Singer/ guitarist Boyer and bassist Resende formed the pop combo as students at the University of Rouen, sharing an affinity for indie music, new wave and sixties pop. Taking their name from a souvenir t-shirt given to Boyer's father in 1980, the duo recruited guitarist Mederic Gontier, and with the addition of drummer Sylvain Marchand a year later, the lineup was complete. The foursome released a self-produced and self-financed EP, "20 Minutes" (Bobby Records 1996) which resulted in them signing a deal with French label Atmospheriques.
In 1998, the band flew to NYC to record their first album “Puzzle” with Andy Chase. Featuring contributions from Eric Matthews and Adam Schlesinger, "Puzzle" was mixed in Sweden with Tore Johansson. The record, released between the end of 1999 & early 2000 received much praise from the press (band of the week in Melody Maker in Spring 1999), and saw the band touring the world to promote it. “Puzzle” eventually went gold in Japan. Of all the singles taken from the album, "Heartbeat" was the most successful. Tahiti 80's US label, Minty Fresh, released a mini LP called "Extra Pieces", which included B-sides, remixes & other rarities.
In 2001, the band re-united with Andy Chase to record a more experimental follow up album: “Wallpaper For The Soul”. The sessions took place in Rouen, NYC, Etretat, London & Portland (Oregon). Collaborators on this effort include mixer Tony Lash and Let It Be arranger Richard Hewson. “Wallpaper For The Soul” was released in 2002, garnered good reviews (it was selected as one of Uncut’s top 10 albums of the year) and was followed by another mini album "A piece of Sunshine" made up of out-takes from the prolific album sessions.
Following that, Xavier Boyer selected songs for a compilation called "A Piece of Gold” on behalf of the band. Featuring various artists such as Todd Rundgren, The Small Faces, Donald Byrd....) it was only released in Japan for copywrite reasons.
For their third album, from 2003 – 2004, Tahiti 80 spent several months at their own recording studio, the Tahitilab. The way of working was different this time: as opposed to "Puzzle" & "WFTS", the songs were mostly improvised and written in the studio. The soul journey which began on songs like "Heartbeat" and "1,000 Times" matured on "Fosbury". They collaborated with Neal Pogue (co-production & mix) and Serban Ghenea (mix), respectively Outkast’s and NERD’s sound engineers, with British singer Linda Lewis duetting on "Your Love Shines". And "Better Days Will Come" was featured in the first episode of the fourth season of Smallville (an American television series) in September, 2004.
Between tours, Boyer & Resende produced a couple of albums by friends (Fugu, Calc) whilst Xavier Boyer - under the anagram pseudonym Axe Riverboy - recorded the somewhat folk-influenced solo album "Tutu To Tango".
In 2007, the band transferred to Universal's Barclay label and in 2008, they went back to the Tahitilab to record "Activity Center". It was described by the critics as a back to basics album, with a rawer sound and a rock production style. Sylvain Marchand wasn't involved as a drummer as ear problems which had plagued him for years, prevented him from recording his drum parts. Drums were subsequently played by Julien Barbagallo with percussion by Raphael Leger (respectively Tahiti 80's live keyboardist/percussionist and drummer). To promote the album, the band explored new territories (Taiwan, South America) and they even licensed the album for release in the US on their own imprint "Human Sounds" (a reference to "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys).
In 2010, Tahiti 80 will record their 5th album for release on their own label.
Get Yourself Together
Tahiti 80 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That same old feeling
Those days when you feel like a child again
Leave behind all your worries
There's no time for that, no please
The blue sky over my head
Will get you out of bed
'Cause we've got to make things happen
While there's still time to do it right
You look better now
No doubt about it
You're even smiling just a little bit
That child-like smile is back on your face
I'll take you on a special journey
Don't ask me where it's brand new to me
The black cloud over your head
Is now on its death bed
Get yourself together
'Cause we've got to make things happen
While there's still time to do it right
Feels like we live in a movie
It's too good to be true
But don't worry
Cause today, today is the day
When the sun wipes everything away
Get yourself together
'Cause we've got to make things happen
While there's still time to do it right
It's gonna be alright
In Tahiti 80's song "Get Yourself Together," the singer seems to be addressing someone who is going through a difficult time, perhaps feeling overwhelmed by their worries and responsibilities. The singer encourages them to leave those worries behind and embrace a more carefree attitude, reminding them that there is joy to be found in the simple pleasures of life. The singer takes them on a journey, promising to show them something new and exciting that will help them forget their troubles.
The lyrics also contain a sense of urgency, as the singer emphasizes the need to "make things happen" while there is still time to do so. It's not entirely clear what the singer is urging the listener to do, but it seems to be something related to seizing the day and living life to the fullest. The song ends on a positive note, as the singer reassures the listener that everything will be alright.
Overall, "Get Yourself Together" seems to be a song about finding hope and joy in difficult times, and about the importance of taking action and making the most of the time we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Here again, I know it's coming
The familiar feeling of joy and wonder is returning
That same old feeling
The same uplifting feeling we've experienced before
Those days when you feel like a child again
Recapturing the simple, carefree spirit of childhood
Leave behind all your worries
Forget your troubles and focus on the present moment
There's no time for that, no please
Don't waste time on negative thoughts or actions
The blue sky over my head
The beauty of nature can uplift our spirits
Will get you out of bed
Inspiration from the world around us can motivate us
Get yourself together
Pull your thoughts and emotions together
'Cause we've got to make things happen
We have the power to create positive change
While there's still time to do it right
Let's take action before it's too late
You look better now
Your emotional state has visibly improved
No doubt about it
It's clear that you're feeling happier
You're even smiling just a little bit
Your positive emotions are starting to show
That child-like smile is back on your face
Your happiness and innocence have returned
I'll take you on a special journey
Let's explore something new and exciting
Don't ask me where it's brand new to me
It may be unfamiliar to me, but that's okay
The black cloud over your head
The negative influence on your emotions and thoughts
Is now on its death bed
It's slowly disappearing and losing its power
Feels like we live in a movie
Everything seems too good to be true
It's too good to be true
It's almost unbelievable how great things are
But don't worry
Don't let doubts or fears ruin the moment
Cause today, today is the day
Let's focus on the present and make the most of it
When the sun wipes everything away
A fresh start and new beginning is on the horizon
It's gonna be alright
Things will work out in the end
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONALD LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind