there for you
There'll be something good about me soon
Encouraging hope and optimism for the future
Like sun in the London snow
Bringing light and cheerfulness to a cold and gloomy city
Like snow in the London sun
Creating a whimsical and rare contrast in an urban setting
Undetermined, inessential
Ambiguous and unimportant
I am calling, I am calling you
Asking for your attention and connection
You
Addressing the person being talked to
You
Addressing the person being talked to
You
Addressing the person being talked to
You
Addressing the person being talked to
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Green Gartside
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan
on Absolute
It should be principle, not principal
Reg Side
on After Six
The context is the dumbed-down public sphere in which all politics is spun and lying is always a matter of how more or less convincing it can be. In its chart-topping heyday Scritti Politti was a pop political project concerned with language and power and this song is a remnant from that, albeit more personalised like most of what's on White Bread Black Beer. The result here is an irony of the kind you might expect to find in a vintage Paul Simon song.