In 1973 the band recruited an 18 year old Michael Schenker from the band Scorpions. This marked a departure from their space rock sound to a more hard edged rock sound. They released a string of critically acclaimed rock albums in the 70s that gained them a following in America and made them stars in the UK. Around the time of the 1978 release of Obsession, tensions between Schenker and Mogg were mounting. UFO arguably reached their peak at this time. In 1978 they toured extensively and recorded material for the double live album Strangers in the Night which was released in 1979. This album is considered by many fans and critics to be one of the best live rock albums ever produced. Immediately after the Strangers in the Night tour Michael Schenker left the band.
After this period UFO's popularity began to decline as they continue to release material. In 1988 they disbanded due to lackluster sales, decline in popularity, and their inability to (or perhaps refusal to) capitalize on the popularity of the glam rock movement. But the hiatus was short lived.
In 1992 Mogg and Way put together another UFO lineup that met with some new interest from fans. In 1993 the original UFO got back together (with Schenker) and the result was 1995's Walk on Water, which some consider to be one of the best comeback rock albums ever.
Schenker re-joined and quit UFO many times in the early 2000s. Due to Schenker's instability as a band member (and erratic tour behavior) Mogg eventually gained full control of the UFO band brand and Schenker is now forever from the picture (most likely).
UFO has released 20 studio albums, and many live/compilation albums. Though the lineup has changed many times over the years the core members of the band were usually involved along the way: Phil Mogg (vocals), Pete Way (bass), Andy Parker (drums), and Paul Raymond (guitar).
UFO's influence was strongly felt in the '80s metal scene and they have been cited as a primary influence of Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, and Iron Maiden who gives thanks to UFO in the liner note of The Number of the Beast.
UFO's official website: http://www.ufo-music.info
There are other artists with same name:
2) UFO is a Danish rapper/singer-songwriter and member of the Danish hip-hop group Ufo&Yepha.
3) UFO is the alias of UK Happy Hardcore artist Jason Holloway who is known for his production on such labels as Raverbaby and Jellybaby.
4) UFO is a Latvian singer/songwriter also known as Kaspars Upacieris. He also hosts a radio show BB Brokastis with Andris Freidenfelds.
5) UFO was one of the first Costa Rican punk band and one of the most important during the 90's-early 00's in the Costa Rican alternativa music scene.
6) UFO! A Bay Area native pioneered the San Francisco Drum and Bass scene and co-founded the Phunckateck collective. An innovative producer.
2002 saw UFO! releasing an original material CD on Thermal Recordings, called "The Future is Listening”. Releases include a mix CD on Vortex called “Maelstrom,” and a special edition mix CD for Circa footwear. UFO! has worked Hive, Echo, and Techno producer John Tejada.
UFO! remixed a track for Hollywood Records, rock band Tinfed, called “Drop”, and several singles including “Tech has Taken Over Me”, “Sideswipe” (produced with Kaos) and “Besame” (produced with Arqer and Realtime).
“Enemy Infiltration”, an anthem of 1999, blazed across the U.S. and abroad. The stunning string arrangement on the track had producers from the revered Trouble on Vinyl label from the U.K. sampling it for one of their own releases called “Mission Control”.
7) UFOUnited Future Organization otherwise known as UFO is a nu-jazz duo made up of Japanese-born Tadashi Yabe (直 矢部, Yabe Tadashi?) and Frenchman Raphael Sebbag (ラファエルセバーグ, Raphael Sebbag?). One of the three original founding members, Toshio Matsuura left the group in 2002 to work with Universal Japan on a remix album project
8) UFO is a Hungarian music band. The most successfully years were the 90s for them.
9) UFO is an Indonesian music band. They released the first album early 2000 named "Brutal Pop".They've entered an Indonesian ska compilation album
10. UFO is a Norwegian band mostly cover band
Dance Your Life Away
UFO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
High geared razzle dazzle, recession is the trouble
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
Thirty hours on the floor and twenty partners left
Dance, dance, dance all night
Feel so tired it must be a week
Nearly on my knees
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
[Chorus]
California, you always seem to have the sun
But I never really got near to it
And you try your hand at anything you know
Just to try and earn a dollar
--solo--
*
Repeat
[Chorus] Repeat
The lyrics to UFO's song Dance Your Life Away convey a message of the importance of losing oneself in the moment through dancing, regardless of the challenges or difficulties one may face. The singer recounts a dance band competition, where he and his partner fox-trot all night, feeling exhausted but invigorated. The high geared razzle dazzle of the dance floor, with its 30 hours and countless partners, is a way to escape the recessionary troubles of daily life. The singer cleverly captures the idea of "dancing your life away," using dancing as a metaphor for living life to the fullest, in spite of its setbacks.
The chorus of the song expresses a longing for California's sunny and carefree lifestyle. The lyrics imply that while the state seems a utopia, they are unable to access it and must continue to work hard for a dollar. The solo section of the song features a guitar, which adds to the upbeat vibe of the track and captures the joyousness of dance's indulgence.
Overall, UFO's Dance Your Life Away exalts the freedom of dance to transcend everyday struggles and inspire one's soul, and the desire for a simpler and happier life.
Line by Line Meaning
In a dance band competition fox-trotting with my girl
I was in a dance competition with my partner fox-trotting on the dance floor
Dance, dance, dance all night
Just keep dancing all night
Dance your life away
Dance as if it's the last time
High geared razzle dazzle, recession is the trouble
The dance floor is lively and extravagant, a distraction from the economic struggles caused by recession
Thirty hours on the floor and twenty partners left
I have danced for thirty hours straight and only twenty partners remain on the dance floor
Feel so tired it must be a week
I am extremely exhausted and it feels like it has been a week
Nearly on my knees
I am so tired that I am almost kneeling on the ground
California, you always seem to have the sun
California always has sunny weather
But I never really got near to it
Even though I am in California, I have not had a chance to enjoy the sunny weather
And you try your hand at anything you know
In California, people are willing to try anything to earn money
Just to try and earn a dollar
People in California will do anything to make money, even if it means trying new things
Lyrics © DELLA BLUE MUSIC LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL SCHENKER, PHIL MOGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richardk7272
In a dance band competition fox-trotting with my girl
Dance, dance, dance all night, dance your life away
High geared razzle dazzle, recession is the trouble
Dance, dance, dance all night, dance your life away
Thirty hours on the floor and twenty partners left
Dance, dance, dance all night, dance your life away
Feel so tired it must be a week, nearly on my knees
Dance, dance, dance all night, dance your life away
California, you always seem to have the sun
But I never really got near to it
And you try your hand at anything you know
Just to try and earn a dollar
@RickHubbard1954
My favorite UFO song! By far one of the greatest,most brilliant,stupendous,gargantuan,screaming guitar solos ever recorded. What a Tone he pulls outta that V through those Marshalls. Amazing guitarist!
@magusperde402
One of my favorite solos on the album - he starts it on the neck pickup, switches to both, then ends the solo on the bridge pickup.
@dalepierce23
yep....schenker had such fire with his picking before the breakdown in 78/79? i don't think he was ever the same after that.
@jwlloyd1
UFO til the end of time.... These guys were the tightest. Rocked my ass off...then and now. Word.
@kellymcdonald1895
That lead is absolutely sick! Perfectly placed, couldn't be better!
@AceOfHeart2012
There is no such thing as a bad UFO song.
@antrygis1
Got that right. When they came back in 1995 it was shocking to HEAR a rock and roll audience of the average age...35? make so much noise. Roll on.
@SPONDNO8
A Schenker masterpiece solo!!
@surethingbaby
The way Phil sings the line "California you always seem to have the sun, but I never really got near to it" sparks an unusually pleasant feeling in my head. It's like that peaceful feeling you get as you drift asleep and think about eternal bliss.
@joshmattg
tight as hell, great album, great song, great band