Both Marc Almond and Dave Ball grew up in seaside towns (the former, Southport, and the latter, Blackpool), and later met while students at the Leeds Polytechnic Fine Arts University (now Leeds Metropolitan University). Almond, a performance artist, collaborated with Ball on a few avant-garde multi-media performances at the university. Although Ball's musical background consisted of guitar, he had access to the university studio and was experimenting with the nascent synthesizer technology at the time. The two students became the prototypical synth duo and were initially associated with other New Wave scenesters dubbed "New Romantics" by the British Press. Other bands associated with this scene included Visage, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet.
Marc Almond had a productive career as a solo artist later in the 80s and 90s and with Marc & the Mambas and other collaborations. Dave Ball has done a few solo productions with other British new wave acts in the early 80s. He also later was involved in the electronic dance act The Grid with Richard Norris.
Almond and Ball's reunion as Soft Cell became official with well-received initial concerts - they performed at the opening of the Ocean nightclub in London in March 2001 to strong reviews, and a mini tour followed later in the year. The track "God Shaped Hole" featured on the Some Bizzare compilation titled "I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo than Kid Someone's Listening", released in 2001. The album Cruelty Without Beauty was released in late 2002, followed by a European tour and a partial US tour in early 2003. The new album featured their first new songs together in almost twenty years. One of those songs was their 2003 single "The Night" (UK #39). Interestingly, Soft Cell had considered recording "The Night" in place of "Tainted Love" back in 1981 as their last-ditch attempt to score a chart hit. In a 2003 interview with BBC's Top of the Pops, keyboardist David Ball asserted, "I think history has kind of shown that we did make the right choice [in 1981]."
In August 2007, the band announced they were working on a remix album, "Heat - The Remixes". The remix album is expected to be released in May 2008 and will include classic Soft Cell tracks remixed by such acts as Manhattan Clique, Cicada, Richard X, Ladytron, MHC, Mark Moore, Kinky Roland, Spektrum, George Demure, Yer Man and many more.
Potential
Soft Cell Lyrics
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Potential
Potential
A child in the playground
The woman on the bus
The man in the motor car
Or anyone of us
The old man in the park
The girl at the window
The footsteps in the dark
We have got the potential
We could be anything
We have got the potential
We could do anything
Behind closed doors
Behind the facade
The memories of a certain man
Are never, never, never to far
You can see him in the window
Sitting in his place
Take another look
You might recognise his face
We have got the potential
We could be anything
We have got the potential
We could do anything
Potential
Potential
Do you think we've got the potential
We have got the potential
We have got the potential
Potential
Potential
P O T E N T I A L
Potential
Potential
We have got the potential
Potential
Potential
Potential
Potential
The song Potential by Soft Cell is a reflection on the potential of human beings. The lyrics speak of different individuals in different situations and emphasize that everyone has the potential to be anything they want to be. The song starts by mentioning a child in a playground, a woman on a bus, and a man in a motor car, pointing out that they all have the potential to become anything they want. The song lyrics continue to mention various other people in varying circumstances, including a youth on a motorbike, an old man in a park, a girl at the window, and the footsteps in the dark. The song ends with repeating the word 'Potential,' emphasizing the message that every human being has the potential to be great.
The song's first verse describes various people in everyday situations, and the chorus stresses the potential that all human beings possess. The second verse speaks of a certain man's memories who is sitting in one's window behind closed doors. It could be theorized that the man is the unknown self or inner consciousness, and behind closed doors could signify the hidden or unknown realities of human existence that can be explored. The final repetition of the word “Potential” stresses the importance of realizing one's potential and how it can change one's life and the world.
Line by Line Meaning
A child in the playground
No matter how young or small a person is, they have the potential to do great things.
The woman on the bus
A seemingly ordinary person may actually have surprising talents and abilities that they have the potential to hone and use.
The man in the motor car
One's outward appearance or possessions do not dictate their potential.
Or anyone of us
Every single person has the potential to make a difference in the world.
A youth on a motorbike
Even those who may seem reckless or wild have potential to channel their energy towards something positive.
The old man in the park
Age should not be a limitation on one's potential, as people can constantly grow and change throughout their life.
The girl at the window
People with seemingly mundane lives may have the potential to make great impact in their own ways.
The footsteps in the dark
People who may seem to be going unnoticed or unnoticed by society still have the potential to make a difference.
Behind closed doors
People may have hidden potential or talents that are not immediately obvious to others.
Behind the facade
One's outward appearance or demeanor may hide their true potential.
The memories of a certain man
The experiences and past of a person can influence their potential and the way they present themselves to the world.
Are never, never, never too far
The past is always present, but that doesn't mean it has to prevent one from realizing their potential.
You can see him in the window
The potential of a person can sometimes be seen through their actions and behaviors, even if they don't talk about it.
Sitting in his place
The power of potential and possibility is all around us, and lies within us, waiting to be unlocked.
Take another look
Potential can be easy to miss or overlook, but it's important to keep searching for it.
You might recognise his face
People with great potential may not always stand out, but with time their greatness can become evident.
We have got the potential
This is a call to action, empowering the listener to recognize their own potential and take advantage of it.
We could be anything
There are no limitations to what we can achieve if we tap into our potential.
Potential
The repetition of this word emphasizes the power of potential and how it can be found everywhere.
Do you think we've got the potential
This line is a rhetorical question, daring the listener to say that they do not have potential - indicating that everyone has the ability to do great things.
P O T E N T I A L
Another repetition of the word, emphasizing it and keeping it on the listener's mind.
Contributed by Allison I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.