The band was formed in 1973 in London, United Kingdom on the initiative of vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist John Foxx (born Dennis Leigh). Originally known as Tiger Lily, the first lineup included Foxx plus Chris Cross (bass guitar), Billy Currie (keyboards/violins), Stevie Shears (guitar) and Warren Cann (percussion). The group released one single in 1974, a cover of "Ain't Misbehaving," before changing their name to Ultravox!, the exclamation point being a reference to the krautrock band Neu! that was produced by Conny Plank (who later produced some Ultravox albums). On the strength of their live act, they signed to Island Records in 1976, releasing their eponymous debut album in February 1977.
In common with many other bands which would go on to form Britain's punk and New Wave movements, Ultravox drew inspiration from the art-school side of glam rock, from bands such as Roxy Music and the New York Dolls, as well as from David Bowie and Brian Eno's early pop-fueled albums. Their eponymous debut album was self-produced by the band, yet Brian Eno (whose next job after these sessions was working with Bowie on 'Low') co-produced two songs and Steve Lillywhite also contributed. Sales were disappointing, and neither 'Ultravox!' nor the associated single "Dangerous Rhythm" managed to enter the U.K. charts.
Ultravox returned later in 1977 with the punkier 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!'. Although sales of both the album and its lead single "ROckwrok" (which, despite a chorus featuring the lines "Come on, let's tangle in the dark/Fuck like a dog, bite like a shark", was played on BBC Radio 1) were still unimpressive, they had a growing fan-base. Steve Shears was sacked, later deciding to form the new band Faith Global. Although most of 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!' was dominated by guitars and electric violin, the final track, "Hiroshima Mon Amour," was a prototypical synth pop song which gave a hint to the band's new direction. It remains a critical and fan favourite of the group's early incarnation, and it was even performed by the group on the 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. In 1978, the group quietly dropped the exclamation mark, becoming simply "Ultravox".
Their third album, 1978's Systems of Romance, was recorded under the ear of Conny Plank at his studio in rural Germany and featured new guitarist Robin Simon. It also failed commercially and Island dropped the band. After a US tour in 1979, John Foxx left to pursue a solo career whilst Robin Simon left to join the band Magazine. Musically, the album was a distinct development from the band's previous work and provided a blueprint for Ultravox's subsequent work, bringing synthesisers to the forefront of the group's sound. Island released a compilation of highlights from the group's first three albums in 1979, Three Into One, which was until the mid-1990s the most widespread of Ultravox's early releases.
Midge Ure, an already accomplished musician, was asked to join the band. He had achieved minor success with semi-glam outfit Slik and Glen Matlock's more punk-inspired The Rich Kids, although in 1979 he was temporarily playing with hard rock band Thin Lizzy. Midge Ure and Billy Currie had met in the Visage project, a studio project fronted by Steve Strange. Midge therefore replaced John Foxx for their next album, which would become their most successful to date, taking the already influential Ultravox sound and giving it a commercial appeal it had previously lacked.
Recorded in London and mixed by Conny Plank and the band once more in Germany,
Vienna was released on the new label Chrysalis Records in 1980, achieving a substantial hit with the title track (inspired by Carol Reed's The Third Man), which was accompanied with a distinctive video. It topped out at number two (Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" infamously kept it from the top spot) on the UK Top 40 in 1981. The album reached number five, and was soon followed by Rage in Eden (1981), the band returning to Conny Plank's studio for what turned out to be a difficult recording session.
Ultravox teamed up with legendary producer George Martin for 1982's Quartet, which became their most successful album in the USA.
After touring with their 1984 Lament, and appearing at Live Aid, Warren Cann was fired and pursued a career in acting in the USA. The remaining members, along with Big Country's Mark Brzezicki, resurfaced with U-Vox in 1986 before going their separate ways the following year. Billy Currie and singer/guitarist Tony Fenelle reformed the band in 1992 to record Revelation, and Sam Blue lent his voice to their final release, Ingenuity (1996).
The band's international legion of followers yearned for some sort of reconcilliation. Both Billy Currie and Midge Ure pursued solo careers after the band were put officially on ice by Currie in 1996, Ure continuing to peform solo versions of Ultravox hits live.
Fans were therefore delighted when an announcement came in November 2008 that the 'classic' Cann/Cross/Currie/Ure line-up were to reform and play a fourteen-date UK tour entitled Return To Eden in April 2009. With Vienna and Rage In Eden being remastered and re-released and plans for a greatest hits compilation to accompany the tour, Ultravox are now set for a return to prominence.
After their successful 'Return to Eden Tour', Ultravox signed a deal with Universal Records and talk of new studio albums heated up. On February 21st 2011, a new EP, Moments from Eden, came out.
The band's latest album is 2012's 'Brilliant', featuring the 80s line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann. Picking up a strong fan response, their recent touring has brought them to big crowds alongside rockers Simple Minds.
Website: http://www.ultravox.org.uk
Distant Smile
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind a distant smile
Light years ago I think someone spoke
Quizzical glances behind cigarette smoke
She drew the curtains at the end of the day
And then we laughed because the room sailed away
Fancy glitter in the summer arcades
Then autumn leaves fall by a winter lane
But you fell through my fingers like sand
With a distant smile
A distant smile
A distant smile
Somehow I always seem to be
Adrift in other times with a distant smile
(???) the sound of the streets
The city's glittering like diamonds in heat
Our secret destination, touch down in the haze
As the cameraman pans away
Hey look, it's a long lost horizon
Private oceans you can surface a sunrise in
Hearts well ? dodging logic
But nevertheless still permanently surprised
Behind a distant smile
A distant smile
A distant smile
Somehow I always seem to be
Adrift in other times behind a distant smile
You will see (?)
The lyrics of "Distant Smile" by Ultravox seem to be a wistful reflection on memories and the fleeting nature of time. The singer feels as though they are always drifting away, lost in thoughts of the past, hence the "distant smile." The first stanza references someone speaking light years ago, which could suggest that the memories are from a long time ago - perhaps even from a different era. The image of quizzical glances behind cigarette smoke adds to the sense of nostalgia and a feeling of being transported to another time.
The second stanza seems to describe a happy memory of someone drawing the curtains at the end of the day and laughing as the room "sailed away." This could be a metaphorical image of being lost in the moment or caught up in a pleasant memory. The reference to summer arcades and autumn leaves falling also evoke a sense of seasonal change and the passing of time. The line "you fell through my fingers like sand" adds a sad note to the otherwise happy memories, reinforcing the idea that these moments are fleeting and can never be recaptured.
The third stanza takes a more surreal turn, referencing a "secret destination" and a "long lost horizon." This could represent a dreamlike state or the idea of chasing something that is always just out of reach. The line "hearts well ? dodging logic" is ambiguous but suggests that the singer is grappling with strong emotions that don't make sense logically. The final line "you will see (?)" is cryptic but could be interpreted as a message to someone who will someday understand the singer's feelings.
Overall, "Distant Smile" is a poignant reflection on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of memory. The dreamlike imagery and surreal elements add to the sense of nostalgia and the suggestion that the singer is lost in their own thoughts and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I find I drift away
Occasionally, I realize that I am mentally removing myself from the present moment
Behind a distant smile
I put on a smile to hide my thoughts and emotions that are going in a different direction than what is happening in reality
Light years ago I think someone spoke
In the past, I heard someone say something that left a lasting impression on me
Quizzical glances behind cigarette smoke
I see people looking at me skeptically and questioningly as they smoke
She drew the curtains at the end of the day
When the day was over, she closed the curtains
And then we laughed because the room sailed away
We shared a moment of amusement when it seemed like the room was moving, perhaps due to our intoxicated state or a vivid imagination
Fancy glitter in the summer arcades
There are flashy, attractive things to see and do in the summertime amusement parks
Then autumn leaves fall by a winter lane
The colors of autumn eventually give way to a barren winter landscape
Piano echoes and the perfume still lingers
The lingering scent of perfume mixes with the sound of piano music, creating a sentimental atmosphere
But you fell through my fingers like sand
You were there, but then you were gone, like a handful of sand slipping through my fingers
With a distant smile
Even in the moments we shared, you had a remote smile on your face
A distant smile
Your smile was always distant, never fully present
A distant smile
Your smile was always distant, never fully present
Somehow I always seem to be
Regardless of the situation, I feel like I am
Adrift in other times with a distant smile
In my mind, I am lost in other times, while outwardly holding a distant smile
(???) the sound of the streets
I can hear the sounds of the streets, but I don't feel present in them
The city's glittering like diamonds in heat
The city lights sparkle and twinkle like diamonds, but their brightness is overwhelming
Our secret destination, touch down in the haze
We have a secret place we go to, but it seems like we arrive there in a fog
As the cameraman pans away
As an observer steps out, the moment ends
Hey look, it's a long lost horizon
Over there, we can see a horizon that has been forgotten and not seen for a long time
Private oceans you can surface a sunrise in
There are oceans of emotions inside me that can give birth to something new, like a sunrise
Hearts well ? dodging logic
Emotions run deep, despite trying to avoid making logical sense of them
But nevertheless still permanently surprised
I am always amazed at the twists and turns life takes, even though they are not unexpected
Behind a distant smile
Again, I am being emotionally distant
A distant smile
Yet again, a smile that is not quite genuine
A distant smile
Still another distant smile
Somehow I always seem to be
No matter the place, time, or emotion, I feel
Adrift in other times behind a distant smile
Lost in memories, and not present in the current moment, all the while hiding behind a distant smile
You will see (?)
An unknown statement, perhaps hinting that things will become clearer over time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENNIS LEIGH, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on The Frozen Ones
A great Ultravox song.
Philip Kassabian
on Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
A great and emotional song.