The debut album Simplicity was produced by Charlie Francis (REM, Turin Breaks) and released to critical acclaim in the UK in 2001.
Uncut magazine declaring Belasco “have bigger songs and bigger ambitions than the majority of new guitar acts. Watch out Coldplay!”
While Coldplay can still rest easy, Belasco have achieved a huge amount over the past five years. They have sold over 30,000 records across the world. Played gigs across the globe (150 in 2003 alone) including European festivals such as Isle Of Wight (UK), Haldern and Bochum Total (Germany), Alive (Belgium) and Music In My Head (Holland) with the likes of PJ Harvey, Cardigans, Paul Weller, Iggy Pop, Bright Eyes and Patti Smith.
In early 2005 this success culminated in the band signing a singles deal with Vertigo/Mercury (Razorlight, Thirteen Senses) and recorded two singles – “Something Between Us” and “Chloroform”. On its release, Something Between Us again receiving plaudits (the Guardian making it Single Of the Week) and the bands darker than dark video – produced by Nick Walters was playlisted on MTV2 UK. The video is also one of the first music videos added to the I-tunes new video purchase store in the US.
Unfortunately the band had a bad experience with Mercury (one of many small bands shown the darker side of the major labels) and the deal ended acrimoniously in early 2006.
Ironically 2006 has seen the band stepping up to the next level. The band had tracks added to the Hollywood film “Incubus” (starring Tara Reid) and EA Games Fifa Soccer 2007 video game. The bands music also featured several times on huge US show One Tree Hill. The Virgin/EMI compilation album Alternative Ballads II (released in Germany in early 2006) features Belasco’s “Breathe” alongside songs by Blur, Athlete, Radiohead and Nick Cave.
Throughout 2006 the band has also been working on new album “61”.
Taken
Belasco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now my life's in your hands
It's like the sun beating down on us
Sharing what love it has
Taken me over this weight on my shoulders
And I can lock you in
Taken it so you can control
But you can't take the way I dream
They lift us out they follow me
This curse is upon me
Burn the pieces of my soul
And I ask for your forgiveness
You just don't know
Such a lonely place
Taken me over this weight on my shoulders
And I can walk away
You've taken everything that I love
Taken it so you can control
But you can't take the way I dream
They lift us out they follow me
And soul survivor
And our revival
And I can walk away
And my survival
Is our revival
And I don't even know the way
It's taken me over this weight on my shoulders
And now I know my way
You've taken everything that I love
You've taken it so you can control
Well you can't take the way I dream
They lift us up they follow me
You've taken everything that I love
You've taken everything that I love
You've taken everything that I love
You've taken everything that I love
The song Taken by Belasco is a powerful and emotional track that deals with themes of loss, control, and redemption. The opening lines of the song, "I made a mistake, now my life's in your hands," sets the tone for an introspective and confessional narrative. The singer seems to have given up control of his life to someone else and is now at their mercy. The metaphor of the sun beating down on the two of them, sharing the love it has, is a poignant reminder of the relationship they once had, which is now in shambles.
The chorus, "You've taken everything that I love, taken it so you can control, but you can't take the way I dream," is a stark representation of the power struggle between the two. The singer acknowledges that the other person has taken everything from him that he holds dear, but they cannot take his dreams and aspirations. The lines that follow, "They lift us out they follow me," are a hopeful reminder that even in the midst of devastation, there is still potential for growth and change.
The bridge of the song, "And I ask for your forgiveness, you just don't know, such a lonely place," is a desperate plea for the other person to understand the pain and isolation that the singer is experiencing. The song ends with a hopeful recognition that the singer has found a way to move on and take control of his life again, "You've taken everything that I love, you've taken it so you can control, well, you can't take the way I dream, they lift us up, they follow me."
Line by Line Meaning
I made a mistake
I acknowledge that I have wronged you.
Now my life's in your hands
I am vulnerable and dependent on your mercy.
It's like the sun beating down on us
Our love has a radiant intensity similar to the heat of the sun.
Sharing what love it has
Our love is mutually shared within the confines of its limitations.
Taken me over this weight on my shoulders
The burden of my mistakes is overwhelming me and affecting my life.
And I can lock you in
I can trap you with the weight of my guilt.
You've taken everything that I love
You have stripped away all that I hold dear in order to control me.
Taken it so you can control
You have taken my loves as a means to have power and influence over me.
But you can't take the way I dream
My innermost thoughts and aspirations cannot be taken away from me, despite your attempts.
They lift us out they follow me
My dreams have the potential to elevate both of us and make us better.
This curse is upon me
The misfortune and negative consequences of my actions is a burden that only I can bear.
Burn the pieces of my soul
I beg for redemption and offer up parts of myself in order to receive it.
And I ask for your forgiveness
I humbly request that you grant me absolution for my wrongdoing.
You just don't know
You may not have a full understanding of the gravity and regret of my actions.
Such a lonely place
The guilt and isolation I feel as a result of my mistake is overwhelming.
And now I know my way
I have gained clarity of my purpose and my path forward.
And soul survivor
I have persevered through the trial of my mistake and emerged with my soul intact.
And our revival
Our relationship can experience a positive rebirth at the hands of my redemption.
And I can walk away
Despite the mistakes I have made, I still have the freedom to choose my own path.
And my survival
My personal survival and redemption is connected to the state of our relationship.
Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.