Formed in 1992, the band originally comprised Tim Freedman (lead vocals, piano), Stevie Plunder (lead vocals, guitar) and Andy Lewis (double bass, backing vocals). The line-up has changed many times over the years with Tim the only consistent member of the band, not to mention the only original member still alive. In the current line-up Terepai Richmond hits the drums, Warwick Hornsby plays the bass, and Jak Housden steals the scene on the electric guitar alongside the ever-present Tim Freedman.
Their style of music has been described as muscular piano based pop/rock, however it has been quite varied over the life of the band. Their latest album is titled Little Cloud and is a double album, separated by the two themes of New York and Tim's homeland Sydney.
The band played their final shows in 2010, taking an extended break for Freedman to pursue a solo career.
In 2012, the band were announced as one of the headliners of the Caloundra Music Festival on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Pretty as You
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His music is better than it sounds
When he won't speak
Still waters run deep
All of this is true
When you're as pretty as you
Yeah anything is true
He likes the same bands as you
It's getting stranger but it's true
Didn't you see him up the front
When they were starting out?
He had a picture of you
In his head before you met
And all of this is true
When you're as pretty as you
Yeah anything is true
When you're as pretty as you
But when you get a look at his life it's too late
Yeah when you get a look at his life it's too late
Ah the evening leans forward
On the edge of its seat
Coz you're laughing with him
Yeah you're nearly in bed
He's better looking than he looks
His music is better than it sounds
All of this is true
When you're as pretty as you
Yeah anything is true
When you're as pretty as you
The Whitlams' song Pretty as You seems on the surface to be a simple love song. However, the lyrics contain subtle messages that delve deeper into the complexities of human relationships. The opening line, "He's better looking than he looks" is a paradox that suggests that the subject of the song may be underestimated or misunderstood. This idea is reinforced by the following line, "His music is better than it sounds," which hints that there's more to this person than meets the eye or ear.
The lyrics go on to describe the subject's quiet nature, "When he won't speak, still waters run deep," again suggesting that there is more to this person than initially apparent. The line "All of this is true when you're as pretty as you" is an interesting one because it implies that the subject's physical attractiveness allows them to get away with things or be perceived in a certain way that others may not. It's almost as if their beauty is a shield that protects them from scrutiny or judgment.
The second half of the song describes the subject's mutual taste in music and how he had a picture of her in his head before they even met. The final lines, "But when you get a look at his life it's too late, ah the evening leans forward on the edge of its seat, 'cause you're laughing with him, yeah you're nearly in bed," suggest that the relationship may not be as simple or ideal as it initially appeared. The song ends on a bittersweet note, implying that the subject's physical beauty and mutual interests don't necessarily equate to a happy or easy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
He's better looking than he looks
He may not seem good-looking at first glance, but he's actually quite attractive.
His music is better than it sounds
Despite his music not sounding very impressive, it's actually quite good.
When he won't speak
When he's quiet and doesn't say much...
Still waters run deep
...it's because he's introspective and has a lot going on beneath the surface.
All of this is true
Everything mentioned previously is accurate...
When you're as pretty as you
...but only if you're as pretty as the person being addressed.
Yeah anything is true
In fact, anything can be true...
When you're as pretty as you
...if you're as attractive as the person being addressed.
He likes the same bands as you
He enjoys the same music as you do...
It's getting stranger but it's true
...which may seem odd, but it's the truth.
Didn't you see him up the front
You must have noticed him at the front of the crowd...
When they were starting out?
...when the bands were just getting started?
He had a picture of you
He had an idea of what you would be like...
In his head before you met
...before the two of you ever even met.
But when you get a look at his life it's too late
But once you see the kind of life he leads, it's already too late...
Ah the evening leans forward
The atmosphere becomes more intense...
On the edge of its seat
...as everyone waits to see what will happen.
'Cause you're laughing with him
Because you're having a good time with him...
Yeah you're nearly in bed
...and things are getting quite intimate between the two of you.
My music is better than it sounds
The songwriter believes that their music is actually quite good despite it potentially not sounding amazing...
When you're as pretty as you
...but only if the person they're singing to is as attractive as the person being addressed in the song.
Yeah anything is true
Just like before, anything can be true...
When you're as pretty as you
...if you're as pretty as the person they're singing to.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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