After starting Balthazar as teenagers, the lineup of Maarten Devoldere (lead vocals/guitar/keyboards), Jinte Deprez (guitar/vocals), and Patricia Vanneste (violin/keyboards/vocals) won a national youth talent competition in 2005 with the song "Lost and Found." They included the track on their self-titled debut EP, released in 2006. By then, they had begun touring with additional members Joachim Quartier (bass) and Koen Verfaillie (drums). In early 2007, the rhythm section was replaced by Simon Casier and Christophe Claeys. The following year, the band played their first shows outside of Belgium, visiting nearby countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and in 2009, they did a club tour of South Africa before returning to the studio.
Their first full-length record, Applause, arrived in March 2010 and spent a week at number 13 on Belgium's album chart. They followed it up with appearances at European summer festivals such as Pukkelpop and Rock Werchter as well as tours in support of the Joy Formidable and dEUS. With mixing by Noah Georgeson (the Strokes, Joanna Newsom), the band's second studio LP, Rats, was released by Play It Again Sam in 2012. It topped the album chart in Belgium, also charting in France and the Netherlands. Featuring the line-up of Devoldere, Deprez, Vanneste, Casier, and drummer Michiel Balcaen, their third long-player, 2015's Thin Walls, was their first with an outside producer, Ben Hillier (Depeche Mode, Blur). It reached the number two spot in their home country and the Top 20 in the Netherlands.
After 14 years in the group, Vanneste parted ways with Balthazar in April 2018. The rest of the members returned with their PIAS-issued fourth album Fever in early 2019. The title track became their first single to chart in Belgium when it debuted at number 47. This was succeeded by 2021 LP Sand: preoccupied with themes of restlessness and waiting, the group's fifth album featured a cover designed by sculptor Margriet Van Breevort.
Biography by Marcy Donelson
2. Balthazar is a Black Metal band from New Zealand of the industrious Mort. They cite association with Exiled From Light, Schizophrenia, Funereal, Beyond Light, Serpenthrone, Nystagmus, Einsamkeit, When Mine Eyes Blacken and Winds Of Sorrow.
Fifteen Floors
Balthazar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A brownstone where riders meet
Waiting so indiscrete
(For) my sugar to feel her teeth
I guess all she is
My mistress interpretation
Sick of your tricks
To get your kicks of my frustration
Your penguin suit is very cute
But I swear I can't remember
(A) Dispute with a nude prostitute who smells like ember
Fire truck always pretending
motherfucking Disney endings
Fire truck always pretending
motherfucking Disney endings
And I don't know, I don't know
If you're the one who told me so
And I don't know the words by heart
But it sure made sense ever since that we took part
She said birth control, caffeine
Sick of daily routine
Birth control, in between
Dancing with Billy Jean
Run to hell by midnight hour
Swim the styx and take a shower
Get your hair done by the sword
Swallower on the fifteenth floor
Tell your mother that you love her
Kiss her like you kiss no other
And I don't know, I don't know
If you're the one who told me so
And I don't know the words by heart
But it sure made sense ever since that we took part
Now all the hard faces have come with tears that are all from laughter
It won't take long before they get what they're after
It won't take long before they get
All the hard faces have come with tears that are all from laughter
It won't take long before they get what they're after
It won't take long before they get
The song Fifteen Floors by Balthazar tells a story of waiting for something that may or may not come, paired with a sense of frustration and ambiguity. The singer seems to be waiting for his lover, referred to as "sugar," on easy street in a brownstone. The use of the word "mistress" suggests a sense of secrecy or forbidden love. The lyrics also include references to drug use ("caffeine") and birth control, possibly highlighting a sense of rebellion or recklessness. The line "tell your mother that you love her, kiss her like you kiss no other" suggests a sense of finality or goodbye.
The lyric "your penguin suit is very cute" may be a reference to formal attire, but paired with the line "a dispute with a nude prostitute who smells like ember," creates a juxtaposition of high and low, and a sense of confusion. The line "fire truck always pretending, motherfucking Disney endings" could be interpreted as frustration with fake or forced optimism.
The chorus "and I don't know, I don't know, if you're the one who told me so" highlights a sense of uncertainty or confusion. The lyric "all the hard faces have come with tears that are all from laughter" suggests a sense of fake emotions or insincerity.
Overall, the lyrics of Fifteen Floors create a sense of ambiguity, rebellion, and a desire for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting on easy street
I am waiting for things to be easy, uncomplicated, and comfortable in my life.
A brownstone where riders meet
I am hoping to find a brownstone building where people like me gather or where my lover is waiting for me.
Waiting so indiscrete
I am waiting eagerly, without trying to hide it or be secretive about it.
(For) my sugar to feel her teeth
I want my lover to experience and enjoy the sensual pleasures we share together.
I guess all she is
My lover is simply my interpretation of what a mistress is supposed to be for me.
My mistress interpretation
I have a specific idea of what a mistress is supposed to do for me and my relationship, but it may not be realistic or fair to her.
Sick of your tricks
I am tired and frustrated with my lover's behavior and the things she does to manipulate or control me.
To get your kicks of my frustration
My lover seems to enjoy provoking and upsetting me for her own pleasure or amusement, which only makes me more upset.
Your penguin suit is very cute
I find your formal attire and polished appearance attractive or charming.
But I swear I can't remember
Despite the pleasant impression you make on me, I cannot recall a specific instance or interaction that stands out in my memory.
(A) Dispute with a nude prostitute who smells like ember
I may have had an argument or disagreement with a sex worker who was not wearing clothes and gave off a smoky or burnt odor.
Fire truck always pretending
I am frustrated with people or organizations that pretend to be helpful or supportive, but do not actually provide the assistance I need.
Motherfucking Disney endings
I am cynical and disillusioned with the idealized, happy endings that popular media often portrays, as they do not reflect the messy and complicated reality of life.
She said birth control, caffeine
My lover and I discussed using contraception and caffeine to avoid pregnancy and stay alert or energized during our sexual encounters.
Sick of daily routine
I am tired of the monotonous and predictable aspects of my life that make me feel trapped or stagnant.
Birth control, in between
We use birth control to prevent pregnancy, but it is also a source of tension or compromise between us.
Dancing with Billy Jean
We dance together to the song "Billy Jean" by Michael Jackson, which may represent our youthful or carefree side.
Run to hell by midnight hour
I feel like I am rushing towards chaos, destruction, or punishment by staying up late or engaging in reckless behavior.
Swim the styx and take a shower
I am fantasizing about crossing the river Styx, a symbol of death, and cleansing myself afterwards, which could represent a desire for transformation or rebirth.
Get your hair done by the sword
I am willing to undergo physical pain or danger in order to improve my appearance or impress others.
Swallower on the fifteenth floor
I have sexual fantasies that involve performing or receiving oral sex in a high-rise building, specifically on the fifteenth floor.
Tell your mother that you love her
I want to express my affection and appreciation for my mother, possibly because she is an important figure in my life or because I fear losing her.
Kiss her like you kiss no other
When I show my love to my mother, I want to be very affectionate and intimate with her, as if she were my romantic partner.
Now all the hard faces have come with tears that are all from laughter
People who act tough or unsympathetic are showing a vulnerable side of themselves and expressing joy or amusement in unexpected ways.
It won't take long before they get what they're after
Those who are pursuing their goals or desires will soon achieve them, regardless of any obstacles or challenges they face.
Contributed by Tristan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.