'A Catholic Education' was their debut album, released in 1990. The album received positive reviews from English music journalists and critics. In contrast to the group's later work, the album has a very dark, abrasive, and cynical tone and incorporated a grunge and heavy metal influenced sound. As well, the album's two title tracks are direct attacks on the Catholic Church, which are unique for an otherwise apolitical band. The opening track, "Everything Flows", is a mellow powerpop-influenced song (unlike the rest of the album) that provides a sort of blueprint for their later work.
"Everything Flows" was later included in the compilation albums 'Deep Fried Fanclub' and 'Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Seconds – A Short Cut to Teenage Fanclub'. Those were released in 1995 and 2003, respectively. Teenage Fanclub's second album, 1991's 'The King', went for a shambolic, alternative rock edge that left many fans and critics cold, though the release also had strong defenders. It took their third album to kick things into high gear.
'Bandwagonesque', released in November 1991 on Creation Records, became famous by beating Nirvana's landmark album 'Nevermind' to be voted "album of the year" by popular American music magazine Spin. It also gave the band substantial U.S. success when the single "Star Sign" reached #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming their biggest hit in that country. "What You Do to Me" and "The Concept" were also Top 20 hits on that chart. Fans greatly enjoyed the melodic yet melancholy feel of the album.
Although later works have led the group through various highs and lows throughout the 90s and 00s, they're still going strong as of 2014. Tours have been widely successful. Their latest album, 'Shadows', was their ninth studio release. They made it available on 31 May 2010 on the band's own PeMa label in Europe and on Merge Records in North America, the group promoting the single "Baby Lee". Said track shows the band still in touch with the chiming, emotional sounds of their 90s heyday.
There have been a succession of drummers, including:
- Francis MacDonald (a prime-mover in the C86 scene, later of the BMX Bandits), the drummer in the original lineup, and in a later period
- Brendan O’Hare (later of Telstar Ponies, Thrapple , Mogwai and Macrocosmica)
and
- Paul Quinn (later of The Primary 5), who was later replaced by the returning Francis MacDonald.
Keyboardist Finlay MacDonald (no relation to Francis MacDonald) has also been a member.
near you
Teenage Fanclub Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel the world beneath my feet
Strive to see more of the sun
Try to change what I've become
Move on up through this down
Take this luck and turn it around
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
Somewhere tonight the stars still shine
Fueled by the promise of the sun
Pulled by the charm this night has spun
Move on up through this down
Take this luck and turn it around
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
The lyrics to the song Near to You by Teenage Fanclub & Jad Fair are about a person who is struggling to connect with somebody that they are close to. The lyrics describe the singer's desire to escape their current situation and become free. They want to leave their current seat, feel the world beneath their feet and strive to see more of the sun. The lyrics suggest that they are unhappy with their current circumstances and want to change their situation. They want to turn their luck around and move up from their current low point.
The singer is frustrated that they cannot seem to reach the person they are trying to connect with. This person is symbolized as a star that is still shining somewhere in the night sky. The singer wants to realign themselves with this person and is fueled by the promise of the sun and the charm of the night. The lyrics suggest a feeling of longing and frustration as the singer tries and fails to connect with the person they desire.
Overall, the lyrics to Near to You are about the struggle to connect with somebody that is close to you. The song describes the frustration and longing that people feel when they are unable to reach somebody they care about.
Line by Line Meaning
I should get out of this seat
I need to stop being complacent and take action.
Feel the world beneath my feet
I need to connect with my surroundings and be present in the moment.
Strive to see more of the sun
I should seek out positivity and brightness in life.
Try to change what I've become
I need to actively work on improving myself and not settle for who I currently am.
Move on up through this down
I should keep pushing forward despite the challenges and setbacks I may face.
Take this luck and turn it around
I need to make the most out of the good opportunities I receive and use them to better my situation.
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
I feel close to achieving my goals, but I always fall just short.
Somewhere tonight the stars still shine
Even in the darkest of times, there is still hope and beauty to be found.
Somehow I've got to re-align
I need to readjust my priorities and direction in life.
Fueled by the promise of the sun
I am motivated by the good things that may come in the future.
Pulled by the charm this night has spun
I am drawn to the allure and possibilities of the present moment.
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
I feel close to achieving my goals, but I always fall just short.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERARD LOVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marcelo Farias
Near You
(Gerard Love)
I should get out of this seat
Feel the world beneath my feet
Strive to see more of the sun
Try to change what I've become
Move on up through this down
Take this luck and turn it around
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
Somewhere tonight the stars still shine
Somehow I've got to re-align
Fueled by the promise of the sun
Pulled by the charm this night has spun
Move on up through this down
Take this luck and turn it around
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
Reach you...
Francis Ball
Another perfect pop song goes unnoticed by the publid
Andy Trullinger
Kinda makes it our treasure! But yeah, pathetic public indeed.
MeetYouAtTheBing
I wonder what Mozart or Lennon would have said about this tune....Right There with their best melodies and harmonies
Marcelo Farias
Near You
(Gerard Love)
I should get out of this seat
Feel the world beneath my feet
Strive to see more of the sun
Try to change what I've become
Move on up through this down
Take this luck and turn it around
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
Somewhere tonight the stars still shine
Somehow I've got to re-align
Fueled by the promise of the sun
Pulled by the charm this night has spun
Move on up through this down
Take this luck and turn it around
I get near you but I never seem to reach you
Reach you...
Chris Marco
Perfect pop song..amazing only 5,000 views/listens
E. Fontanot
True!
Joel Kuiper
Brilliant.
azio rubertelli
Joel Kuiper mjmzmmxmxm
jeremy thomas
Pretty close to being their best song.
romeosyne
Gerard was always my favorite, but I like all three for different reasons...