Tones on Tail's music is psychedelic/surrealist with a heavy English gothic rock vibe. It is textural and introspective and exhibits Ash's characteristically clean production. The band made a point of having each song sound as different as possible. In concert, the band sported all-white as a reaction to Bauhaus's all-black look. They never achieved a large following, though the track Go! is a retro dance club staple and a frequent addition to 1980s music compilations.
The band's back catalog has been subjected to a lot of compilations and reissues over the years; collecting the entire Tones on Tail discography was a difficult task. This was the situation until the 1998 release of Everything!, an appropriately named two-CD set of every track, fully remastered, plus a radio interview with Ash and Campling. The first disc contains the band's sole album Pop, while the second disc collects the rest of the band's work.
When You're Smiling
Tones on Tail Lyrics
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boys indecipherable singing in background
The song "When You're Smiling" by Tones on Tail is a melodic tune with a cheerful and hopeful feel to it. It is a song about embracing joy and positivity, even in the face of adversity. The lyrics encourage the listener to smile through tough times and find the silver lining in any situation. The opening lines set the tone for the song, "When you're smiling, when you're smiling, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you."
The song's verses present scenarios where the singer is faced with difficult situations like rainy days, no money in their pocket, or feeling lost and alone. Despite these negative aspects, the lyrics continue to encourage the listener to smile through it all. It's like telling someone, "Keep pushing through, things will get better."
The song also mentions the act of crying and how it can be therapeutic. It suggests that crying can release negative emotions and make room for positivity. The song ends on a repetitive "smile" with various background vocals, emphasizing the message to keep smiling even when things get tough.
Overall, the song is an uplifting tune that celebrates the power of positivity and choosing happiness, even when things are not going that well.
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BridgeIsSky
About 8 years ago when I was ~18 I started smoking weed a few times every week. When I was younger weed would had very powerfull psychodelics effects on me. I loved listening to this song over and over (also Twist).... in the middle of those dry-cold spring nights, all by myself, with my headphones...
Miscellaneous thoughts, images in my head closing my eyes, different physical sensations, strange sounds in the song, unkown lyrics sung by those boys.. This album can trick you, you may think is just another simple 80's gothic music but it's almost their best work ever, every sound was very well chosen.
Very deep experience listening to this
csansolo
I think this is their best song. I just love it, I used to listen to it as a loop.
steve hull
This makes a great loop!
Ayden Jenkins
Real Life and Christian Says are my favourites, but this song is amazing. They're such a good band
Isaac Roberts
Yes! I've been waking up to this Bass line all week!
Isaac Roberts
In my head I mean
Giovanni damiano Presenza
OOOOOOOOOOOH YA... this is an amazing album. I still paint n draw and play percussion... this is one reason I do wot I do... inspired by creative geniuses like this, and bands only wish to play like this today.
The Largest Collection of Music From Japan on Here
+Giovanniquintino Presenza
I think Tones on Tail are, sadly, unique; I pity anyone who wasn't alive at the time.
Weird Seance
still brilliant after all these years, as sampled on Primal Scream's "Higher Then The Sun'
bigteeharibol
IN the mid-eigthties on acid , I watched someone draw to this album all night. The things I saw.