The themes and imagery in the band's songs were often influenced by futuristic, dystopian, or post-apocalyptic films such as A Clockwork Orange, The Terminator, Blade Runner, and the Mad Max trilogy. The band's music and image also mashed together a range of other pop culture influences, including the New York electronica duo Suicide, Marc Bolan's T-Rex, and the swagger and sex appeal of Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, and glam rock.
The original line-up also featured Martin Degville, Neal X (Whitmore), Chris Kavanagh, and Ray Mayhew. Tony James' friend Mick Jones, a former member of The Clash, gave James advice about starting the band and selecting musicians. While searching for members, in 1983 Tony James tried out Andrew Eldritch from The Sisters of Mercy and, on Mick Jones' suggestion, auditioned the then-unknown Annie Lennox. As well, Jones gave James a Roland G-707 synth guitar, which at the time was a new and rarely-used device. The futuristic, electronic sounds of the synth guitar helped James to create Sputnik's new wave-cyberpunk sound.
The band took its name from a Moscow street gang called Sigue Sigue Sputnik, which means "Burn, burn, satellite." Their outlandish appearance and image, which included towering, multicoloured mohawk hairstyles, wigs, makeup, and multiple piercings, and gender-bending fetish clothing (plastic, rubber, or leather outfits, fishnet stockings, and stiletto heels) garnered a great deal of attention from the media. While these styles have since been used by a number of gothic or glam bands, in the mid-1980s, Sigue Sigue band members' appearance was unique and startling.
The "packaging" of the band's appearance and presentation was carefully considered well before the band ever performed in public. Inspired by the Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren's unorthodox methods of promoting a band, Tony James generated a great deal of hype about Sigue Sigue Sputnik, while wisely not allowing anyone from the music industry a chance to hear the band. James famously showed record executives a short video collage of futuristic and science-fiction movie clips as a "demo tape" of the band. The buzz became a frenzy as several record labels began a bidding war to sign Sigue Sigue Sputnik. James finally settled on EMI, which was rumored to have given the band a £1 million advance.
The group split soon after the release of their second album, Dress for Excess (the initial single from which, Success, was produced by British hitmakers Stock Aitken Waterman). Tony James stated that the band "...couldn't sustain this pretend bastardized version of Sputnik." James also blamed the media for the band's fall from grace. When Sputnik's first singles were released, the media and James' promotional efforts worked symbiotically, sharing the mutual benefits of the band's hype and shock value. Once the initial shock and tabloid outrage over the band's unusual image and appearance had worn off, media coverage became dismissive, criticizing the band's focus on image and style.
The band was reformed once in the 1990s (featuring Tomoyasu Hotei on guitar and Christopher Novak singing) releasing Sputnik: The Next Generation and once again in 2001 with Martin Degville and Neal X, which resulted in the release of Piratespace. The reformed Sigue Sigue Sputnik continues to play live, and it has also produced a number of remixes of other artists' work. In 2004, lead singer Martin Degville left the band to pursue a solo career.
http://www.sputnikworld.com
http://www.sputnik2.com
DISCOGRAPHY
Rio Rocks!
Sigue Sigue Sputnik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And boys will be girls
It's a mixed up muddled up shook up world
Well some like it hot
And some like it cool
Well like it or not
This is what you got
A space age party
Aah aah aah aah
Rio rocks
Rio rocks
It's a city in shock
Yeah Rio rocks
On Ipanema beach
We got two girls each
And everbody you meet
They're rockin' to the beat
Let's get crazy
Let's strip in the street
'cause some like it hot
And some like it cook
Well like it or not
This is what you got
A space age party
That's never gonna stop
So let's get high
So let's get high
So let's get high
On a free supply
What a crystal champagne
Rock 'n' roll way to die
The song "Rio Rocks!" by Sigue Sigue Sputnik is an upbeat, lively tribute to the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The lyrics speak to the excitement and energy of the city, as well as the unique mix of cultures and preferences that can be found within it. The opening lines of the song, "Well girls will be boys / And boys will be girls / It's a mixed up muddled up shook up world," speak to this idea of a city that is full of contradictions and unexpected twists and turns.
The chorus of "Rio Rocks!" focuses on the celebratory nature of the city, with the repeated refrain "Rio rocks" becoming a kind of anthem. The image of "two girls each / And everybody you meet / They're rockin' to the beat" speaks to the party atmosphere and vibrant nightlife that Rio is famous for. The call to "let's get crazy / Let's strip in the street" is a nod to the carefree, hedonistic spirit that Rio is also known for, and the references to "crystal champagne" and "rock 'n' roll way to die" reinforce the idea that the city is all about living life to the fullest.
Ultimately, "Rio Rocks!" is a tribute to the unique culture and energy of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It celebrates the contradictions and complexities of the city, as well as the sense of freedom and joy that can be found within it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well girls will be boys
Expect the unexpected; gender roles are blurred and anything can happen.
And boys will be girls
Gender is not a limitation; people can be whoever they want to be.
It's a mixed up muddled up shook up world
The world is chaotic, disordered and shaken up; nothing is predictable.
Well some like it hot
Some people prefer a vibrant, passionate and intense lifestyle.
And some like it cool
Others prefer a calming, relaxed and untroubled lifestyle.
Well like it or not
Accept that everyone has different preferences and tastes, whether you agree or not.
This is what you got
This is the world we live in, deal with it.
A space age party
A futuristic, innovative and unconventional celebration.
That's never gonna stop
The party, energy and spirit of Rio will keep going.
Rio rocks
Rio de Janeiro is a city full of life, passion, and excitement.
It's a city in shock
The city's energy is electric and overwhelming; it will leave you stunned.
On Ipanema beach
A famous beach in Rio where people gather to have fun.
We got two girls each
The party is wild and endless here; everyone has a partner.
And everbody you meet
Everyone in Rio is friendly, welcoming and open-minded.
They're rockin' to the beat
Music's beat is in everyone's soul and being; it's impossible not to dance.
Let's get crazy
Loosen up and let go; go wild and berserk.
Let's strip in the street
Free yourself from societal constraints; break the rules; do what makes you happy.
'cause some like it hot
Because some people crave an adventure-laden life full of passion and excitement.
And some like it cool
Or perhaps a life of peace, tranquility and ease.
So let's get high
Let's elevate our spirits into a state of euphoria and bliss.
On a free supply
We will be gifted with an abundance of good vibes and joyful energy.
What a crystal champagne
The experience will be as pure, intense and sparkly as champagne.
Rock 'n' roll way to die
Rio's zest for life is like living in rock 'n' roll; it's to be celebrated.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTIN DEGVILLE, NEAL WHITMORE, TONY JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Izzy _
Love Martin's hair when it was like that, he had so many cool hairstyles. Bet they had alot of good times when they were at their height. Would love to go back to those days myself!
Rosa Dyke
Martin looks so happy here , loved the energy of this band just being young and not giving a ¥$€%#
Mark Dyke
this is rare and unexpected! what a find and thankyou
johnny elliott
Another gr8 tune by the band do not make them like that now a days so far into the future.
04opocin
Released as a single in the UK in July 1989.
titter ye not
Shame the future of rock an roll never happened