Suede were formed in London in 1989 by bassist Mat Osman, singer Brett Anderson and his then girlfriend, Justine Frischmann, on rhythm guitar. They soon added guitarist Bernard Butler – who was recruited through an advertisement in Melody Maker. Along with a drum machine as percussion, Suede were signed to RML Records, a label from Brighton. Comedian Ricky Gervais (who later found fame with The Office) managed the band for a brief period before they were signed to a record label.
With Mike Joyce (formerly of The Smiths) famously filling in as drummer, Suede’s first record "Be My God/Art", was printed but never released due to a dispute with the label. The few surviving records out of a batch of 2000 are considered amongst the rarest of Suede collectibles. Simon Gilbert soon replaced the drum machine and Suede signed to Nude Records. Though still living with Anderson, Frischmann was ejected from the band around this time because of her failure to attend rehearsals while flaunting her new relationship with Damon Albarn of Blur.
The band’s first single The Drowners was released amid a media frenzy that began before Suede had released any actual music. The band was on the cover of Melody Maker, which proclaimed them as “the best new band in Britain” prior to any official release. The debut single created an enormous amount of excitement because of its sharp contrast to the dying Madchester scene and the grunge sound of the time. Suede were further distinguished from their contemporaries by Anderson’s flamboyant looks and noticeably unique vocals, combined with Butler’s melodic guitar playing.
Surprisingly given the amount of press exposure the band had received, The Drowners featuring two strong b-sides in My Insatiable One (later famously covered by Morrissey in concerts) and To The Birds - was only a moderate hit. Success would only come with the follow-up singles Metal Mickey (written about Daisy Chainsaw/QueenAdreena frontwoman Katie Jane Garside) and Animal Nitrate, both of which reached the UK Top 20 on release a few months later.
Their first album Suede became the fastest selling debut since Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Welcome To the Pleasuredome and was catapulted onto the charts after a breakthrough performance on the 1993 BRIT Awards. Featuring heavily-layered production by Ed Buller, the album showed influences from The Smiths, David Bowie, and many other glam rockers, but managed to filter and blend them together, creating its own trademark sound. However, the fan hysteria that surrounded Suede in Britain would be shortlived, and never duplicated by the American public.
Their American success was limited, despite securing a tour slot with the Cranberries, who had support from MTV. Moreover, a lounge singer’s lawsuit forced the band to stop using the trademarked American name “Suede” (a fate also suffered by fellow UK band The Charlatans/The Charlatans UK). For the North American market, the band would release all of their future albums under the moniker The London Suede.
Some possible factors cited to explain the band’s lack of U.S. success are their quasi-androgynous look and distinct British sound, both of which might have alienated North American audiences. Despite this, the band retained a cult following in the U.S. Following the release of their debut album, the band began work on their highly anticipated follow up single and album in late 1993 and much of 1994. The hectic schedule the band was facing hinted the problems that were soon to come.
In February of 1994, the band released the single “Stay Together”, which as well as being a massive critical success, also became their highest charting at the time, reaching number three. Despite their growing profile, tensions within the band mounted as they began working on the second album. Anderson and Butler fought constantly; a major issue was the production of the album (again done by Ed Buller). Things reached a head when Bernard Butler quit the band altogether in the middle of the recording sessions, leaving behind tapes containing his ideas for the songs that had been written. The remainder of the guitar work on the album was reputedly completed (depending on the source) either by studio musicians or Brett Anderson himself.
When Dog Man Star (1994) finally appeared, its sales were generally sluggish, though the album was critically acclaimed. The record was vastly different sounding than the band’s debut. It featured a large sound, backed by strings and a horn section in much of it. The year that Blur’s Parklife and Oasis’ Definitely Maybe were fighting for pop supremacy, Suede explored darker territory with Dog Man Star. Their image, however, was tainted by the departure of Butler, as they searched for someone to fill his undeniably large shoes.
The vacancy was soon filled by 17 year-old guitarist Richard Oakes (initially nicknamed by the UK music press as “Little Dickie”) before an international tour to promote the album. Many critics and fans alike had their doubts about the ability of the band to move on without Bernard Butler, who was an integral part of the band’s songwriting. However, the band broadened their sound when they were joined by keyboardist and backing vocalist Neil Codling in the making of their third album, Coming Up (1996). This would be the album which gained the group their most mainstream success. The first single from the album, “Trash” was immensely popular and tied with “Stay Together” as the group’s highest charting UK single, reaching number 3.
The album was a hit throughout Europe, Asia and Canada, but still not in the U.S. It did, however, answer those who questioned whether Anderson and company could produce another hit without Butler. Suede had again changed sound drastically; Coming Up featured more of a glam tinted pop/rock sound, as opposed to the darker elements that the previous albums had showcased. Reviews were again mixed, but the album topped the UK chart and became the band’s biggest-selling release. The band was finally getting the mass video and radio play that they lacked during the Dog Man Star period and in many ways fulfilling the hype that characterized much of the early part of their career. The album brought the band five straight top 10 singles, a remarkable feat by any standards.
The band’s next venture was a collection of b-sides and rarities entitled Sci-Fi Lullabies, which charted well for such a compilation, reaching #9 on the UK chart. The band were well respected for their b-sides, which were often regarded by critics and fans as being equal to or exceeding the quality of the a-sides they backed.
By the time the compilation was released in 1997, though, the Britpop movement was noticeably waning in popularity, and the band had decided to split with long-time producer Ed Buller before commencing work on their follow up to Coming Up.
Despite being backed by the popular lead single “Electricity”, Suede’s fourth album, Head Music (1999) was something of a critical disappointment, though it once again took the band to number one on the album charts. A synth-infused album that focused less on guitar riffs and more on keyboards, it was produced by Steve Osborne, who had worked with Happy Mondays and New Order. Critical opinion was sharply divided; many felt the record was too shallow and lacking in substance, while others thought the album was the group again taking a different direction and charting new territory.
The next three singles released from the album failed to crack the top 10, breaking a run stretching back to 1995’s “New Generation”. The b-sides for the singles were also arguably not up to par with their usual standard, which hinted at the drying up of the creative well. Anderson also began being criticized more by fans for his often use of redundant vocabulary and limited lyrical themes. Despite this, even with their drop in mainstream popularity, the band still maintained a large core group of fans.
Not long after the release of Head Music, Nude Records effectively ceased to exist. Like many of their labelmates, Suede ended up signing to Nude’s parent company/distributor Sony to record their fifth album, A New Morning (2002). The long and troubled gestation of the album saw keyboardist Neil Codling leave the band, citing chronic fatigue syndrome, to be replaced by long-time band associate Alex Lee, formerly of Strangelove.
In concerts, Lee played second guitar, as well as keyboards, backing vocals and, at one point, harmonica. The album title, according to Anderson, referred to “a fresh start, a new band and a new fresh outlook” - the singer had reportedly been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for a number of years by this time, which was having an increasingly deleterious effect on his health. He was quoted at the time as saying “we’ve all cleaned up our drug problems …which is nice.”
Despite the rejuvenation of the group’s health, the album was a commercial disappointment and failed to crack the top 20. Produced by “big name” Britpop producers John Leckie (who famously produced The Stone Roses’ debut LP, as well as records for Radiohead and Muse) and Stephen Street (most famous for his work with The Smiths and Blur), A New Morning was considered a solid enough outing by fans of the band, but critical reaction was decidedly lukewarm and the mainstream public interest had long disappeared. Only two singles, “Positivity” and “Obsessions,” were released from the album, the fewest singles taken from any of the band’s albums, and neither charted particularly well.
In Autumn 2003, after the release of their Singles compilation album and accompanying single “Attitude”, Suede played five nights at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, dedicating each night to one of their five albums and playing through an entire album a night – with B-sides and rarities as encores – in chronological order. After these shows, the band announced there would be no more projects under the Suede name for the foreseeable future – effectively announcing the end of the band.
Their last concert at London’s Astoria on December 13, 2003 was a two-and-a-half hour marathon show, split into two parts (plus encore) with the first part being “songs we want to play”. Brett made an announcement that “there will be another Suede album” to everyone’s delight, but added “…but not yet”. “See you in the next life” was their closing remark.
Following persistent rumours, the boss of the band's former label, Nude Records' Saul Galpern officially announced on 15 January 2010 that Suede would be playing together again. "It's [for] a one-off gig," he explained of the show, which featured the band's second incarnation. The band played London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2010 Teenage Cancer Trust shows on 24 March 2010. Despite the gig initially being billed as a one night only reformation, when questioned on German radio station MotorFM in early February, Anderson refused to confirm that the band wouldn't continue. The band subsequently announced two UK 'warm up' gigs prior to the Royal Albert Hall show, at the 100 Club in London and the Ritz in Manchester. The trio of gigs were very well-received by critics, including a glowing two-page review in the NME.
Appearances at the Smukfest festival in Denmark on 7 August, Parkenfestivalen in Bodø, Norway on 21 August, the O2 Arena in London on 7 December and a mini European tour covering Belgium, France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany have since been confirmed. Although the band have so far refused all media request for interviews and it is unconfirmed whether the band will work on new material together, it has been reported in the press that a new record deal with Warner Music Group is on the table.
On 22 September 2010 the band has announced a new compilation album The Best of Suede, to be released on 1st November.]
Suede continued to perform in 2011. After they had completed their biggest show ever at London's O2 Arena, Brett confirmed that Suede were in the mood for more shows. They have performed at various festivals all over the world, including Blackberry's Live & Rockin' Festival on 19 March 2011, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on 16 April 2011 and the SOS 4.8 Festival in Murcia, Spain on 7 May 2011. They played Latitude Festival in Suffolk on 17 July 2011. The Berlin Festival is the last date Suede were pencilled in for. They played Berlin on 9 September 2011. This directly followed the Asian tour in August.
In June 2011, following on from the success of the compilation album, the band released remastered and expanded editions of all five studio albums. They also performed their albums Suede, Dog Man Star and Coming Up at London's O2 Brixton Academy over three nights on 19, 20 and 21 May 2011,[92] and at Dublin's Olympia Theatre on May 24, 25 and 26.
Suede embarked on a full Asian tour where they played Jisan, Singapore, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Osaka and Tokyo. The band commenced their eight-date tour in late July in Jisan, South Korea and finished up at the Summer Sonic festival in Tokyo, Japan on 14 August 2011.
They then performed in Athens on 11 September 2011, and wrapped up their touring commitments in Russia on 16 and 18 December 2011 where they showcased new songs "Falling Planes", "The Only", "Someone Better", "I Don't Know Why", "Cold War", "Future Nightmare" and "Sabotage".
Suede began recording a new album with Ed Buller in 2012 and Brett Anderson stated that of the songs showcased in Russia, only "Sabotage" was thus far in contention. He also stated that the album sounding like, "...probably like some artist on some drug, engaged in a game of quoits with some other artist on another drug. You can adopt your own journalistic cliche if you haven't grown up yet."
On 3 December 2012 Suede announced on their official website a "Brand new album out spring 2013".
There is another artist with the same name:
2. Suede is a lounge singer from Baltimore, Maryland. She sued the British rock band in 1993, resulting in music from the group being released under the name "The London Suede" in the US.
Power
Suede Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pour moi E.T. il n’a jamais vraiment existé
C'est un truc que Spielberg a inventé pour nous faire pleurer
Comment son doigt s'allume alors qu'il n'est même pas branché ?
E.T. descends ici si t’es un homme
Tu vas appeler ta mère au téléphone
Dans ta soucoupe filante, tu crânes plein de testostérone
Les aliens viennent toujours en vacances sur la terre
Ils survolent deux trois villes et hop après ils font tous marche arrière
C’est débile toutes ces bornes pour juste venir faire demi-tour
Ou alors ils sont juste en gazole, et ils ont pas de jerrican de secours !
E.T. descends ici si t’es un homme
Tu vas appeler ta mère au téléphone
Dans ta soucoupe filante, tu crânes plein de testostérone
Mais on va te fumer bonhomme comme Mickael Jackson !
Ou alors vous réfléchissez à des plans et vous êtes jamais d’accord
Si faut débarquer comme d’hab’ à New York ou discretos au pôle Nord
Mais avant toute chose posez vous juste une seule question
En anglais “alien” ça veut dire étranger, et vu le score du FN, tirez-en vos conclusions !
E.T. descends ici si t’es un homme
Tu vas appeler ta mère au téléphone
On est chauds on tire sur tout ce qui bouge
Vous allez morfler comme les Incas en 2012 !
Mais une nuit en cherchant une déviation sur l’A200
Dans un champ de maïs avec des dessins cheulous dedans
Deux silhouettes apparurent dans un halo lumineux brillant
Et je compris que les bosses de la terre nous protégeaient des E.T. depuis bien longtemps !
Les Bogdanov
Sciento-philosophes-gdanov
Siamois-molotov-gdanov
Aux échecs ils niquent Kasparov
Les Jean-Claude Vandamme de la science
Les Uri Geller qui tordent la connaissance
Ils sont tellement en avance
Qu’ils étaient là une bonne heure avant que le big bang ne commence !
Deux frères élevés par une meute de loups commando bac+30
Pour pas que les ET, les Roswell, les UFO et les atlantes
Ne viennent nous profaner pendant qu'on dort dans notre sommeil
Car non les twins powers veillent, et ouais les twins powers veillent !
Les savants jaloux disent qu’ils ont même pas eu leur BEP
Mais les gens au grand coeur ils savent qu’au fond ils sont pas mauvais
On sait que leurs trucs marchent pas vraiment, comme les gourmettes Power Balance
Mais si c’est à base de plantes, ça fait pas de mal, sauf à la science
Les Bogdanov
Sciento-philosophes-gdanov
Siamois-molotov-gdanov
De Polnareff à Rohff
Le mental en métal, les combinaisons spéciales
Ils savent ce que c’est le vide sidéral
C’est l’alliance de la science avec ... L’alliance de la science
Ils savent où sont tous les trous noirs en France
Tapez pas sur les Bogdanov allez soyez indulgents
D’abord c’est très dangereux on sait pas trop ce qu’il y a dedans
Et qui nous défendra, quand alien reviendra faire le cirque ?
C’est sûrement pas Fred & Jamy ni ce bon vieux Stephen Hawking
C’est l’agence spatiale tout risque, y a juste pas le noir costaud
Mais on l'sait l’avenir n’appartient pas au commandant Cousteau
Ils ont des bases secrètes au Futuroscope de Poitiers
Garent leurs motos à la Géode, parce qu’ils habitent à côté !
C'est les Bogdanov,
Sciento-philosophes-gdanov
Siamois-molotov-gdanov
Gagnent à la fin la guerre du Golfe
Les pouvoirs spéciaux de malades, ils ont la science inculte
Peuvent parler à la télé et endormir des adultes
Faire des monologues à deux qui durent depuis avant hier
Fabriquer des salopettes en papier alimentaire
Quand on est ado on s’entraîne en embrassant un miroir
Eux c’était bien plus facile juste à deux dans le noir...
C'est les Bogdanov
Sciento-philosophes-gdanov
Siamois-molotov-gdanov
Ils tuent la Kalashnikov
Car c'est les c'est les Bogdanov
Sciento-philosophes-gdanov
Siamois-molotov-gdanov
Ils tuent la Kalashnikov
The Suede song “The Power” is a satirical commentary on the human fascination with aliens and the pop culture that surrounds extraterrestrial concept. The song dismisses the idea of aliens as a Hollywood invention aimed at manipulating emotions and perpetuating conspiracy theories. The lyrics suggest that people should focus on real problems instead of chasing imaginary ones. The song also highlights the absurdity and futility of searching for intelligent life outside our planet while we still don’t understand the complexities of life here on Earth. The lyrics also critique the lack of decisive action against alien invasions and question the legitimacy of supposed experts on the topic. The song ends with a humorous tribute to the Bogdanov brothers, who are French twin television presenters and authors, known for their controversial theories about the universe and their signature style.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai jamais trop cru aux ovnis qu’ils filment à la télé
I have never really believed in the UFOs that they film on TV
Pour moi E.T. il n’a jamais vraiment existé
As for me, E.T. has never really existed
C'est un truc que Spielberg a inventé pour nous faire pleurer
It's something that Spielberg invented to make us cry
Comment son doigt s'allume alors qu'il n'est même pas branché ?
How can his finger light up when it's not even plugged in?
E.T. descends ici si t’es un homme
E.T. come down here if you are a man
Tu vas appeler ta mère au téléphone
You're going to call your mother on the phone
Dans ta soucoupe filante, tu crânes plein de testostérone
In your flying saucer, you show off with full testosterone
Mais on va te fumer bonhomme comme Mickael Jackson !
But we'll smoke you out, like Michael Jackson!
Les aliens viennent toujours en vacances sur la terre
Aliens always come on vacation to earth
Ils survolent deux trois villes et hop après ils font tous marche arrière
They fly over two or three cities and then turn around
C’est débile toutes ces bornes pour juste venir faire demi-tour
It's silly to put all of these markers just to turn around
Ou alors ils sont juste en gazole, et ils ont pas de jerrican de secours !
Or maybe they have run out of gas and don't have a spare can!
Mais on va te fumer bonhomme comme Mickael Jackson !
But we'll smoke you out, like Michael Jackson!
Ou alors vous réfléchissez à des plans et vous êtes jamais d’accord
Or maybe you come up with plans but can never agree
Si faut débarquer comme d’hab’ à New York ou discretos au pôle Nord
If you have to land, as usual, in New York, or discreetly on the North Pole
Mais avant toute chose posez vous juste une seule question
But before doing anything, just ask yourselves one question
En anglais “alien” ça veut dire étranger, et vu le score du FN, tirez-en vos conclusions !
In English, 'alien' means foreigner, and given the score of the FN, draw your own conclusions!
On est chauds on tire sur tout ce qui bouge
We're ready to shoot anything that moves
Vous allez morfler comme les Incas en 2012 !
You're going to suffer like the Incas in 2012!
Mais une nuit en cherchant une déviation sur l’A200
But one night while looking for a detour on the A200
Dans un champ de maïs avec des dessins cheulous dedans
In a cornfield with cheesy designs in it
Deux silhouettes apparurent dans un halo lumineux brillant
Two silhouettes appeared in a bright, glowing halo
Et je compris que les bosses de la terre nous protégeaient des E.T. depuis bien longtemps !
And I understood that the bosses of the earth were protecting us from aliens for a long time!
Les Bogdanov
The Bogdanov brothers
Sciento-philosophes-gdanov
Science-philosophers-gdanov
Siamois-molotov-gdanov
Siamese-molotov-gdanov
Aux échecs ils niquent Kasparov
At chess, they beat Kasparov
Les Jean-Claude Vandamme de la science
The Jean-Claude Van Dammes of science
Les Uri Geller qui tordent la connaissance
The Uri Gellers who twist knowledge
Ils sont tellement en avance
They are so far ahead
Qu’ils étaient là une bonne heure avant que le big bang ne commence !
That they were there an hour before the big bang started!
Deux frères élevés par une meute de loups commando bac+30
Two brothers raised by a pack of commando wolves, with a PhD
Pour pas que les ET, les Roswell, les UFO et les atlantes
To prevent aliens, Roswell, UFOs, and Atlanteans
Ne viennent nous profaner pendant qu'on dort dans notre sommeil
From desecrating us while we sleep
Car non les twins powers veillent, et ouais les twins powers veillent !
Because the twin powers are watching, yes the twin powers are watching!
Les savants jaloux disent qu’ils ont même pas eu leur BEP
Jealous scientists say that they didn't pass their BEP
Mais les gens au grand coeur ils savent qu’au fond ils sont pas mauvais
But big-hearted people know that at heart they are not bad
On sait que leurs trucs marchent pas vraiment, comme les gourmettes Power Balance
We know that their stuff doesn't really work, like Power Balance bracelets
Mais si c’est à base de plantes, ça fait pas de mal, sauf à la science
But if it's plant-based, it doesn't hurt, except for science
De Polnareff à Rohff
From Polnareff to Rohff
Le mental en métal, les combinaisons spéciales
Mental in metal, special combinations
Ils savent ce que c’est le vide sidéral
They know what a vacuum of space is
C’est l’alliance de la science avec ... L’alliance de la science
It's the alliance of science with... the alliance of science
Ils savent où sont tous les trous noirs en France
They know where all of the black holes in France are
Tapez pas sur les Bogdanov allez soyez indulgents
Don't hit the Bogdanov brothers, go easy on them
D’abord c’est très dangereux on sait pas trop ce qu’il y a dedans
First of all, it's very dangerous; we don't know what's inside it
Et qui nous défendra, quand alien reviendra faire le cirque ?
And who will defend us when aliens come back to make a scene?
C’est sûrement pas Fred & Jamy ni ce bon vieux Stephen Hawking
It's certainly not Fred & Jamy or good old Stephen Hawking
C’est l’agence spatiale tout risque, y a juste pas le noir costaud
It's the space agency of all risks; they just don't have the strong black guy
Mais on l'sait l’avenir n’appartient pas au commandant Cousteau
But we know the future doesn't belong to Captain Cousteau
Ils ont des bases secrètes au Futuroscope de Poitiers
They have secret bases at the Futuroscope in Poitiers
Garent leurs motos à la Géode, parce qu’ils habitent à côté !
They park their motorcycles at the Géode because they live next door!
C'est les Bogdanov
It's the Bogdanovs
Gagnent à la fin la guerre du Golfe
They win the Gulf War in the end
Les pouvoirs spéciaux de malades, ils ont la science inculte
They have insane special powers, they have uneducated science
Peuvent parler à la télé et endormir des adultes
They can talk on TV and put adults to sleep
Faire des monologues à deux qui durent depuis avant hier
Talk to each other alone for monologues that last more than a day ago
Fabriquer des salopettes en papier alimentaire
Make coveralls out of paper foil
Quand on est ado on s’entraîne en embrassant un miroir
When we're a teenager, we practice kissing in front of a mirror
Eux c’était bien plus facile juste à deux dans le noir...
For them, it was much easier; just the two of them in the dark...
C'est les Bogdanov
It's the Bogdanovs
Ils tuent la Kalashnikov
They kill the Kalashnikov
Car c'est les c'est les Bogdanov
Because it's the, it's the Bogdanovs
Lyrics © RAOUL BRETON EDITIONS
Written by: MONSIEUR POULPE, Ivan CALLOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stuart
My dad died suddenly of a heart attack in 1995 when I was 19. This song give me a lot of strength.
Paulo Albuquerque
Banda que segurou o estandarte deixado pelo Roxy Music. Mantendo o charme e o glamour. Dogman star sem duvida best album da decada de 90!
Alberto González
Gracias Suede!, esta canción cambio mi vida!
Tobia Passaro
I love everything they do.... in absolute, my favorite band!
Pablo Marquez
Brett, Bernard and all the boys, thanks for everything!!!
justekila
Love this song
Richard Mullins
Beautiful track.
eposz2
Beautiful - and clearly Bowie influenced - intentionally or subconsciously.
niall patrick melia
Real music real band i belong to a worlds thats gone
duncan daird
This was awesome to see at the Royal Albert hall 2 weeks ago!!