Beatrice Lang
Electric Blue is a song by Australian rock band Icehouse, released in August 1987 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Man of Colours. The song was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the US band Hall & Oates. It became the band's biggest hit in the United States, charting at #7, and a #1 hit in their native Australia. The lyrics of the song describe a man infatuated with a woman who seems unattainable, and the electric blue feeling he gets when she looks at him.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | Electric Blue |
| Artist | Icehouse |
| Genre | Rock |
| Year of Release | 1987 |
| Album | Man of Colours |
| Lyrics | Describes a man's infatuation with a woman who seems unattainable, causing him to feel vulnerable and freeze up in her presence. |
| Popularity | Reached #1 in Australia and #7 in the US |
| Collaborators | John Oates of Hall & Oates co-wrote the song and provided background vocals. |
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of the lyrics
"Electric Blue" is a song by the Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1987 as the second single from their fifth studio album, "Man of Colours". The song was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the US band Hall & Oates. Oates also provided background vocals for the track.
The song is about a man who is infatuated with a woman who seems unattainable or "above his station". He describes the feeling he gets when she looks at him as "electric blue", a colour that may also be associated with her eyes. The phrase "electric blue" conveys energy, action, and excitement, capturing the intensity of his attraction to her.
In the song, the man expresses his vulnerability and uncertainty about whether his feelings are reciprocated. He wonders if she is "hiding somewhere behind those eyes", suggesting that he is captivated by her physical appearance but struggles to connect with her on a deeper level. He feels a sense of freezing or being "frozen" when she sees him, indicating his nervousness and insecurity about his chances with her.
The lyrics "I just freeze every time/You see through me/And it's all over you/Electric blue" further emphasize his feeling of being exposed and vulnerable in front of her. He is so enamoured with her that he is willing to beg, as indicated by the lines "On my knees/Help me, baby/Tell me what can I do?".
The pre-chorus, "Are you hiding somewhere behind those eyes?" adds to the mystery and intrigue he feels about her, as if she is an enigma he is desperate to unravel. The song captures the excitement and anxiety of romantic infatuation, the feeling of being drawn to someone intensely, and the hope that those feelings might be reciprocated.
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The song's commercial success
"Electric Blue" by Icehouse was released in August 1987 as the second single from the Australian rock band's fifth studio album, "Man of Colours". The song was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the US band Hall & Oates.
"Electric Blue" became a commercial success, particularly in Icehouse's native Australia, where it topped the charts and continues to receive airplay. The song also marked the band's biggest hit in the United States. It charted at #7 in Australia and cracked the American charts as well.
The song's popularity can be attributed to its catchy melody and relatable lyrics. The lyrics depict a man who believes he has a chance with a woman who seems unattainable, and the electric blue colour is used to describe the intense and captivating feeling he experiences when he thinks of her.
The collaboration between Davies and Oates also likely contributed to the song's success. Oates, impressed by Icehouse, expressed his desire to collaborate, and the two wrote the song together in Australia. Oates even contributed background vocals to the track. The involvement of a well-known US musician like Oates may have helped expose Icehouse to a wider audience, particularly in the US market.
"Electric Blue" has endured as one of Icehouse's most popular songs, with Australian radio stations still playing it regularly. It remains a beloved 80s hit and a staple of the band's catalogue, showcasing their unique sound and ability to craft memorable and meaningful songs.
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The inspiration behind the lyrics
"Electric Blue" is a song by the Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1987 as the second single from their fifth studio album, "Man of Colours". The song was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the US band Hall & Oates.
The man in the song feels himself falling for the woman, but he is unsure if his feelings are reciprocated. He is in love with her but doesn't know if she sees him as a potential love interest or at all. When she does see him, he "freezes", not knowing what to do or say. He is so infatuated with her that he feels like he is "breaking in two".
The song's theme of unrequited love and the vulnerability of putting oneself out there resonates with many people, and it continues to be a popular song in Australia and beyond.
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The colour blue's significance
The colour blue is a significant motif in the Icehouse song "Electric Blue". The song's lyrics describe a man's infatuation with a woman, who seems unattainable or "above his station". The colour blue is used to represent the man's feelings of vulnerability, desire, and longing for this woman.
The phrase "electric blue" specifically refers to the intense and captivating nature of his emotions. The colour blue is often associated with calmness and serenity, but the addition of "electric" suggests a sense of energy, action, and excitement, indicating the powerful and overwhelming nature of his feelings.
In the song, the man describes freezing up and being unable to act whenever he interacts with the woman, as he feels she can "see through him". This sense of vulnerability and exposure is conveyed through the image of being "all over you electric blue", with the colour blue emphasising the depth and intensity of his emotions.
The lyrics also refer to the woman's eyes, with the man asking, "Are you hiding somewhere behind those eyes?". The colour blue is often associated with honesty and openness, but in this context, it takes on a different meaning, suggesting the mystery and intrigue of the woman's gaze, and the man's uncertainty about her true feelings.
The use of the colour blue in the song's title and lyrics helps to convey the complex emotions of desire, vulnerability, and uncertainty experienced by the song's protagonist. It adds depth and nuance to the story of unrequited love and infatuation that the song explores.
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The song's composition
"Electric Blue" is a song by the Australian rock band Icehouse. It was released in August 1987 as the second single from their fifth studio album, "Man of Colours". The song was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the US band Hall & Oates. Oates became involved with Davies after contacting him to state that he was a fan. The collaboration resulted in the creation of this song, with Oates also contributing background vocals.
The song's lyrics describe a man who is infatuated with a woman who seems unattainable or above his station. The colour "electric blue" in the song is thought to represent the woman's captivating eyes, which the man is drawn to and mesmerized by. The lyrics portray the man's vulnerability and his frozen feeling when she sees him, as if he is "breaking into electric blue".
The composition of the song is structured with verses, pre-choruses, and choruses. The first verse sets the tone and introduces the narrative:
> "If a boy had a chance, a chance with someone like you, are you gonna break his heart? Let him cry for the moon."
This is followed by the pre-chorus, which builds anticipation and includes the line:
> "Are you hiding somewhere behind those eyes?"
The chorus then kicks in with a powerful expression of the man's emotions:
> "I just freeze, I just freeze every time, you see through me, and it's all over you, electric blue."
The second verse delves deeper into the man's feelings and his dream about the woman:
> "Oh, I had a dream, for a moment I believed it was true, oh, I'd have given anything just to be there with you."
The pre-chorus and chorus are repeated, emphasizing the man's infatuation and his plea for help as he feels himself "breaking in two".
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Frequently asked questions
"Electric Blue" is about a man who is infatuated with a woman who seems unattainable to him. He describes the feeling he gets when she looks at him as electric blue.
John Oates of the US band Hall & Oates co-wrote the song with Icehouse lead singer Iva Davies. Oates became a fan of the band when they were touring America in 1986 and contacted Davies, eager to collaborate.
The colour "electric blue" could refer to the feeling of infatuation the man in the song experiences, or it could be a reference to the woman's eye colour.
Yes, it was Icehouse's biggest hit in the United States, reaching No.7 on the charts. In their native Australia, it was a No.1 hit.
