Their uncompromising, dissonant sound spanned punk, free jazz, funk and dub music. Their lyrics were, more often than not, politically charged. In '79 they issued their debut single, "She is Beyond Good and Evil" on the Radar label.
The band reformed in 2010 for a reunion tour. In November 2014, the Pop Group announced that they would release an album of new material titled "Citizen Zombie" on 23 February 2015. The album was produced by Paul Epworth.
Their debut album Y, was produced by reggae veteran Dennis Bovell to critical acclaim but low sales figures. Although it did not chart, the album's success was sufficient to convince Rough Trade to sign the band, but not before more line-up changes, with Dan Katsis, formerly a guitarist in the Glaxo Babies, replacing Underwood on bass.
The band's career with Rough Trade commenced with what is possibly their best-known single "We Are All Prostitutes", which featuring a guest appearance by free improviser Tristan Honsinger on cello. This was followed the release of their second album, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? in 1980, which included a contribution from US proto-rappers The Last Poets.
Shortly afterwards The Pop Group released a split single, "Where There's a Will There's A Way", with The Slits, a band with whom they now shared a drummer and managers (Christine Robertson and Dick O'Dell), as well as a growing interest in exploring dub and funk rhythms.
The band split in 1981, after legal wranglings and internal disagreements. Members of the group went on to form bands including Pigbag, Maximum Joy, Head and Rip Rig & Panic, the latter notable for the involvement of Neneh Cherry.
Singer Mark Stewart, meanwhile, collaborated with Adrian Sherwood and the On-U Sound posse, issuing records firstly as Mark Stewart and Maffia, then as a solo artist.
The Pop Group and associated bands started a Bristol 'scene' that would later spawn trip-hop.
It was reported on 24 May 2010 that the Pop Group would be reuniting. Stewart announced the first two dates of a reunion tour. Three members of the original line up were part of the reunion with two gigs in London and two in Italy initially confirmed. The band played live in Paris (for the first time) on 6 September 2010, at La Machine Du Moulin Rouge venue as part of "L'Etrange Festival" Film Festival which served as a kick off to their five date tour through Europe which included a London gig on New Year's Eve with Sonic Youth and Shellac.
In a 2010 interview, Stewart said that the reformed Pop Group was recording a new album, to be titled The Alternate. However, this album never materialized. The band were chosen to perform at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival curated by ATP & Portishead in September 2011 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
They have been cited as an important influence in the development of alternative music in the 1980s; Mike Watt, of Minutemen and, more recently, Nick Cave , have cited the Pop Group as an important source of inspiration on their own work. In November 2013, the band played the final holiday camp edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.
The Pop Group's 1980 LP We Are Time saw its first reissue worldwide (ex. Japan) on October 20, 2014. The band also released a brand new compilation of rarities titled Cabinet of Curiosities. In support of the reissues the band undertook a 7 day UK tour starting on October 20 in Edinburgh and ending on October 26 at the Islington Assembly Hall in London. Richard Williams - who championed the band and featured them on the front of Melody Maker on 24 March 1979 - wrote in his review of the London show: 'one of the most important British bands of the 1970s, the gig provided evidence of their continuing relevance'
The Boys From Brazil
The Pop Group Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jungle protects the past
Man in white pressed finger tips
Against suntanned bodies
Steaming skins and silver hair
Even better than a medal
Even better than a medal
Electric cavemen
When in Rome
Propeller dying
When in Rome
Silently praying
My honour is my loyalty
Is life more precious than property?
Here comes the bride
All dressed in white
Time to think
Can we have a little more light
Palm oil
Surrounded by burnt bodies
Over the phone came hate
Why do the girls always follow the boys from Brazil?
Why do the girls always follow the boys from Brazil?
Why have I been spared?
Vengeance
Why have I been spared (if not for vengeance?)
Vengeance (for all those wasted years)
Why do the girls always follow the boys from Brazil?
Why do the girls always follow the boys from Brazil?
If we forget the past we're doomed to repeat it
If we forget the past we're doomed to repeat it
The Pop Group's song "The Boys from Brazil" is a politically charged track that touches on various subjects including fascism, dictatorship, and colonialism. The lyrics "Jungle protects the past" repeated twice signify the importance of preserving history and culture, which the jungle, often associated with the primitive, protects. The song then abruptly moves on to describe a man in white with "pressed finger tips" touching "suntanned bodies" and "steaming skins," possibly alluding to the colonial white man's objectification and exploitation of native bodies in the name of science and exploration. The line "even better than a medal" suggests that these actions are celebrated and rewarded rather than condemned.
The song then shifts to the phrase "When in Rome" repeated three times, followed by three different sentences that describe scenes of destruction, desperation, and blind devotion. The lines "Electric cavemen," "Propeller dying," and "Silently praying" all paint vivid images of chaos and destruction, hinting at the horrors of war and dictatorship. The following lines "My honour is my loyalty / Is life more precious than property?" suggest blind allegiance and the prioritization of loyalty over human life. The song then jumps to a seemingly disconnected scene with the line "Here comes the bride / All dressed in white" before diving into another brutal image with "Surrounded by burnt bodies."
The chorus repeats the line "Why do the girls always follow the boys from Brazil?" twice, possibly alluding to the infamous Brazilian eugenics movement in the early 20th century that aimed to create a pure, Aryan race. The song then ends with the line "If we forget the past we're doomed to repeat it," echoing the opening line and underscoring the importance of remembering and learning from history.
Line by Line Meaning
Jungle protects the past
The lush vegetation protects and hides the secrets of the past.
Man in white pressed finger tips
A person in authority touched the bodies of those with darker skin, expressing their power and dominance.
Against suntanned bodies
The man in white touched those who had been exposed to the sun, making them vulnerable and powerless.
Steaming skins and silver hair
The hot, humid atmosphere caused the skin to release moisture and the hair to turn gray, a sign of aging and death.
Even better than a medal
The feeling of power and control is more satisfying than receiving a symbol of achievement such as a medal.
When in Rome
To act as the Romans do, follow their customs and traditions.
Electric cavemen
Modern society is still primitive and savage, lacking intellectual and moral development.
Propeller dying
The loss of power and control over technology, leading to a decline in progress and development.
Silently praying
Hoping for a miracle or divine intervention to solve problems, without taking action or responsibility.
My honour is my loyalty
A sense of loyalty and duty is tied to personal honour and reputation.
Is life more precious than property?
A rhetorical question about the value and importance of material possessions versus human life.
Here comes the bride
A common phrase used to announce a woman's wedding procession.
All dressed in white
Traditionally, brides wear white to symbolize innocence, purity, and virginity.
Time to think
The need to reflect, ponder and consider one's options before making a decision.
Can we have a little more light
A request for clarity, illumination, and understanding in a situation or conversation.
Palm oil
An industry that profits from the destruction of rainforests, indigenous people, and wildlife.
Surrounded by burnt bodies
A scene of destruction, death, and violence caused by human actions.
Over the phone came hate
The spread of anger, fear, and prejudice through communication technology, causing harm and division.
Why do the girls always follow the boys from Brazil?
A question about the appeal and attraction of Brazilian men to women, especially in a cultural, racial, or political context.
Why have I been spared?
A sense of survivor's guilt, wondering why one has been spared from a situation that has harmed others.
Vengeance
The desire for retribution, justice, and punishment for past wrongs inflicted on oneself or others.
If we forget the past we're doomed to repeat it
A warning about the importance of history, memory, and learning from past mistakes to avoid making them again in the future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GARETH SAGER, BRUCE NEIL SMITH, MARK STEWART, SIMON UNDERWOOD, JOHN WADDINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nacho
garotões do braza
524
such an abrupt ending
Ty
Thank you