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
Top Of The World
The Sugarcubes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such a feeling's coming over me,
There is wonder in most everything I see.
Not a cloud in the sky,
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream..
Everything I want the world to be
And the reason is clear,
It's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen..
I'm on the top of the world
Looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love puts me at the top of the world.
Something in the wind has learned my name
And it's telling me that things are not the same
On the leaves on the trees
And the touch of the breeze
There's a pleasing sense of happiness for me
There is only one wish on my mind
When the day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be
Just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here..
I'm on the top of the world
Looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
You'll have put me at the top of the world.
Einar
When I was young I listened to the radio
There be sha-la-la-la every moon still shine
There'd be singa-linga-ling
That the stars it would sing so fine
Björk
I'm on the top of the world
Looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love put me at the top of the world.
Oh, is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love put me at the top of the world
Oh, is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love put me at the top of the world
Einar
All my past memories
Complicated to me,
Something really make me cry,
Just like before
The Sugarcubes's "Top of the World" is a song about feeling pure and unbridled joy as a result of being with someone special. The opening lines of the song evoke a sense of wonder and awe about the world, as though the singer is experiencing it for the first time. She is grateful for the beauty around her, and she recognizes that the reason for her happiness is the person she loves.
The lyrics are, in part, a tribute to the power of love to transform the world. The singer acknowledges that the world is not always perfect, but she feels as though it is when she is with her lover. She describes her experience as being on top of the world, both literally and figuratively, because she is able to see everything from a new and hopeful perspective.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the transformative power of love. It reflects the idea that when people are in love, they are able to see the world around them in a new way. This can give them the strength and positivity they need to overcome challenges and navigate difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a feeling's coming over me,
There is wonder in most everything I see.
Not a cloud in the sky,
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream..
I'm experiencing an overwhelming feeling that makes everything around me seem wondrous. The sky is clear and the sun is shining in my eyes, and it all almost seems like a dream.
Everything I want the world to be
Is now coming true especially for me.
And the reason is clear,
It's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen..
My wildest dreams are coming true, and I know it's because you're here with me. You're the closest thing to heaven that I've ever experienced.
I'm on the top of the world
Looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found
Ever since you've been around
Your love puts me at the top of the world.
I feel like I'm on top of the world, looking down at everything below. The only explanation for this immense happiness is the love that you bring into my life. Your love has truly elevated me to the top of the world.
Something in the wind has learned my name
And it's telling me that things are not the same
On the leaves on the trees
And the touch of the breeze
There's a pleasing sense of happiness for me
I feel like something in the wind has connected with me and is telling me that life has changed for the better. The leaves rustling in the trees and the gentle breeze bring me a sense of joy and happiness.
There is only one wish on my mind
When the day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be
Just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here..
All I want is for things to stay the same between us tomorrow, just as they are now. I know that I have everything I need as long as you're here with me.
When I was young I listened to the radio
There be sha-la-la-la every moon still shine
There'd be singa-linga-ling
That the stars it would sing so fine
In my youth, I used to listen to the radio and found joy in the simple and catchy tunes that played. The stars seemed to twinkle in time with the music, making everything feel magical.
All my past memories
Complicated to me,
Something really make me cry,
Just like before
My memories from the past can be difficult to deal with, and sometimes they make me feel overwhelmed with emotion. They bring me to tears, just like they have before.
Contributed by Elena I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Meh...
I had this single back in 98. So good. I quite liked 'Walkabout' too.
Calvin Higgins jr
love it!!!
Edgar Miranda
i love this song