The name comes from the bouffant wigs that are part of the band's distinctive look, worn by singers Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson. Along with Wilson and Pierson, fellow vocalist Fred Schneider, drummer (and later guitarist) Keith Strickland, and guitarist Ricky Wilson (Cindy's older brother) formed the band after a drunken night at a Chinese restaurant. They shared a passion for mixing and matching older styles with a partying, good-time public image, which set them apart from many staid 70s contemporaries.
Their sound is particularly marked by the vocals of Wilson and Pierson, with Kate singing in a slightly deeper voice, along with the generally monotone or spoken-word vocals of Schneider. Aside from their vocals, the band also had a unique New Wave sound that was a combination of 50s and 60s dance music and surf rock, and the unusual guitar-string tunings utilized by Ricky Wilson. Although a clear part of said movement, their music was more experimental than most new wave groups, indulging in all manner of odd vocal and synthesizer effects. The B-52's created a quirky dance vibe that became very popular and their tours have been successful for decades.
Website= http://theb52s.com/
Topaz
The B-52's Lyrics
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Skyscrapers are winking
Some hills are never seen
The universe expanding
We're gazing out to sea
Blue dolphins are singing
Minds swim in ecstasy
Clear planet, ever free
Our hearts are traveling faster,
Faster than the speed of love
Straight through a tear in the clouds
Up to the heavens above
Bright ships will sail the seas
Starfishes are spinning
Some hills are never seen
Our universe is expanding
Moonrise upon the sea
Starships are blinking
We'll walk in ecstasy
Clear planet blue and green
Topaz
Our thoughts are traveling faster
Moving beyond the heavens above
Planets pulsating, constellations creating
Voices are guiding me to the cities by the sea
Yes, I see cities by the sea
Deep forests by the sea
Skyscrapers are winking
Some hills are never seen
The universe is expanding
Topaz
The B-52's song Topaz is a whimsical and dreamlike piece describing the vastness of the universe and the possibilities that exist beyond our everyday world. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where new cities are being created by the sea, with skyscrapers that seem to wink in the sunshine. There are hills that are never seen, and the universe itself is constantly expanding. The singers describe gazing out to sea and hearing the echoing songs of blue dolphins, the exaltation of minds swimming in ecstatic bliss.
As the song progresses, the listener is taken on a journey through space and time, with bright ships sailing the seas and starfishes that seem to spin in the vastness of the universe. The moon rises upon the sea, and starships flicker and blink like tiny lights in the darkness. The singers express a sense of joy and wonder, walking in ecstasy on a clear and verdant planet they describe as blue and green.
The song is a celebration of the limitless possibilities of creation and the boundless potential of the human imagination. It describes a reality that is both familiar and completely unknown, a landscape that exists beyond the veil of our everyday consciousness. The message is one of hope and optimism, inviting the listener to join the singers on their journey to the cities by the sea, deep forests, and hills that remain unseen.
Line by Line Meaning
New cities by the sea
There are new cities being built near the ocean
Skyscrapers are winking
Tall buildings are reflecting light and shining brightly
Some hills are never seen
There are some hills that no one has ever laid eyes on
The universe expanding
The universe is continuing to grow and expand
We're gazing out to sea
We are looking out at the ocean
Blue dolphins are singing
Dolphins are making sounds in the water
Minds swim in ecstasy
Our minds feel great pleasure and excitement
Clear planet, ever free
The planet is clear and unobstructed, and always free
Topaz
This is the title of the song
Our hearts are traveling faster,
Our emotions are moving quicker
Faster than the speed of love
Our emotions are moving more quickly than love itself
Straight through a tear in the clouds
We are moving through an opening in the clouds
Up to the heavens above
We are going all the way up to the sky and beyond
Bright ships will sail the seas
Ships that are very bright or colorful will travel the oceans
Starfishes are spinning
Starfish are moving and spinning in the water
Moonrise upon the sea
The moon is rising over the ocean
Starships are blinking
Ships that look like stars in the sky are flashing their lights
We'll walk in ecstasy
We will feel great pleasure and happiness as we walk
Clear planet blue and green
The planet is blue and green and can be seen clearly
Our thoughts are traveling faster
Our ideas and thoughts are moving more quickly
Moving beyond the heavens above
Our thoughts are going beyond the sky and space
Planets pulsating, constellations creating
Planets are moving and creating patterns of stars in the sky
Voices are guiding me to the cities by the sea
We are hearing voices that are leading us to the coastal cities
Yes, I see cities by the sea
We can clearly see the cities near the ocean
Deep forests by the sea
There are dense forests near the coast
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CINDY WILSON, FRED SCHNEIDER, KATE PIERSON, KEITH STRICKLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tony-Deborah.
on Debbie
NO! It's not about some generic "Debbie," it's a tribute to Debbie Harry of Blondie! (I guess it's easier if you grew up in the 80s)
Wayne Matthess
on Dance This Mess Around
Remember........when you held his little kitty Paw.............Remember......Remember when you held my cat';s paw...walk and talk in the name of Kalvin........before you break...My heart......oh don't ya know why.........Why won't you dance with me, my cats? I'm not no limburger.....just a limburger.......Just a limburger 2 more times...oh 3 more times.....and finally Fred....Dance this Mess Round Round Round Round Round....
Wayne Matthess
on There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon)
there's a moon in the sky.....does anyone beside me think this was a song no one realized was so great....i think this is one good good song that is so danceable even 30 yrs.....listen and groove........no one has thought this is one of the best ones they've ever done but simply just one track on 2nd album, a B side song i guess.......dang, i would've put this on radio play, video the whole works....instead of that awful awful Love Shack....my god that Love Shack sucked,........