for Simply Red’s 13th album, Mick Hucknall “tried to do something exceptional”

Mick Hucknall is the frontman and vocalist of British band Simply Red, a band from Manchester founded in 1985. When you think of Simply Red, you hear the lyrics and choruses of their worldwide hits: If You Don’t Know By Now (1989), stars (1991) Shine On (2015) or even Blue Eyed Soul.

Simply Red has just released a thirteenth album: Time and two concerts are to come on June 23, 2023 at the Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon and on June 25 at the arenas of Nîmes.

franceinfo: Timebecause the clock is ticking, this album was supposed to be born today?

Mick Hucknall: The title of the album is a suggestion from my manager. At first it was to be called slap bang. I wrote the songs during the lockdown. And I don’t know if you feel the same, but during the Covid lockdown, it felt like time stood still. And meanwhile, like millions of other people, I was at home in my bedroom. I sat down and played the guitar and little by little I said to myself: ah, that would be a cool song. The first one I wrote is the last track on the album. When I was done writing this song, I contacted my producer and manager and I said to them: if you like it, tell me, If you think it’s just not bad, then this will not be enough. If she’s just okay, I don’t want to release an album. I’m trying to do something exceptional this time. And luckily for me, they liked it and my record company Warner, so here we are!

You went through very hard times with your mother, raised by your father. I feel like it’s also a nice way to say, “This is where I am today. This is the man I’ve become“. Is it difficult for you to put words to emotions today?

“I lost two of my friends to Covid and had the inspiration to write ‘Never Be Gone’ which is a tribute.”

Mick Hucknall of Simply Red

at franceinfo

Difficult. All I can say is that when I worked on this album, it felt very natural to do it. A song that comes to mind is the song Never Be Gone. It’s very emotional for me because it was true. I had lost two friends of the Covid. I tried to express this. Whether it’s the feeling of love I feel for my wife, for my daughter, the departure of very dear friends. That’s what I try to do.

You say you are a dad, married, a happy man. Have you gained self-confidence over time?

I don’t know if I have more self-confidence. Maybe I feel more fulfilled. But having a family, a daughter, I feel like I’m still learning things. I don’t like the idea of ​​being a 62-year-old man and telling myself: I know everything, I have all the answers, I’m closing the door. This is the truth, this is the life. No, I love the idea that until the day I die, I will learn things, that something new will enter my mind.

“No matter what happens, I accept the change, I try to understand it and make sense of it.”

Mick Hucknall of Simply Red

at franceinfo

A word on the stage because it is very important. You are on a European tour. There are two dates in France on June 23 at the Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon and June 25 at the arenas of Nîmes. Is it the playground to go on stage?

I must say that I am very happy to play outside of Paris. Throughout my career, every time we went to France, it was Paris, Paris! So now playing in other parts of France is really a great opportunity for me and a real pleasure.

I just want you to talk to each other about the song Spapbang. I think this song has an extra soul.

I’m glad you told me about this song because it’s a very sweet song for me. It reminds me that before I was a musician, I took my acoustic guitar to Manchester and went to a street, where I played for 11 minutes before the police made me leave. During those 11 minutes, people gave me 10 pounds, in just 11 minutes, and that confirmed one thing to me, that I can do it. They like it, they like it. Just a man all alone who would play the troubadour in the street, that’s what I tell myself with this song, it’s that I imagine myself as a troubadour.

Is this troubadour proud, happy with the man he has become?

I’m working on it !