more about our singles

Somethin' Too, by The Normantones could be a tale of love and loss at first glance but it is more important than the love between two people. This song is about how you can look beyond this and believe in yourself. The something we can all be is true to ourselves and our dreams. 

Life is never straightforward but as it says in the song:

 "Learn from the river, it's wise

If you can't go one way, it finds another"

This does not mean we should ever give up on finding love again in the future, just start with not giving up on yourself and then the future, well, who knows!

Midwife Pam, by The Normantones contains direct references to each of their two younger sisters, Pamela and Tracey. The two of them work in the midwifery and teaching professions respectively. In releasing a piece of work that, on the face of it, salutes the contributions of Pam “…doing all she can for the mite in the scan” and Tracey (“…where would be without teacher Tracey’s ABC?”), it is a much broader tribute to all those, in whatever job or profession, who work to provide our essential public services. In upholding our individual and collective wellbeing and prosperity, they really do, as the lyrics suggest “put the great into Great Britain” and are “one of our nation’s best creations”. Thank you to Pam and Tracey and to you all. We love you!

Back In Your Arms Again started life in Anthony's head as a melody that had a verse and chorus, the key words back in your arms again and little else. What happened next lies at the heart of most of The Normantones compositions. After sharing this with Tony during one of many sessions the collaborative spirit kicked in and Tony took it away and crafted the words. We both love Motown music and this track was our homage to this. This track was originally released in 2023 as part of the album, REVIVER. It has proved to be one of the most listened to tracks from the album and this combined with another twist where Tony was sharing our music with his friends in France and that is how Dan Tes Bras Encore was created with the help of our guest vocalist Didier Martin. Both the English and French versions are now available and we hope you enjoy both.

And the sunlight clasps the earth,

And the moonbeams kiss the sea;-

What are all these kissings worth,

If thou kiss not me? 

-Shelley-

Overtures tells the story of Natalie who has recently been through a break-up, and her new suitor who is acutely aware of this. His concern for her, and his hopes for their future together are ‘front and centre’ in the song, but they are tempered by a lyrical wariness of the dangers posed by a precipitous entry into a rebound relationship: “Just recently you’ve split with him, so you might not accept my overtures…”. He’s afraid that if he reveals his true feelings for her, she might “simply head straight for the door”, and so he opts for forbearance and understanding. When asked about the song, Tony explained “I’m recounting the feelings of one who is afraid of what might turn out to be an opportunistic ricochet into a new and ill-fated relationship, so he relies magnanimously on the hope that there will come a day when his feelings are reciprocated. It’s a demonstration of how, sometimes in life and in a relationship, discretion is the better part of valour!”. 

The production of Overtures saw The Normantones work closely in tandem. Anthony recalls that “The instrumentation comprises Tony on piano and guitars, with my scoring of the orchestration. Our best songs come about when we work in a concerted and complementary way, so Overtures is another piece that we’re especially proud of”.

“There is no instinct like that of the heart”. So said Byron, and The Normantones’ latest offering “No Way! tells the story of an incipient relationship within which all the early signs and omens are good and both parties, who have become lovers, instinctively feel that they may have found their soulmate. Indeed, their instincts are such that there is literally “No Way” that either party wants to give up on it. 

With No Way!, The Normantones are re-visiting their acoustic ‘unplugged’ roots. Acoustic guitars were their first instruments, bought for them by their parents, and it is this fingerpicked instrument that fronts No Way! The sound of crickets, recorded in Normandy, open the song and set the nocturnal scene in which the protagonists have begun their courtship. At the conclusion of the song, one is left wondering about their fate and hoping that it is not all “the final act in some sad play”. We again hear the sound of crickets telling us that a day has elapsed, and that the twosome are on the threshold of another night. Whatever the future holds, there is the all-pervading sense that each will cherish the night that brought them together and that they might always feel that:

There was a time, I need not name,

Since it will ne’er forgotten be,

When all our feelings were the same,

As still my soul hath been to thee…

-Byron-

Prisoner is a somewhat dark and disconcerting tale of not only feeling love for someone, but of also feeling incarcerated by it. The song’s protagonist is all too aware that whilst the object of his affection is someone he desperately wants to be with and feels has totally captured his imagination and affection in an apparently irreversible way, there is the fear that his love may not be reciprocated (“For you to feel the same way, that’s what I need”/“ Will you play prisoner to me?”). It is a love reminiscent of that between Emily Bronte’s Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. It is a deep and passionate connection that transcends, and may even give offence to, societal norms. The listener is intentionally made to feel ill-at-ease and left questioning, in their own mind, what makes for a healthy, loving relationship, because the one in Prisoner is likely to lead to sleepless nights or as Bronte herself put it, “unquiet slumbers”.

The Normantones have not released a "Christmas song" before so we decided to be slightly different and release two! We hope you enjoy our festive offerings and the season too. 

Christmas is a time of year for many things, celebration, parties, family. Unfortunately, however, life and its harsh realities are ever present as well and whist this song is not intended to ruin the season of goodwill it is with this in mind that those that have, could help those without. Take a moment when listening to reflect,  and whether or not you believe, reach out and help others if you can. 

As the chorus captures:

"On Christmas Morn a child is born

Not all are warm this Christmas Morn

No-one can see the struggle of this family

On Christmas Morn"

Christmas isn’t a date on the calendar: It’s a feeling in the heart 

- Toni Sorenson (US author)

With Ghosts, The Normantones have created a piano-led ballad about the powerful effect the festive period has in evoking feelings of nostalgia. Memories are reawakened, a relationship is remembered and, in this case, rued. “It’s the same old feelings at Christmas time..” for the central character in the song. Like snowflakes, “ghosts of Christmas past…dance and play” before their eyes and haunt their febrile mind. The song recounts how these poignant and powerful emotions are amplified by the Christmas festivities, and how the protagonist is seemingly unable to shake off the profoundly-held feelings for their erstwhile partner. At the song’s conclusion, they tell of feelings of a hurtful betrayal: “…whatever happened to you and I - some guy…some guy and you!”. Anthony recalls, “Although it’s clearly a sad song, we had a lot of fun around the studio mic, perfecting the harmonies in the middle eight bars of the song. To prevent our voices cracking, we drank about a gallon of tea. I just remember the kettle being permanently on!”.

“A girl… and a Sunday School… in another world”. It is clear from the start that Sunday School Sally is a musical rumination of childhood memories. It immediately conjures up the image of playing in the street; the arrival of, and stampede towards, the ice cream van; a mate called Fran; and the girl with “sunshine eyes” that “we all wanted to marry”. Tony says that when asked if Sally was a real person, he says “Sally existed alright and I sometimes think about her and wonder how she’s getting on”. However, he also explains that “the song itself tells of a character that is more of an amalgam of a number of girls that, as very young boys, “me and my mate Fran” had in our lives at the time. They were sisters, neighbours and friends who tended to be older than us. I just remember feeling happy and safe in their company and care as we played on the street or in the park. Looking back, it was lovely that they showed really strong protective and parental-like instincts, and we were the beneficiaries who, as a result, enjoyed many care-free halcyon childhood days”.