Afro Lover

I think this song's great! It's pure cheesy pop, very Pet Shop Boys-esque and very atypical of James, but it's one of the stronger tracks off Millionaires regardless. Tim's vocal sounds a lot more passionate on this track than most others on the album. It should have been a single, I think this had more hit potential than any of the songs they did release off Millionaires.

The lyrics are pretty weak and cheesy for a James song, but for me that just contributes to the song's appeal, it's just an upbeat dancey pop tune that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously... it's one of few songs I can actually listen to over and over again and not get bored of, and it always brightens my state of mind.

Despite the cheesiness of the lyrics there does seem to be a deeper message in them somewhere... it seems to be about a soldier in a war feeling a real sense of fighting for freedom and virtue amidst all the violence. The whole 'everybody wants to be happy/everybody wants the same things' verse would seem to refer to what lies at the heart of war in the end... everyone's desire to be free, wealthy and loved... possibly one of, if not the only, optimistic war song I've heard. Not exactly pro-war, but optimistic amidst the violence.

i feel like it is similar, but almost, opposite of what MaskOfSanity has mentioned.

it seems to me to be about an awakening in thought. he is noticing how everyone is pointing at someone else. he notes how the west and east are pointing at each other saying the other is wrong.

he is saying now he 'knows',(like in a lot of james songs,) he can see the answer to their problems, as an outsiders perspective may be clearer. i believe the whole point of the song lays in the second chorus, when he says:

"I opened up into this mystery Every key can lock you up Or set you free I believe that there is magic in this mystery"

it seems to scream, "balance." (i.m.o.o.) but i love the song whatever the song meaning may be. long live James.