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.
Then What
Balthazar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then what?
And if you're keeping this heart from coming completely apart
Then what?
And if the rich are begging for more on the doorsteps of the poor
Then what?
Then what is it I've got?
If someone told you there is no elegant way out of this
Then what?
Girl, and if you're the last thing that's keeping this heart from coming completely apart
Then what?
And if in the warmth and rhythm of your skin I lost everything I could win
Then what?
Then what is it I've got?
I used to think that I used to think I had it all
But that was long before I knew what a girl like you could do
I used to think that I used to think I had it all
But that was long before I knew what girl like you could do
And if the eyes that draw you in don't reveal anything
And if the soul that lay thin upon the sweat on your skin
Retreated deep into your body again
Well, what is it then, what is it then, what is it then?
Then what is it I've got?
I used to think that I used to think I had it all
But that was long before I knew what a girl like you could do
I used to think that I used to think I had it all
But that was long before I knew what girl like you could do
The lyrics of Balthazar's song "Then What" seem to touch upon the subject of uncertainty and the undependability of a lot of things in life. The opening lines "If someone told you there is no elegant way out of this, then what?" seems to allude to the idea that sometimes we are presented with difficult situations that have no easy solution. The next few lines "And if you're keeping this heart from coming completely apart, then what? And if the rich are begging for more on the doorsteps of the poor, then what?" seem to capture the sense of struggle and hardship that can often accompany these situations.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift towards the idea of finding meaning and purpose in life, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. The lines "Then what is it I've got? Girl, and if you're the last thing that's keeping this heart from coming completely apart, then what?" seem to suggest that sometimes the most important thing we have in life is the love and support of those around us. The lyrics "And if in the warmth and rhythm of your skin I lost everything I could win, then what?" seem to capture the sense of vulnerability that can come with opening oneself up to love.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics take on a more introspective tone, with lines like "I used to think that I used to think I had it all, but that was long before I knew what a girl like you could do". The final line "But that was long before I knew what girl like you could do" seems to suggest that the singer has learned a valuable lesson from his experience with love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Then What" seem to capture the sense of uncertainty and vulnerability that can come with love and life in general. The song suggests that despite the hardships we may face, there is still meaning and purpose to be found through love and human connections.
Line by Line Meaning
If someone told you there is no elegant way out of this
Then what?
If someone tells you that there is no smooth way out of a situation, what would you do?
And if you're keeping this heart from coming completely apart
Then what?
If you're preventing my heart from falling apart, what's next?
And if the rich are begging for more on the doorsteps of the poor
Then what?
If wealthy people are demanding more from underprivileged people, what's the next step?
Then what is it I've got?
What is it that I possess in such a situation?
Girl, and if you're the last thing that's keeping this heart from coming completely apart
Then what?
If you're the only thing preventing my heart from breaking, what happens next?
And if in the warmth and rhythm of your skin I lost everything I could win
Then what?
If I lose all that I worked hard for because of your love, what happens next?
I used to think that I used to think I had it all
But that was long before I knew what a girl like you could do
I used to think that I used to think I had it all
But that was long before I knew what girl like you could do
Before meeting someone like you, I used to think that I possessed everything in life.
And if the eyes that draw you in don't reveal anything
And if the soul that lay thin upon the sweat on your skin
Retreated deep into your body again
Well, what is it then, what is it then, what is it then?
If your appearance and body language don't convey any message and your spirit is hidden within, what is it that I'm left with?
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ivan K.
Recently came across Balthazar by chance. First impressions: great music with enough quirky originality to keep one wanting more. One of the best newer bands for ages! So good that I'll shortly buy all 3 of their CDs. Hope they're around for a long time.
Arcadian Pictures
me too
MrWhiteman TV
Buy vinyl bro
Archana Gowda
These lyrics were mind blowing.
Samuel Powell
I saw Warhaus live when they came to London after they released their first album, I found out about them because the singer of my band showed me Balthazar, she's from Belgium, I'm so glad I know them, they should be bigger, especially with tracks like this one!!!!! my friend is a music producer and he has just released his first track im trying to throw him some love, please try searching Lonely Gimmick - BEAT 1 ,you may be in for a surprise, they would love to hear what you think!!!!
goombamakker n
Wat een heerlijke goede band is dit!
Carlos nuñez
gran sorpresa este grupo, cada dia me gusta mas
stephanie Deceuninck
love it 💜
Alex Rock
can't wait to see you guys in Poland! <3 awsome job!
Alejandro Villanueva
LOVING IT!!