The group's initial years were characterized by bubblegum songs that they were only allowed to sing on, with heavier self-penned rock songs as the b-sides. They achieved their first hit in 1970 with the release of Funny Funny. In the following months, Sweet released "Co-Co" and Poppa Joe, both achieving huge success in the charts. In 1971 they released the album "Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be", which consisted mostly of songs written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.
Sweet's success continued with more glam rock and power pop oriented tunes, such as "Little Willy", "Wig Wam Bam", Hellraiser and Ballroom Blitz. By this time Sweet had a world-wide following, clocking up no less than 18 top 20 hit singles, and the guys were most notably popular in Germany and the U.K.
The group's members are perhaps best remembered for their very 'glam' outfits, featuring a lot of glitter, platform boots, chain mail shirts, and plenty of makeup. The group practically defining the camp extreme of the glam rock look, Steve Priest would later say it was very short-lived and only happened by accident, as some sort of ongoing rivalry between them and artists such as David Bowie and T. Rex. Everyone tried to outdo each other’s ridiculousness on Top Of The Pops. Sweet’s glam rock era lasted from 1972 to 1973.
In 1974, Sweet released Teenage Rampage, The Six Teens and Turn It Down, showing their desire to take a more hard rock direction. By this time tensions between the band and the songwriters and producer started to grow. The guys also pushed for more songwriting control, which increased tensions between them, the songwriters and producer.
In 1975, Sweet wrote, recorded and produced the smash hit Fox on the Run on their own, essentially severing ties with Chinn and Chapman. Following the song’s success, they released the acclaimed track Action. Their momentum went on, the band embarking their first U.S. tour.
After their recent success, Sweet released the “Give Us A Wink” album in 1976, which was notably heavy. It contained the single The Lies In Your Eyes, which achieved moderate success. A year later, in 1977, they released the album “Off The Record”, but singles such as Fever Of Love and Lost Angels failed to gain traction, partly due to bad marketing from their label. Despite this, the band continued to distance themselves from their earlier commercial ventures.
Sweet’s career was revitalized with the release of Love Is Like Oxygen in 1978. By this time Connolly had developed a drinking problem and started to be increasingly unreliable during recording sessions. Following a disastrous U.S. tour, he left the band officially in early 1979. The band continued on as a three piece band for three more years, releasing “Cut Above The Rest”, “Waters Edge”, and “Identity Crisis”. Priest took over most of the lead vocals until Sweet’s disbandment in 1981.
In 1985, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker re-formed Sweet with various new vocalists and bass players, the most notable being a 1986 reunion featuring Paul Mario Day (the first singer of Iron Maiden), keyboardist Phil Lanzon, and bass player Malcolm McNulty (who is now lead singer for fellow glam rock band Slade). Steve Priest was asked to join Tucker and Scott for the 1985 Australian tour, but declined at the last moment. Vocalist and bass player Jeff Brown joined in 1988. In 1991, Mick Tucker departed due to ill health, leaving Andy Scott as the only original member. He was replaced by German Bodo Schopf, and subsequently, Bruce Bisland. After Tucker's departure, Andy Scott changed the band's name to 'Andy Scott's Sweet'.
During this time, Brian Connolly, now in bad health, also performed with his version of Sweet. In 1981, he suffered multiple cardiac arrests, which permanently affected his health. He died on 9 February 1997, aged 51. He was cremated after a ceremony at Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church at Old Mill Lane, Denham, Buckinghamshire and his ashes were scattered over the water by his adult daughters Nicola and Michelle. He also left an ex-wife, Marilyn, and a two-year-old son called Brian Junior (BJ) by his girlfriend Jean.
Michael Thomas (Mick) Tucker died 14 February 2002 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire from leukemia, aged 54; his funeral took place 25 February 2002. He is buried in an unnamed grave in Chorleywood House cemetery. It is marked by a sleeping angel. A wooden bench with a brass plaque funded by fans as a dedication to Mick is also positioned in the grave's vicinity.[2] He left behind a widow, Jan, and a daughter Ayston from his first marriage to Pauline (†1979). According to Steve Priest: "He was the most underrated drummer that ever came out of England. He was the powerhouse of the band. He was technically marvellous. His timing was impeccable, but he had a lot of soul as well and he really felt what he was playing."
In 1994, Steve Priest published his autobiography “Are You Ready Steve?”, which was a raw expose of his time with Sweet and pre-Sweet. In 2006 he released Priest's Precious Poems, a CD of tracks largely consisting of his more recent material. In 2008, he came out of retirement to form his own version of Sweet, based in the US. A year later this band released a live CD called Live In America. In March 2020, he was admitted to a hospital in L.A. After battling pneumonia for a few months, he died on June 4th 2020 at the age of 72.
Andy Scott currently continues to tour with Sweet. In 2002, Sweet released a new album called Sweetlife. February 2006 saw the release of a new Suzi Quatro album, Back To The Drive, which was produced by Scott. In March 2012, Scott released a covers album called New York Connection. Scott teamed up with Suzi Quatro and Don Powell to release a CD called Quatro, Scott and Powell in 2017. Scott has continued to produce for bands throughout the years, currently being the producer for Novatines.
In recent years, Sweet's popularity has surged again. The song Ballroom Blitz was featured in 2016's Suicide Squad, while Fox on the Run was featured in the trailer for 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy 2.
Call Me
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And how my coat smelled like his cigarette smoke
Something like destiny
I just don't remember February
Ever being quite that cold
So winter came and went and just like that the time was spent
And I don't got a thing to show for it
Don't want to be where I don't belong
I'll let it hurt until the worst is gone
Then call me new and watch me bloom again
Ate up hollow flattery Consumed like empty calories
Every line made me more empty
Spill your guts and nothing more
Tell me what you came here for If there's nothing but your dead leaves on my floor
Give them all what they don't deserve
Light me up with candles burned
Cut me loose with another lesson learned
Don't want to be where I don't belong
Can't get hung up on what could've been
I'll let it hurt until the worst is gone
Then call me new and watch me bloom again
Let it rain and let it pour
A new spring comes after every fall
And I'm not dying anymore
I'm all flowers, roots, and open arms
Never tried to make them stay Not out loud at least anyway
I really think I'm better off this way
Don't want to say that anyone changed me
Just changed the way I thought about the things I see
Another broken branch
Blame it on circumstance
Or another chance to have another chance
Don't want to be where I don't belong
Can't get hung up on what could've been
I'll let it hurt until the worst is gone
Then call me new and watch me bloom again
Call me new and watch me bloom again
Call me new and watch me bloom
The lyrics to the song Call Me by Sweet speak of a man called RioThaGr8 who is known as The Great. He introduces himself as someone who is loved by girls and hated by haters. RioThaGr8 talks about his life, where he lives on the waterfront, enjoys partying with friends, smoking weed, watching movies, and hanging out at clubs. The chorus of the song repeats the line "Stop playing lemme show you why they call me The Great," emphasizing the confidence and self-assurance of RioThaGr8.
RioThaGr8 expresses his attraction towards a woman, expressing a desire to try new moves with her like MMA, which highlights his adventurous and fearless personality. He also talks about having a baby with her, indicating his serious intention towards the woman. When he refers to his grandmother buying him his first pair of J's, he reveals a sentimental side, reminding listeners that he has humble beginnings.
Overall, the lyrics of the song Call Me by Sweet are about RioThaGr8's life, his love for partying, his confidence, his attraction to a woman, and his dedication to becoming a great person.
Line by Line Meaning
Whatup Doe
A greeting to whoever is listening.
Its ya boy RioThaGr8
The singer is introducing himself as RioThaGr8.
The one the girls love and haters love to hate aye
The singer is aware that he has both admirers and detractors.
Stop playing lemme show you why they call me The Great
The artist wants to prove his greatness to the listener.
Big pape wake up water front views at my place
The artist has a luxurious home overlooking a body of water.
I'm not on tour but I still be in and outta the state
The singer travels frequently, although he is not currently on tour.
Outta town pulling up with the Michigan plates
The singer is driving a car with Michigan license plates when he's out of town.
Bitches love me they come thru and they get wet as a lake
Women find the artist attractive and sexually appealing.
RioThaGr8 yes I'm great like the Michigan lakes
The artist compares his greatness to that of Michigan's picturesque lakes.
Pulling up to the club hopping out Escalades
The artist arrives at the club in an Escalade and confidently exits the vehicle.
Niggaz hate so most the time I be outta the way
The singer avoids confrontation with those who dislike him.
I party hard like I'm tryna get kicked out the place
The artist is a wild partygoer who enjoys pushing boundaries.
Nigga step outta line and get kicked in the face
The singer is not afraid to physically defend himself if provoked.
We started with a whole ounce now we down to an eighth
The singer and his companions have consumed a significant amount of marijuana.
We watching movies off of Tubi smoking weed to the face
The singer and his companions continue to smoke marijuana while watching movies on the streaming service Tubi.
She five five brown eyes with a pretty ass face
The artist describes a woman who he finds physically attractive.
I wana try some new moves with you like MMA
The artist wants to experiment sexually with the woman, using an analogy to mixed martial arts.
I wana have a baby with you can we share DNA
The singer is interested in starting a family with the woman and asks if they can have biological children together.
She gotta good job baby a CNA
The woman has a respectable career as a certified nursing assistant.
If we a little boy he going NBA
The artist predicts that if he and the woman have a son, he will be talented enough to play in the National Basketball Association.
Son ball on these niggaz
The artist expects his future son to perform well in basketball games against other boys/men.
Thats all I'm a say
The artist has concluded his thought on having a son who excels in basketball.
Go hard on these niggaz either way they go hate
Regardless of how he performs, the singer knows some people will continue to dislike him.
All I know is go hard I don't take off days
The artist is determined to work hard every day without taking breaks.
Like a Migo young Rio bout to Takeoff aye
The singer compares himself to the rap group Migos and their member Takeoff, implying that he's on the verge of success.
Real nigga everyday thats just how I was raised
The singer values honesty and being true to oneself, which he learned in his upbringing.
Baby roll with a nigga while I make these plays
The singer wants the woman to support him as he pursues his goals.
Smoking weed I got more quarters then a damn arcade
The artist has a large quantity of marijuana that he plans to smoke while playing arcade games.
Forecast say eighty-four its a good ass day
The weather is predicted to be pleasant and the artist is in good spirits.
Sipping Casamigos brown skin that good nay-nay
The singer is enjoying a premium tequila brand and referring to a physical attribute of the woman he's with.
I ain't Hurricane Chris but Aye Bay Bay
The singer references Hurricane Chris' popular song 'A Bay Bay' but establishes that he is not the artist.
My name ain't Ben Simmons but I ain't go play
The artist is not the professional basketball player Ben Simmons, but he is not going to back down from competition.
Girl I'm really tryna
The artist is about to share his desires with the woman he's with.
I ain't go say
The artist decides not to explicitly share what he wants to do with the woman.
Yo last nigga was a
The singer is comparing himself to the woman's previous partner.
I ain't go say
Again, the artist decides not to say anything negative about the woman's past relationship.
No fun no funds ain't have no pape
The singer implies that someone who lacks money cannot have a good time.
Fake thug real scrub nothing like The Great
The singer refers to himself as 'The Great' and distinguishes himself from people who act tough but are really unimpressive.
White T white ones white Cartier frames
The singer describes his fashionable clothing, including a white T-shirt, white sneakers, and Cartier frames for glasses or sunglasses.
Remember granny bought me my very first pair of J's
The artist recalls a fond memory of his grandmother buying him his first pair of Air Jordan sneakers.
Now I got enough can switch em for the next thirty days like
The artist has amassed a large enough sneaker collection that he could wear a different pair each day for a month.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Anne Pashley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rosannag.8172
Brian is missed 😢
He was the best frontman ever ❤
R.I.P. Brian, Mick and Steve
Keep on rocking and having fun together where ever you guys are 😘
@lydia1804a
Der Song ist toll, Steve singt ja auch ganz gut, was hat er sich nur bei dieser Frisur gedacht, einfach schrecklich, aber Brian fehlt, seine Stimme war magisch, er war und bleibt der beste Frontmann den Sweet je hatte...SWEET FOREVEER....😍😍😍
@rosannag.8172
@@lydia1804a
Ja, Brian fehlt 😥
Es wird keinen zweiten geben ♥️
@robertohoferoyaneder4551
Fly high, Steve Priest. Thank you for the music!
@therollingbeatles4972
Brian was a legendary frontman for the band Sweet. All the songs with Brian in Sweet were legendary. BUT, even after Brian's departure from the group, this three piece Sweet was also legendary! Releasing three more great albums was what they did, and I'm proud of them! Especially "Cut Above The Rest"! Brian's departure never meant the group's demise; it just meant them giving more amazing songs to this world as long as they had. LONG LIVE SWEET AND CLASSIC ROCK!!!
@horstlemke9591
Dieser Song passt perfekt zur Stimme von Steve Priest, das haben die Jungs richtig gut gemacht, toller Satzgesang, moderne Syntheziser Sounds, gut kombiniert mit Akustik- und E-.Gitarren ala`andy Scott, tolle Drums wie immer von Mick Tucker. Der Break im Song ist richtig klasse, auf so etwas muss man erst einmal kommen...smile Beste Grüße, Horst Lemke, Musikproduzent, Germany Ps. THe Sweet waren für mich in der Jugendzeit große Musikidole!!!
@claudiaconrad9759
Great! What a great time that was!! Steve was my love back then! R.I.P., you, Mick and Brian! All the best for Andy!
@janeguest9201
R.I.P Steve, thank you for the music. 😘❤
@GiantRock62
He was one of a kind, killer bass guitarist before anything else, his bass playing was pivotal for the band along with Mick Tucker, the man with golden arms.. 😢
@sweetfan3250
stieve singing espanyol haha