The band initially released three studio albums in the 1980s, to solid critical acclaim. After their third release, Strange Times, in 1987 they abruptly disbanded following the sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher. The Chameleons were, for all practical purposes, extinct for well over a decade before releasing - to the delight and even disbelief of its ardently loyal fan base - a final studio album in 2001, entitled Why Call It Anything. The band quickly dissolved once again in 2003 due to personal differences, after a successful reunion tour which took them across Europe and the United States. Though having never attained the level of commercial success or fame enjoyed by their contemporaries (e.g. U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division), The Chameleons' early impact can still be felt throughout much of popular music today.
Dave Fielding went on to form The Reegs who released a couple of ep's . Then in 2003 formed Coconut Dogfuck a trance techno dance act with Ralph on percussion, Paul Didge on didge and Dave playing guitar and dulcimer . They released an ep and played festivals and gigs around the uk . Andy Clegg Keyboards with the Chameleons also joind Mark and Andy Whittikar to form Sun and the Moon. Both Andys also played with Manchester Band B.F.G.
Love Is
The Chameleons Lyrics
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You always fill my head with useless information
And it's contributing to, my frustration
If I shout or if I scream it's just a reflex reaction
And it's always aimed at you
You think my efforts are pointless
And handled in a way that is totally thoughtless
But the enemy's faceless
It's a cancer and the cure,'must always elude us
As it eats it's way through you
But this feelings rebounding of you
Oh, is this the best we can do?
This feelings rebounding of you
Dealing with confusion
You always fill my head with useless information
And it's contributing to, my frustration
If I shout or if I scream it's just a reflex reaction
And it's always aimed at you
But this feelings rebounding of you
But this feelings rebounding of you
Oh,is this the best we can do?
This feelings rebounding of you
The Chameleons' song Love Is captures the confusing and frustrating dynamic of a relationship where one partner constantly fills the other's head with worthless information. The song conveys that the constant erosion of trust and goodwill leads to reflexive reactions like shouting and screaming, aimed at the person causing the frustration. However, the love between the couple persists despite it all, and the unresolved issues between them become a cancer that eats away at the core of their relationship.
The lyrics are potent in their depiction of the emotional turmoil that the couple experiences. The first line, "Dealing with confusion," sets the tone for the song. Throughout the song, the singer's partner keeps filling their head with "useless information," which is leading to awful frustration. The person is continuously defending all that they love, but since the enemy is faceless, it creates a sense of hopelessness. The situation worsens as the relationship turns into a ping-pong game of bouncing feelings of frustration off each other.
The chorus "But this feelings rebounding off you, Oh is this the best we can do?" ties the whole song together, representing the doomed outlook of the relationship. The couple continues to rebound their feelings off each other, unable to find a solution. The frustration culminates in the singer asking if they could do any better than this. The song suggests that this constant cycle of frustration and rebounding might be the best thing that the couple can do.
Line by Line Meaning
Dealing with confusion
I am struggling to make sense of things
You always fill my head with useless information
You constantly inundate me with irrelevant details
And it's contributing to, my frustration
This is adding to my overall exasperation
If I shout or if I scream it's just a reflex reaction
When I yell, it's not a rational response
And it's always aimed at you
But since you're here, you're the one who gets the brunt of it
You think my efforts are pointless
You believe my attempts are futile
And handled in a way that is totally thoughtless
And that I approach them without care or consideration
Defending all you love
You are protective of things important to you
But the enemy's faceless
But you don't know the source of what you are fighting against
It's a cancer and the cure,'must always elude us
The issue has no clear or simple solution
As it eats it's way through you
As it slowly but surely harms you
But this feelings rebounding of you
But despite all this, I am still drawn to you
Oh, is this the best we can do?
Is this the most we can hope for?
This feelings rebounding of you
This attraction/love for you still persists
But this feelings rebounding of you
But this attraction/love for you still persists
Oh,is this the best we can do?
Is this the most we can hope for?
This feelings rebounding of you
This attraction/love for you still persists
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID FIELDING, JOHN LEVER, MARK BURGESS, REGINALD HOPE SMITHIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sugarandspice4815
Wow, this is early Chameleons. I love it!
@thenameisbond
@sugarandspice4815 tx for the comment. always good to find another Chams fan
@2020franko
3rd or 4th album i think...!!!
@stevec4606
It was their third album release (of studio recordings) but ironically contained songs that were recorded before the first album was made....if that makes any sense!
@mikethompson5549
Might lemon drops in disguise....
@brianshorrockjnr6928
Mike Thompson they'd piss all over the mighty lemon drops
@stevec4606
They are similar in sound, and toured the US together in 1986, but the Chameleons had released 2 albums before the MLDs had started