Wire's debut album, Pink Flag (1977), contains songs which are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach, unorthodox structures, and several songs are under a minute in length; "Field Day For The Sundays" is only 28 seconds long.
Chairs Missing followed in 1978, and found Wire stepping back from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag, with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Many of the songs had bassist Graham Lewis on lead vocals.
In 1979, creative differences pulled the band in different directions, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The LP came packaged with an EP of a different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Colin Newman's post-Wire solo albums ("5/10", "We Meet Under Tables"), while others were released by Gilbert and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ("And Then...", "Ritual View"). The band disbanded for the first time in 1980
Between 1981-85 Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and non-Wire collaborative projects such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985, the group reformed as a "beat combo" (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music or even possibly beatniks), with greater use of electronic musical instruments. It released It's Beginning To And Back Again (IBTABA) in 1989, a "live" album of mostly re-worked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck, heavily re-arranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", became the band's biggest charting single.
Gotobed left the band in 1990, after the release of the album Manscape. After his departure, the band dropped one letter from its name, becoming "Wir" (still pronounced "wire"), and released The First Letter in 1991. Once again, the band disbanded in 1992 There followed a further period of solo recordings, during which Newman founded the Swim ~ label, and later Githead with his wife (ex-Minimal Compact bassist Malka Spigel), while Wire remained an occasional collaboration. It was not until 1999 that Wire again became a full-time entity.
With Gotobed back in the line-up (now using his birth name, Robert Grey), the group initially reworked much of their back catalogue for a performance at Royal Festival Hall on 26 February 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs and an album Send (2003) followed, as well as collaborations with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. In 2004 the band split once more.
In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were re-released with original vinyl track listings. Rumours abounded of a renewal of activity to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's debut as a 4 piece and the re-release of Pink Flag in 2007. A third Read & Burn EP was released in November, 2007.
A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47 was released in July 2008. Bruce Gilbert was not involved in this recording, although according to Colin Newman, he did feature in a minimal capacity on the third Read and Burn EP. 2011 saw the release of the band's twelfth studio album Red Barked Tree.
A Bargain At 3 and 20 Yeah!
Wire Lyrics
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Deterministic, anti-ballistic, not too drastic, ritualistic, operatic, automatic, quite grammatic, seldom static, intellectual, not ineffectual, fairly eventful, sometimes pitiful, over critical, unpredictable, semi-stable, fairly-able, unavailable.
The lyrics of Wire's song A Bargain At 3 and 20 Yeah! are full of surreal and paradoxical phrases. At first glance, the opening line "Attempts to fly are welcome... They attract a crowd willing to pay for a miracle" may sound like encouragement to take risks, but it could also be interpreted cynically as a comment on the public's fascination with accidents and disasters. The following line "If you're homeless I know a roof you can jump off" is an absurd offer that suggests the singer's lack of empathy or understanding for the plight of the homeless. The line "You got a cat and I've got a dog that climbs trees" is another non sequitur that highlights the randomness and incongruity of the lyrics.
The chorus of the song provides the key to its meaning: "Yes is a bargain! No's a turn off! You either live or... Your edam. You either stretch or... You get stiff. Enjoy the joyride!" These lines juxtapose affirmative and negative statements to convey the idea that life is full of choices and challenges. "Yes is a bargain" suggests that embracing opportunities and saying "yes" to life is a good deal, while "No's a turn off" implies that being negative or closed-minded is a liability. The line "You either live or... Your edam" is a pun on the phrase "You're either alive or dead" and uses the word "edam" (a type of cheese) to add a playful twist. The lines "You either stretch or... You get stiff" are a metaphor for staying flexible and adaptable in the face of change. The final line "Enjoy the joyride!" is a call to embrace life's ups and downs and make the most of the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
Attempts to fly are welcome...
Attempting the impossible might make you famous or rich.
They attract a crowd willing to pay for a miracle.
People are fascinated by those who try to achieve the impossible and they're willing to pay to see it happen.
If you're homeless I know a roof you can jump off.
I have a dark sense of humor and my idea of helping someone is suggesting something harmful instead.
You're got a cat and I've got a dog that climbs trees.
We're very different people with very different pets.
Inevitable's too late.
Don't wait until it's too late to make a change or take action.
Yes is a bargain!
It's easier to say yes than no and it comes with its benefits.
No's a turn off!
Saying no too often can be off-putting and negative.
You either live or...
Either you're living life to the fullest or you're not really alive.
Your edam.
I'm making a pun on 'you're dead, damn' and trying to be clever.
You either stretch or...
You either push your boundaries and grow or you stay stagnant and don't reach your full potential.
You get stiff.
If you don't stretch yourself, you become rigid and inflexible.
Enjoy the joyride!
Life is a rollercoaster and it's meant to be enjoyed, so buckle up and have fun.
Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pierre Clary
on Champs
i believe this song is about amphetamine abuse, endemic on the punk scene...Speed, "more speed than before ,less time than before (tolerance build up)........
Pierre Clary
on Champs
The song "Champs" by Wire is an intense and fast-paced track that addresses themes of competitiveness, the desire for success, and the sacrifices one must make in order to achieve their goals. The repeated phrases "The taste of champions, the pace, the pace, the speed, the need, the need to seed, the chance to die" suggest that the speaker is wholly dedicated to winning and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. The subsequent line "Another dead don't cry" implies that the speaker has seen others perish in their pursuit of victory and is not phased by it. The stanza "You've still got speed, you'll maybe bleed, there's less time" highlights the idea that time is running out and that one must act quickly if they wish to be successful.
The next stanza begins with the phrase "More speed than before, you've done it before, there is no for, what are you doing it for?" which suggests that the speaker is no longer satisfied with their previous achievements and is compelled to push themselves even harder. The line "Want more, want more" is a clear indication that the speaker is never satisfied with what they have and will always strive for more. The repetition of "Another dead don't cry" throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder that the pursuit of success often has a cost, and that cost can be the lives of others.i think this so,
Pierre Clary
on Champs
YOU'RE RICH NOT POOR