AEMEN is not only the band’s name, but also the name of an imaginary child who lives in a dreamworld of its own. Her closeness and fantasies about life, nature and death are a source of inspiration for the poetic lyrics. This is the CD’s recurring central theme.
With the first album The day the angels cried, (1997) AEMEN has released a striking debut album. Therefore, the reviews and airplay speak for themselves. 'OOR musicmagazine' wrote; one of the most promising bands of 1998 and beyond!' The title of this CD refers to a dramatic event that took place in a little Scottish town named Dunblane in March 1996, during which sixteen children lost their lives. The titelsong ‘The day the angels cried’ has been released in memory of this tragedy.
The beautiful saxophone solo backed up by a big choir leads you to the emotional finale. Magnificent photo compositions create the atmosphere for the colorful and fascinating 16-page booklet, the text of which are literally written by a child.
The band has recorded the album under its own management, and produced and remixed it at Oscar Holleman of RS29 in Waalwijk. This proved to be a good choice, since 5 weeks of recording and remixing have led to an impressive result. Beautiful compositions and arangements with a wide range of instruments such as guitar, saxophone, didgeredoo, accordion, conga’s and a choir give this production an absolute excess value. Samples, like the chants of Gregorian monks, were used in a subtle way in the song I can't see you
In 2003 AEMEN recorded their second album Fooly Dressed at RS29. ''Singer/composer Toine van der Meijden'' is again responsible for the music composition of this album. The songwriting and arrangements have become even more sophisticated and mature. Drummer ''Roland van Heesch'' played more impressive beats (Listen to the song Down and guitar player ''Maarten van Iersel'' played an absolute leading part on the CD! Stephen van Haestregt Within Temptation is responsible for the production of this album. 'Fooly Dressed' sounds absolutely fabulous and no expense or effort has been spared to make it a top class product. Again the reviews in national and international music press were gorgeous.
At December 8th AEMEN presents 'Fooly Dressed' in concert hall 'De Boerderij' in Zoetermeer. With the cooperation from Sharon den Adel Within Temptation, a absolute fan of AEMEN, the single Time was released and had lots of airplay on national radio. Also the videoclip of 'Time' did well on television. The band played in 2004 more concerts and festivals but couldn't manage a big breakthrough.
In December 2004 AEMEN played in 'W2' in Den Bosch a farewell concert because Toine van der Meijden emigrates to Greece. This live concert, with lots of guest musicians, is recorded to make a live DVD. In winter 2006 AEMEN presents the DVD + live CD Live is a Magic Theatre with 2 special concerts. For this special occasion Toine van der Meijden came back to Holland.
At the moment AEMEN is recording their third album. Some guest musicians are invited to join this album. Date of release is not known.
You can follow it on the website: www.aemen.nl
Band Members:
Toine van der Meijden (Vocals, guitars, piano)
Roland van Heesch (Drums, Percussion)
Maarten van Iersel (Guitars, Mandoline)
Bert van der Horst (Bass guitar)
Marco Hoogerheide(Keys)
Time
Aemen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The're swallowing youre time
There's something on your mind
Time when time is on your side
I'm bored wasting my time
I know you fake your pride
You, you always make me try
To swallow all my pride
It doesn't make it easier
Time when time is on youre side
There's something on your mind
It doesn't make it clearer
When your down
You're feeling down and out
It hurts the way you shout
It doesn't make it easier
Time when time is on your side
I live the way I like
You know it's my pride
It's so hard and complicated yeah!
Try to take your time and make it real!
The song "Time" by Aemen seems to be a reflection on the difficulties of life and the struggles that come with it. The opening lines suggest that when one is overwhelmed by the pressures of daily life and their commitments, it can feel like time is being wasted or taken away.
The lyrics go on to describe feeling bored by this monotony, and how this can lead to questioning the authenticity of others' pride. The singer seems to feel pressured by those around them and their expectations, which leads to a lot of internal conflict.
The chorus brings in the theme of time being on one's side, but despite this, there is still something on the singer's mind that they can't quite shake. The second verse amplifies this feeling, describing a downward spiral of negativity, shouting, and pain. The singer acknowledges the struggle and that it doesn't necessarily get easier with time.
The bridge seems to be a rallying cry to take control of one's time and try to make it count. The song ends on an ambiguous note, with the singer acknowledging the difficulty and complications of life.
Overall, "Time" seems to be a reflection on the struggles of everyday life, and the difficulties of staying true to oneself in the midst of external pressures. It encourages the listener to try to take control of their time, but acknowledges that this is often easier said than done.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're drowning in your life
If you're struggling to keep up with the demands and pressures of everyday life
The're swallowing youre time
Those pressures are taking up your precious time that can never be regained
There's something on your mind
You can't seem to shake off a heavy feeling that's weighing on you
Time when time is on your side
When you have the luxury of time, you should make the most of it
I'm bored wasting my time
I find it unfulfilling to spend my time doing things that don't stimulate me
I know you fake your pride
I can see that you're trying to put on a brave face, even though you're struggling
You, you always make me try
You have a way of challenging me to be a better version of myself
To swallow all my pride
To put aside my ego and admit when I need help or support
It doesn't make it easier
Even when we try hard to overcome our struggles, it's not always a smooth journey
When your down
When you're feeling low and defeated
You're feeling down and out
You're struggling and feeling helpless
It hurts the way you shout
You might be lashing out due to the pain you're experiencing
It doesn't make it easier
Expressing your pain may not always bring immediate relief or resolution
Time when time is on your side
Once again emphasizing the importance of cherishing your time while you can
I live the way I like
I prioritize doing things that make me happy and fulfilled
You know it's my pride
I take pride in being true to myself and living life on my own terms
It's so hard and complicated yeah!
Acknowledging that life can be challenging and difficult
Try to take your time and make it real!
Make the most of your time by prioritizing things that are authentic and meaningful to you
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.