Anderson also had this to say about the renewed partnership with Bernard Butler: “For years and years after Bernard left Suede it was me running the show, but now the stakes are raised. I feel like we are duelling with each other, in some kind of friendly competition. When we were at our best it was always like that, each trying to better each other.”
The band played their first ever live show on December 14, 2004 at the Oxford Zodiac. Things went as expected for the "new" band, and most new songs were received well by those attending the first set of shows. When asked during a concert by a fan to play the famous Suede song, The Drowners, Anderson replied saying, "Did somebody say they want us to play The Drowners? They came to the wrong gig".
Apart from relatively minor reviews of the first clutch of live shows, The Tears first press, a review of Refugees, interview with Anderson and a poster(!)was in The Sun on 15 April. The next major article was by Alex Petridis in The Guardian, which ended on an extremely optimistic note: "the pair seem artistically reinvigorated by each other's company. Anderson talks excitedly of Tears songs like the ballad Asylum, inspired by his father's struggle with depression, as having moved away from "Suede cliches or Brett Anderson cliches ... it's not, you know, opiated fop territory". There's even a hint of the old provocative flash and arrogance when talk turns to the future: Here Comes the Tears feels like a debut. It will be massively bettered. On this at least there's no hint of disagreement. "This album's like rocking the boat a bit. There's been a few splashes," nods Butler. "Next time, I want to get rid of the sails and see what happens."
From the start, Anderson and Butler were very insistent that the band would not be playing any songs by Suede. Things would change over time, however, as the band ended up playing a b-side of Suede's titled The Living Dead to an enthusiastic reception, during an encore for their show at the Sheffield Leadmill in April. On April 25, 2005, the band's first single, Refugees, was released. The single was very much a success and jumped into the top ten singles chart at number nine.
The band's debut album, Here Come The Tears followed on June 6, 2005. It was released to stellar reviews that helped solidify the duo's comeback, yet it failed to crack the top 10. In late June, the band played a set at the John Peel stage at the Glastonbury Festival. The second single from the debut album, entitled Lovers, was released on June 27. Though a significantly lower charting than the previous single, it still managed a decent spot in the top 25.
More than a month later, singer Anderson announced that he would release his long awaited solo album in between the touring and the release of the band's follow up album. After playing a few festivals and international gigs, the band announced a European tour with dates in October and November. However, to the disappointment of many fans, they later cancelled the tour in favour of beginning work on their second album. Shortly after, the band were dropped from their label most likely due to insufficient touring or low sales.
In late April of 2006, Anderson posted a message on the band's message board announcing the band were on temporary hiatus because "no one ever wanted this thing to get caught up within the drudgery of the whole tour/record/tour cycle anyway". In addition, he announced that he had completed his debut solo album and that it would see light in early 2007, hinting that the second Tears record would most likely come after that, if at all.
By the end of August 2006, their website and forum are officially closed, leaving dimmer hope for the future of the band.
In September of 2006 Butler posted on his website: ".....actually tears are the same as ever....i guess coming from the suede trajectory it would look odd to make a record and not stick to the brand name plugging away endlessly at one thing....but if you take my shocking career line over 12 years its just par for the course....im on top of the world working constantly on terrific records from 1990's the mescalitas on offs, and soon we will be making the Duffy record ....
yes i always loved more than i thought"
A Love As Strong As Death
The Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's part of our mind and part of our flesh
Looking for a love that takes away our breath
It's equally heart and equally head
To be a wave that crashes over us
To be a wave that crashes over us
Like summer rain that washes over, over us
Looking for a love as strong as death
It's equally heart and equally head
And I wonder if this love
That people say is as strong as death
Is out there somewhere (or just in their heads)
Is it a wave that crashes over us?
Is it a wave that crashes over us?
Or summer rain that washes over, over us
Or summer rain that washes over, over us
Over us
Over us
Over us
It's over
The Tears's song, A Love As Strong As Death is a statement about the human desire for a kind of love that is both intense and everlasting. The lyrics depict love as a mysterious force that is both physical and mental, spiritual and emotional, and just as overwhelming as death. The song speaks to the idea that everyone yearns for a love that takes their breath away, a love that washes over them like waves or summer rain. The repetition of the phrase "Looking for a love as strong as death" reflects the intensity of this longing and the idea that finding such a love is a universal human quest.
The imagery of water in the song evokes the idea that love is both powerful and transformative. The wave crashing over the singer can be seen as a metaphor for the sudden and overwhelming power of love. The summer rain can be seen as a metaphor for love's gentle cleansing and nourishing qualities. The line "Equally heart and equally head" speaks to the fact that love is not just a feeling, but a deeply intellectual and spiritual pursuit. The singer wonders if this kind of love truly exists, or if it is just a product of the human imagination.
A Love As Strong As Death was released in 2005 as part of The Tears's debut album, Here Come The Tears. It was the first new release by the band members Roland Gift and Brett Anderson since the breakups of their previous bands, Fine Young Cannibals and Suede, respectively. The album and the song were both critically acclaimed, with many reviewers noting the emotional intensity and honesty of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
We're all looking for a love as strong as death
We are all searching for a love that is unyielding and unbreakable.
That's part of our mind and part of our flesh
The desire for such a love is ingrained in our thoughts and our physical bodies.
Looking for a love that takes away our breath
We desire a love that leaves us breathless, that we cannot resist.
It's equally heart and equally head
This love is both emotional and rational, it must make sense and feel right.
To be a wave that crashes over us
This love must be powerful, like a forceful, crashing wave.
Like summer rain that washes over, over us
Or it could be gentle like summer rain that refreshes and renews us.
And I wonder if this love
The singer questions if this kind of love truly exists.
That people say is as strong as death
The love that people compare to the strength of death is what the artist is questioning.
Is out there somewhere (or just in their heads)
The artist ponders if this love is real or just a figment of their imagination.
Over us
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the overwhelming nature of this love.
It's over
The final line could either mean the love is finished or that the overwhelming feeling has passed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH BUTLER, BRETT ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind