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)
Wonderful in Young Life
Simple Minds Lyrics
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Two weeks in another town
Sending shivers along in the spine
Of your friends when they call
Here she comes
The wild wind blows
In rhythms of season
In young life and reasons
Wild girls wild
In epic beauty wild
Surviving these changes
In paces and faces
In free wonder
Free wonder
Free wonder style
Wonderful
Little Egypt eyes
Wonderful
And the world can't wait
Wonderful
And the beat's white hot
Wonderful
Dream dream dream
It's the eighties youthful theme
Loving the city
A theme for great cities
And loved ones
And love
Memorize
A crowded swallow skies
Whatever the weather
The climate is perfect for
So young
And so young in life
An angel day
Angels coming your way
Screaming food fortune
And follow
And look at the memories
That are stuck in our eyes
Wonderful
Little Egypt eyes
Wonderful
And the world can't wait
Wonderful
Celebrate soul day
Wonderful
Wonderful In Young Life
Two weeks in another town
Sending shivers along in the spine
Of your friends when they call
Here she comes
The wild wind blows
In rhythms of season
In young life and reasons
Deceiving and pleasing to some
Wild girls wild
In epic beauty wild
Surviving these changes
In paces and faces
In free wonder
Free wonder
Free wonder style
Wonderful
Little Egypt eyes
Celebrating soul day
Wonderful
And the beat's white hot
Wonderful
God I'm singing memories
Hey I'm singing memories
Look I'm singing memories
Here she comes, wonderful
The lyrics to Simple Minds’ song ‘Wonderful In Young Life’ can be interpreted as a nostalgic reminiscence of a time in the past, perhaps in the 1980s, where life was wild, free, and full of wonder. The song seems to be describing the experiences of young people who are carefree and full of life, exuding confidence and style. The opening lines of the song, “Two weeks in another town, sending shivers along in the spine of your friends when they call” could be interpreted as being about the excitement of being away from home and experiencing new things. The reference to “wild wind blows” and “wild girls” suggests that the individuals being sung about are adventurous and spirited.
The lyrics also reference the idea of “memories” and “screaming food fortune” which represent the idea of living life fully and with abandon. At the same time, there is a recognition that these experiences are fleeting and that the moments being sung about can never be replicated again. The chorus, “Wonderful, little Egypt eyes, wonderful, and the world can't wait, wonderful, and the beat's white hot” could be interpreted as a call to celebrate life while we have it because we never know when it will end. The repeated use of the word “wonderful” underscores the idea that the experiences being sung about are rare and precious.
Finally, the closing lines of the song, “God I'm singing memories, hey I'm singing memories, look I'm singing memories, here she comes, wonderful” can be seen as a recognition that these memories continue to shape and influence us long after they are made. The reference to “here she comes” could be interpreted as a reference to a person, individual or the memories themselves, coming back to the singer and bringing with them all of the joy and wonder that they experienced in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Two weeks in another town
Spending some time away from home in a new place
Sending shivers along in the spine
Feeling nervous and anxious about something
Of your friends when they call
Making your friends excited with anticipation when you tell them about your experiences
Here she comes
About a girl who's about to arrive and make an impact
The wild wind blows
Symbolizing that change is coming
In rhythms of season
Life has its own seasons and cycles
In young life and reasons
Youth is full of possibilities, potential, and choices
Deceiving and pleasing to some
Some people hide behind a facade and enjoy deceiving others for their own pleasure
Wild girls wild
Wild, adventurous girls
In epic beauty wild
Girls who are stunningly beautiful and breathtaking
Surviving these changes
Adjusting and adapting to new situations and circumstances
In paces and faces
Life's rhythm and the people who make up your life
In free wonder
The feeling of being free to explore and experience new things
Free wonder
The freedom to wonder and explore
Free wonder style
An attitude or way of approaching life with an open and curious mindset
Little Egypt eyes
Describing someone with exotic, alluring eyes
And the world can't wait
The anticipation and excitement people feel about something that's coming
And the beat's white hot
The excitement and energy of the moment that feels electric and intense
Dream dream dream
An individual's desire to imagine and fantasize
It's the eighties youthful theme
The lyrical imagery is timeless and relevant to young people across generations
Loving the city
The experience of living in a city and all the excitement that comes with it
A theme for great cities
People love the idea of urban living, with all its vibrancy and possibility
And loved ones
The importance of our friends and family who help support and guide us through life
And love
Love is an important and powerful force that drives our lives
Memorize
Trying to remember all the good moments and memories
A crowded swallow skies
The image of a sky filled with birds, feeling crowded and full of life
Whatever the weather
No matter what comes our way, we'll face it together
The climate is perfect for
Reflecting on how the current moment is the right time for something
So young
Life is full of possibility and potential when you're young
And so young in life
The feeling of being young and unburdened with responsibilities
An angel day
A day that feels magical, special, and meaningful
Angels coming your way
Anticipating that good things are on the horizon
Screaming food fortune
A metaphorical expression of how good things are about to happen
And follow
The idea of following your dreams and passions in life
And look at the memories
The importance of looking back on our past experiences to help shape our future
That are stuck in our eyes
Memories that are imprinted in our minds and hearts
Celebrating soul day
A day that feels particularly meaningful and celebratory
God I'm singing memories
The idea of expressing ourselves through our memories and experiences
Hey I'm singing memories
Continuing to express our memories through song and art
Look I'm singing memories
The joy of being able to express our memories through our craft
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MCGEE, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL, DEREK FORBES, JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind