The Furs initially used Martin Hannett as a producer, but their initial self-titled album from 1980 was eventually produced by Steve Lillywhite. The LP quickly established the band on radio and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia. The US version of the album was re-sequenced, but failed to have as strong a commercial impact.
The Furs found success in the U.S. market with the 1981 release, titled 'Talk Talk Talk', which made its impact on the US album charts and received critical acclaim worldwide. In the UK, the album was a solid hit which spun off two charting singles, "Dumb Waiters" and the original version of "Pretty in Pink". The latter song served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling soundtrack.
In 1982, the band was reduced to a four-piece with the departures of Morris and Kilburn. (Ex-Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert would briefly join the group around this time.) The band's remaining members moved permanently to New York, where they recorded the album Forever Now with producer Todd Rundgren. This album contained "Love My Way", a breakthrough Top 40 hit in both the US and the UK. Ely left the band after this release, though he would return for the 1988 single "All That Money Wants" and the 1989 album Book of Days.
The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey, and featured the songs "The Ghost in You" and "Heaven". Both charted in the UK, and "Heaven" became the band's highest charting UK hit at the time -- but inexplicably, "Heaven" was never released as a single in America. Instead, Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys", despite both international success and heavy MTV airplay on "Heaven." "Here Come Cowboys" failed to chart, but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the US pop charts. The band had become popular in Canada as well, CFNY, Toronto's new wave radio station, listed Mirror Moves as the #1 LP of 1984.
By this time, the band had become somewhat of a staple on US college and modern rock radio stations. As well, they were building mainstream success, fairly consistently placing singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, though they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace." In 1986, the band re-recorded a version of "Pretty in Pink", which was their biggest hit to that time in the US, and their biggest-ever UK hit.
Richard Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the studio to record a follow-up release before they were ready. The result was Midnight to Midnight, an album which Butler characterized as "hollow, vapid and weak". A more overtly commercial effort than the Furs had ever recorded before, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", which was their highest charting top 40 US hit.
However, the Furs were dissatisfied with their new commercial direction, and subsequently returned to a rawer sound with "All That Money Wants", a 1988 track especially recorded for a 'best-of' collection. 1989's Book of Days saw a return to the old-school style and the temporary return of Vince Ely. 1991's World Outside was similarly more of a "back to basics" approach.
From 1988 on The Furs' chart success continued with three #1 hits on the US Modern Rock chart between 1988 and 1991.
The band splintered in 1991, with the Butler brothers going on to found Love Spit Love. After spending most of the decade apart, Butler, Butler and Ashton re-formed The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train."
Since then the Furs continue to tour the world along with former Love Spit Love drummer Frank Ferrer, ex-Information Society and World Party keyboardist Amanda Kramer and saxophonist Mars Williams who returned to the band after a stint in the late 1980s.
Showing the band's significant influence as a part of the new wave and post-punk movements, their songs have been covered by numerous other artists. Examples include Annie Lennox, Buffalo Tom, Icehouse, Powderfinger, Regenerator, and Robyn Hitchcock.
Pretty In Pink
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loves to be one of the girls
She lives in the place in the side of our lives
Where nothing is ever put straight
She turns herself 'round
And she smiles and she says
"This is it, that's the end of the joke"
Dreaming and sleep, and her
Lovers walk through in their coats
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
All of her lovers all
Talk of her notes and the
Flowers that they never sent
And wasn't she easy
Isn't she pretty in pink?
The one who insists he was
First in the line is the
Last to remember her name
He's walking around in this
Dress that she wore
She is gone, but the
Joke's the same
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Caroline talks to you
Softly sometimes, she says,
"I love you" and "Too much"
She doesn't have anything
You want to steal
Well, nothing you can touch
She waves
She buttons your shirt
The traffic is waiting outside
She hands you this coat
She give you her clothes
These cars collide
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
The song "Pretty in Pink" by The Psychedelic Furs tells the story of Caroline, a girl who loves to be part of the girls and lives a life where nothing is ever put straight. Interestingly, the song doesn't talk about Caroline's looks or her clothes, but rather about her mysterious persona, which is what intrigues everyone who comes across her. She always laughs, even when it's raining all day, and turns herself around when talking to people, so they only see her back. When she finally faces them, she says, "this is it, that's the end of the joke," implying that she's not one to be messed with. She's also a dreamer, and her lovers walk through in their coats, which suggests that she's never lonely but always surrounded by people who want to be with her.
The song talks about Caroline in a way that portrays her as a sort of enigmatic and unavailable person, with all her lovers talking about her notes and flowers that they never sent. Still, the lyrics continue to ask if she's pretty in pink, implying that she might be a perfect picture of beauty, but cannot be touched by anyone. Interestingly, the song talks about one of her lovers who insists he was the first in line, but he's the last to remember her name, which adds to Caroline's air of mystery. Finally, the song ends on a chaotic note with cars colliding, leaving the listener to wonder what happened to Caroline and what her story really is.
Line by Line Meaning
Caroline laughs, and it's raining all day
Caroline brings joy even on gloomy days
Loves to be one of the girls
Caroline enjoys being part of a group of friends
She lives in the place in the side of our lives
She occupies a space in our lives that is not entirely clear or well-defined
Where nothing is ever put straight
A chaotic and confusing atmosphere where things are never straightforward
She turns herself 'round
She changes direction frequently
And she smiles and she says
She is positive and forthcoming in her interactions with others
"This is it, that's the end of the joke"
She recognizes when something has reached its conclusion
And loses herself in her
She becomes fully immersed in her own thoughts and fantasies
Dreaming and sleep, and her
Her dreams and sleep are a refuge from reality
Lovers walk through in their coats
She has a string of lovers who come and go, leaving their coats behind
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
She is attractive in a superficial way
All of her lovers all
All of her past and present lovers
Talk of her notes and the
They talk about her letters and messages
Flowers that they never sent
They regret not having sent her flowers
And wasn't she easy
They take advantage of her willingness to be with them
Isn't she pretty in pink?
She is still attractive and desirable
The one who insists he was
One of her lovers who claims to have had a special relationship with her
First in the line is the
He claims to have been her first lover
Last to remember her name
He can't even remember her name now that she's gone
He's walking around in this
He's still wearing her clothes
Dress that she wore
One of her dresses that he likely stole from her
She is gone, but the
She has moved on, but the joke remains
Joke's the same
The situation and dynamic between her and her lovers is unchanged
Caroline talks to you
She confides in you
Softly sometimes, she says
Her voice and demeanor are often gentle
"I love you" and "Too much"
She expresses her emotions deeply and intensely
She doesn't have anything
She doesn't have any material possessions worth taking from her
You want to steal
There is nothing of value to be gained from her
Well, nothing you can touch
Her worth and value are not tangible
She waves
She is friendly and greets you kindly
She buttons your shirt
She helps you get dressed or dressed more properly
The traffic is waiting outside
The outside world is rushing by, but she creates a sense of calm for you
She hands you this coat
She gives you one of the coats left behind by her lovers
She give you her clothes
She generously shares her belongings with you
These cars collide
There is a sense of chaos and unpredictability outside, but she is a refuge from this
Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Despite everything else, she still has a superficial attractiveness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DUNCAN KILBURN, JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD BUTLER, ROGER NICHOLAS MORRIS, TIMOTHY BUTLER, VINCENT DAVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurylie Norman
Caroline laughs and it's raining all day
She loves to be one of the girls
She lives in the place in the side of our lives
Where nothing is ever put straight
She turns herself 'round and she smiles and she says
"This is it, that's the end of the joke"
And loses herself in her dreaming and sleep
And her lovers walk through in their coats
She's pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
All of her lovers all talk of her notes
And the flowers that they never sent
And wasn't she easy?
Isn't she pretty in pink?
The one who insists he was first in the line
Is the last to remember her name
He's walking around in this dress that she wore
She is gone but the joke's the same
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Caroline talks to you softly sometimes
She says, "I love you" and too much
She doesn't have anything you want to steal
Well, nothing you can touch
She waves, she buttons your shirt
The traffic is waiting outside
She hands you this coat
She gives you her clothes, these cars collide
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Jsalrulz
And the rest....
*Caroline's on the table screaming
Confidence is in the sea
And all their favorite rags are worn
And other kinds of uniform
They kid you you're really free
And you know what you want to be
Case of individuality
Until tomorrow
And everything you are you'll see
In pure shiny buttons
They put you in this gear
And driveways broken
Doorbell sings in chimes
It plays anything goes
Bells toll in rhyme
Photoshoott Photography
This is not just a song, this is an experience. The song was and is amazing, but then the movie came out and it was absolutely incredible, that era in music and entertainment in general is absolutely the best and timeless. Fantastic.
bess allin
Not really
Ladybug
I love this song, as well as the movie!
305 Dade County_GrabberBlue Martinez
I'm happy to be old today, knowing I grew up in the 80's - - what a great experience in every aspect!
Anne Holohan
❤
Diane Kay
Xxx ❤ xxx ❤
Bradley Taylor
Just was an experience.
William Holmes
Growing up in the 80's, the movies and music was so totally awesome!
Wendy Styranec
So true
Ethereal Gamer
I'm so jealous