Neil Hannon, Originally from Derry, has been the only ever-present member of the band, being its founder in 1989 when he was joined by John McCullagh and Kevin Traynor. Their first album, the heavily R.E.M.-influenced and now-deleted Fanfare for the Comic Muse, enjoyed little success though. A couple of equally unsuccessful EPs - Timewatch (1991); Europop (1992) - were to follow, with newly-recruited member John Allen handling lead vocals on some tracks. After the commercial failure of the latter EP, this line-up soon fell apart.
Hannon, however, was not deterred in his efforts and re-appeared in 1993 with Liberation. Featuring a fairly diverse musical outlook that goes from the tongue-in-cheek synth pop of Europop(nearly unrecognisable from the previously-released version) to the classical stylings of Timewatching.
Indeed, it was only some minor success in France that really enabled Hannon to proceed to his second effort Promenade. Released in 1994, this was heavily driven by classical influences, with Michael Nyman's stylings clearly an influence. Hannon himself acknowledged this when he apparently sent a copy of his new album to the composer, jokingly asking him not to sue. Essentially a concept album about a day spent by two lovers, it also received similar critical acclaim to that which Liberation was afforded. Commercial success, though, was not forthcoming.
At around the same time, Hannon also wrote and performed the theme music for the TV sitcom Father Ted (which would subsequently be incorporated into the song Songs of Love on the album Casanova), and later wrote the music for the deliberately bad mock-Eurovision song My Lovely Horse for one episode. Hannon resisted widespread requests from fans to release the track as a single for the Christmas market, but it was eventually released in 1999 as the third track on the CD-single Gin Soaked Boy. This would not be the only time they would be responsible for a TV theme, as In Pursuit Of Happiness was also used by the BBC science and technology show, Tomorrow's World. Hannon also recently composed the music for the comedy series "The IT Crowd".
The album Casanova (1996), and in particular the single Something for the Weekend led to the band's first major successes, with Neil Hannon becoming a distinctive, albeit unlikely, popstar in an immaculate suit, and always appearing the elegant dandy. At the height of their commercial success, the band put out A Short Album About Love (a reference to the Krzysztof Kieślowski movie A Short Film About Love), recorded live at soundcheck with the Brunel Ensemble in preparation for a concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, from which several songs were released as b-sides. It was aptly released on Valentine's Day in 1997. Subsequently, the band contributed a reworking of Noel Coward's I've Been to a Marvellous Party to a compilation of covers of the writer's songs, with Hannon affecting a Cowardesque lilt (albeit interspersed with an aggressive electronic musical backing).
The foppish image, but not the suit, was ditched for the more sombre album Fin De Siècle in 1998, although its biggest hit, the jaunty National Express, a song about the national coach operators, belied its more intimate, soul-searching tone. Maintaining the balance between these poles, 1999's Secret History - the Best of The Divine Comedy included a re-recording of Liberation track The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count and two new songs (Gin-Soaked Boy and Too Young to Die) alongside the band's main hits. In the same year, the band also collaborated with Tom Jones on a cover version of Portishead's All Mine, featured on his album Reload.
A serious side to the band was also in evidence in 2000's collaboration with Ute Lemper on her album Punishing Kiss, most of which featured The Divine Comedy as Lemper's backing band.
The 2001 album Regeneration attempted to remove the band still further from its association with comedy. Hannon hired famous producer Nigel Godrich to "remake" the band. Neil ditched the suit and donned the Britrock band image. However, the album was a greater critical than commercial success, and soon after its release it was announced that The Divine Comedy were splitting up. However within a year Hannon was touring again with a revised band line-up, playing a series of joint-headline gigs in the USA, UK and Ireland featuring both The Divine Comedy and Ben Folds, who would cover The Divine Comedy's Songs of Love on his Sunny 16 EP.
Eventually a new album surfaced in the form of 2004's Absent Friends. Striking a balance between the occasionally earnest sound of the band's later material and the lighter tone of the more popular releases, it encapsulated the essence of The Divine Comedy. 2004 saw two dates of particularly acclaimed performances, one at the London Palladium (which was later released as a live DVD) and one at the Royal Albert Hall.
In January 2005, Hannon announced that he had acquired the worldwide copyrights to all of his recorded output with his former record label, Setanta Records. He declared on the band's official website that he would be launching his own record label Divine Comedy Records in order to re-release his 1990s output.
Hannon's ninth album under the Divine Comedy moniker, Victory for the Comic Muse (a reference to his debut), was released in June 2006. It is suggested by fans to be less personal and more free-approach in tone than his most recent albums. The bulk of the record was recorded in just two weeks, hence the more spontaneous sound, and features appearances from Travis bass player Dougie Payne.
Hannon collaborated with Thomas Walsh of Pugwash to create an album themed around the sport of cricket. Released under the alias The Duckworth Lewis Method, the self-titled album was released in 2009 to critical acclaim.
The following year saw the tenth Divine Comedy album and first on his own label, Bang Goes the Knighthood.
Perfect Lovesong
The Divine Comedy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll give you the perfect love song
With a divine Beatles bass line
And a big old Beach Boys sound
I'll match you pound for pound
Like heavy-weights in the final round
We'll hold on to each other
So we don't fall down
Give me a wink
And I'll give you what I think you're after
With just one kiss I will whisk you away
To where angels often tread
We'll paint this planet red
We'll stumble back to our hotel bed
And make love to each other
'Til we're half dead
Maybe now you can see
Just what you mean to me
Give me your love
And I'll give you the perfect love song
Give me your word
That you'll be true to me always come what may
Forever and a day
No matter what other people may say
We'll hold on to each other
'Til we're old and grey
The Divine Comedy's song Perfect Lovesong is a romantic yet playful ode to a beloved. The first verse appeals to the listener's desire for love, promising to match them pound for pound in love like heavyweights in a final boxing round. The instrumentation in this verse is an allusion to the Beatles' famous basslines and the Beach Boys' large and lush harmonies, indicating that the love song promised will have a classic flavor, but will still retain its originality.
The second verse is even more audacious, asking for just a wink from the beloved with the assurance that the singer will provide them with what they are after with a single kiss. The words "to where angels often tread" conjure images of heavenly realms or paradises where romance is all-consuming. The couple will paint the planet red, signifying a passionate love affair that will leave no corner of the Earth untouched. The singer promises to make love to the beloved until they are "half dead," emphasizing the physical intensity of the relationship.
All of these promises are dispensed in exchange for one thing: the beloved's love. The final verse reinforces this point. In this verse, the singer asks the beloved for their everlasting love, promising to be with them come what may till they are "old and grey." The song concludes with the promise of a love that is solid and enduring, echoing the promises given in traditional wedding vows.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me your love
Expressing a desire for the affection of the listener
And I'll give you the perfect love song
Promising to create a musical expression of love that is flawless
With a divine Beatles bass line
Referencing the classic sound of the Beatles and incorporating it into the song
And a big old Beach Boys sound
Incorporating the harmonies and instrumentation of the Beach Boys into the song
I'll match you pound for pound
Pledging to reciprocate love and affection equally
Like heavy-weights in the final round
Comparing the intensity and fierceness of their love to that of boxers in a championship fight
We'll hold on to each other
Making a vow to support and hold onto each other in difficult times
So we don't fall down
To avoid any challenges or obstacles in their relationship
Give me a wink
Asking for a flirtatious gesture from the listener
And I'll give you what I think you're after
Promising to deliver what the listener desires or wants
With just one kiss I will whisk you away
Suggesting that even a single kiss could have powerful and transformative impact
To where angels often tread
Using the metaphor of the divine to describe a place of great beauty or happiness
We'll paint this planet red
Expressing a desire to enjoy life and live boldly
We'll stumble back to our hotel bed
Imagining a scene of romantic passion and spontaneity
And make love to each other
Using poetic language to describe the act of physical intimacy
Til we're half dead
Expressing a desire to give everything to their love and commitment
Maybe now you can see
Asking the listener to reflect on what has been expressed and their own feelings
Just what you mean to me
Revealing the depth and intensity of the songwriter's love and dedication
Give me your word
Asking for a promise and commitment from the listener
That you'll be true to me always come what may
Asking for unwavering loyalty and faithfulness in their relationship
Forever and a day
Emphasizing the enduring nature of their love and commitment
No matter what other people may say
Acknowledging the possibility of outside interference or skepticism, but proclaiming their devotion regardless
We'll hold on to each other
Repeating the pledge of support and dependency
Til we're old and grey
Committing to a lifetime of love and togetherness until the end of their days
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NEIL HANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind