The trio are popular in the electronic dance music scene for their forward-thinking uplifting trance productions and collaborations with renowned vocalists. They have their own record label, Anjunabeats, which releases trance & progressive music, and they also host their own weekly radio show previously known as Trance Around the World but relaunched in late 2012 as Group Therapy. The group's tracks are regularly played by DJs around the world, including Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, ATB, and Kyau & Albert. The trio has been consistently ranked among DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs Poll, having placed at #4 in 2008 & 2009, #5 in 2010 & 2011, and most recently at #25 for 2014.
Problems
Above & Beyond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For money, I'll take a train home
You're lovely, but you've got lots of problems
When your sleeping, I'm walking
And I'm calling home
Wait you've got my number
And I've got yours too
It's just a matter of two
I'll do the things that I would say I do, yeah
I'm worried, you're telling me something
And you know, you've nothing to sue
You're lovely, but you've got lots of problems
When you're loving
I can tell that you're not being true
You know my name
I don't know
Yeah, I wanna tell you something
You are lovely, wanna take you home
Yeah, I wanna give you something
Cause you want it
I won't leave you alone
You know my name
I don't know
You know my name
I don't know
I'm sorry, I sold your records
For money, I'll take a train home
You're lovely, but you've got lots of problems
When you're sleeping, I'm walking
And I'm calling home
Yeah, I wanna tell you something
You are lovely, wanna take you home
Yeah, I wanna tell you something
You are lovely, wanna take you home
Alright
The lyrics of Above & Beyond's song "Problems" seem to portray a sense of regret and remorse from the singer towards someone they care about. The singer starts off by admitting to selling the other person's records for money, indicating a careless or thoughtless action. They express their intention to take a train home, suggesting a physical distance or departure from the situation. Despite acknowledging the other person's problems, the singer finds them lovely but seems to struggle with their own internal conflict.
In the following lines, there's a sense of communication breakdown between the singer and the other person. The mention of exchanging phone numbers highlights a potential desire for connection, yet the uncertainty and hesitation in the lyrics underline the difficulties in bridging the gap between them. The singer seems conflicted between promises of change and uncertainty about their own actions, creating a sense of tension and unresolved emotions.
The repetition of the phrase "You know my name, I don't know" suggests a lack of understanding or familiarity in the relationship. It conveys a sense of detachment or disconnect between the singer and the other person, highlighting the complexities and misunderstandings that may exist between them. The repeated longing to convey a message or express affection towards the other person further emphasizes the struggle to connect and communicate effectively.
Overall, the lyrics of "Problems" by Above & Beyond capture a mix of regret, longing, and a desire for connection in the midst of personal and relational challenges. The singer's introspective and conflicted thoughts, combined with the recurring themes of distance and miscommunication, paint a picture of emotional turmoil and the struggle to reconcile past actions with present feelings. Through its poignant lyrics and emotive delivery, the song delves into the complexities of relationships and the inner conflicts that arise when faced with difficult circumstances and decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sorry, I sold your records
Regretfully, I sacrificed your memories for financial gain
For money, I'll take a train home
I will prioritize monetary rewards and choose to return home by train
You're lovely, but you've got lots of problems
You possess positive qualities, yet struggles and challenges are apparent
When your sleeping, I'm walking
While you are resting, I am actively moving and making decisions
And I'm calling home
I am reaching out to connect with familiar surroundings
Wait you've got my number
You possess my contact information for communication
And I've got yours too
I also hold your contact details for reciprocal interaction
It's just a matter of time
The outcome will be determined as time progresses
It's just a matter of two
Our fate is intertwined as a duo in this situation
I'll do the things that I would say I do, yeah
I will follow through on my promises and commitments
I'm worried, you're telling me something
I am anxious due to the information you are sharing with me
And you know, you've nothing to sue
You acknowledge that there is no legal grounds for legal action
When you're loving
During moments of affection
I can tell that you're not being true
I can sense insincerity in your actions
You know my name
You are familiar with my identity
I don't know
I do not have the same level of recognition
Yeah, I wanna tell you something
I am eager to share a message with you
You are lovely, wanna take you home
I find you attractive and desire to bring you to my residence
I wanna give you something
I have a gift to offer you
Cause you want it
Because you express a desire for it
I won't leave you alone
I will provide support and companionship
Alright
An affirmation or agreement to proceed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jesse Keeler, Sebastien Grainger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DJPaulWest
For anyone who’s interested in getting a deeper understanding of what you're listening to… I’ve pulled together a mini-study of the set - demystifying the art of DJing and showing that it isn’t just pushing buttons! :)
Mood
The overall mood of the set was fairly chilled and melodic in nature – very much in line with the kind of music which Above & Beyond produce (and therefore it comes as no surprise that virtually every track played was produced by them!). The lower/mid intensity storytelling here aligns very well with the energy of the absolutely stunning location – overlooking the islands and water – and the notion of being high-up and in a spacious surrounding is mirrored by the soaring melodies - putting people ‘into their heads’ and making them feel emotions.
Energy/Intensity
Overall, the BPM of the set (which is the biggest driver of energy) started at 122 in order to set the scene; every few tracks this was moved up by ½ BPM – peaking at 125 BPM for the final 3 tracks of the set.
Whilst there was small but constant movement in the tempo (BPM), the intensity and mood tracks provided the unity / ‘glue’ to hold the set together - which remained fairly consistent.
The tracks played were progressive in nature (more complex) and therefore were not driven by any one frequency – but more-so the frequency spectrum was filled. As such the mix & blend time was usually fairly minimal – to guard against any clashes between the melodies of the two tracks in the mix. For example – for their track “Believer” (playing from 7:45 to 12:02), as the energy / main motif of the track ends at 12:02 (leaving just the percussion and bass stabs) this is the mix point for the following track “Sweetest Heart” – where the percussion is brought through at 12:15, and the motif of this track starts at 12:32. This is fairly standard practice for DJs mixing complex progressive tracks.
In terms of key observations and emphasising what was done very well:
Marrying Energy with the Environment
Above & Beyond (Tony and Paavo here) do a very good job of aligning the energy of the music with the energy of the location. The track selection was chosen to make the crowd ‘feel’ an emotion; using lots of longer motif melodies driven by the highs and mid frequencies.
(to note - where house tracks are driven by motifs/loops which are 4, 2 and even 1 beat in length, this makes people want to dance. When motifs are 8, 16, 32+ beats in length, while they are still 'dance' music tracks, they have the effect of moving people emotionally, more than physically. Hence the longer motif lengths chosen here by Tony and Paavo are an appropriate. Stunning location and well-chosen track selection)
Stability Vs Movement
Much as with the observation made for the Hernan Cattaneo Cercle set, there isn’t a lot ‘movement’ in the set construction. The intensity of the tracks and the mood remain relatively consistent, as does the overall ‘feel’ of the set – characterised by mid and higher frequencies of the melodies / vocals.
However, as they are playing progressive tracks (where the tracks themselves have a lot of movement within them) the tracks act as an appropriate contrast to the stability of the set structure.
As mentioned above, Tony and Paavo do in fact move the BPM up in small increments every few tracks (from 122 to 125), so in this respect they are actively managing the energy of the crowd upwards throughout the set. For example see the energy difference @8:40 versus @1:16:00 (although, you’ll also note the percussion intensity is also greater for the second clip). This provides a marginal upward movement in energy.
Note – (as mentioned on the Hernan Cattaneo set) for other sub-genre’s of house music, the tracks are produced more like ‘components’ or individual ‘characters’ and designed to be layered by the DJ, whereas for progressive house tracks they are structured almost like a microcosm of a DJ set – 4 beat bass stabs dominate one moment, then gentle mid-frequency piano keys emerge while higher frequency pads creep upon you, filling the sonic range – and these ‘characters’ dance with each other – different frequencies, different motif lengths moving in and out of focus. It therefore makes complete sense that where the tracks are complex and have movement, the structure of the set offers stability and unison in holding the experience together.
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If you're interested in reading commentary on other Cercle DJ sets; I've included a list of the Cercle video links with my commentary at the top:
Martinez Brothers at CÉ LA VI Marina Bay Sands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29LwM9Xa6l8&lc=Ugw8FjXRTwNr_igsxEh4AaABAg
Blond:ish in Sint Maarten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad4IAkS-1-w&lc=UgyYS7pegfiMkfHUmKx4AaABAg
Lee Burridge at Omnia Bali: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h96MGcsi7GQ&lc=UgyXBVeIehYJkpXra-R4AaABAg
Hernán Cattáneo at Cercle Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Easqg4SUl2Q&lc=Ugz6nHNUJYRxJcvLxhh4AaABAg
Black Coffee at Salle Wagram: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGqg_ZzThDU&lc=UgxQT39JEwTd-j7E1Ax4AaABAg
More to come soon!
@dafebeme2
I was there! This was, no doubt, one of the top three experiences of my life. I couldn't believe I could get a ticket since I thought those were so expensive because of the few people I always see in Cercle videos venues. They playing in my country was an absolute shock, so I get to the pre inscription link to the tickets and made it to the first ones on the list without expecting much, but amazingly it only was like 80 Euro so I bought it without hesitation. The hype, the 400 kms motorcycle ride from Bogotá to Guatapé, the small beautiful town, the walking up to the top, the sound, the show, the sunset, the insane night rave. It was absolutely perfect. Thanks Cercle. Edit: For those asking, I am the guy who removes his sunglasses at 1:10:02
@patrickobrien1332
AMAZING! I love this story! It looks incredible.
@ricardocaetano9243
Thanks for sharing. It's the first experience i've read by someone attending this amazing events. This one was the first i caught live online on Facebook.
@bobpaquin1
While I was watching this jaw-dropping stunner, I was wondering just these questions... how did those lucky few get there, how much did it costs, did they walk up. Yay for you to experience this!
@lajulalaromers221
paaaa muy sarpado
@FrancisPowlesland
Jealous!!!! ;)
@aboveandbeyond
Thanks for having us, Cercle!
@ayanda1271
De nada!
@Cercle
❤️
@nazmazgani1843
I’ve been checking for this set daily! So happy it’s finally posted!