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."
She'll Have to Go
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like that Mommy?
Hi daddy, how you doin', this is Tyiest, I was thinkin' about you last
night, mmm, you actin' like you can't call me no more cause you busy and all
that, but you tryina tell me it wasn't good?
That shit is real fucked up what you did, I hooked you up wit my girl
you know what I'm sayin? And all that bitch do is call me all day
talkin' bout you: "Why the fuck do he don't want me?"
Yo Big this is Quita, Kenya told me she saw you and Shana in the mall
and I know you aint fuckin' her. You fucked with me last night that's my best
friend and we don't get down like that.
Yeah muthafucka this is Stephanie, I was waitin' outside for your ass
for like a fuckin' hour, I don't know what's goin on, muthafuckas tryina
raw me, you be dissapearin' and shit I'm waitin' in the cold, what the
fuck is goin' on, when you get in give me a fuckin' call, alright?
When it comes to sex, I'm similar to the thriller in Manila
Honeys call me Bigga the condom filler
Whether it's stiff tongue or stiff dick
Biggie squeeze it to make shit fit, now check this shit
I got the pack of Rough Riders in the back of the Pathfinder
You know the ep along by James Todd Smith
I get swift with the lyrical gift
Hit you with the dick, make your kidneys shift
Here we go, here we go, but I'm not Domino
I got the funk flow to make your drawers drop slow
So recognize the dick size in these Karl Kani jeans
I'm in thirteens, know what I mean
I fuck around and hit you with the Hennessey dick
Mess around and go blind, don't get to see shit
The next batter, here to shatter your bladder, it doesn't matter
Skinny or fat or white-skinned or black, baby I drop
These boricua mommies screamin "Aiy papi!"
I love it when they call me Big Poppa
I only smoke blunts if they roll propa
Look, I gotcha caught up in the drunk flow
Fuck tae kwon do, I tote da fo'-fo'
For niggaz gettin mad cause they bitch chose me
A big black motherfucker with g ya see
All I do is separate the game from the truth
Big bang boots from the Bronx to Bolivia
Gettin Physical like Olivia Newt
Tricks suck my clique dick all day with no trivia
So gimme a hoe, a bankroll and a bag of weed
I'm guaranteed to fuck her till her nose bleed
Even if your new man's a certified mack
You'll get that H-town in ya, you'll want that old thing back
Oh Biggie gimme one more chance
I got that good dick girl, ya didn't know
Oh Biggie gimme one more chance
I got that good dick girl, ya didn't know
Is my mind playin tricks, like Scarface and Bushwick
Willie D, havin nightmares of girls killin me
She mad because what we had didn't last
I'm glad because her cousin let me hit the ass
Fuck the past let's dwell on the 500 SL, the E and J and ginger ale
The way my pockets swell to the rim with Benjamins
Another hon's in the crib, please send her in
I fuck nonstop, lick my lips alot, used to lick the clits alot
But lickin clits had to stop
Cause y'all don't know how to act when the tongue go down below
Peep the funk flow, really though
I got the cleanest meanest penis, ya never seen this stroke of genius
So take off your Tim boots and your bodysuit
I mean the spandex and hit my man next
Sex gettin rougher when it come to the nut buster
Pussy crusher, black nasty motherfucker
I don't chase em, I replace em
and if I'm caressin em, I'm undressin em
Fuck whatcha heard who's the best in New York
For fillin fantasies without that nigga Mr. Rourke?
Or Tattoo I got you wrapped around my dick
And when I'm done I got to split shit
Back shots is my position, I gotcha wishin for an intermission
Fuck the kissin, lickin down to your belly button, I ain't frontin
They don't call me B.I.G. for nuttin, all of a sudden
Oh Biggie gimme one more chance
I got that good dick girl you didn't know
Oh Biggie gimme one more chance
I got that good dick girl, ya didn't know
The lyrics to Notorious B.I.G.'s "One More Chance" are sexually explicit and explicit about Biggie's physical prowess, as he boasts about his sexual abilities throughout the song. The first verse is a series of voicemail recordings from various women, all calling Biggie and mostly angry or upset about his behavior. The second verse is Biggie himself rapping about his sexual abilities, particularly his ability to please women and make them orgasm. There is a heavy emphasis on the size of his penis and his sexual prowess. The chorus, "Oh Biggie give me one more chance, I got that good d*** girl you didn't know," is repeated throughout the song.
While some may interpret the lyrics as misogynistic or objectifying, others see it as a celebration of sexual prowess and confidence. Regardless of one's interpretation, it is clear that the song is not meant to be taken too seriously and is meant to be enjoyed as a fun, sexual party anthem.
Line by Line Meaning
All you hoes, callin' here for my daddy get off his dick.
Stop trying to hit on my father.
That shit is real fucked up what you did, I hooked you up wit my girl and shit you fucked her 8 times you see her you don't say SHIT to her you know what I'm sayin? And all that bitch do is call me all day talkin' bout you: "Why the fuck do he don't want me?"
You slept with my girlfriend without telling her you didn't want to be with her anymore, and now she's calling me confused about why you won't talk to her.
when you get in give me a fuckin' call, alright?
Please call me when you get home.
When it comes to sex, I'm similar to the thriller in Manila
I am a great lover and bring a lot of excitement to sex.
Honeys call me Bigga the condom filler
Women know me by a nickname that reflects my skill in using condoms.
Biggie squeeze it to make shit fit, now check this shit
I make sure the condom fits properly by squeezing it.
I get swift with the lyrical gift
I am talented at rapping and writing lyrics quickly.
Hit you with the dick, make your kidneys shift
I am so skilled sexually that I can cause your body to react in unexpected ways.
Here we go, here we go, but I'm not Domino
I am starting to rap and comparing myself to another rapper.
I got the funk flow to make your drawers drop slow
My music has a hypnotic quality that is sexually arousing.
So recognize the dick size in these Karl Kani jeans
I am proud of my endowment and want people to be aware of it.
I'm in thirteens, know what I mean
I wear size 13 shoes.
I fuck around and hit you with the Hennessey dick
I am so good in bed that I can make you forget about the drinks you had that night.
Mess around and go blind, don't get to see shit
My sexual prowess is so intense that it can leave a woman temporarily blind.
The next batter, here to shatter your bladder, it doesn't matter Skinny or fat or white-skinned or black, baby I drop
I am confident in my ability to sexually please women of all shapes, sizes, and races.
These boricua mommies screamin "Aiy Papi!" I love it when they call me Big Poppa
I enjoy when Hispanic women call me "daddy" during sex.
I only smoke blunts if they roll propa
I only smoke marijuana if it is wrapped properly.
But lickin clits had to stop
I stopped performing oral sex on women because of bad behavior towards me.
Fuck whatcha heard who's the best in New York For fillin fantasies without that nigga Mr. Rourke?
I am the best lover in New York and don't need someone else's help to fulfill sexual fantasies.
Back shots is my position, I gotcha wishin for an intermission Fuck the kissin, lickin down to your belly button, I ain't frontin
I prefer doggy-style sex and am not interested in spending time with a lot of foreplay.
They don't call me B.I.G. for nuttin, all of a sudden I got that good dick girl you didn't know
People call me B.I.G. for a reason, and now you know that I am a great lover.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL JAMES HUCKNALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kay
on Picture Book
Ive always heard it was a reference to the list of names of African Americans who were allowed to go to the cinema in around the desegregation era.
Lowell
on Wonderland
In my opinion this song is a commentary, and criticism, of British life under Margaret Thatcher, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, when this tune was released. "The end of an era / our future no clearer / my people no stronger / the blame I lay on her" might suggest disappointment with Thatcher's promised reforms of British government. The refrain "wonderland, wonderland / it's beautiful" sounds like a political slogan, promising a new life for all "...until tomorrow comes to haunt us all".