Simple Minds have achieved 24 top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, including eight top 10 and one number one, and 26 albums on the UK Albums Chart, including 22 top 40 albums, 12 top 10 albums and five number one albums: Sparkle in the Rain (1984), Once Upon a Time (1985), Live in the City of Light (1987), Street Fighting Years (1989), and Glittering Prize 81/92 (1992). They have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, and were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s. Simple Minds have also achieved considerable chart success in the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy and New Zealand. Despite various personnel changes, they continue to record and tour.
In 2014, Simple Minds were awarded the Q Inspiration Award for their contribution to the music industry and an Ivor Novello Award in 2016 for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA). Other notable recognitions include nominations for both the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction and MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in 1985, nomination for the Brit Award for British Group in 1986 and for the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group in 1987. "Belfast Child" was nominated for the Song of the Year at the Brit Awards 1990.
The nucleus of Simple Minds consists of the two remaining original members, Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (electric and acoustic guitars, occasional keyboards after 1990, saxophone and violin). The other current band members are Ged Grimes (bass guitar), Cherisse Osei (drums), Sarah Brown (backing vocals), Gordy Goudie (additional guitar and keyboards) and Berenice Scott (keyboards). Notable former members include Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Derek Forbes (bass guitar), Brian McGee and Mel Gaynor (drums).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Minds
Discography
Life in a Day (1979)
Real to Real Cacophony (1979)
Empires and Dance (1980)
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981)
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982)
Sparkle in the Rain (1984)
Once Upon a Time (1985)
Street Fighting Years (1989)
Real Life (1991)
Good News from the Next World (1995)
Néapolis (1998)
Our Secrets Are the Same (1999/2004)
Neon Lights (2001)
Cry (2002)
Black & White 050505 (2005)
Graffiti Soul (2009)
Big Music (2014)
Acoustic (2016)
Walk Between Worlds (2018)
Direction of the Heart (2022)
Book of Brilliant Things
Simple Minds Lyrics
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Thank you for the pictures of living in the beautiful black and the white
Some say we'll be together for a very long time
Some say that our first impressions never will lie
I open up to take a look into the bright and shiny book
Into the open scheme of things
Book of brilliant things
I open up to take a look into the bright and shiny book;
Into the open scheme of things
Book of brilliant things
Oh, book of brilliant things
I thank you for the shadows
It takes two or three to make company
I thank you for the lightning that shoots up and sparkles in the rain
Some say this could be the great divide
Some day some of them say that our hearts will beat
Like the wheels of the fast train, all around the world
I open up to take a look into the bright and shiny book
Into the open scheme of things
Book of brilliant things
Book of brilliant things
Some say we can be together for a very long time
Some say our hearts will beat like the wheels of a fast train
All around the world
All around the world
All around the world
Some say our hearts beat like the wheels of a fast train
All around the world
All around, all around, around, around
All around the world
Our hearts beat like the wheels of a fast train
A very long time
All around and all around and all around and all around the world
Some say we'll be together
Some say
A very long time, some of them will say
A very long time all around the world
The song "Book of Brilliant Things" by Simple Minds is an expression of gratitude for the beauty and experiences of life. The first verse thanks someone for their voice, eyes, and memories which shine like pictures of living in the beautiful black and white. The lyricist suggests that some believe that they will be together for a long time, and that first impressions will never lie. The second verse expresses gratitude for the shadows and the lightning that sparkles in the rain, suggesting that these experiences make good company. The lyricist suggests that some believe there could be a great divide, but some speak of their hearts beating like the wheels of a fast train, all around the world.
The chorus, "I open up to take a look into the bright and shiny book, book of brilliant things," suggests that the songwriter is looking into the "open scheme of things" and finding incredible beauty and experiences. The repetition of the line "all around the world" in the second verse suggests that these experiences are universal and can be found in many different places. Overall, the song celebrates the beauty and experiences of life, and expresses gratitude for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank you for the voice, the eyes and the memories shine
Gratitude for the ability to speak, see and cherish memories
Thank you for the pictures of living in the beautiful black and the white
Gratitude for the striking contrasts and nuances in life
Some say we'll be together for a very long time
Opinions on a lasting relationship
Some say that our first impressions never will lie
Belief in the truthfulness of first impressions
I open up to take a look into the bright and shiny book
Curiosity to explore life's wonders
Into the open scheme of things
Venturing into the structure and meaning of life
Book of brilliant things
Compiling the knowledge of life's beauty
Oh, book of brilliant things
Awe and reverence for the book of life's wonders
I thank you for the shadows
Gratitude for the balance and contrast in life
It takes two or three to make company
Acknowledgment of the importance of companionship
I thank you for the lightning that shoots up and sparkles in the rain
Gratitude for the fleeting moments of beauty and inspiration
Some say this could be the great divide
Prospective warning of a potential separation
Some day some of them say that our hearts will beat
Speculation on synchronized emotional resonance
Like the wheels of the fast train, all around the world
Simile emphasizing the universality and momentum of love
Our hearts beat like the wheels of a fast train
Comparison of love's vitality to the speed of a train
All around the world
Capturing the global reach of love
All around, all around, around, around
Repetition emphasizing the ubiquity of love
Some say we can be together for a very long time
Belief in the possibility of a lasting relationship
A very long time, some of them will say
Optimistic view of a relationship's longevity
All around and all around and all around and all around the world
Expressing the ubiquity and pervasiveness of love globally
Some say we'll be together
Speculating on the likelihood of a long-lasting relationship
A very long time all around the world
Optimistic view of love's global endurance
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN PAUL DENSMORE, ROBERT A. KRIEGER, RAYMOND D. MANZAREK, JIM MORRISON, JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL, DEREK FORBES, MICHAEL MACNEIL, MEL GAYNOR
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