In The Beautiful South, Heaton shared the lead singer's role with Hemingway and female singer Briana Corrigan to create a trio of lead vocalists. This set-up helped to characterise the bittersweet kitchen sink dramas played out in Heaton's often-barbed songs.
The band's music might sound like bubbly, catchy, lightweight pop but Heaton's sour, savage and amusing worldview on everything and anything (alcoholism, religion, sex, politics and, mostly, the down side of relationships) is always lurking beneath the surface of the quirky melodies. The tastes and smells of the local pub are never far away either, with the band gaining a reputation for boozing. The band's first album was Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989) and spawned the hits Song For Whoever and You Keep It All In. The release of 1990's Choke album saw the band claim its only Number 1 hit to date, A Little Time. 0898 followed in 1992, with hits including Old Red Eyes Is Back.
In 1994, after Corrigan quit the band when she saw Paul's lyrics for the forthcoming album Miaow, St Helens supermarket shelf-stacker, Jacqui Abbott, was brought on board to fill in. Heaton had heard her sing at an after show party in St Helens and remembered her vocal talents.
Jacqui's first album with the band was Miaow in 1994. Hits included Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud) and a cover of Fred Neil's Everybody's Talking, previously popularised by Harry Nilsson. The end of that year saw the release of Carry on up the Charts, a "best of" compilation consisting of the singles to date plus new track One Last Love Song. The album was massively successful and it is said that 1 in 7 homes in the UK owns a copy.
Blue Is the Colour (1996), Quench (1998) and Painting It Red (2000) followed with varying success. Jacqui also quit the band in 2000. After a second Greatest Hits album Solid Bronze in 2001, they recorded Gaze in 2003 with yet another female vocalist, Alison 'Lady' Wheeler. Wheeler was still in place for 2004's Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs, an album of unusually arranged cover versions including Livin' Thing, You're The One That I Want, Don't Fear The Reaper and I'm Stone In Love With You. In 2006 the band released their tenth studio album, Superbi.
The band broke up in January 2007, releasing the statement: "The Beautiful South have split up due to musical similarities. The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music."
Former members of the group have since played Beautiful South songs together as 'New Beautiful South' and more recently 'The South'.
In 2007, Mercury Records released Soup: The Best of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, a compilation album containing 7 hit singles by The Housemartins ("The Housemartins Condensed") and 15 tracks The Beautiful South ("Cream of The Beautiful South").
You're the One That I Want
The Beautiful South Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're multiplying
And I'm losing control
'Cause the power you're supplying
It's electrifying!
You better shape up
'Cause I need a man
You better shape up
You better understand
To my heart I must be true
Nothing left
Nothing left for me to do
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey
The one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey
The one that I want
Oo-oo-oo, the one I need
Oh, yes indeed
If you're filled
With affection
You're too shy to convey
Meditate
my direction
Feel your way
Feel your way
You better shape up
'Cause I need a man
Who can keep me satisfied
You better shape up
If you're gonna prove
That my faith is justified
Are you sure
Yes I'm sure down deep inside
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey, the one I need
Oh, yes indeed
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey
You're the one that I want
Oo-oo-oo honey, the one I need
Oh, yes indeed
You're the one that I want
You're the one that I want
The one I need
Oh, yes indeed
The Beautiful South's cover of the hit song from the movie Grease, You're The One That I Want, infuses the song with their signature ironic wit and poignancy. The opening lines "I got chills, they're multiplying" capture the giddy excitement of falling in love, but it's quickly revealed that the singer is losing control to the power of their partner's allure. The repeated refrain of "you better shape up" suggests that the singer is calling out their partner's shortcomings, but ultimately they need this person to be the one for them. The line "to my heart I must be true" reveals a vulnerability and honesty that contrasts with the sassy tone of the rest of the song. In the second verse, the singer urges their partner to "meditate my direction, feel your way" which again plays with the idea of control and surrender in a relationship. The final lines of the song assert the singer's desire and need for their partner- "you're the one that I want, the one I need, oh yes indeed."
Overall, The Beautiful South's version of You're The One That I Want showcases their ability to take a pop hit and turn it into a commentary on love and relationships. The song is more than just a catchy tune, it's a playful exploration of power dynamics and romantic desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I got chills
I am overwhelmed with excitement.
They're multiplying
My emotions are intensifying.
And I'm losing control
I am unable to manage my feelings.
'Cause the power you're supplying
Your influence is what's causing me to feel this way.
It's electrifying!
Your impact is electric and overwhelming.
You better shape up
You need to improve yourself.
'Cause I need a man
I am seeking a partner.
And my heart is set on you
I have strong feelings for you.
You better understand
You need to comprehend what I desire.
To my heart I must be true
I know what I want and I will pursue it.
Nothing left
There is nothing more to be done.
Nothing left for me to do
I have done everything I can do.
You're the one that I want
You are the person I desire.
Oo-oo-oo honey
Expressing affection for the desired partner.
The one that I want
The person I am pursuing.
Oo-oo-oo honey
Expressing affection for the desired partner.
The one that I want
The person I am pursuing.
Oo-oo-oo, the one I need
You are the person I need in my life.
Oh, yes indeed
My feelings are strong and real.
If you're filled
If you are overflowing.
With affection
Emotionally invested in the relationship.
You're too shy to convey
You are too timid to express your feelings.
Meditate
Consider deeply.
my direction
Shift your focus towards me.
Feel your way
Let your feelings guide you.
Who can keep me satisfied
I want a partner who will fulfill my desires.
If you're gonna prove
If you can demonstrate.
That my faith is justified
That you are worthy of my trust and commitment.
Are you sure
Do you really know?
Yes I'm sure down deep inside
I am confident in my emotions and desires.
You're the one that I want
You are the person I desire.
The one I need
The person I need in my life.
Oh, yes indeed
My feelings are strong and real.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
suzie106
Discovered this today. I never particularly liked the original, but I love this version. The orchestration is brilliant. Thanks for posting.
Belén TR
Absolutely marvelous!!!!! love original version but this one is a piece of art 😍 what a voices a music, in love!
Razor One
loved the original ..... but this sent a chill down my spine .
MrSpNPap
Absolutely ingenious! Many time better than the original!
Rajiv Mathew
Stunning cover version!
Dreamcatcher
Damn guys, the lyrics for this song were powerful enough as is, but this way, its a different flavor. The song can work for an upbeat mood and for something else...
Dave Milton
The album is fantastic, the best covers album ever, Love this version
broomybank
Couldn't agree with you more my friend, the album is indeed fantastic with interesting versions of great songs. My personal favourites are 'This Will Be Our Year', 'Rebel King' and 'Blitzkrieg Bop'
The Stardrive Report
Gorgeous. The best thing I have heard all year. Hauntingly beautiful. Wow.
pepitapepino
Que versión más bonita de la canción.Me gusta.