Bertie first stepped onto the scene with ‘Headway’ (2004), her folk-inspired debut album. The single ‘Favourite Jeans’ became Bertie’s radio breakthrough and saw her dubbed “Australia’s underground queen”. On her second album, ‘Black’ (2006) Bertie returned armed with an electric guitar delivering a sexier, gritty rock sound. Bertie continued to develop her sound on ‘Secrets and Lies’ (2009) blending electronic influences with her signature vocal style and brutally honest lyrics in a modern exploration of pop music with the assistance of Sydney based UK producer Lee Groves (Goldfrapp, Gwen Stefani) and Francois Tetaz (Gotye, Architecture in Helsinki.)
The album Secrets and Lies was released on May 8, 2009 on Forum 5 Recordings and was presented as a Triple J Feature album. The album’s first single 'heart' was released in March 2009 and added to high rotation on Triple J and across the board on commercial radio network Nova. Altogether 'heart' was the 4th most added song on Australian radio in its premiere week of release. In April 2009 ‘heart’ was also one of the Australia’s most downloaded iTunes Singles of the Week of all-time. The album’s second offering ‘Thump’ was met with instant rotation on MTV Video Hits, Rage and Channel V who nominated Bertie for [V] Oz Artist of 2009. Hot off the heels of a 15-date sold out Australian tour Bertie released her intoxicating third single ‘Byrds of Prey’ and embarked on Parklife 2009, and extensive summer festival dates including Falls Festival, Sunset Sounds and Southbound.
In November Bertie entered a new international chapter in her young career, travelling to the UK for a promo tour sparking radio play on BBC 1, BBC 2 and XFM ahead of the UK release of Secrets and Lies. Upon her return Bertie was awarded the ultimate in Australian music industry accolades: an AIR Award for BREATHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF 2009 and an ARIA Award for BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE 2009.
In February 2010 Bertie returns to the UK for a string of showcase dates in London including a headline performance at Club NME. March 2010 sees Bertie returned to Australian soil for national dates as the main support act for La Roux’s Australian tour and the release of her new single Peek-A-Boo a cover of Siouxsie and The Banshees 1988 classic.
Islands
Bertie Blackman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are slim to none
'Cause silence is what silence does
Warrants protection
If you could dance just like an ocean
I think you'd find a groove to my beat
'Cause my heart is pumping electricity
In a slow procession
One day we could meet
In an old fashioned way
With a letter on my feet
Darling I would be saved
So is the written word tainted emotion
'Cause I've been riding with these books
And fantasies that I've chosen
I've burnt this night so blue with stories
And I've tried to make it all seem so right
So draw me in a picture
Of what you think soft should be
And I won't take it lightly
One day we should meet
In an onld fashioned way
With a letter on my feet
Darling I would be saved
And darling I would be saved
The moon has been weaving me a sweater
Winding in it's woollen face
Colour has drowned us together
So hold me to the lamp light
And to the sky
'Cause I've been blowing 'round the clockwork
Of the naked human eye
And I've come for something different
Something fresh and young and free
Come and save me superstition come undone
To save, would you save
Darling when will you come
When will you come and save me?
The song "Islands" by Bertie Blackman conveys a message of longing and a desire for connection. The opening lines describe the singer's feeling of being isolated and unsure of their ability to reach out to others. They acknowledge the power of silence and the need for protection, suggesting that they have been hurt before. However, they long for connection and comparison themselves to an ocean - vast and flowing, full of life and energy. The singer hopes that someone else can "dance" to their rhythm and connect with them on a deeper level.
The second verse delves further into the singer's struggle with communication. They question whether the written word - which they have been relying on through books and fantasies - can ever truly convey emotion. Despite this, the singer still longs for a more traditional form of communication - a handwritten letter. They seek a tangible connection, something they can hold in their hands and cherish.
The final verse brings a different kind of imagery to the forefront. The moon, a symbol of emotions and the unknown, is "weaving" the singer a "sweater". They are wrapped up in the colors and imagery of the world around them, seeking comfort in the physicality of their surroundings. They seek to be held tight and protected from the darkness that surrounds them. Ultimately, the singer is asking for someone to come and "save" them - to be the one they can connect with, to bring light to their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Chances I can make it here real fast
It's unlikely that I will be successful quickly
Are slim to none
The probability of success is very low
'Cause silence is what silence does
Being quiet only results in silence
Warrants protection
It requires safety or security
If you could dance just like an ocean
If you could move with the same fluidity and grace as the sea
I think you'd find a groove to my beat
I believe you would be able to adapt to my rhythm
'Cause my heart is pumping electricity
I feel alive and energized
In a slow procession
But it's happening gradually
So is the written word tainted emotion
Are feelings expressed through writing not genuine?
'Cause I've been riding with these books
I've been living in a world of literature
And fantasies that I've chosen
And the imaginative scenarios I've selected
I've burnt this night so blue with stories
I've spent a restless night immersed in stories
And I've tried to make it all seem so right
And I've attempted to rationalize and legitimize it
So draw me in a picture
Paint an image for me
Of what you think soft should be
Of your idea of tenderness
And I won't take it lightly
And I'll take it seriously
One day we should meet
Someday, we ought to encounter each other
In an old fashioned way
In a classic, traditional method
With a letter on my feet
With a message physically delivered to me
Darling I would be saved
My heart would be rescued if you did so
The moon has been weaving me a sweater
I feel like the moon is creating a garment for me
Winding in it's woollen face
Intricately processing the woolen fibers
Colour has drowned us together
Vibrant hues are uniting us
So hold me to the lamp light
Guide me towards the light
And to the sky
And towards the heavens
'Cause I've been blowing 'round the clockwork
Because I'm wandering around aimlessly
Of the naked human eye
The observable aspects of humanity
And I've come for something different
I'm seeking something out of the ordinary
Something fresh and young and free
Something that feels new and unbounded
Come and save me superstition come undone
Help me break free from irrational beliefs and find salvation
To save, would you save
Do you have the willingness to rescue me?
Darling when will you come
My love, when will you arrive and save me?
Contributed by Eli S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Lloydz77
You are just so good Bertie, and your art achieved its purpose. Come back!!!!
@KMU6716
We need more new Bertie!!!!
@astrovisionary
love that Bertie's still making music. Really liked her from back on her first album 'Headway'. Always writes catchy tunes.
@jamesfoleti1773
Such a simple and stylish video to accompany the track, couldn't ask for anything more.
@waynecunningham2327
I love this song, I can't wait for the album...
@ScottyFJC
Underated song of the decade !!!
@WhatsUpImJesss
I love this song!
@fabbemaybe3608
i ruv itttttt
@paintedbird
Great video, great song. Really excited for this new album!
@22tnt
OMG!!!
BRILLIANT!!!