Axel’s known for the 2011 viral hit “This Is the New Year,” which solidified him as an indie pop presence with staggering YouTube views and numerous syncs on film and television. Teaming up with longtime collaborator Chad, he’s expanding his horizons immensely into A Great Big World.
The seeds for the partnership were planted early, even before Ian’s solo career took off. While both studying music at NYU, Ian tracked Chad down in the school’s practice rooms.
Chad smiles, “I kept blowing him off, and then I heard him singing nervously at the piano. I was like, ‘your voice is amazing. Let’s work on these songs. Let’s be friends.’”
Ian laughs, “I kind of forced my friendship on him. I stalked him and made him listen to my songs. He told me I needed to be singing. This realization changed my life. Our relationship is super special. I feel like we’ve known each other forever.”
Ian was the artist, and Chad shared writing duties and became his manager. Playing around New York, Ian eventually stepped into the spotlight and released an independent solo album entitled This Is the New Year in 2010.
The title track featured a vocal cameo from Chad. The song’s low budget music video shot at a Brooklyn party garnered over 1.5 million views and stirred an overwhelming viral buzz. Given the track’s success, tinyOGRE Entertainment signed Ian, remixing and re-releasing the record through Sony. “We finally got to quit our day jobs and do this,” Chad goes on. “It was surreal how quickly everything moved forward from that point.”
As they hit the road, “This Is the New Year” continued to gain steam. MTV utilized it as the theme song for their hit documentary series I Used to Be Fat and then it played over the title credits of Garry Marshall’s New Year’s Eve. Their music became a favorite of music supervisors. One Tree Hill, Amazing Race, ESPN, and Good Morning America all incorporated their songs, and Rachael Ray invited them to perform on her nationally syndicated talk show.
They completed their first national tours and opened shows for Ingrid Michaelson, Five For Fighting, and Glee star Matthew Morrison. Their live performances feature a warm, engaging interplay reminiscent of the intimacy and energy of artists like Elton John, Regina Spektor, and Simon and Garfunkel.
In late 2011, tinyOGRE Entertainment informed all of their artists that they were shutting down. “It was bittersweet,” admits Ian. “On the one hand, we lost our whole team. On the other, my relationship with Chad was as strong as it ever was. We were re-capturing the creative spark we had in college. Our music wasn’t just about ‘Ian Axel.’ We had always been in this together.”
That’s when A Great Big World was officially born. Making positive, piano-driven pop bursting with harmonies and woven together with a fun theatrical twist, the duo crafted a six-song EP funded entirely on Kickstarter by fans. “It’s optimistic pop music,” Chad says. “There are fewer songs about heartbreak and more about the big picture. But even the most painful of our songs are hopeful.”
They’ve certainly chased their dreams and they’re going to continue to do so. But there is something even greater at play. “Writing is our therapy,” Ian concludes. “And when we can connect with people through our music, it’s transformational. We’re not alone. Our songs are your songs. And that’s what it’s all about.”
www.agreatbigworld.com
End Of The World
A Great Big World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna love you (love you)
I'm gonna love you (love you)
Like it's the end of the world
I wanna remember the shape of your lips
Cause I wouldn't miss breathing as much as your kiss
If the streets were on fire, well, we'd never know
Baby, let's go out with a bang
We could be the last love song ever sang
I'm gonna love you (love you)
Love you like it's the end of the world
I'm gonna hold you (hold you)
Hold you as long as I can in this world
So let's cheers to the moments of beauty we've found
As the city burns to the ground
I'm gonna love you (love you)
I'm gonna love you (love you)
We'll live forever; they'll study our bones
Write stories about us and carve us in stone
So they can remember what true love was like
But this isn't about them; it's just us tonight
Baby, let's go out with a bang
We could be the last love song ever sang
I'm gonna love you (love you)
Love you like it's the end of the world
I'm gonna hold you (hold you)
Hold you as long as I can in this world
So let's cheers to the moments of beauty we've found
As the city burns to the ground
I'm gonna love you (love you)
I'm gonna love you (love you)
Be here now as the skies crash down
Watch the world fade away (watch it fade away)
Cause what we've found never comes around
Let it burn up in flames (let it all go up in flames)
I'm gonna love you (love you) (Be here now)
Love you like it's the end of the world (As the sky's falling down)
I'm gonna hold you (hold you) (Let it burn)
Hold you as long as I can in this world (up in flames)
I'm gonna love you (love you) (Be here now)
Love you like it's the end of the world (As the sky's falling down)
I'm gonna hold you (hold you) (Let this all)
Hold you as long as I can in this world (fade away)
(Love love love love you)
The song "End of the World" by A Great Big World is a beautiful ode to love and the preciousness of time. The lyrics are about cherishing the person you love as if it's the end of the world, as if there's no tomorrow. The singer is declaring their love and commitment to their significant other and reassuring them that in a catastrophic event, they would choose them over everything else. The line "I'm gonna hold you as long as I can in this world" emphasizes the importance of holding onto each other as tightly as possible in the limited time they have. The song is both romantic and bittersweet, as it is an acknowledgement of the ephemeral nature of life.
The lyrics also highlight the idea of making the most of the time we have with our loved ones, focusing on the beautiful moments we share and the memories we create. The line "So let's cheers to the moments of beauty we've found as the city burns to the ground" is a poignant reminder that even in the face of devastation, love can thrive and bring light amidst the darkness. The song encourages us to be present in the moment, to love deeply and to appreciate the people in our lives.
Overall, "End of the World" is a poignant and beautiful song that celebrates love in all its forms. It is a reminder to appreciate the moments we have with the people we love and to hold onto them as tightly as possible, for as long as we can.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna love you (love you)
I am going to love you intensely and fiercely
Like it's the end of the world
As if there is no tomorrow and this moment with you is all I have
I wanna remember the shape of your lips
I want to remember every detail of you and our time together
Cause I wouldn't miss breathing as much as your kiss
Your kiss means everything to me
If the streets were on fire, well, we'd never know
In the face of chaos, we only have each other
We'd be lost in each other instead of the smoke
We would escape the world's problems and find solace in each other
We could be the last love song ever sang
Our love is so powerful that it could be the end of a chapter in history
I'm gonna hold you (hold you)
I will never let you go
Hold you as long as I can in this world
I will protect you and cherish you for as long as we are together
So let's cheers to the moments of beauty we've found
Let's celebrate the love and happiness we have shared
As the city burns to the ground
Even in the darkest of moments, our love shines bright
We'll live forever; they'll study our bones
Our love is so profound that it will transcend time and be remembered forever
Write stories about us and carve us in stone
We will leave a lasting impression on this world with our love
So they can remember what true love was like
Our love is the epitome of true love
But this isn't about them; it's just us tonight
Our love is for us and us alone in this moment
Be here now as the skies crash down
Let's live in the present and not worry about the future
Watch the world fade away (watch it fade away)
Let go of everything else and focus only on us
Cause what we've found never comes around
Our love is rare and precious
Let it burn up in flames (let it all go up in flames)
Let everything else go and focus only on our love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHAD VACCARINO, IAN AXEL, KEVIN KADISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@The050965
Beautiful lyrics, beautiful music, beautiful voices= beautiful song.
@TitaniumPerseus
This is so good. Honestly.
@C.E.2
Wow those lyrics are magic
@jereco_cc
This new album has a very different sound than "Is There Anybody Out There?". I'm really liking the directions you guys are headed. :)
@lillian9795
+Jereco Catingub tbh i like "Is There Anybody Out There?" a lot better xD
@aviva9757
I love both albums! I can't explain it fully but both has different feelings.
@lillian9795
Yeah same but i just like is there anybody out there better but i still like both albums.
@aviva9757
I actually can't chose between both 😂😂
@dangermouse3671
Ayyye Klance fam where you at?
@eloneko4713
I'm here !