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)
New Warm Skin
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arrived here today
Heavenly sent
From the beauticians that pray
Here comes that face
And it's a textural treat
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
Warm
Skin
New
Warm
Expensive to touch
It's a novocaine skin
Beauty; this beast
Is transparent and thin
This sun can be cruel
I don't want to melt
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
New Warm
One fatal gift
Arrived here today
Contorted dreams
Of the beauticians that pray
Crawling out of this heat
And drifting this way
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
New Warm Skin
Is this a war?
Is this a god?
In the song "New Warm Skin" by Simple Minds, the lyrics delve into the themes of beauty, obsession, and even the idea of creation. The opening lines, "One fatal gift arrived here today / Heavenly sent, from the beauticians that pray," suggests that the song is about a new beauty treatment that has been acquired, potentially at a high cost. The idea of the "beauticians that pray" also constructs a sense of ritual and worship around this new gift, adding to the almost sacred nature of cosmetic procedures in our society.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the treatment is transformative, as the lyrics describe its effects as "new" and "warm". This new skin is described as "expensive to touch" and "transparent and thin", suggesting that this transformation is both alluring and fragile. As the line "Is this a war? / Is this a god?" repeats throughout the song, the idea of beauty as a battleground or a divine intervention becomes more pronounced.
The repetition of the title throughout the song drives home the fixation on this new skin, and the final line of the song, "Is this a war? / Is this a god?", leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity and unease, as it questions the cost and consequence of this new form.
Line by Line Meaning
One fatal gift
The gift that has arrived here is dangerous and could have deadly consequences.
Arrived here today
The gift has just arrived today and has some sort of major impact on the present.
Heavenly sent
The gift is seen as divine or godly because of its amazing nature.
From the beauticians that pray
The beauticians responsible for this gift may have been praying for it, indicating the magnitude of its significance.
Here comes that face
The face is a major part of the gift and is about to be revealed.
And it's a textural treat
The texture of the new skin is exciting and pleasant to the touch.
Is this a war?
There is a conflict or struggle that exists related to the gift.
Is this a god?
The gift and the possible conflict it brings may have divine or godly implications.
New
The skin is brand new and has never existed before.
Warm
The new skin is warm to the touch and brings a feeling of comfort.
Skin
The gift that has arrived is a new type of skin, possibly indicating significant advances in the field of beauty and cosmetics.
Expensive to touch
The new skin is costly and may not be accessible to everyone.
It's a novocaine skin
The new skin may give a numbing sensation or feel similar to anesthesia.
Beauty; this beast
The new skin may be beautiful or desirable, but also has hidden dangers or negative aspects.
Is transparent and thin
The new skin is see-through and very thin, possibly indicating fragility or weakness.
This sun can be cruel
The sun is a harsh element that can damage the skin, which may be a concern with the new skin.
I don't want to melt
The new skin may react negatively to high temperatures and possibly melt, which is undesirable.
Contorted dreams
The beauticians responsible for the gift may have had distorted or unrealistic dreams or wishes.
Crawling out of this heat
The new skin is emerging from a hot or intense environment, possibly indicating that it is created from extreme conditions.
And drifting this way
The new skin is slowly and gently making its way to where it needs to be.
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
eil7000
Reminding me of Bryan ....