Taking their name from the '80s sitcom, Belvedere began in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1995 as the three-piece of Steve Rawles (guitar/vocals), Brock (bass), and Dan Hrynuik (drums).
As the years progressed along with their revolving lineup, Belvedere remained with their melodic pop-punk sound that looked up to the likes of Bad Religion and NOFX. Eventually recruiting second guitarist Scott Solo, replacement drummer Jay Hollywood, and a replacement bassist Jaison Synclair, the quartet released their debut album, "Because No One Stopped Us", in 1998 through Hourglass and 206 Records. After spending most of 1999 on the road, along with Bad Religion and Strung Out, for a stint -- 206 Records put out Belvedere's follow-up album, "Angels Live in My Town", in early 2000. In 2001, the Montreal imprint Union 2112 released "Twas Hell Said Former Child", Belvedere's proper second album that coincided their first ever European tour. A split release with Downway, "Hometown Advantage", was issued in 2003. When it came time to recovene for another studio album, Belvedere joined producer Blair Calibaba (Sum 41) in Calgary for the recording of "Fast Forward Eats the Tape". Shared dates with Death by Stereo, Tsunami Bomb and Misconduct followed in Spring 2004. The band broke up in late 2005, playing their last show to their hometown Calgary crowd in November.
On November 2011, the band's official Facebook page announced that the band was going to get together again for a couple of shows the next year, wich included two shows in Europe (playing their first show in Paris and appearing again at GroezRock after seven years), then five in Canada, three in Brazil and one again in Canada, in Vancouver, on June 16th. Being at first that their final show, it was later announced that they'll appear in another final event in Guelph, Canada, on September the 1st 2012, with fellow punkrockers The Fullblast, also reuniting for the ocasion, Grade and Moneen.
http://www.myspace.com/belvedere
Happily Never After
Belvedere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With veins we fill with dried cement
We used to thrive, assembled on fertile ground
We sanitized and polarized
We're claiming an enormous prize
From Mother Earth, the theft barely makes a sound
The love for you is not enough
I've seen what communities can do when they're provoked
Because this time, we can't do it on our own
I know this chasm won't keep us apart
And whеn the world collapses, we'll be fine, with no path
An oxygen and carbon bath
Some ideas, that's what's needed right now
We euthanized and covered eyes
No pity to the one who dies
The animals, and you'd think they're lesser beings
You cultivate and dominate
No memos to resuscitate
Unspeakable, the theft always makes a sound
The love for you is not enough
I've been the selfish one
I've seen what communities can do when they're provoked
Because this time, we can't do it on our own
I know this chasm won't keep us apart
And when the world collapses, we'll be fine, with no path
An oxygen and carbon bath
Some ideas, that's what's needed right now
What do you show the ones you're caring for?
That life expects for you to give some more
Than empty words you read on greeting cards
Then disregard?
If love is more than what you say to them
But all you do is drain and overwhelm
Don't disappoint the ones with hopeful eyes
I've realized
The lyrics to Belvedere's song "Happily Never After" speak to the detrimental impact of entitlement and the exploitation of our planet and its inhabitants. The opening lines suggest that human beings have become so self-absorbed that it has resulted in us becoming like dried cement, unyielding and set in our ways. The lines "We used to thrive, assembled on fertile ground / We sanitized and polarized" suggest that our greed and entitlement have caused us to forget our roots and become fixated on material wealth at the expense of social and environmental wellbeing. The reference to the "enormous prize" we are claiming from "Mother Earth" highlights our exploitative relationship with the earth, and the fact that the theft barely makes a sound suggests that we are not being held accountable for our actions.
The chorus repeats the idea that the love we have for each other is not enough to address these issues, and that we need to work together as communities to provoke change. The lines "I know this chasm won't keep us apart / And when the world collapses, we'll be fine, with no path" suggest that despite the enormity of the challenges before us, there is hope that we can overcome these obstacles together. The final lines "Some ideas, that's what's needed right now" imply that creative, innovative thinking is required to move beyond our current fixations and rediscover a more sustainable way of living.
The final verse questions what it means to truly care for those around us, suggesting that our actions speak louder than empty words. The lines "If love is more than what you say to them / But all you do is drain and overwhelm" remind us that love must be accompanied by action if it is to have any real meaning. The final lines "Don't disappoint the ones with hopeful eyes / I've realized" suggest that the singer has come to understand the importance of taking responsibility for our actions, and that it is up to each of us to make a positive difference in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
A detriment, entitlement
We act as a negative influence to the environment and assume we are entitled to use its resources.
With veins we fill with dried cement
We destroy the earth's natural resources and replace them with artificial ones.
We used to thrive, assembled on fertile ground
Humans were once able to live in harmony with nature, but now we have taken advantage of the earth's resources for our own gain.
We sanitized and polarized
We've created a sterile environment and divided ourselves from the natural world.
We're claiming an enormous prize
We are taking more than what we need and not leaving enough for future generations.
From Mother Earth, the theft barely makes a sound
The earth is being taken from without protest, without any sign of rebellion or retribution.
The love for you is not enough
Love alone cannot solve the problem of environmental destruction.
I've been the selfish one
I've realized that my own actions have contributed to the problem and I need to change.
I've seen what communities can do when they're provoked
When people are motivated to change, they can work together to achieve it.
Because this time, we can't do it on our own
We need to collaborate with others to make a meaningful impact on the environment.
I know this chasm won't keep us apart
Despite our differences, we can work together to make a difference.
And when the world collapses, we'll be fine, with no path
We need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and adapt to any changes that may come.
An oxygen and carbon bath
We need to prioritize the natural elements that sustain us.
Some ideas, that's what's needed right now
We need to come up with new, innovative ideas to address the environmental crisis.
We euthanized and covered eyes
We've ignored the damage we've caused and overlooked the suffering of other living beings.
No pity to the one who dies
We've become desensitized to the suffering of others, even when it results in their death.
The animals, and you'd think they're lesser beings
We've become arrogant and believe we are superior to other living things.
You cultivate and dominate
We've taken control of the environment and used it for our own gain.
No memos to resuscitate
We've neglected to take responsibility for our actions.
Unspeakable, the theft always makes a sound
Even if it is not being addressed, the environmental destruction we've caused will always have consequences.
What do you show the ones you're caring for?
We need to show love and respect to the earth as we would to any loved one.
That life expects for you to give some more
It is our responsibility to give back to the earth as much as we take from it.
Than empty words you read on greeting cards
We cannot simply pay lip service to the environmental cause without taking meaningful action.
Then disregard?
We cannot ignore the environmental crisis and hope it will go away on its own.
If love is more than what you say to them
Love requires action, not just words.
But all you do is drain and overwhelm
Our actions have a negative impact on the environment and make the problem worse.
Don't disappoint the ones with hopeful eyes
We need to live up to the expectations of those who look to us for help in addressing the environmental crisis.
I've realized
I have come to the realization that I need to take action to make a difference.
Contributed by Mila R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.