1) The Bongos … Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) The Bongos was an American pop band active in the 1980s.
2) The Bongos was a New Zealand rock band formed in Auckland in October 1981.
1) The Bongos was an American pop band active in the 1980s. They formed in Hoboken, New Jersey and were led by Richard Barone (vocals, guitar). The band also included Rob Norris, formerly of the Zantees (bass) and Frank Giannini (drums). James Mastro (guitar), later of The Health & Happiness Show, joined the band after the release of their first LP.
The group grew out of a band called, "a", which had included the three original Bongos and Glenn Morrow, who later formed the The Individuals and helped found Bar/None Records. "a" were the first band to play Maxwell's, a rock and roll club in Hoboken.
The Bongos recorded their early singles and their well-received debut EP for UK-based Fetish Records. Their debut U.S. album, Drums Along The Hudson, compiled from the band's British singles, was released in 1982 to mostly favorable reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. While Trouser Press suggested that the group "may trade a certain amount of substance for easy appeal," it added that "there's no better musical equivalent of whipped cream anywhere." Writing in the Village Voice, Robert Christgau dryly commented that "for all their jumpy originality [the songs are] still slight, and Richard Barone's lyrics are so oblique you have to wonder what his angle is." Regardless, in 2007, Jim DeRegotis wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times: "The initial impression of naivete is offset by deceptively simple lyrics that actually hint at deep, dark mysteries and unfathomed mystical enigmas." The group's cover of T. Rex's "Mambo Sun" reached #72 on the Billboard Dance Chart.
In 1983, the group was signed to RCA Records, which subsequently released the album, Numbers With Wings. New York Times' critic Robert Palmer -- coincidentally also a former Hoboken-based musician with The Insect Trust -- subsequently marked this as the beginning of the Bongos' creative decline, lamenting the "slick, overproduced records which vitiated the raw vitality the group had originally displayed." However, the album spawned a popular MTV video of the title song (nominated for 'Best Direction' on the first, 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, while the song itself remained at the number one spot on the College Music Journal (CMJ) chart for six consecutive weeks), as well as the tribal, dancefloor hit "Barbarella". Their follow-up album, Beat Hotel, along with relentless touring, raised the Bongos' profile further. The band split up in 1987. Barone subsequently released a series of solo albums, including one currently in progress for 2008 release, and has established a career as a producer of recordings and major concert events.
In 2006, the original three Bongos re-entered the studio with long time fan Moby producing to create bonus material for a CD reissue of the group's debut album. The remastered, 27-track Special Edition of Drums Along The Hudson, which was released by Cooking Vinyl Records in June, 2007, includes rare, live bonus tracks and new studio recordings. An accompanying video for "Bulrushes 2007," a reprise of the band's early single, "The Bulrushes" featuring Moby, was released simultaneously.
The original three Bongos also reunited for two shows at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in Greenwich Village in October 2006, and two in February 2007. On September 30, 2007, the foursome played again in Hoboken for the first time in twenty years to an overflowing and appreciative crowd, and received a Proclamation from Mayor David Roberts commending them for their contributions to Hoboken's culture and heritage. They headlined a day-long bill that featured the Chris Stamey Group, Glenn Mercer (formerly of the Feelies) and The Health and Happiness Show.
2) The Bongos was a New Zealand rock band formed in Auckland in October 1981.
Brave New World
The Bongos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the music swell
These troubled times aren't here to stay
The world's a looking-glass
Let's find a place to be
Let the madness come and go
New love, new love is what we have
Dash into my heart
Watch the sky go clear
Like childhood dreams now we can fly
The drum beats perfect time
Your heart beats into mine
Let the hard times pass us by
True love, true love, true love is ordinary,
New love, new love is what we have
A brave new world
I'll show you a day that never dies
New, new words I'll tell you
Look into my eyes
We will wander always
Places call us softly
Take me by the hand and run
True love, true love, true love is ordinary,
New love, new love is what we have.
The Bongos's song Brave New World expresses the idea of love as a safe haven amidst the chaos of the uncertain world. The opening lines, "Waltz into my arms, Let the music swell" create a picture of a couple dancing and finding comfort in each other's arms. The following lyric "These troubled times aren't here to stay" is hopeful and speaks to the idea of hope for a better tomorrow.
The verse "The world's a looking-glass, Let's find a place to be, Let the madness come and go" is a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of the world. The idea of finding a place to be is symbolic and suggests that the couple should create their safe haven. The song stresses the value of love, where true love is seen as ordinary while new love is what the couple shares. The chorus "True love, true love, true love is ordinary, New love, new love is what we have" emphasizes the importance of love in the couple's life.
The second verse "Dash into my heart, Watch the sky go clear, Like childhood dreams now we can fly" contains imagery that is vivid and magical. It suggests the idea of a couple transcending the present day's chaos and finding solace in each other. The drum beats are representative of the rhythm of life, and in the context of the lyrics, "Your heart beats into mine, Let the hard times pass us by," it suggests that the couple is in sync with each other, sharing each other's burdens, and holding hands to overcome the difficulties together.
Line by Line Meaning
Waltz into my arms
Come to me gracefully and with intention
Let the music swell
Allow the music to fill us up and set the tone
These troubled times aren't here to stay
We won't be stuck in this sadness and chaos forever
The world's a looking-glass
The world is a reflection of ourselves and our actions
Let's find a place to be
Let's create a space for ourselves to exist without judgment or harm
Let the madness come and go
Let the chaos and disorder fade in and out without letting it consume us
True love, true love, true love is ordinary,
Love that is consistent and dependable is the most valuable
New love, new love is what we have
Our love may be newly discovered, but it is still real and important
Dash into my heart
Move towards me with speed and excitement
Watch the sky go clear
Observe the clarity and beauty of our surroundings
Like childhood dreams now we can fly
We can achieve the impossible and the fantastical together
The drum beats perfect time
The rhythm of our love is steady and unwavering
Your heart beats into mine
Our hearts are in sync and our love is strong
Let the hard times pass us by
We'll get through the tough times together and come out stronger
A brave new world
An exciting new chapter filled with potential
I'll show you a day that never dies
I'll create a memory with you that will last forever
New, new words I'll tell you
I have something new and special to share with you
Look into my eyes
Connect with me on a deeper level and see my love for you
We will wander always
We'll never tire of exploring and experiencing new things
Places call us softly
We feel drawn to certain places and we'll follow that feeling together
Take me by the hand and run
Let's escape and explore and experience life to the fullest
True love, true love, true love is ordinary,
Love that is consistent and dependable is the most valuable
New love, new love is what we have.
Our love may be newly discovered, but it is still real and important
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD A. BARONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
james webster
Was not even aware they made a video for this forgotten gem. Thank you for uploading
severo luis manrique diaz
Excelente
Stevenimich Archangel
What album is this off of? Wait… I found it! Why did I overlook this one!?😂