Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).
Showdown
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About a love that was sure to end.
Every dream in her heart was gone,
Headin' for a showdown.
Bad dreamer, what's your name?
Looks like we're ridin' on the same train.
Looks as though there'll be more pain.
There's gonna be a showdown,
It's raining all over the world.
Tonight, the longest night,
She came to me like a friend;
She blew in on a southern wind.
Now my heart is turned to stone again.
There's gonna be a showdown.
Save me, oh save me.
It's unreal, the suffering.
There's gonna be a showdown,
And it's rainin' all over the world;
It's raining all over the world.
Tonight, the longest night.
The lyrics of Asia's song Showdown depict a woman who is heartbroken and devastated after a love that she believed was meant to last had reached its end. She is pouring out her emotions to the southern wind, crying and lamenting the loss of every dream she had in her heart. The woman is certain that a showdown is imminent, and she is resigned to the fact that there will be more pain to come. As the rain pours down on the world, she is bracing herself for what is to come.
The lyrics are powerful, emotional and raw, and paint a vivid picture of the intense emotions that come with heartbreak. The song portrays the agony that the singer is going through, and the inevitability of a showdown, as if it is just a matter of time before it happens.
The song speaks to the human experience of love, loss, and the inevitable pain that sometimes comes with it, while also recognizing the beauty of the emotions that come with loving someone deeply. It is a moving tribute to the powerful, transformative, and sometimes painful nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
She cried to the southern wind,
She expressed her sorrows to the whispering southern wind
About a love that was sure to end.
She spoke of a love that was certain to perish
Every dream in her heart was gone,
Her heart's aspirations were extinguished
Headin' for a showdown.
A confrontation was inevitable
Bad dreamer, what's your name?
Addressing an imprudent dreamer with an inquiry of identity
Looks like we're ridin' on the same train.
It appears we are on the same perilous journey
Looks as though there'll be more pain.
It seems that there is more agony to come
There's gonna be a showdown,
An inevitable confrontation will occur
And it's rainin' all over the world;
Rain is descending globally
It's raining all over the world.
Rain is tumultuously falling universally
Tonight, the longest night,
This evening is the lengthiest night
She came to me like a friend;
She approached me like an intimate companion
She blew in on a southern wind.
She arrived by means of a southerly breeze
Now my heart is turned to stone again.
My heart has reverted back to an impervious state
There's gonna be a showdown.
A face-off is guaranteed
Save me, oh save me.
Rescue me, oh rescue me
It's unreal, the suffering.
The torment is surreal
There's gonna be a showdown,
An impending battle is on the horizon
And it's rainin' all over the world;
The downpour is global
It's raining all over the world.
The rain is falling ubiquitously
Tonight, the longest night.
This evening is the lengthiest night
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeff Lynne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jay Elric
Great channel. I have always been a big fan of Asia and always thought the John Payne era never got the credit it deserved - only he could have filled the space and turn things around after Howe, Palmer and Wetton left the band. Nice work with your videos too,
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
Thanks I'm glad you enjoy my channel along with the videos. I too believe that the Asia albums with John Payne are extremely underrated and deserve far more recognition for the masterpieces that they are. You are absolutely right in saying that only John Payne could have kept Asia alive during the time of John Wetton not being part of the band. No other singer could have done what he did. His music was and is phenomenal.