In 2000, brothers Bradd Shapiro and Steve Shapiro performed with high school friends Mike Ferrara and Corey Melton. The band soon added Greg Hejja as a bassist, and began performing under the name Berman in 2001. After playing local gigs a few times a month in South Florida venues the group began taking their music a little more seriously. In 2002, the band began recording tracks for their debut full-length album. It was during this time that singer Corey Melton donned the fictitious name Guy Jettman. As practice and live performance became more important, the band found it necessary to part with rhythm guitarist Ferrara.
In Fall, 2002, Greg and Bradd moved to Orlando in order to attend the University of Central Florida. Although the distance made practice more difficult, they continued to play shows, and finish the album. For The Better was released in January, 2003. The band held a CD release party at the Culture Room. After playing Orlando's Hard Rock Live on August 9, 2003, the band parted with lead singer Corey Melton, and went on an extensive search to find a replacement singer. Greg and Bradd moved back to Hollywood, where Steve was finishing up high school. Brad moved back to Orlando in January 2004.
While the band was on hiatus, they added Greg's brother, Mike Hejja, as an additional guitarist and background vocalist. After graduating Valedictorian of his class, Steve joined his brother, Bradd at The University of Central Florida. After a very frustrating search, the band put hard feelings aside and reunited with singer, Guy Jettman/Corey Melton in August 2004.
Sessions for Berman's second full-length release began as early as 2002 and continued through the band's hiatus. After the singer's return the band finished up the tracks, again at Shapiro's home studio, and released Life In The Stars in December, 2004. The band hosted a CD release party at Bradd and Steve's house near the UCF campus.
The band promoted the album heavily on Podcasts around the world, which boosted online sales, and created much anticipation for the follow-up release. In 2005, the band began recording demos for their third release. As shows increased, and a new album underway, Greg and Jettman moved to Orlando to make practice and songwriting easier. The band hired vocal coach Mark Goff to work with Jettman in an effort to increase his voice's longevity. The album was recorded in January and February, 2006, and later debuted their new recorded material on Jason Evangelho's Insomnia Radio Podcast. Berman officially released their third album, Send Me To The End, on April 14, 2006, at a CD release party at Backbooth in Orlando.
On June 10, 2006, Berman hired local group Flying Dog Films to shoot their first professional music video. The song chosen was the title track of their new album. The video was shot at Summit Church in Orlando, since the building was formerly a movie theater undergoing remodeling. Recent conflicts and frustrations all came to a head under the stress of the 14-hour video shoot. And for the second and final time, the band split up with their singer. The four remaining members employed various singers in order to fulfill their performance obligations. The band played their last performance on September 24, 2006 in Lake Mary, Florida.
Guitarist Bradd Shapiro and bassist Gregg Hejja performed as the chief songwriters of the band. Steve, who recorded most of the bands material, often acted as the arranger. Mike Hejja wrote most of his own guitar parts, which made him an attractive addition to the band in 2004.
In 2007, Greg signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and began to promote Greg Hejja Music.
This Life
Berman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As all my tears got in the way,
My feelings paralyzed me,
But then I learned to walk away
The Son has left these scars,
From forty days of wandering,
The little picture on my mirror,
The folded paper in my pocket is what I can't let go of,
But I was never made, to live this life I can't call my own
The man behind the mask,
Is sellin' second chances in a pill,
I have to choose between a savior, or a midnight miracle
In Berman's song "This Life", the artist sings about the struggles of dealing with the pain of past experiences while trying to move on and find a sense of purpose in life. The opening lines describe the overwhelming feeling of sadness as the colors fade to gray and tears blur the vision. The singer is paralyzed by their emotions but eventually learns to walk away from the source of their pain. The song references biblical imagery with the mention of scars left by the Son after wandering for forty days. The singer is reminded of home by the picture on their mirror and the folded paper in their pocket which they cannot let go of. Despite this comfort, the singer feels they were never meant to live this kind of life.
The second verse introduces the concept of second chances, specifically in the form of pills. The singer is faced with a choice between a savior or a "midnight miracle". The man behind the mask is likely a metaphor for the pharmaceutical industry, which is often criticized for promoting quick-fix solutions to deeper issues. The lyrics suggest that true healing comes from a spiritual or emotional connection rather than a physical remedy.
Overall, "This Life" is a reflective piece that explores themes of pain, healing, and identity. The lyrics are open to interpretation and may resonate with listeners who have experienced struggles of their own.
Line by Line Meaning
I watched the colors fade to gray,
Despite my surroundings that used to be vivid and bright, everything began to become dull and lackluster...
As all my tears got in the way,
...because my emotions were so overwhelming and intense that they impaired my vision and judgment.
My feelings paralyzed me,
...to the point where I was unable to take any action or make any decisions due to being emotionally frozen.
But then I learned to walk away
However, I eventually found a way to confront my emotions and leave behind the things that were causing me pain and sorrow.
The Son has left these scars,
Referencing the biblical story of Jesus enduring suffering for others' salvation, the scars could represent the trials and hardships of life, and how these challenges can leave scars on a person's mind and soul.
From forty days of wandering,
...such as enduring lengthy periods of hardship and uncertainty, but ultimately persevering through them.
The little picture on my mirror,
A nostalgic reminder of a past event, such as a photograph or a token of a memory.
Is calling me back home,
...that is stirring up emotions and a longing to return to an earlier, happier time.
The folded paper in my pocket is what I can't let go of,
Refers to clinging on to something that may be harmful or painful but still holds sentimental or emotional value, such as a love letter, a memento, or a keepsake.
But I was never made, to live this life I can't call my own
...even though I may be struggling with hardships or feeling lost, I am not meant to live a life that doesn't feel genuine or fulfilling to me.
The man behind the mask,
Possibly referring to a person or institution that puts on a facade or pretense to hide their true motives or identity.
Is sellin' second chances in a pill,
The idea of someone peddling a solution or quick fix to deep-seated problems, such as addiction or mental health issues, through medication or other means.
I have to choose between a savior, or a midnight miracle
The decision to either seek help and salvation through a legitimate, trustworthy source or to pursue a temporary and potentially dangerous fix in desperate circumstances.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MOACIR SANTOS, YANNA COTTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind