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)
Boys From Brazil
Simple Minds Lyrics
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Champagne
Desert Shore
Celebrate
Memorize
Associate lips with the poor
Eyes of the world on you
Boys From Brazil
Desert Shore
What can you say
About anything lost now
What can you say
About stolen things too
Anything Stolen
Something is lost now
What can you say
And how fast can things move
Boys from Brazil
Fortune of bird in flight
Tycoons and whirlwind
Brings a hush on lover's voice
Eyes of the world on you
Boys from Brazil
Champagne
Desert shore
Babies cannot manage
Lust and Ambition
Babies only speak and ingenious talk
Badies don't remember
Chance or up in shame
Badies cannot manage crocodiles
Boys from Brazil
Gentleman and adventure
Killing Hearts and gentle life
Spending money in capitals
Eyes of the world on you
Not just the boy that's crying wolf now
Someone else is screaming up at our door
Not just a body that's crying wolf now
Eyes of the world on you
Taking tracks back
Slip a while back
In forward moves
Boys taking tracks back
Slip a while
Forward moves forward moves
Slip a while
The lyrics of Simple Minds' song Boys From Brazil are cryptic and open to interpretation. The first verse sets a glamorous scene in the Desert Shore with champagne flowing as the Boys From Brazil celebrate and memorize every detail of the night. They are conscious of the eyes of the world on them and associate their lips with the poor, suggesting they may feel guilt or a sense of privilege. The second verse poses philosophical questions about lost or stolen things and how quickly things can change. The Boys From Brazil represent a world of tycoons and whirlwind that brings a hush on lover's voice, emphasizing the power dynamic at play.
The chorus repeats the scene of the party on the Desert Shore with champagne flowing and the eyes of the world on the Boys From Brazil. However, the second time the chorus is sung, it uses the phrase "killing hearts and gentle life," which hints at the darker side of the Boys From Brazil's lifestyle. The bridge describes babies who cannot manage the lust and ambition of adults, highlighting the theme of power and its corrupting influence. The final verse shifts the focus from the Boys From Brazil to someone else crying wolf and the eyes of the world on them.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys From Brazil
Referring to powerful and wealthy men from Brazil
Champagne
Drinking champagne to celebrate their success
Desert Shore
Enjoying their wealth and luxury in a desert location
Celebrate
Marking their achievements with extravagant parties
Memorize
Taking note of every detail, as to relive their success
Associate lips with the poor
Ignoring the needy and prioritizing their own pleasure
Eyes of the world on you
Being watched and judged by everyone because of their status and influence
What can you say
Expressing the helplessness and desperation in the face of loss and theft
About anything lost now
Reflecting on the irreversibility of losing something of value
About stolen things too
Recognizing the pain and injustice of having something taken away without permission
Anything Stolen
Anything that is taken without consent
Something is lost now
Something of value is now gone
And how fast can things move
Wondering how quickly things can change or disappear
Fortune of bird in flight
Having financial success that seems effortless or lucky
Tycoons and whirlwind
Being surrounded by the chaos and activity of being a wealthy and successful businessman
Brings a hush on lover's voice
Making romance less important or quiet due to the focus on material success
Babies cannot manage
Babies are unable to handle or deal with adult problems
Lust and Ambition
The strong desires for physical pleasure and professional success
Babies only speak and ingenious talk
Babies can only communicate in basic ways and have limited intelligence
Badies don't remember
People who do bad things often forget or ignore the harm they cause
Chance or up in shame
Luck or embarrassment playing a role in one's success or failure
Badies cannot manage crocodiles
Those who do wrong or engage in harmful behavior are not equipped to handle dangerous situations
Gentleman and adventure
The excitement and thrill of living a luxurious, adventurous lifestyle
Killing Hearts and gentle life
Sacrificing emotional connections and a simple, peaceful existence for the sake of material pursuits
Spending money in capitals
Traveling to and splurging on expensive, glamorous cities
Not just the boy that's crying wolf now
Not just one person making false claims or causing trouble
Someone else is screaming up at our door
Others warning or confronting those who have achieved success at the expense of others
Taking tracks back
Revisiting past actions or paths taken
Slip a while back
Regressing or retreating from progress made
In forward moves
Trying to move forward while facing obstacles or setbacks
Forward moves forward moves
Persisting in making progress despite difficulty
Slip a while
Taking a temporary step back or pause in progress
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES BURCHILL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, BRIAN MC GEE, NORMAN MICHAEL MC NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind