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
Take Some Petrol Darling
The Sugarcubes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
það er allt bannað hvort sem er
taktu bensín elskan
Taktu bensín elskan
allt bannað hvort sem er
taktu bensín
í gulan sandinn
og borgir þarna stop
borgir þarna stoppa' en það skiptir engu máli
það er allt bannað hvort sem er
Taktu bensín elskan
allt bannað hvort sem er
taktu bensín elskan
Take some petrol darling
everything's forbidden anyway
take some petrol darling
Take some petrol darling
all forbidden anyway
take some petrol
The barometer falls
into the yellow sand
and cities over there stop
cities over there stop but it doesn't matter
everything's forbidden anyway
Take some petrol, darling
everything's forbidden anyway
take some petrol, darling
The Sugarcubes's song "Take Some Petrol Darling" is an abstract and mysterious piece that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The repeated phrase "take some petrol darling" is the only constant in the song, and its meaning remains ambiguous. Some music critics suggest that this phrase may be a metaphor for the fuel that drives passionate relationships, while others believe it may represent anarchy or rebellion against societal norms.
The song begins with the Icelandic phrase "Taktu bensín elskan" which means "Take some petrol, darling" in English. This phrase is repeated several times throughout the song, creating a hypnotic and ritualistic effect that underlines the otherworldly and surreal atmosphere of the track.
The lyrics describe the falling of a barometer into a yellow sand, which may represent a coming storm or some form of impending danger. The mention of cities stopping may suggest that the world is coming to a standstill, and nothing matters anymore because everything is forbidden anyway.
Overall, the song's meaning is open to interpretation, but its dreamy and surreal quality is unique and captivating.
Line by Line Meaning
Taktu bensín elskan
Take some petrol darling
það er allt bannað hvort sem er
everything's forbidden anyway
taktu bensín elskan
take some petrol darling
Taktu bensín
Take some petrol
Loftvogin fellur
The barometer falls
í gulan sandinn
into the yellow sand
og borgir þarna stop
and cities over there stop
borgir þarna stoppa' en það skiptir engu máli
cities over there stop but it doesn't matter
það er allt bannað hvort sem er
everything's forbidden anyway
Taktu bensín elskan
Take some petrol, darling
allt bannað hvort sem er
everything's forbidden anyway
taktu bensín elskan
take some petrol, darling
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, EMI Music Publishing
Written by: BJOERK GUDMUNDSDOTTIR, BRAGI OLAFSSON, EINAR BENEDIKTSSON, SIGTRYGGUR BALDURSSON, THOR ELDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind