After signing to Arista in 1988, they saw their largest international success with the album Starfish and the American Top 40 hit "Under The Milky Way" which resurfaced on the soundtrack of the cult movie "Donnie Darko". Whilst the band remain feted by their peers, subsequent commercial success proved elusive: 1990s follow-up album "Gold Afternoon Fix" failed to capitalise on their success, and the band weathered several line-up changes after its release, first losing long-term drummer Richard Ploog, then Peter Koppes following 1992s "Priest = Aura". That album baffled and confused many fans upon its release as to what band The Church was considered to be, but is now considered a seminal album and one of the most revered by Church connoisseurs. The vacant drum-stool on Priest=Aura being occupied by Jay Dee Daugherty of Arista labelmate Patti Smiths group, and it was produced by Gavin MacKillop of Moose.
Reduced to a two-piece, Kilbey & Willson-Piper re-grouped with the assistance of drummer/producer Tim Powles to record 1994's "Sometime Anywhere", concluding their obligations to the Arista and Mushroom labels. The commercial decline, combined with the Church being ignored again by a music press more focused on the Nineties' music trends, could have brought about the demise of the band, had it not coincided with the breakthrough of the internet, thus enabling direct communication from the band to its passionate cult fanbase.
This brought about a new beginning for The Church, with Peter Koppes rejoining the band for recording 1996s "Magician Among The Spirits". The band (with Koppes back into the fold, and Powles now as the permanent drummer ), hit a re-newed creative surge and with regained selfconfidence, released "Hologram Of Baal" 2 years later, and toured Australia, the USA and Europe.
The first decade of the 21st century found the band releasing severeal highly critically acclaimed albums, like 2002's aptly named "After Everything Now this" and 2003's "Forget Yourself", the latter breaking new ground with bandmembers swapping instruments in the recording process. Live performances stray from high profile events like the 03 concerts at Sydney Opera House and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, to low-profile gigs for smaller audiences, often confusing old 80s fans, surprised to find the band still playing, wrongly assuming the band just being one in the never-ending string of reunion acts.
2009's album "Untitled#23" marked yet another highlight.. its essence represented in just 10 songs, and with a strong less-is-more approach, the albums core identity being on par with Starfish, it also finds Steve Kilbey breaking new ground as a vocalist.
2010 saw their 30th anniversary, with extensive touring in the US and Australia. Their unique position and importance in the australian music scene was recognized with an ARIA award.
Their album, "Further Deeper", was released in 2014, and "man woman life death infinity" in 2017.
Film
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you see the wonder in their eyes
Time to speak of love, hold each other close
'Cause it's the heart that matters most
Its still the same old moon, why does it shine so bright
There's a little magic in the air tonight
Time to speak of love, hold each other close
Always the heart that matters most
Oh, take a look around, you can see that it's true
It's like a river flowing inside of you
Everyone needs love, you need it too
So here's what you have got to do
Spread a little hope, make the spirits rise
Do you see the wonder in their eyes
It's time to speak of love, hold each other close
'Cause it's the heart that matters most
In time we come to learn
It's the heart that matters most
The Church's song "Film" is an uplifting anthem that encourages us to spread hope and love to those around us. The opening lines suggest that it's time to do something positive and give people a reason to feel good. The lyrics then encourage us to recognize the wonder in other people's eyes, which may be a reflection of the joy and inspiration we can offer.
The song then shifts to a more personal and introspective tone, as it reminds us that everyone needs love, including ourselves. The chorus urges us to hold each other close, recognizing that it's the heart that really matters in this life. The final lines suggest that this lesson may take some time to learn, but it's a truth that becomes clear in the course of our lives.
Overall, "Film" is a song that speaks to the importance of compassion, connection, and the power of human emotion. It's a reminder that love and hope are things we create together by reaching out to others with open hearts and minds, and that the relationships we build are what really give our lives meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Time to spread some hope, make the spirits rise
It is time to spread positivity and uplift people's emotions.
Do you see the wonder in their eyes
Can you perceive the joy in people's eyes when they feel inspired?
Time to speak of love, hold each other close
It's time to talk about love and embrace each other tightly.
'Cause it's the heart that matters most
The most important thing is one's heart and the emotions it holds.
Its still the same old moon, why does it shine so bright
The moon remains unchanged, yet it shines brilliantly. There might be some magic in the air tonight.
There's a little magic in the air tonight
Perhaps there's an unexplainable enchantment in the atmosphere tonight.
Oh, take a look around, you can see that it's true
If you observe your surroundings, you'll discern the validity of this.
It's like a river flowing inside of you
It's similar to a river that flows within you.
Everyone needs love, you need it too
All humans require love; you are not an exception.
So here's what you have got to do
This is what you need to do to bring light to others' hearts.
In time we come to learn
Eventually, we learn this important lesson.
It's the heart that matters most
The heart is the most significant element.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVE MAC, DON BLACK, WAYNE HECTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself