Vocalist Rob Birch and DJ)/producer Nick Hallam founded their Gee Street recording studio and record label with money they were given to leave their London flat and, dispensing with using a backing band, travelled to early gigs on public transport.
They recorded their debut album, 33-45-78 in 1989 on a shoestring budget, with DJ Cesare, drummer Owen If and backing vocalist Cath Coffey. In 1990, "Elevate My Mind" became first British hip hop single to reach the United States R&B record chart. However, in the emerging UK alternative dance scene, it took an alliance with the Jungle Brothers to ensure chart success for Supernatural. Remix work for U2, PM Dawn, Queen Latifah, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Monie Love and Electronic followed.
Their live band included singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis, and they were one of the few hip hop acts to play at rock music festivals at the time. Stereo MCs' mainstream breakthrough came in 1992 with the album Connected, which contained the hit singles "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation", and "Ground Level", and also won them the BRIT Awards for Best Group and Best Album.
The follow-up to Connected did not appear for almost a decade. Further remix duties for Madonna and the Jungle Brothers in 1998 kept the Stereo MCs' name in the limelight. Madonna went on to use the Stereo MCs remix of "Frozen" as the basis of the live arrangement of the song on her 2001 Drowned World Tour.
2001 saw the release of Deep Down & Dirty, followed by a tour including slots opening for the recently re-united Jane's Addiction. Their sixth studio album, Double Bubble, was released in July 2008, followed by their seventh album, Emperor's Nightingale, in August 2011.
Human
Stereo MC's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send it our way
We gotta break up
Send it our way
We gotta break up
The way we behaved
We gotta break up
But instead as friends
We're hard and we're crazy
Our minds are so hazy
We're burning up
Like volcanos on a daisy
Yeah
They say I'm lazy
But they won't faze me
No
I have no doubt
Cause we're going roundabout
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human, human, human, being
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon get off the right track
We're hard and we're crazy
Our minds are so hazy
We're burning up
Like volcanos on a daisy
Yeah
They say I'm lazy
But they won't faze me
No
I have no doubt, no
Cause we're going roundabout, c'mon
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human, human, human, being
We gotta break up
Of this flesh and bone
We must have respect
For the place where we come from
We gotta break up
Let the spirit roam
We must have respect
For every dialect
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human, human, human, being
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human being (human being)
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
Human (boom), human (ooh), human, being
Feel it, touch it, see ya
The first verse of the song "Human" by Stereo MC's talks about the need to break away from certain behaviors or patterns in a relationship. The repetition of the line "We gotta break up" emphasizes the urgency and necessity of this break. However, rather than parting ways in a negative or acrimonious manner, the lyrics suggest that the separation should be done amicably, as friends.
The following lines depict the intensity and wildness of the individuals involved in the relationship. Their minds are described as hazy, indicating confusion or lack of clarity, and they are compared to burning volcanoes on a delicate daisy. This imagery conveys a sense of passion and unpredictability.
The lyrics touch upon the judgments others may make about them being lazy but assert that these opinions won't affect their determination and confidence. The phrase "going roundabout" suggests that they may sometimes take a circuitous or unconventional path in life, but they have no doubts about their choices.
In the chorus, the term "Human being" is repeated multiple times, highlighting our existence as human beings and the things we observe or experience. It emphasizes the importance of seeing and understanding the complexities of being human.
The second verse echoes the sentiments of the first, emphasizing the passionate and unpredictable nature of the individuals involved in the relationship. The chorus is repeated, reminding us of the repeated importance of recognizing our shared human experiences.
The final verse expands the concept of breaking up beyond the romantic relationship context. It suggests that we also need to break away from our physical bodies and embrace our spiritual essence. The lyrics emphasize the need for respect and understanding for the places we come from, whether it be different cultures or dialects.
The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing that being human involves perceiving and understanding the world around us through our senses. The song ends with the simple directive to "Feel it, touch it, see ya," encouraging us to fully engage with and experience our human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
We gotta break up
We need to end our current behavior or relationship
Send it our way
Direct your actions or feelings towards us
The way we behaved
Our actions and conduct
But instead as friends
However, let's maintain a friendship
We're hard and we're crazy
We are tough and unpredictable
Our minds are so hazy
Our thinking is unclear or confused
We're burning up
We are filled with intense emotions or energy
Like volcanos on a daisy
Bursting with powerful force like volcanoes on a delicate flower
Yeah
Agreement or affirmation
They say I'm lazy
Other people claim I lack motivation or effort
But they won't faze me
Their opinions or criticisms won't bother or discourage me
No
Denial or refusal
I have no doubt
I am completely certain, without any hesitation
Cause we're going roundabout
Because we are taking a circuitous or indirect route
Human being (human being)
We are individuals with emotions, thoughts, and experiences
What we're seeing (what we're seeing)
The things or situations we observe or witness
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon get off the right track
Encouragement to deviate from the conventional or expected path
We gotta break up
We need to let go of our physical existence
Of this flesh and bone
Our mortal bodies
We must have respect
We should show honor and regard
For the place where we come from
Our origin or heritage
Let the spirit roam
Allow the soul or essence to wander freely
For every dialect
To honor and appreciate every language or way of expression
Human (boom), human (ooh), human, being
Emphasizing our humanity with enthusiasm and impact
Feel it, touch it, see ya
Experience it, make physical contact, goodbye
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nicholas Hallam, Robert Birch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind