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
One
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For this one
For this one
Good fortune has breathed its breath upon
This one
This one
A handful of wanting, waiting my turn
A dream of tomorrows, and what will become, become
With hope upon hope and blind desire
Empty horizons fuel my fire
Waiting for something
From life's great liar
It's hard to believe the time has come
For this one
For this one
Good fortune has breathed its breath upon
This one
For this one
It's hard to believe the time has come
For this one
Biding my time 'til my time is due
Waiting in line as a world looks through me
Right through
It's hard to believe the time has come
For this one
For this one
Good fortune has breathed its breath upon
This one
For this one
It's hard to believe the time has come
For this one, for this one
Good fortune has breathed its breath upon
This one
For this one
It's hard to believe the time has come
The lyrics to Ultravox's "One" convey the feeling of waiting for the right moment, the moment when good fortune finally breathes its breath upon the singer. The song speaks to the concept of biding one's time until the time is right, fighting onward even through the empty horizons and life's great liar. The singer has a handful of wanting, a mountain of past, and a future to burn. The lyrics are slightly melancholy, but also tinged with hope, urging us to keep striving on regardless of any obstacles.
The repetition of "For this one" reinforces the idea of waiting for the moment that is meant for the singer, and that good fortune has finally come. The line "Biding my time 'til my time is due" is particularly powerful in conveying the sense of waiting and patience that is required to achieve one's goals. The song touches on universal themes of hope, perseverance, and the belief in a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hard to believe the time has come
It's difficult to imagine that this particular moment has finally arrived.
For this one
For this specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
For this one
For this specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
Good fortune has breathed its breath upon
Luck has smiled favorably upon and brought prosperity to.
This one
This specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
This one
This specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
A handful of wanting, waiting my turn
I have a small amount of desire and patience, waiting for my opportunity.
A mountain of past, a future to burn
I have a history of experiences and a future full of potential opportunities that I am willing to risk or sacrifice.
A dream of tomorrows, and what will become, become
I have aspirations for the future, and I am eager to witness how they develop and manifest.
With hope upon hope and blind desire
I hold onto optimism and unwavering passion for my goals despite any uncertainty or obstacles that may arise.
Empty horizons fuel my fire
The endless possibilities and unknown outcomes motivate me to pursue my dreams with intensity.
Waiting for something
Anticipating and preparing for a significant event or opportunity.
From life's great liar
Referring to the unpredictability and deceptive nature of life.
Biding my time 'til my time is due
I am patiently waiting for my chance to arrive at the appropriate moment.
Waiting in line as a world looks through me
I feel unnoticed or invisible, as I wait among the masses for recognition.
For this one
For this specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
For this one
For this specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
It's hard to believe the time has come
It's difficult to imagine that this particular moment has finally arrived.
Good fortune has breathed its breath upon
Luck has smiled favorably upon and brought prosperity to.
This one
This specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
For this one
For this specific purpose, occasion, or individual.
It's hard to believe the time has come
It's difficult to imagine that this particular moment has finally arrived.
Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on The Frozen Ones
A great Ultravox song.
Philip Kassabian
on Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
A great and emotional song.