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."
Fairground
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taking friends or moving alone
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
It's always friends that feel so good
Let's make amends like all good men should
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
Walk around, be free and roam
There's always someone leaving alone
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
Yes, I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
Love can bend and breathe alone
Until the end it finds you a home
Don't care what the people may say
It's always friends that feel so good
Let's make amends like all good men should
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
Yes, I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
Yes, I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
Yes, I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
Yes, I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
Love the thought
Even if I know we can't make it
Love the thought
The song "Fairground" by Simply Red is a nostalgic look at life's journey down an endless road, with a focus on the joys and pleasures that can be found along the way. The fairground serves as a metaphor for this journey, with its bright colors, spinning rides, and festive atmosphere representing the excitement and unpredictability of life. The lyrics describe the pleasure that can be experienced with friends and loved ones, as well as the importance of making amends and finding your true home in the end.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the bittersweet nature of love and the hope that it can provide even when things seem impossible. The singer declares his love for the thought of coming home to his beloved, even if he knows that they may never be together in reality. This sentiment captures the universal experience of longing and hope, and the power that these emotions can have in keeping us moving forward.
Overall, "Fairground" is a song about the journey of life, the joys and pleasures that can be found along the way, and the hope that keeps us going even when things seem impossible. With its catchy melody and insightful lyrics, it continues to be a beloved classic of the pop canon.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving down an endless road
Going through life's winding and unpredictable journey
Taking friends or moving alone
Experiencing life with or without companionship
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
Finding joy and excitement in life's small pleasures
It's always friends that feel so good
Having meaningful relationships with people brings happiness
Let's make amends like all good men should
Repairing broken relationships is important and valuable
Walk around, be free and roam
Embracing freedom to explore and discover the world
There's always someone leaving alone
People come and go in life, sometimes we must accept letting go
And I love the thought of coming home to you
The comfort and joy that comes from returning to a loved one
Even if I know we can't make it
Despite challenges, the thought of being together is still cherished
Yes, I love the thought of giving hope to you
Bringing positivity and optimism to a loved one is important
Just a little ray of light shining through
Even in dark times, there is hope and possibility
Love can bend and breathe alone
Love is resilient and adaptable even in adversity
Until the end it finds you a home
Love will eventually lead you to a place of comfort and belonging
Don't care what the people may say
Being true to oneself and not seeking validation from others
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Michael James Hucknall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@basvanderborg5904
Driving down an endless road
Taking friends or moving alone
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
It's always friends that feel so good
Let's make amends like all good men should
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
Walk around, be free and roam
There's always someone leaving alone
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
Love can bend and breathe alone
Until the end it finds you a home
Don't care what the people may say
It's always friends that feel so good
Let's make amends like all good men should
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we can't make it
I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
@simplyred
Only if you take me with you!
@gloweringevbd
With the right attitude, right friends and right values, you can be in the 90s all of your life.
@jaggass
who remembers this like it was just yesterday?
@denwilson7278
You
@fornlike
This song has a very mystic dimension. Unbelievable composition.
@andrewcarpede2934
This is one of my best Driving songs. STILL
@LuProch
So I heard this song once in 2002 and the melody got somehow stuck in my head. I didn't know the lyrics, song name, author, anything. And I have never heard it again since then. From time to time I remembered the melody, spent a while trying to find the song on the internet and then gave up again. Lately I wasn't even sure if I remember it correctly or if that song actually exists. So I decided to try to find it one last time before giving up completely. And today, after 16 years, I found it!!!!! Finally! And it's great. I love it. (Big thanks to midomi.)
@peterkraus5273
Mick....such a beautiful voice, so much talent, so full of feeling - just unique!
@ultron374
The sound of my childhood. Lucky to be born in 1986.
@TheJackarina
I'm a teenager and I LOVE this song, one of Simply Red's best songs in my opinion, they're an iconic group from the 90's era...