He began his career fronting the group Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, managed by Paul Barrett. Also known as the The Sunsets, the 50s-esque rock n roll outfit originaled from Penarth, South Glamorgan. An early break for the band arrived when they were given a support slot for The Rolling Stones in December 1969. Yet, despite landing a recording contract with the seminal label Parlophone Records the following year, the band found success hard to come by. At least in their native Great Britain, they couldn't quite break through commercially, though they had hit singles in other countries. After seven years of constant touring and recording, Shaky left the band in 1977. He gained a lead role in Jack Good's "Elvis!" musical, which brought him praise from many critics.
Regular TV appearances on the revamped TV show Oh Boy led eventually to his first chart success, a reworked version of a Buck Owens song "Hot Dog", which Owens would go on to re-record using Stevens arrangement which had been created by pedal steel guitar player B.J. Cole.
In 1979, Shaky signed what was to be his most successful management deal with Freya Miller, and in 1981, he had his first UK number 1 with "This Ole House" and would have 10 more songs reach the top 5, including three number 1 hits with "Green Door", "Oh Julie" and "Merry Christmas Everyone", while "You Drive Me Crazy" and "A Love Worth Waiting For" reached number 2 in 1981 and 1984 respectively. His 1984 hit "Teardrops" featured Hank B. Marvin on guitar and Stevens has often featured famous musicians such as Albert Lee, Roger Taylor, Bonnie Tyler and more recently Tony Joe White on his recordings. In the mid 80s, Stevens reunited with former producer Dave Edmunds to record an album Lipstick, Powder and Paint and the Christmas smash "Merry Christmas Everyone".
The hits continued throughout the 1980s, making Stevens the biggest selling artist of the decade, and into the early 1990s. Chart successes also included his album Shaky reaching number 1.
It was in the 1990s, however, that Stevens took a lengthy break from recording and was stung by a court ruling requiring a substantial payout to former bandmates The Sunsets. In 1999, Shaky returned to performing and undertook tours that year and the year following. In 2004, things started to look up for Stevens he had a further platinum CD/DVD album in Denmark and a gold album in South Africa.
In 2005, he returned once again to the charts in the United Kingdom, with his greatest hits album The Collection, which reached the UK top 5. That year, he also appeared in the video to Tony Christie's and Peter Kay's #1 hit single "Is This the Way to Amarillo", alongside many other UK stars, including Ronnie Corbett, Jim Bowen, Michael Parkinson and Geoffrey Hayes. He was the winner on the reality television show, Hit Me Baby One More Time. This was quickly followed by a re-release of his cover and his own biggest hit sung in the show, ("Trouble" covering Pink's version) / "This Ole House"), which reached #20 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2005, his 33rd Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom.
In May 2007, Stevens released a brand new album in Denmark entitled Now Listen.
Is A Bluebird Blue?
Shakin' Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down lovers' lane we were walking
She said Honey child do you love me
The way I started talking
Is a bluebird blue Has a cat got a tail
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
Well I held her close and kissed her
Then I looked in those big green eyes
I said I wouldn't be at all surprised
Is a bluebird blue and a big wheel rolls
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
And she finally believed my story
Said baby I I understand
When I I'm gonna be your little loving boy
And you'll be my big loving man
If is a bluebird blue has a beer got hair
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
The song "Is a Bluebird Blue" by Shakin' Stevens is a playful love song that employs a series of lighthearted questions and affirmations to express the singer's love for his girlfriend. The song opens with the singer and his girlfriend walking along "lovers' lane" when she asks if he loves her. He responds with a playful query of his own: "Is a bluebird blue? Has a cat got a tail?" implying that the answer to both questions is an emphatic "yes." The song continues with the singer reassuring his girlfriend of his love and devotion using a series of whimsical questions and affirmations.
One possible interpretation of the song's title and recurring refrain is that the bluebird serves as a symbol of happiness and freedom, qualities that are associated with being in love. In this sense, the song can be seen as a celebration of the joys and pleasures of romantic love, expressed through a playful and lighthearted tone.
Another possible interpretation of the song is that it reflects the simple pleasures and innocent passions of youth. The use of phrases like "Honey child" and "little loving boy" suggests a certain naivete and innocence on the part of the singer, while the whimsical questions and affirmations convey a sense of fun and carefree abandon.
Overall, "Is a Bluebird Blue" is a charming and endearing love song that captures the essence of young love with its playful lyrics and upbeat melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Well me and my girl went out the other night
The story starts with the singer and his girl going out for a walk.
Down lovers' lane we were walking
The place they went was a romantic spot called lovers' lane.
She said Honey child do you love me
The girl asked the singer if he loves her.
The way I started talking
The artist began to answer the girl's question.
Is a bluebird blue Has a cat got a tail
The artist uses a rhetorical question to express his love for the girl.
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
The answer to the rhetorical question is that if a bluebird is blue, then he loves the girl.
Well I held her close and kissed her
After expressing his love, the singer embraces the girl and kisses her.
Then I looked in those big green eyes
While holding the girl, the artist gazes into her big green eyes.
She said He boy do you loe me
The girl asks the artist again if he loves her.
I said I wouldn't be at all surprised
The artist playfully responds to the girl's question.
Is a bluebird blue and a big wheel rolls
The singer uses another rhetorical question to reaffirm his love for the girl.
And she finally believed my story
The girl believes the artist's expressions of love.
Said baby I I understand
The girl lets the singer know she understands.
When I I'm gonna be your little loving boy
The girl promises to be the singer's loving partner.
And you'll be my big loving man
The girl expresses that the singer will be her big loving man.
If is a bluebird blue has a beer got hair
The artist again uses a rhetorical question to express his love for the girl.
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
The answer to the rhetorical question is that if a bluebird is blue, then he loves the girl.
Is a bluebird blue then honey I love you
The story ends with the singer's reaffirmation of his love for the girl.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAN PENN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind