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"
life is strange
The Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just when you think you're free
It drags you back again
High life - the lady she said see
The weekend promises desire and mystery
Life is a cold stone
Dream life - I saw her standing there
I saw her lips part i saw her eyes melt
Love life - in hi fidelity fear is the key
I need you near to me
Life is a cold stone
Sit down and write a letter
I want to work this out
Everything is shifting - let's talk
Hollow life - where was the fire of love
That burned so pure and true
Did it not matter to you
Life is a cold stone
The Tears' song "Life is Strange" starts with a reflection on how real life can feel like a burden. The metaphor of "a ball and chain" gives the feeling of being tied up and unable to move forward, no matter how free we think we are. The second verse refers to the promise of escapism - the illusion of freedom we get from the weekend. However, the reality is that this is only a temporary escape from the ball and chain that drags us back again. The chorus emphasizes the coldness and hardness of life, with the phrase "life is a cold stone" being repeated twice.
The next verses explore different aspects of life. The dream life is described as a seemingly perfect moment when everything falls into place. But this too is fleeting, and the fear of losing it is what stands in the way of happiness. The love life is the only thing that can make the coldness of life bearable, and the lyrics suggest that the singer needs their lover near to get through it. The last verse is the most introspective, with the singer acknowledging that everything is shifting and wanting to work things out. The hollow life they are living isn't what they thought it would be, and they wonder if their love was ever really reciprocated.
Overall, "Life is Strange" is a song about the ups and downs of life, and how even the good moments can feel fleeting and fragile. The lyrics hint at a sense of dissatisfaction with the monotony of life and the longing for something more. The repetition of the phrase "life is a cold stone" throughout the song emphasizes this feeling of loneliness and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Real life is just a ball and chain
Life can feel restricting and limiting.
Just when you think you're free
Just when you feel like you've broken free of limitations, they come back to hold you down.
It drags you back again
The restrictions and limitations of life pull you back down after you thought you escaped them.
High life - the lady she said see
The allure of success, fame, and fortune can be tempting.
The weekend promises desire and mystery
Temporary pleasures like parties and distractions can provide excitement but lack substance.
Life is a cold stone
Life can be harsh and unforgiving.
Dream life - I saw her standing there
Perceived perfect versions of life can seem enticing.
I saw her lips part i saw her eyes melt
The imagined idealized version of life can captivate and enthrall us.
Love life - in hi fidelity fear is the key
In relationships, fear can dominate and overshadow love.
I need you near to me
A strong desire for close human connection and intimacy.
Sit down and write a letter
Direct communication and working through problems can help resolve difficulties.
I want to work this out
A desire to reconcile and resolve issues.
Everything is shifting - let's talk
Acknowledging that life is constantly changing and communication is necessary to navigate it.
Hollow life - where was the fire of love
A feeling of emptiness and longing for the passion and intensity of love.
That burned so pure and true
The memory of what love felt like and the desire for it to return.
Did it not matter to you
Questioning whether the intensity and purity of love was felt by another person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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