Electric Blue – Icehouse | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#7); 1988
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
“Flowers” must have seemed like a wonderfully unique name for a band to Australian Iva Davies, yet, just one album out, he was forced to change it to avoid conflict with a like-named Scottish band.
This time Davies chose “Icehouse” after their debut album and its leadoff track. After all, “ice house” was slang for an insane asylum, and was, therefore, perfectly appropriate for the music biz.
We Can Get Together made some noise in 1981 and No Promises became a #9 Rock Track in 1986. For Icehouse’s 1987 album, Man Of Colours, Davies joined with John Oates – formerly of Daryl Hall & … fame – to co-write Electric Blue. Oates also contributed background vocals.
Coincidentally, John rejoined partner Daryl for another album and their first Top 10 single in over three years – Everything Your Heart Desires – joined Electric Blue in the Top 10.
This content and the Song Meaning article was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2025 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- David Lord
Lyrics Written by:
- Iva Davies
- John Oates
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).