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."
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Simply Red Lyrics
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Every time we say goodbye I wonder why a little
Why the gods above me who must be in the know
Think so little of me they allow you to go
When you're near there's such an air of spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere waiting to sing about it
There's no love song finer
Every time we say goodbye
When you're near there's such an air of spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere waiting to sing about it
There's no love song finer
But how strange the change from major to minor
Every time we say goodbye
The song "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" by Simply Red talks about the pain and confusion that come with parting ways with someone you love. The lyrics are a reflection of the emotions that one goes through when a relationship ends. The repetition of the phrase "Every time we say goodbye" emphasizes the repetition of the pain of separation. The lines "I die a little" and "I wonder why a little" accentuate the feeling of hopelessness and the question of why things did not work out.
The verse "Why the gods above me who must be in the know think so little of me they allow you to go" suggests that the singer feels like fate, or some higher power, has played a cruel joke on them. The bridge "When you're near there's such an air of spring about it, I can hear a lark somewhere waiting to sing about it, there's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor" speaks of the beauty and joy that being with the loved one brings, but also of the sadness that follows when they leave.
Overall, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" is a poignant yet beautiful reflection on love and loss. Simply Red's rendition of the song is emotionally charged and makes the listener feel the pain and the beauty of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time we say goodbye I die a little
Saying goodbye to you causes me emotional pain.
Every time we say goodbye I wonder why a little
I question why we have to go our separate ways every time we say goodbye.
Why the gods above me who must be in the know
I question why fate seems to be against our love and separates us every time we say goodbye.
Think so little of me they allow you to go
I feel unworthy of your love as fate keeps allowing us to be separated.
When you're near there's such an air of spring about it
Being near you makes me feel like new life is possible and everything is in bloom.
I can hear a lark somewhere waiting to sing about it
I can sense the beauty of our love and how it inspires others to sing.
There's no love song finer
Our love is the most beautiful and inspiring love song I know.
But how strange the change from major to minor
Despite the beauty of our love, it's strange how quickly it can turn from a happy, major melody to a sad, minor one.
Every time we say goodbye
However, every time we say goodbye, the melody turns sad again, reminding me of our separation.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@atimtambaby
I love it when a "young" artist covers a classic/standard and does it justice as Mr. Hucknall has done with this wonderful Cole Porter song.
@ljiljanaobradovic4561
My favourite among Cole Porter's songs,especially because it's sung by you,Mick! I think that you should make the whole album with Cole Porter's songs for all of us who love both of you! His music and your voice,that would be HEAVEN!!!
@michelealexander1457
must be over 20 years since Ive listened to this and I remember it like yesterday. Thanks Mike and thanks FB for reminding me of this amazing mans voice.
@ritagalang794
I simply love this song covered by Simply Red!
@thaysmorales6862
Amo essa música! Incrivelmente maravilhosa, perfeita! Conheço há mais de 30 anos, na voz de cantoras de jazz famosas! Parabéns a ele pela escolha! Sarava!
@mariaterezinhasimas3649
MARAVILHOSO,LINDA MUSICA PAIXÃO ETERNA.
@Shaki611
this song's perfect for Mick's voice. Love him
@Mirapaw
a special song running deeply into your heart and let you think of people you miss being far away somewhere in the world as well in heaven already
@neravan
Beautiful song beautiful voice!!!!
@blanquitotv808
excelente interpretación Mick