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."
Something Got Me Started
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something got me started
You know that I will love you
Lately since we parted
I truly know that I need you
I'd give it all up for you I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you (yes I would) I'd give it all up for you (yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you (yes I would) I'd give it all up for you (yes I would)
Totally broken hearted
Guilty of what I did to you
Lately since we parted
I truly know that I need you
Yes a little because
I'd give it all up for you I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you (yes I would) I'd give it all up for you (yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you (yes I would) I'd give it all up for you (yes I would)
C'mon
I really love you
C'mon, I'd give it all up for you, I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you, I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you (yes I would) I'd give it all up for you (yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you (yes I would) I'd give it all up for you (yes I would)
Yes I would yes I would
Yes I would
Hey
Yes I would, yeah
Yes I would
(Something got me started) hey
(Something got me started)
You've got to help me now (something got me started)
You've got to help me now (something got me started)
You've got to help me now (something got me started)
You've got to help me now, help me (something got me started)
I'll take it out
The lyrics of Simply Red's song "Something Got Me Started" express the singer's strong feelings of love and commitment towards their significant other. The song opens with the singer declaring these intense emotions, emphasizing a willingness to be vulnerable and open with their love interest by asking them to reciprocate their feelings: "I love you, show me."
The chorus reveals that "something got [them] started," implying that this love was sudden and unexpected, although the singer's commitment to the relationship is unwavering. The second verse suggests that the singer may have made a mistake or hurt their love interest in the past ("Guilty of what I did to you"), but has since come to realize the depth of their feelings and their need for this person in their life.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of urgency and passion in the singer's desire for their love interest, urging them to reciprocate equally intense feelings. The repetition of the phrase "I'd give it all up for you" emphasizes the singer's willingness to make sacrifices for their relationship and the importance of their love interest in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Something got me started
There's something about you that has made me fall in love
You know that I will love you
I am certain that I love you
Lately since we parted
Since we have been apart, I have realized how much I need you
I truly know that I need you
I have come to the realization that I cannot live without you
I'd give it all up for you
I am willing to sacrifice everything for you
Totally broken hearted
I am completely heartbroken
Guilty of what I did to you
I feel guilty for what I did to you
Yes a little because
To some extent, I am feeling this way because of my actions
C'mon
Come on, let me show you how much I love you
I really love you
I am deeply in love with you
You've got to help me now (something got me started)
You need to help me cope with this newfound love I have for you
I'll take it out
I am willing to give my all to make things right with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRITZ MCINTYRE, MICK HUCKNALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rene Esqueti
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Track "Simply Red"
on Bandsintown
I love you, show me
Something got me started
You know that I will love you
Lately since we parted
I truly know that I need you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
Totally broken hearted
Guilty of what I did to you
Lately since we parted
I truly know that I need you
Yes a little because
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
C'mon
I really love you
C'mon
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
I'd give it all up for you
(Yes I would)
Yes I would
Yes I would
Yes I would
Hey
Yes I would, yeah
Yes I would
(Something got me started)
Hey, ayy
(Something got me started)
You've got to help me now
(Something got me started)
You've got to help me now
(Something got me started)
You've got to help me now
(Something got me started)
You've got to help me now, help me
(Something got me started)
I'll take it out
RBS
...Oh, you Kiddies just don't KNOW!! ...This was HUUUUGE in the Clubs, back in Dec. 1991 / March 1992, ALL the remixes to this tune were big! ...It was getting played, along with THESE jams...:
- Change - Lisa Stansfield / Frankie Knuckles & Driza Bone remixes (cont.)
- Just A Touch Of Love - C+C Music Factory / C+C 's 'Express' Mixes
- We Got A Love Thang - Cece Peniston / LP & Maurice Joshua Mixes
- Vibeology - Paula Abdul / Steve 'Silk' Hurley Mixes
- Cole & Clivilles - A Deeper Love / The 'continuous' Mixes
- I'll Be Your Friend - Robert Owens / Morales Mixes
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne / Masters At Work Mixes
- Kym Sims - To Blind To See It / Steve 'Silk' Hurley Mixes
- Black Or White - Michael Jackson / C+C Remixes
.....MAN! ..and I remembered that off the Top of my HEAD! ...OUCH!! ...ha-HAA!! ..AHH, The Early 90's, fabulous times...FABULOUS times....
Risto
This song sounds like it would be heard at a fashion show in the early 90s
Anthony Means
Probably was!
Tomahawk Studios
Yeah, this song's got some definite swagger
divdqdovo
Couldn’t agree with you more. I was there at the fashion show ;)
Alekillo10
I love driving to this in GTA V!
lenayef
На сальоную воду ни жалуецца, молчат как с кляпом в жопе
Joel Ginski
Toooo
Gary Bush
Me too!!!!
Etist
Me too
Oskar Dubicki
Same