The band consists of Rachel Goswell (vocals/guitar), Neil Halstead (vocals/guitar), Nick Chaplin (bass), Christian Savill (guitar), and Simon Scott (drums, 1990-1994, 2014-present); additionally, Ian McCutcheon replaced Scott from 1994-1995. Goswell and Halstead had known each other since early childhood in Reading, Berkshire.
Initial demos were released as the Slowdive EP in late 1990; the band's sound was influenced by the Cocteau Twins and Creation labelmates My Bloody Valentine, featuring heavy use of guitar effects and muted vocals. Reviews in Melody Maker and the NME were enthusiastic, and two further well-regarded EPs followed in 1991 (Morningrise & Holding Our Breath). Their debut LP Just for a Day was written and recorded in six weeks, and was generally felt to be a disappointment at the time. At the same time, the UK music press had started to pick up on the American grunge scene, and the more introspective sounds of Slowdive, labelmates Ride, Chapterhouse and other "shoegazing" bands had fallen from critical favour. American label SBK pushed back the release of Just for a Day after a disastrous viral marketing campaign (involving vandalism of a public statue). In early 1992, the band toured the USA with Ride, and then returned to the UK to record a second album.
The band's second album, Souvlaki, would later become generally the band's most popular and well-received record. The album broke new ground for the band: two songs featured contributions from Brian Eno; "Souvlaki Space Station" was influenced by dub reggae; tracks such as "Dagger" and "Here She Comes" would become indications of the country-rock direction Halstead and Goswell would take a few years later; and several songs such as "When the Sun Hits" and "Alison" continued the style of the first album, but with improved songwriting. Initial copies of the UK version came with Blue Day, a compilation of most of the early EP tracks originally released as a separate album in Japan and some European countries. Later in the year, the band also released the 5 EP, containing four songs showcasing the influence of ambient techno; the lead track "In Mind" was also remixed by Bandulu and Reload (both then signed to Creation's dance label).
As with the first album, SBK delayed Souvlaki's release, and the band found themselves touring the USA in the summer of 1993 as Catherine Wheel's supporting act with no product to promote. The US version of Souvlaki was eventually released in early 1994, and included "Some Velvet Morning" (originally recorded for the Volume 7 compilation) and three of the tracks from the 5 EP. When Slowdive were finally able to tour America to support the album, SBK withdrew their funding halfway through; two further tours in 1994 were entirely funded by the band.
Simon Scott left amidst creative differences in 1994; he was replaced on drums by Ian McCutcheon. The band had almost become a Halstead solo project by the recording of their final album, 1995's Pygmalion. A critically misunderstood and widely-misinterpreted "ambient" record, Pygmalion took the dreamy guitar sound and warm-yet-solemn tone of earlier Slowdive to a newer, more minimalist extreme, similar to earlier dream pop bands such as A R Kane, or bands such as Labradford.
Slowdive was dropped by Creation in 1995 a week after the release of Pygmalion; Halstead had been warned before the recording of the album that the relationship with the label would end unless he delivered a "pop album". A legend arose that the band was dropped due to the Gallagher brothers refusing to sign Oasis to Creation if Slowdive and their counterparts remained on the label's roster, although Oasis had in fact released their debut single almost a year before Pygmalion.
After being dropped from Creation, Slowdive eventually went on hiatus later in 1995. Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell and Ian McCutcheon recorded an album of country-influenced songs, and were signed to label 4AD, changing the band name to Mojave 3. Halstead and Goswell have also both released solo albums for 4AD.
Christian Savill went on to form Monster Movie, a dream pop group that continued where Slowdive left off. They have released three albums thus far, Last Night Something Happened, To The Moon, Transistor, and—most recently—All Lost.
Simon Scott formed Televise in 2004, a group which developed the lengthy noise swells and experimental song structures that helped define shoegaze while (also) including a more electronic brand of indie rock.
Eventually, all of Slowdive's albums were reissued in late 2005. Just For a Day included a bonus disc with all tracks from the first three EPs, and the three songs recorded for a John Peel session on 26 March 1991. Souvlaki included a bonus disc with all the remaining EP tracks, as well as "Some Velvet Morning" (originally recorded for a compilation). Pygmalion—which had become a collector's item in the years since its release due to it never being issued in the USA—contained no extra material, however.
On January 28, 2014, following a 12-day countdown and the appearance of an official website and Twitter account for the band, Slowdive announced their reunion with the Just for a Day/Souvlaki-era line-up including Simon Scott as drummer. The band was confirmed the same day to be playing the 2014 Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, Spain. 2014 saw the band go on a 5 month, 40 date long tour. In January 2017, Slowdive released their first new single in 22 years on the Dead Oceans label. Another single and a self titled fourth album followed in May 2017, preceded by another single, "Sugar for the Pill".
In September 2020, Slowdive announced they had begun work on their fifth studio album. In April 2023, the band confirmed on a podcast that they had finished their new album. The lead single "Kisses" was released on 20 June 2023, and later that month the band played the Glastonbury Festival for the first time. The album's second single "Skin in the Game" was released on 18 July 2023, followed by "The Slab" and "Alife" in August, and the album Everything Is Alive, was released on 1 September 2023.
Silver Screen
Slowdive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought the world would cry
Lose those tears
It's for the future now
Sugar lips
I've always loved you
Words you wrote they only make me cry
Where are your (?) now?
Lost in (?) every
Lose those tears
Although (They don't?) they suit your eyes
Can't believe they (?)(every?) to cry
Watching the silver screen
It's the tip of the silver dream
Sister you know you cant go wrong
Nothing left (else?) to feel like this is gone
Watching the silver screen (3x)
Lost in words now
I'll make a brighter dream
I wish you well (?) want to wish it more(?)
Your stars are smiling
It makes you so serene
Sugar lips
They make my fingers bleed
Watching the silver screen
It's the tip of the silver dream
Sister you know you cant go wrong
Nothing left (else?) to feel like this is gone
Watching the silver screen (3x)
The song "Silver Screen" by the shoegaze band Slowdive features ethereal vocals that seem to float through layers of dreamy guitar work, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that is both haunting and soothing. The lyrics of the song, though cryptic and enigmatic, suggest a sense of longing and nostalgia, with the singer reflecting on lost love and the passing of time. The opening lines, "I thought the world would cry/Lose those tears/It's for the future now," seem to express a desire for growth and progress, even as the singer mourns the past.
Throughout the song, there are references to "silver dreams" and "silver screens," suggesting that the singer is watching some kind of movie or performance, perhaps as a way of escaping reality or reliving a memory. The lines "Lost in words now/I'll make a brighter dream" suggest that the singer is attempting to make sense of their emotions and find a sense of hope in the midst of sadness. The repeated refrain of "Watching the silver screen" serves as a kind of mantra, anchoring the song in its dreamlike atmosphere.
Overall, "Silver Screen" is a beautifully evocative and emotionally resonant song that captures the essence of Slowdive's signature sound.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought the world would cry
I believed that the whole world would weep
Lose those tears
Stop crying, be strong
It's for the future now
We need to focus on what's ahead
Sugar lips
An endearing term for my lover
I've always loved you
I had affection for you all along
Words you wrote they only make me cry
Your messages evoke sadness in me
Stranger(?), Animals(?), Anger(?)
Unclear/ambiguous phrase
Where are your (?) now?
Unknown/missing thing
Lost in (?) every
Unclear/ambiguous phrase
Although (They don't?) they suit your eyes
Although these tears don’t complement your eyes
Can't believe they (?)(every?) to cry
Unclear/ambiguous phrase
Watching the silver screen
I am looking at the movies
It's the tip of the silver dream
Watching films is just the start of my desires
Sister you know you cant go wrong
My dear, there is nothing to fear/do wrong
Nothing left (else?) to feel like this is gone
There’s nothing more to experience, it all feels over
Lost in words now
I'm struggling to express myself
I'll make a brighter dream
I'll make a more optimistic future for myself
I wish you well (?) want to wish it more(?)
I hope you are doing good and I wish that to happen more
Your stars are smiling
Your fate is fortunate
It makes you so serene
It gives you inner peace
Sugar lips
An endearing term for my lover
They make my fingers bleed
They make me feel ecstatic
Contributed by Aubrey C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@noonesland2471
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Strip the clouds, yeah
I thought the world would cry
Lose those tears
It's for the future now
Sugar lips
I always loved you
Words you wrote, they only made me cry
[Chorus]
Just watching the silver screen
It's the tip of a silver dream
[Verse 2]
Stranger animal
Where are your charms now?
You lost your mask, we found a smaller hill // Lost your mask, we felt/built a solid will
Lose those tears
Though they suit your eyes
I can't believe you ever thought to cry
[Chorus]
Just watching the silver screen
It's the tip of a silver dream
Sister, you know you can't go on
Nothing left, it feels like this is gone
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
[Verse 3]
Lost in words now
I'll make a brighter dream
I wish you well, but Lord, you wish it more
Your stars are smiling
It makes you so serene
Sugar lips, they make my fingers bleed
[Chorus]
Just watching the silver screen
It's the tip of a silver dream
Sister, you know you can't go on
Nothing left, it feels like this is gone
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Sister, you know you can't go on
Nothing left, it feels like this is gone
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
@noonesland2471
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Strip the clouds, yeah
I thought the world would cry
Lose those tears
It's for the future now
Sugar lips
I always loved you
Words you wrote, they only made me cry
[Chorus]
Just watching the silver screen
It's the tip of a silver dream
[Verse 2]
Stranger animal
Where are your charms now?
You lost your mask, we found a smaller hill // Lost your mask, we felt/built a solid will
Lose those tears
Though they suit your eyes
I can't believe you ever thought to cry
[Chorus]
Just watching the silver screen
It's the tip of a silver dream
Sister, you know you can't go on
Nothing left, it feels like this is gone
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
[Verse 3]
Lost in words now
I'll make a brighter dream
I wish you well, but Lord, you wish it more
Your stars are smiling
It makes you so serene
Sugar lips, they make my fingers bleed
[Chorus]
Just watching the silver screen
It's the tip of a silver dream
Sister, you know you can't go on
Nothing left, it feels like this is gone
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Sister, you know you can't go on
Nothing left, it feels like this is gone
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
Watching the silver screen
@adimareck5485
Monumental piece of music
@nickd935
Slowdive is different..I've only stumbled apon then recently but everytime I listen to them I get taken emotionally to a place where I reflect on my life and the choices Ive made and getting perspective. It happens with other bands and artists but this..it creates feeling with no words to describe it
@sothasil6605
I don't know where this place is, but i feel it in my soul when i listen to these songs, and i hope to find in it peace from the sorrows that have made me so sad and isolated even from myself, probably i only need a silver screen, i hope for you that the choices you've made and at which you think when you listen to these songs have made you a happy man, emotionally probably we are in the same place.
"Away beyond all the ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. I will meet you there."
@valentina_melethiel
I’m telling you they do things to me that I can’t explain with any other band, I avoided to listen at them during pregnancy because I didn’t want to cry all the time 😂
@ralfi955
Same here came across slowdive in the book "Rabbits hooked ever since
@jenn222
i completely agree
@juancheto0177
Lastima que a los ingleses no les haya importado tanto en su momento. Y gracias a Youtube que ellos hoy son escuchados.
@Risviltsov
This is the most beautiful, tearful shoegazing/dronegazing song I've ever heard. How did they manage to make a drone that sounded so miserable and tearful, then have it give way to an epic moment of truth, only to revert back again? It's wonderful.
@broncotrolly
Wow never thought id hear this remastered!