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)
Real to Real
Simple Minds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Echo echo
Endlessly
Satellites communicate
Pick up signal
Then translate
Real to real cacophony
Satellites communicate
Pick up signal
Then translate
Real to real cacophony
Echo echo
Endlessly
Do you receive me?
Do you receive me?
Do you receive me?
"no"
The lyrics to Simple Minds' song "Real to Real" explore the power of technology in communicating and transmitting information. The phrase "real to real cacophony" refers to the sound created by a reel-to-reel tape recorder, suggesting an outdated form of communication. However, the song quickly pivots to the modern era of communication, where satellites pick up signals and translate them to be sent to others. The repetition of the phrase "Do you receive me?" suggests a sense of uncertainty and insecurity in this type of communication, as the singer questions whether their message is being received and understood by the intended recipient.
Overall, the lyrics to "Real to Real" highlight the complexities of modern communication and suggest that while technology has advanced our ability to send messages, it has not necessarily improved our ability to truly connect with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Real to real cacophony
The chaos of reality being expressed through various means
Echo echo
Repetition of the same message
Endlessly
Continuously, without end
Satellites communicate
Devices in space transmitting information
Pick up signal
Detect and receive the transmitted information
Then translate
Convert the received information into a usable form
Transmission for you and me
The information being sent is meant for everyone
Do you receive me?
Asking if the message is being received
no
Implied answer to the question of whether the message is being received
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN MCGEE, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind