That single has been included in numerous multi-artist compilation albums and continues to receive major airplay to this day. Other hits include "Red Skies" (also known as "Red Skies (at Night)"), "Stand or Fall", "Saved by Zero", and "Are We Ourselves?". Interestingly, the group is one of the few British artists to have enjoyed significant success outside their country of origin while remaining mostly unknown in their home land, a trait which the Fixx shares with fellow new wave rockers The Outfield and Naked Eyes.
The Fixx regularly tour the U.S., they and recently celebrated a solid twenty-five years of making music together. Curnin, West-Oram, Greenall and Woods are now joined by bassist Gary Tibbs (formerly of Roxy Music, The Vibrators, Adam & The Ants). Cy Curnin can often be found on stage with a glass of wine in his right hand and an egg shaker in the left.
England's the Fixx has always been heralded as one of the most innovative and unique bands to come out of the MTV era. The group's lyrics and melodies are artistic statements of darkness and light, painting aural soundscapes that are cerebral, yet touch the heart. The Fixx's themes are complex, often introspective and thought-provoking, and yet the band's musical legacy has appealed to the masses with three No. 1 hits, five Top-5 hits, a dozen Top-10 hits, millions of albums sold worldwide, and countless sold-out tours.
The Fixx's sound is instantly recognizable. Songs like "One Thing Leads to Another" and "Red Skies (at Night)" remain staples, not just with classic rock radio stations, but on modern-rock formats that have helped break new wave-inspired acts a quarter of a century later.
It is rare for audiences to experience a band that has been together for 25 years. The Fixx were - and still are - Cy Curnin on lead vocals, guitarist Jamie West-Oram, keyboardist Rupert Greenall and drummer Adam Woods, and they bring this unique experience and perspective into the studio and on the road as the Fixx continue making innovative music.
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The band has retained their original lineup since first signing with MCA Records in 1981 and releasing their debut album, Shuttered Room, a few months later. It was the first of five MCA albums containing some of the most original and defining music of the decade. The LP produced two huge hits, "Red Skies" and "Stand Or Fall." Audiences connected with a band that had both style AND substance. The album spent an entire year on the Billboard Hot 100, earning the band their first Gold record.
In 1983, the band released Reach The Beach, their ground-breaking, double-platinum album which included the smash hits "One Thing Leads To Another" and "Saved by Zero." An extensive North American tour opening for The Police earned the Fixx critical acclaim and lifelong fans for their captivating performances.
The band continued with a string of top-selling albums. Phantoms, in 1984, included the hit song "Are We Ourselves," and in 1986, Walkabout produced the hit single "Secret Separation." Another hit on Billboard Magazine's Hot Club Play chart was "Deeper and Deeper" from the soundtrack to the Walter Hill film Streets of Fire.
In 1987 the band departed MCA for RCA Records and Calm Animals, showcased their second No. 1 rock track, "Driven Out," which became Billboard's ..4 Most Played Rock Track of the Year.
At the end of the decade, MCA released a greatest hits package titled One Thing Leads To Another, which has sold more than two million copies.
The '90s represented a turning point in music, and in the Fixx. Ink, released in 1991, showcased themes of struggle, and the song "How Much is Enough?" climbed to No. 10 on the Modern Rock chart. But other melodic and introspective ballads failed to find a place in the then-burgeoning grunge scene.
The band members spent some time apart, to raise families, pursue other interests, and to let the musical world decide where it was going. But there was never any thought of retirement. After the band's hiatus, The Ultimate Fixx Collection was released, showcasing the trademark FIXX sound - ethereal keyboards, an inventive rhythm section, passionate vocals and shattering guitar work - a sound that has produced a variety of memorable hits which remain significant today.
The band returned to the studio for CMC International Records. Elemental, released in 1998, marked a new, contemporary evolution in the group's history, blending the familiar FIXX sound with a fresh, modern feel. It showcased the band's signature rock sound with songs such as "Two Different Views" and "We Once Held Hands." With Elemental, the Fixx reclaimed their place in pop culture. Their creative energy and spirit renewed, the recording sessions yielded too many songs for just one CD, and later a second collection was released entitled Happy Landings and Lost Tracks, including "Mayfly" and "Freeman."
The wonderful acoustic 1011 Woodland, from 1999, was the other CMC release, and featured many of the band's favorite tunes, including "Woman on a Train" and "Cameras in Paris."
The group's unstoppable creative drive bore the 2003 release Want That Life on Rainman Records. Produced by their late collaborator and motivator Martin Rex, and with bassist Gary Tibbs, completing the line-up, it became The Fixx's eighth studio album and featured the haunting and thought-provoking "Touch" and "Are You Satisfied?"
It is the band's unmistakable sound and relevant, accessible songs that keep the Fixx unique among the thousands of artists that fill the airwaves. In concert, the band delivers that same sonic authenticity because they are the genuine article, the real deal. Concert-goers, whether Fixxtures (longtime fans) or those experiencing the Fixx for the first time, are thrilled by the band's dynamic stage presence and trademark sound.
Having celebrated their 25th anniversary with a DVD made by fans, and the imminent release of new songs, the band once again proves that they are constantly evolving, seeking new heights. In March of this year, the band reconvened in London with bassist Dan K. Brown, much to the delight of long-time Fixxtures.
The Fixx, with their combination of classic hits and innovative new music, continues to excite and inspire - both live and on record.
See: http://www.thefixx.com/
Make No Plans
The Fixx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These eyes haunt me though I am unseen
From Tompkins Park to the dirty beach
The anger's mounting and it is in reach
Misrepresented or misunderstanded
They're crawling 'round us in the neighborhood
They make a profit from the sheer decay
Kill the birthright on a summer's day
Craw out of your hole tied to the post
What have you got to lose?
Out of control, you at the polls
Make no bone, circle 'round me
Out of my tree, loving and free
But why I am feeling this doubt?
Shaking, I shout
Make no plans for me, make no plans
Mean and moaning, are we impotent
To stop the killing of environment?
To save the world, will it be dissent?
I'm asking you, you say "no comment", no
[Chorus]
Crawl out of your hole, tied to the post
What have you got to prove?
Out of control, you take the polls
Make no bone, circle 'round me
Out of my tree, loving and free
But why I am feeling this doubt?
Shaking, I shout
Make no plans for me, make no plans
The sweet defense of the singles bar
No use hiding, we know where you are
Tawana Brawley and her plastic bag
Hell's the future, and we're looking back
[Chorus]
The Fixx's "Make No Plans" is a song that speaks to many different societal issues. The lyrics discuss the frustrations of being misrepresented and misunderstood, as well as the anger that can come from living in a decaying neighborhood. The singer's feelings of uncertainty and doubt are also a prevalent theme throughout the song.
The opening lines of the song reference the presence of the singer in a magazine and the haunting eyes that he feels are following him. The mention of Tompkins Park and the dirty beach contribute to the overall sense of decay and neglect. The anger that is building up is attributed to being misunderstood, and the fact that the individuals crawling around in their neighborhood are profiting off of the decay, further fueling the frustration.
The chorus of the song implores listeners to take action and make their voices heard at the polls. However, the singer also acknowledges the sense of uncertainty that can come with taking a stand, and questions whether there will be any dissent from those who wish to save the world. The reference to Tawana Brawley and her plastic bag serves as a reminder of the systemic injustices that can lead to despair and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
They're looking at me from a magazine
I feel haunted by photos of people I have never met
These eyes haunt me though I am unseen
I feel like I'm being watched even though nobody is around
From Tompkins Park to the dirty beach
I see the city's decay everywhere I go
The anger's mounting and it is in reach
I sense frustration and hatred in others around me
Misrepresented or misunderstanded
I feel like people don't understand me, or that they have the wrong impression of me
They're crawling 'round us in the neighborhood
I feel like I'm being watched or spied on in my own community
They make a profit from the sheer decay
I feel like others benefit from the downfall or negative aspects of society
Kill the birthright on a summer's day
I fear that my rights and freedoms will be taken away, even in the summer when things are supposed to be carefree
Craw out of your hole tied to the post
I feel trapped and want to break free of my limitations or routine
What have you got to lose?
I'm questioning whether it's worth staying where I am or risking change
Out of control, you at the polls
I feel like I have no say in what happens politically
Make no bone, circle 'round me
I feel vulnerable and want protection from those I trust
Out of my tree, loving and free
I long for a life without worry or stress, full of love and freedom
But why I am feeling this doubt?
I question why I am uncertain and unsure about my current situation
Shaking, I shout
I feel scared and frustrated, and want to express my feelings
Make no plans for me, make no plans
I don't want to commit to anything or have expectations placed on me
Mean and moaning, are we impotent
I feel like we are negative and powerless to change things
To stop the killing of environment?
I wonder if we can prevent environmental damage
To save the world, will it be dissent?
I question whether we require disagreement and rebellion to save the planet
I'm asking you, you say "no comment", no
I feel like others don't want to acknowledge or address these important issues
The sweet defense of the singles bar
I am finding comfort and solace in temporary distractions like bars and clubs
No use hiding, we know where you are
I feel like my privacy is compromised and my actions are being monitored
Tawana Brawley and her plastic bag
I am reminded of a notable case of media manipulation, which makes me question the integrity of the news
Hell's the future, and we're looking back
I fear that the future is bleak and uncertain, and we are becoming more nostalgic about the past
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CYRIL CURNIN, PETER GREENALL, JAMES WEST-ORAM, ADAM WOODS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind