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.
Some Velvet Morning
Slowdive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna open up your gate
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
And how she gave me life
And how she made it in
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
Flowers growing on the hill
Learn from us very much
Look at us but do not touch
Phaedra is my name
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
I'm gonna open up your gate
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
And how she gave me life
And how she made it in
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
Flowers are the things we knew
Secrets are the things we grew
Learn from us very much
Look at us but do not touch
Phaedra is my name
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
Flowers growing on the hill
I'm gonna open up your gate
Dragonflies and daffodils
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
Learn from us very much
And how she gave me life
Look at us but do not touch
And how she made it in
Slowdive's song "Some Velvet Morning" is a hauntingly beautiful tune that is often subject to interpretation due to its cryptic lyrics. The song appears to be written in the form of two separate yet interlinked verses, with the chorus line breaking up each verse. The song opens with the lyrics "Some velvet morning when I'm straight, I'm gonna open up your gate, and maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra, and how she gave me life, and how she made it in, some velvet morning when I'm straight." These opening verses are shrouded in mystery as it is unclear who the singer is addressing or who Phaedra is. It could be that the song is addressing a lover, a friend, or even the listener.
The second verse of the song is just as cryptic as the first. It begins with the lyrics, "Flowers growing on the hill, dragonflies and daffodils, learn from us very much, look at us but do not touch, Phaedra is my name." These lines could be interpreted as a metaphor, with flowers and dragonflies representing beauty and fragility, while daffodils symbolize hope and new beginnings. The mention of Phaedra's name towards the end of the verse adds to the mystery, leaving the listener to speculate about who or what Phaedra represents.
In conclusion, "Some Velvet Morning" is a haunting and mysterious song that is open to varied interpretation. The song's lyrics could be seen as representing the singer's search for inner peace and understanding in a world of beauty and fragility. Alternatively, the song could be depicting a journey through life and a longing for enlightenment.
Some interesting facts about Slowdive's "Some Velvet Morning" are:
- The song was originally written and recorded by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra in 1967.
- The cover version of the song by Slowdive was released in 1993 as part of the "Souvlaki" album.
- The song has been featured in films such as Vanilla Sky and Lost in Translation.
- The song was covered by Primal Scream, featuring actress Kate Moss on vocals.
- The song was included in the soundtrack of the videogame Forza Horizon 4.
- The lyrics of the song have been interpreted in many different ways, ranging from discussions of drug use to depictions of sexual fetishism.
- The song features a sample from "The Look of Love" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
- The cover version of the song by Slowdive features Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell sharing vocals.
- The song has been praised for its ethereal and melancholy sound, which is characteristic of the "shoegaze" genre.
- The song has been covered by many artists, including Primal Scream, Lydia Lunch, and Kate Moss.
Chords (as played by Slowdive):
Verse: Emaj9, F#min7, Bmin7, Amin7
Chorus: Emaj9, Amaj7, F#min7, Bmin7, Amin7
Line by Line Meaning
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
The singer is waiting for a time when they are mentally clear to share something important.
I'm gonna open up your gate
The singer will reveal something private to the person they are speaking to.
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
The singer is going to disclose something about a person named Phaedra.
And how she gave me life
The singer will describe how Phaedra has had a profound impact on their life.
And how she made it in
The singer will discuss how Phaedra has succeeded in their life.
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
The singer reiterates their intention to share this information when they are completely present.
Flowers growing on the hill
The singer describes a tranquil, idyllic setting.
Dragonflies and daffodils
The singer observes and appreciates the beauty of nature.
Learn from us very much
The singer suggests that observing nature can teach us many valuable lessons.
Look at us but do not touch
The singer warns that while nature is beautiful, it should be revered and not exploited.
Phaedra is my name
The singer once again invokes the name of Phaedra, emphasizing their importance.
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
The singer repeats their plan to share information about Phaedra when they are completely sober.
Flowers are the things we knew
The singer reflects on the knowledge they have gained through observing nature.
Secrets are the things we grew
The singer implies that the lessons they have learned from nature are valuable secrets.
Learn from us very much
The singer reiterates the importance of learning from nature.
Look at us but do not touch
The singer again emphasizes the need to protect nature and not exploit it.
Phaedra is my name
The singer again invokes the name of Phaedra, reinforcing their importance.
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
The song repeats its main theme of sharing information when the singer is completely present.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE HAZLEWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Conrad
on Miranda (Demo Version)
Wrong lyrics.