They received critical and popular acclaim internationally. They first came to notice in the UK when BBC radio DJ John Peel played "Birthday", later voted by his listeners as no.1 in the 1987 Festive Fifty, and no. 23 in the Millennium (All Time Chart). The band's music was characterized by psychedelic sound, whimsical yet heartfelt lyrics, and the imploring, girlish voice of Björk Guðmundsdóttir, who later went on to great success as a solo artist. The band's name was assumed by its fans to be an LSD usage reference; the drug had regained widespread popularity while the band was releasing music.
The Sugarcubes released their first album, Life’s Too Good, in April 1988. Inspired by the success of the album in Europe, their second album followed shortly after in October 1989. Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! took it’s name from the Kenneth Grahame novel Wind in the Willows. It was also released in an Icelandic version titled Illur Arfur. The second album wasn’t as well received by critics as their debut.
The third and final studio album by the band, Stick Around For Joy, was released in 1992, and featured the successful single Hit which reached No: 17 in the UK charts.
While not as successful as Björk's solo career would be, the band is still very highly regarded and was the most influential Icelandic group until the rise of Sigur Rós.
The Sugarcubes dissolved in 1992 as different members of the band had realised they all had different ambitions; instead of risking their friendship, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. They remain friends to this day and are all still involved in the management of Smekkleysa/Bad Taste (not to be confused with the Swedish label of the same name).
On November 17 2006, the band had a one-off reunion concert at Laugardalshöll sport arena in Reykjavík, Iceland, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut single with all profits going to the non-profit Smekkleysa SM to promote Icelandic music. They were supported by fellow Icelandic groups múm and Rass. Despite this reunion, the group has expressed that it has no intention to play future shows or record new material.
Bandmembers:
* Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards)
* Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpet)
* Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums)
* Þór Eldon (guitar)
* Bragi Ólafsson (bass)
* Margrét (Magga) Örnólfsdóttir (keyboards) - 1989+.
* Einar Melax (keyboards) - 1987-89
Happy Nurse
The Sugarcubes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I noticed that she was a poor nurse
She knows exactly what people need
Without them having to tell her
She's a poor nurse
She knows what you
Hunger for
And feeds it to you
E> ?
E> ?
E> Smothered me with hugs and kisses
E> I've got used to her injection
E> And they often send me stupid
E> It could become a habit
E> ?
E> Smothered me with hugs and kisses
She invites me to a soft room
And hands me a piece of confidence
She injects me with a dose of warmth
It dawns upon me that humans are the only drug
She's a poor nurse
She knows what you
Hunger for
And feeds it to you
E> But then I bought myself a
E> Small rubber dingy when she told me
E> He who was [..]
E> Because she wanted everyone
E> To give her
E> Love and affection
E> Her breast was
E> Great and soft
E> Incredibly great,
E> Great and soft
E> And could squirt
E> A long way.
E> A great distance...
She's a poor nurse
This careless woman
Don't hate her
She's a poor nurse
She knows what you
Hunger for
And feeds it to you
She's a poor nurse
This careless woman
Don't hate her
She's a poor nurse
The Sugarcubes' song "Happy Nurse" describes a nurse who knows exactly what her patients need without them having to explicitly express it, yet is described as a "poor nurse." The song seems to be a commentary on the complex nature of caregiving and how it can be both fulfilling and draining for the caregiver. The singer of the song seems to have mixed feelings towards the nurse as she is described as both "smothered me with hugs and kisses" and "careless woman." The song emphasizes the deeply personal and intimate nature of the relationship between a patient and a nurse.
The singer is initially appreciative of the nurse's attentiveness to their needs, but this appreciation turns to resentment once they realize how much they rely on her care. The line "It dawns upon me that humans are the only drug" suggests that the singer realizes they are dependent on the nurse's care, and even though they chafe under it, they are ultimately grateful for it. However, the singer's ambivalence towards her care turns to frustration when the nurse's emotional demands become too much for them to handle, as indicated by the line "He who was [..] because she wanted everyone to give her love and affection." This adds a layer of complexity to the song that speaks to the emotional burden placed on care providers who often struggle to separate their personal feelings from their professional obligations.
Overall, "Happy Nurse" is a thought-provoking exploration of the deep emotional labor involved in caregiving and the heavy toll it can take on both the caregiver and the recipient of that care.
Line by Line Meaning
After watching this patient lady
Observing this gentle woman
I noticed that she was a poor nurse
Recognized she lacked skill as a nurse
She knows exactly what people need
Perceptive to people's needs
Without them having to tell her
Without needing to be told
She's a poor nurse
Despite her abilities, she lacks formal training
She knows what you
Familiar with people's tendencies
Hunger for
Desire
And feeds it to you
Satisfies those desires
Smothered me with hugs and kisses
Overly affectionate
I've got used to her injection
Becoming accustomed to her administering medication
And they often send me stupid
Other nurses too often make mistakes
It could become a habit
Addictive tendencies
She invites me to a soft room
Bringing me to a calming space
And hands me a piece of confidence
Boosts my self-esteem
She injects me with a dose of warmth
Infuses me with a feeling of comfort
It dawns upon me that humans are the only drug
People can provide emotional support like medicine
But then I bought myself a
I gained some newfound independence
Small rubber dingy when she told me
After her advice
He who was [..]
Someone who was admired
Because she wanted everyone
To gain attention
To give her
Affection
Love and affection
Emotional attachment
Her breast was
Her physical feature
Great and soft
Ample and comforting
Incredibly great,
Remarkably admirable
And could squirt
With the potential to go far
A long way.
A significant distance
This careless woman
Despite her mistakes
Don't hate her
Avoid having negative feelings towards her
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sigtryggur Baldursson, Einar Benediktsson, Bj�rk Gudmundsdottir, Thor Eldon Jonsson, Margret Oernolfsdottir, Bragi Olafsson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OneBagTravel
I really love the clear and prominent drums on this entire album.
Carlos Avila
The most interesting band of the eighties with the coolest girl as lead singer..
Primera Calle de la Soledad
After watching this patient lady
I noticed that she was a poor nurse
She knows exactly what people need
Without them having to tell her
She's a poor nurse
She knows what you
Hunger for
And feeds it to you
E> ?
E> ?
E> Smothered me with hugs and kisses
E> I've got used to her injection
E> And they often send me stupid
E> It could become a habit
E> ?
E> Smothered me with hugs and kisses
She invites me to a soft room
And hands me a piece of confidence
She injects me with a dose of warmth
It dawns upon me that humans are the only drug
She's a poor nurse
She knows what you
Hunger for
And feeds it to you
E> But then I bought myself a
E> Small rubber dingy when she told me
E> He who was [..]
E> Because she wanted everyone
E> To give her
E> Love and affection
E> Her breast was
E> Great and soft
E> Incredibly great,
E> Great and soft
E> And could squirt
E> A long way.
E> A great distance...
She's a poor nurse
This careless woman
Don't hate her
She's a poor nurse
She knows what you
Hunger for
And feeds it to you
She's a poor nurse
This careless woman
Don't hate her
She's a poor nurse
massimo marchesin
Band innovativa !!!!! Una delle più originali del periodo 80/90 solo tre albums al loro attivo !!! Bjiork inutile sottolinearlo voce pazzesca !!!!! Non sono mai riuscito a definire il loro genere , difficile da catalogare io personalmente l'ho definito una specie di post new wave sperimentale !!!!!! Comunque il loro sound ha il suo fascino !!!!!! NON era una band commerciale !!!! D'altronde se a produrli c'era un ex GENTLE GIANT non ricordo se era Ray o Derek Shulman ,un motivo ci sarà !!!!