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."
shine On
Simply Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reach for the skies, now I feel ten feet tall
The sun is shining on us, baby
Play that song so we can dance
Our love is shining on us, baby
Let's play the song so we can dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
Shine on, shine on, shine on
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
Come on and shine on, shine on
Ooh, shiny eyes, we can have a ball
Reach for the skies, you make me ten feet tall
The sun is shining on us, baby
Let's sing the song and we can dance
Our love is shining on us, baby
Let's play the song so we can dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
Shine on, shine on, shine on
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
I want you to shine on, shine on, shine on
Ooh, shiny eyes, we can have a ball
I want you to shine on, shine on
Ooh, shiny eyes, now I feel ten feet tall
Shine on, shine on, shine on
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
Shine on, shine on, shine on
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
Shine on
(Ooh, you make me feel so young)
Shine on
The lyrics to Simply Red's song "Shine" are all about love and feeling free. The singer is talking to their partner, who they refer to as having "shiny eyes," and expressing how that person has broken down a wall and made them feel ten feet tall. They are basking in the glow of their love as the sun shines down on them, and they want to dance to the music that is playing. The repeated phrase "shine on" is a call to their partner to continue to be that bright spot in their life and for them to continue to feel free and happy.
The simplicity of the lyrics and the upbeat tone of the song give the impression that the relationship the artist is singing about is fresh and new, like the feeling of being young and carefree. There is a sense of joy and excitement about simply being in love and enjoying the moment. The song encourages the listener to embrace the feeling of freedom that love can bring and to let that love shine on.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, shiny eyes, you've broken down a wall
You have managed to break down a barrier and open yourself up to me
Reach for the skies, now I feel ten feet tall
I feel empowered and capable of achieving anything with you by my side
The sun is shining on us, baby
We are in a state of bliss where everything seems perfect and bright
Play that song so we can dance
Let's enjoy this moment and celebrate our love by dancing to a song that we both love
Our love is shining on us, baby
Our affection for each other is radiating and bringing joy to our lives
Let's play the song so we can dance, dance, dance
Let's keep celebrating our love by dancing to the music that we both love
Ooh, you make me feel so young
Being with you makes me feel young and alive
Shine on, shine on, shine on
Continue to radiate and bring joy and happiness to my life
Ooh, shiny eyes, we can have a ball
We can have a lot of fun and enjoy each other's company
I want you to shine on, shine on, shine on
I want you to continue to be a source of happiness and light in my life
Now I feel ten feet tall
I feel confident and perfect with you in my life
Shine on
Continue to be a positive influence in my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL JAMES HUCKNALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
_hxcknall
I heard about Simply Red for the first time while I was in therapy after an accident, Sunrise suddenly started playing on the radio and I fell in love immediately. People still have a hard time trying to understand how a 17 y/o guy can love them so much but it's because their music is ageless, songs like Enough, Close To You and Picture Book bring me so much happiness and I still can't believe that I'll see them live in less than 14 days. If you're here because you want to listen to their latest work please take a few hours to hear more than just Stars and Holding Back The Years, you won't be disappointed
Freebird
Good music knows no age limitation.Enjoy,and Shine On,my friend 😁
World Princess
May Simply Red shine on forever! ❤️
Marta Maria
Espetacular! Grandes músicos e super voz Mick Hucknall.
Njderig
Simply Red makes such good music with great musicians. I've been a fan since I first heard of them in the 80s. I never understood why they aren't that popular here in the United States. Their biggest hit in the US was "If you don't know me by now" in 1989 which happens to be my favorite song of their's.
leorderj
Njderig
Shelley Zinno
Greatest VOICE and BAND ever!!!!!! SIMPLY RED is SIMPLY THE BEST!!
Kary14
Maravillosos ♥️ 🎶 la misma esencia a pesar de los años.. Muestra que siempre han sido profesionales y fieles a ellos mismos.. SR son los mejores.. Deberían ser eternos 😥🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
Nataliya Kolesnik
Mick's voice is only getting better! Amazing! ❤✌😘!
Carlos Garcia
Simply Red é top demais , e esse instrumental é de dar inveja, tanta qualidade. Sempre no topo. 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷