The band became famous in the UK in 1995 when they released a cover version of Oasis' hit song "Wonderwall". Flowers had been recruited by BBC Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening to cover the 'Hits of 95' for Greening's Saturday show; "Wonderwall" was his first week's project. Chris Evans heard the song and made it 'single of the week' on his Radio 1 breakfast show, telling listeners that this was the original version of the song. The single, issued by London Records under the name The Mike Flowers Pops, was released while the Oasis original was still in the UK Singles Chart, and itself reached the Top 10. Flowers' version peaked at number 2 in the Christmas 1995 chart, beaten to the number 1 spot by Michael Jackson's "Earth Song". Oasis had previously refused to let other novelty acts parody the song, but were said to have enjoyed Flowers' tape so much that they allowed the group to cut it . The B-side of the single featured the songs "Son of God" and "Theme From Memory Man".
Following the success of "Wonderwall", The Mike Flowers Pops toured festivals in Europe as well as British universities. At the end of 1996 they toured Britain with Gary Glitter on his last 'Who's in the Gang' tour. They played large venues including Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC. A cover version of The Doors' "Light My Fire" also reached the Top 40 of the UK chart.
Don't Cry for Me Argentina
The Mike Flowers Pops Lyrics
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When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me, all you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom, running around trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Don't cry for me, Argentina
The truth is, I never left you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions, they're not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you, and hope you love me
Don't cry for me, Argentina
Don't cry for me, Argentina
The truth is, I never left you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true
The Mike Flowers Pops's version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is a moving and introspective song, originally composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for the musical "Evita." The song is a reflection of the character of Eva Perón, who tells the people of Argentina not to mourn her death after she dies of cancer. In this version, the lyrics speak to a lover or a friend, and the singer is trying to explain that despite their past transgressions, they still need their love. The lyrics also suggest that the singer has grown and changed, and is no longer content with a mundane existence - they want to experience life and all that it has to offer.
The opening lyrics set the scene for the rest of the song, as the singer acknowledges that what they are about to say might be difficult to understand. The line "At sixes and sevens with you" means that the singer and the person they are addressing are at odds, or out of sync with each other. The next lines reveal that the singer used to live a drab and uninspiring life, but chose to break free and explore the world. However, despite all the experiences they've had, they realize that they still need the love of the person they are addressing. The chorus of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is a plea to not let their past mistakes and wild lifestyle come between them, and to remember the love that they share.
The verse about "fortune and fame" is particularly interesting because it speaks to the idea that the things we often think we want - wealth, fame, success - are actually empty illusions. The singer has learned that the answer to their problems was always love and connection, and that they never truly left the person they are addressing. The final lines of the song suggest a deep regret, as the singer questions if they have said too much and admits that they have nothing more to say. This implies that the damage has been done and that the relationship might not be able to be salvaged. Overall, "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is a powerful song about the complexities of love and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
I know that what I'm about to say won't be easy for you to comprehend
When I try to explain how I feel
I want to explain my feelings to you
That I still need your love after all that I've done
Despite my actions, I still need your love and affection
You won't believe me, all you will see is a girl you once knew
You won't believe that I have changed and grown as a person
Although she's dressed up to the nines
Even though I may appear glamorous and extravagant
At sixes and sevens with you
I still feel confused and uncertain about our relationship
I had to let it happen, I had to change
I had to let go of the past and change for the better
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
I couldn't continue to live a difficult and poor quality of life
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
I was longing for something more but tried to avoid confronting my problems
So I chose freedom, running around trying everything new
I wanted to break free and explore new experiences
But nothing impressed me at all, I never expected it to
Despite trying new things, nothing truly satisfied me
Don't cry for me, Argentina
Please don't be upset for me, my beloved country
The truth is, I never left you
Despite my physical departure, my heart was always with you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
During my reckless and chaotic life, I never forgot about you
I kept my promise
I remained faithful to my values and beliefs
Don't keep your distance
Please don't push me away, let's remain close
And as for fortune, and as for fame
Although I desired riches and recognition
I never invited them in
I never let them define my happiness or identity
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
From an outsider's perspective, it may have seemed like I craved wealth and fame
They are illusions, they're not the solutions they promised to be
In reality, they were empty and meaningless pursuits
The answer was here all the time
The answer to my happiness was with you all along
I love you, and hope you love me
My love for you has never wavered, and I hope you feel the same
Have I said too much?
I hope I haven't overwhelmed or upset you with my words
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
I have spoken my truth and have no other words to convey my feelings
But all you have to do is look at me to know
You can see and feel the truth in my words by looking at me
That every word is true
You can trust that I am being honest and genuine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind