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."
Stars
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would tell you the way I'm feeling
Anyone who ever wanted you
Would try to tell you what I feel inside
The only thing I ever wanted
Was the feeling that you ain't faking
The only one you ever thought about
Wait a minute, can't you see that I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
For the man who tried to hurt you
He's explaining the way I'm feeling
For all the jealousy I caused you
States the reason why I'm trying to hide
As for all the things you taught me
It sends my future into clearer dimensions
You'll never know how much you hurt me
Stay a minute, can't you see that I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
Too many hearts are broken
A lover's promise never came with a maybe
So many words are left unspoken
The silent voices are driving me crazy
After all the pain you caused me
Making up could never be your intention
You'll never know how much you hurt me
Stay, can't you see that I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend, I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
The song "Stars" by Simply Red is a romantic ballad about someone who has realized the depth of their feelings for the person they love. The singer is telling the person that anyone who has ever held or wanted them would understand the intensity of their emotions. The singer hopes the person recognizes that they have genuine, non-fake feelings for them. The chorus repeatedly states that the singer wants to fall from the stars (a metaphor for something unattainable) and into the arms of the person they love. The singer hopes that the person understands their feelings and realizes how much they have hurt them in the past.
The second verse indicates that the singer wants to explain the intensity of their feelings to the person, regardless of any hurt or jealousy caused in the past. The person taught the singer so much, and they realize that making up could never be the person's intention. However, the singer still hopes that the person can see how hurt they were and still feel the depth of their love. The pre-chorus and chorus repeat, reinforcing the singer's desire to be with the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Anyone who ever held you
If someone has ever held you, they would know how deeply I feel for you.
Would tell you the way I'm feeling
They would express my emotions for you.
Anyone who ever wanted you
If someone craved your love, they would try to describe the depth of my feelings for you.
Would try to tell you what I feel inside
They would attempt to voice the emotions I have bottled up inside for you.
The only thing I ever wanted
Your affection is the only thing I have yearned for.
Was the feeling that you ain't faking
I longed to believe your love was genuine.
The only one you ever thought about
As for the one who consumed your thoughts, can you not perceive that I
Wait a minute, can't you see that I
Wait, I need you to understand that I
Wanna fall from the stars
I wish to plummet from the sky.
Straight into your arms, I
I want to land directly into your embrace.
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
I sense your presence, I pray you understand.
For the man who tried to hurt you
Regarding the person who aimed to harm you
He's explaining the way I'm feeling
He is conveying my sentiments.
For all the jealousy I caused you
Because of all the envy I instigated within you.
States the reason why I'm trying to hide
It elucidates the reason I am trying to camouflage my emotions.
As for all the things you taught me
As for all the lessons you have taught me.
It sends my future into clearer dimensions
It has illuminated a clearer path for my future.
You'll never know how much you hurt me
You will never comprehend the depth of pain you caused me.
Stay a minute, can't you see that I
Stay, please, don't you see that I
Too many hearts are broken
Too many souls are shattered
A lover's promise never came with a maybe
A commitment from a partner should never come with uncertainty.
So many words are left unspoken
Too many declarations are left unexpressed.
The silent voices are driving me crazy
The inaudible screams within me are causing insanity.
After all the pain you caused me
Despite all the agony you caused me.
Making up could never be your intention
Reconciling our differences was never your intention.
Wanna fall from the stars
I wish to plummet from the sky.
Straight into your arms, I
I want to land directly into your embrace.
I feel you, I hope you comprehend, I
I sense your presence, I pray you understand, I
Wanna fall from the stars
I wish to plummet from the sky.
Straight into your arms, I
I want to land directly into your embrace.
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
I sense your presence, I pray you understand.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Michael James Hucknall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Anfrobiano
Stars
Anyone who ever held you
Would tell you the way I'm feeling
Anyone who ever wanted you
Would try to tell you what I feel inside
The only thing I ever wanted
Was the feeling that you ain't faking
The only one you ever thought about
Wait a minute can't you see that I
I wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms
I, I feel you
I hope you comprehend
For the man who tried to hurt you
He's explaining the way I'm feeling
For all the jealousy I caused you
States the reason why I'm trying to hide
As for all the things you taught me
It sends my future into clearer dimensions
You'll never know how much you hurt me
Stay a minute can't you see that I
I wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms
I, I feel you
I hope you comprehend
Too many hearts are broken
A lover's promise never came with a maybe
So many words are left unspoken
The silent voices are driving me crazy
As for all the pain you caused me
Making up could never be your intention
You'll never know how much you hurt me
Stay can't you see that I
I wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms
I, I feel you
I hope you comprehend.
@Reuben007Ash
You can't find songs & artists like him today .
@thewinspear7325
You Know It's A Good Day When This Comes On The Radio.
@MiwDefender
The Winspear true 💛
@jotap6961
I agree
@Daaahhhggg
This guy does not get the respect & notoriety he deserves.. LEGENDARY singer/songwriter
@divaslive6953
80's and early 90's hits can never be matched by today's music. 👌👍💕💟
@rcpete7055
My mum used to listen to simply red in the 90's and it always reminds me of her😊 love you mum xx
@annebell4622
Pete fpv X she's still listening x
@meimaytube
Stars~~~~How much I love this song!!!💘💘💘
@bernardwitczak
ochhh yes :)