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
Serenade
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
Serenade, the gift that we bring.
Serenade, youth runs wild with the beat in their hearts.
Dance a wild dance, be torn apart.
Voices ringing in their heads.
Their crashing hands in time.
The chant of a thousand-fold.
The song of a million strong.
Echoes their perfect praise.
[Chorus]
From the mouths of babes and fools.
Hunted melodies.
With gracefulness and ease.
Compose their gifted words.
Orchestrate their moves.
Echo the perfect praise.
Serenade.
[Chorus]
Prophets tell the tale.
The legend and the lies.
The fable and the rhymes.
The chant of a thousand-fold.
The song of a billion strong.
Echoes the perfect praise.
Serenade!
[Chorus]
In rhythm and swing.
The gift that we bring.
Youth runs wild with the beat in their hearts.
Dance the wild dance, be torn apart.
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
Serenade, the gift that we bring.
The song Serenade by Ultravox is an ode to the power of music, particularly when it is played live. The opening lines of the chorus, "Serenade, in rhythm and swing. Serenade, the gift that we bring," suggest that music has the power to be uplifting and transformative. The song encourages people, especially the young, to dance with abandon and allow the music to take over them, even if it means being "torn apart." The lyrics suggest that music has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together, as echoed in the lines "The chant of a thousand-fold, The song of a million strong, Echoes their perfect praise."
Line by Line Meaning
Serenade, in rhythm and swing.
The act of serenading someone is done in rhythm and swing, as if the music is the language of the heart.
Serenade, the gift that we bring.
Serenading is a precious gift that is given from the heart, often to express love and affection.
Serenade, youth runs wild with the beat in their hearts.
The sound of music and the rhythm of the beat can stir up a wild passion in the hearts of young people, urging them to dance and move with uninhibited freedom.
Dance a wild dance, be torn apart.
Through the unbridled expression of dance, one can sometimes experience intense emotions that can be both joyful and painful.
Voices ringing in their heads.
The echoes of music can stay in one's mind indefinitely, a constant reminder of a once-shared song.
Their crashing hands in time.
The sound of hands clapping and joining in the rhythm of the music can create a unified sense of community between people.
In sequence and in rhyme.
Music that follows a predictable pattern can inspire a sense of security and safety, leading to a deeper appreciation of the art form.
The chant of a thousand-fold.
The unison of many voices becomes a powerful force that can move mountains and stir the soul.
The song of a million strong.
The music that people make together can be a rallying cry for change and the symbol of a greater purpose.
Echoes their perfect praise.
The refrain of a song can be heard throughout time, a perpetual reminder of the love and joy that once existed within a community.
From the mouths of babes and fools.
Sometimes the most profound music can come from the mouth of an innocent or a simpleton, a testament to the beauty of the human experience.
Hunted melodies.
Certain melodies can be elusive and difficult to capture, but when they are found, they can be truly magical.
With gracefulness and ease.
The best music is created with skill and effort, but when performed with ease and grace, it can be awe-inspiring.
Compose their gifted words.
The music that moves people is often accompanied by meaningful lyrics that touch the soul and express a shared truth.
Orchestrate their moves.
The beauty of a dance can be accentuated by the choreography, as the movement of the body becomes its own form of music.
Prophets tell the tale.
Throughout history, music has been a powerful medium for prophets and leaders to impart their message and inspire change.
The legend and the lies.
Music can also be used to spread propaganda and misinformation, leading to the creation of myths and falsehoods.
The fable and the rhymes.
Music can take the form of storytelling, with the melody becoming the backdrop for a tale that captures the imagination.
Serenade!
The act of serenading someone is a celebration of the love and joy that exists between two people, a moment in time that can never be replicated.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, 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.