Simply R… Read Full Bio ↴Simply Red is an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s.
Simply Red's roots originate from the notorious 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present (along with original members of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks) who was inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".
After the demise of the Frantic Elevators, Hucknall linked up with manager Elliot Rashman. By early 1985 Hucknall and Rashman had assembled a band of local session musicians and began to attract record company attention. Around this time the group adopted the name Simply Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair color, football allegiance to Manchester United and left-wing political affiliation). They signed to Elektra in 1985, with the somewhat changeable line-up of Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums). Their first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had moderate success, reaching the UK Top 20.
In 1986 the band re-recorded "Holding Back The Years", the Frantic Elevators' biggest hit, in a more accessible pop style with adjustments in lyrics and instrumentation. The tune became a major hit, peaking at #2 in Great Britain and later #1 in the United States, and established Simply Red as a household name. Their debut album, 'Picture Book', which had been released previously in 1985, began to sell more copies, and it became an international hit album, with multi-platinum certification.
Their second album, 1987's "Men and Women", saw the band adopting a more sober and professional image, with bowler hats and colorful suits replacing their earlier ragamuffin look, and the introspection and social commentary of their debut replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences. Around this time Hucknall became a tabloid personality, drawing attention and criticism for his alleged womanising, and gaining a reputation as "a lecherous loudmouth" and bien pensant. Despite Hucknall's bad reputation and the album's bad reviews, or perhaps as a result of them, Men and Women was a commercial success.
With their third album "A New Flame", Simply Red adopted a yet more mainstream populist sound aimed for commercial rather than critical success, typified by their cover of Harold Melvin's pop classic "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which became their second U.S. #1 hit and one of the biggest singles of the year internationally. Hucknall was by this time an international superstar, being photographed with models and Hollywood celebrities. This seemed to harm the band's coherence as a unit, with Hucknall declaring in 1991 that Simply Red was "essentially a solo project".
The band's popular career peaked later that year with the release of "Stars", which became the best-selling album for two years running in Europe and the UK (though notably had far less success in the US than their previous albums). "Stars" mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound, apparently to avoid alienation of their existing fanbase.
After touring and promoting "Stars" for two years, Simply Red returned in 1995 with "Fairground", a dance-influenced track featuring prominently a sample from Zki & Dobri's Goodmen project. A massive radio hit, "Fairground" went on to become the band’s first British #1, amid critical panning. Its parent album 'Life' sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, making it the fourth-biggest seller of the year. The band followed this up with cover heavy 'Blue' in 1998 and 'Love and the Russian Winter'. After 'Love and the Russian Winter' they left EastWest and Hucknall set up his own record label simplyred.com where he released "Home" in 2003, a mixture of mostly original songs and covers, including a version of The Stylistics song "You Make Me Feel Brand New". "Simplified" followed in 2005, mainly an album of stripped down versions of their Classic hits.
The single "Oh! What A Girl!" released in September 2006 from their album Stay, their 10th, released on 12 March 2007. This was preceded by the single “So Not Over You”, released on 5 March 2007. The third single from the album was the title song "Stay", released on 28 May 2007. The fourth and the last single of Simply Red single , "The World And You Tonight", was released in November 2007.
Mick Hucknall announced that the band were due to split in 2009, after a farewell tour.
"I've kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough, so I intend that the 2009 will be the last Simply Red tour."
"I've just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R'n'B artist. It's a solo project and I've really enjoyed it so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the story and the album Stay will be the last Simply Red studio album."
Beside You
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's where my dream began
I left my worries to the people who stare
And dream without a care
That I'd always be beside you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growing light
And peace will come inside
Wherever we're goin' I don't know
For million years our love keeps growin'
The mystery deepens day by day
But trust my love and hear me say
That I'll always be beside you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growing light
And peace will come inside
So quiet
And peace will come inside
So quiet
Guess I'll always be beside you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growin' light
And peace will come inside
So quiet
Yes peace will come inside
So quiet
The lyrics of Simply Red's song Beside You explore themes of love, companionship, and seeking peace in life. The opening lines, "We follow the river down into the stream, that's where my dream began" can be interpreted as a journey towards happiness and fulfillment. The singer leaves behind their worries and allows themselves to dream freely without any constraints. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the idea of always being there for somebody you love, to watch over each other and find peace within.
The stanza "Wherever we're goin', I don't know, for a million years our love keeps growin', the mystery deepens day by day, but trust my love and hear me say" hints at the unpredictability of life and the unknown road ahead. However, the singer reassures their partner that their love will not falter and will continue to grow. The song finishes with the repetition of the chorus, underscoring the idea that the ultimate destination is finding peace of mind together.
Line by Line Meaning
We follow the river down into the stream
We are moving along the river and reaching into the stream
That's where my dream began
The dream started at that point
I left my worries to the people who stare
I gave my worries to those who were watching me
And dream without a care
They were dreaming and had no worries
That I'd always be beside you to watch the day and night
I promised to always be with you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growing light
We would listen to the sunrise and feel its light getting stronger
And peace will come inside
We will find inner peace
So quiet
In a peaceful and calm manner
Wherever we're goin' I don't know
I am uncertain where we are heading
For million years our love keeps growin'
Our love will keep growing for a million years
The mystery deepens day by day
There is a growing sense of mystery every day
But trust my love and hear me say
Believe in my love and listen to what I am saying
Yes peace will come inside
We will definitely find inner peace
Guess I'll always be beside you to watch the day and night
I assume that I will always be with you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growin' light
We would listen to the sunrise and feel its light getting stronger
And peace will come inside
We will find inner peace
So quiet
In a peaceful and calm manner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTIN FULTERMAN, MICHAEL ARNOLD KAMEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IcyIce17
We follow the river down into the stream
That's where my dream began
I left my worries to the people who stare
And dream without a care
That I'd always be beside you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growing light
And peace will come inside
So quiet
Wherever we're goin' I don't know
For million years our love keeps growin'
The mystery deepens day by day
But trust my love and hear me say
That I'll always be beside you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growing light
And peace will come inside
So quiet
And peace will come inside
So quiet
Guess I'll always be beside you to watch the day and night
And we'd listen to the sunrise and feel its growin' light
And peace will come inside
So quiet
Yes peace will come inside
So quiet
@kennethteo7974
I lost my wife, this song helped us connect deeply.
@alessiobrancaccio2308
Wonderful song soundtrack of the film What Dreams May Come of 1998, with the unforgettable Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra.
A big hug to Mick from Italy!
🤗❤️
@waynebreier
I first heard this song on what dreams may come back in the 90s and it’s beautiful. So is the film , such an emotional rollercoaster .
@christineclement7532
Emotionally very deeply felt song as beautiful as the movie.😢
@luciapereira4975
Você sempre surpreende meu ruivinho.👏👏👏😍💫💫💫❤️❤️🇧🇷
@gproductions9429
My wedding song back in 2011! Thanks Simply Red!
@wandaschmitz4775
beautiful....
@deborahwatson5159
Awww, thanks so much Mick Hucknall & Simply Red, a lovely song in what the Whole World is going through right NOW, Stay Safe and Well, xx 😢
@nelsonontiveros9935
Hermosa
@porbenjamas
I miss this beautiful song and beautiful film so much.