1) A rock band from Gainesville, Fl… Read Full Bio ↴There are a few bands named Big Sky:
1) A rock band from Gainesville, Florida
2) A band from Minneapolis.
3) An emo band from Iowa: Here is their bandcamp.
4) A folk rock band from Milwaukee
5) A South African rock band, best known as the opening and supporting act for Rodriguez' 1998 tour of South Africa as depicted in the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary 'Searching For Sugar Man'
1) After twelve years, nearly 50,000 albums sold independently (before Facebook, myspace and itunes), and acquiring a lifetime of stories, the members of Gainesville, Florida based Big Sky played their final full scale national tour in early 2005.
Big Sky’s definitive studio album aptly titled, This Monstrosity, echoed what this humble five-piece rock band endured over the years together. With little gas in the tank, several line-up changes and a nasty split with management, Big Sky wanted to set the record straight. “The only thing we had were the songs we wrote in the middle of that mess. We knew we had something genuine and real,” reflects former front man Mark Gaignard.
With a “who cares, let’s just rock” honesty about it, the 13 song album This Monstrosity was more focused, polished, and the hooks hit much harder than on past recordings. Lyrically, Big Sky took a more heart-felt approach. On the single David Bowie, Mark Gaignard sings sarcastically of what it might be like to be famous, while at the same time, paying homage to some of music’s greats. He spouts off his feelings on the state of music on the alt rocker Cellophane. But it’s Tomorrow, the band’s autobiography, that Gaignard sums it all up for Big Sky. “If tomorrow never comes, could you leave these things behind? If tomorrow never comes, was it just a waste of time?”
Since This Monstrosity was never released digitally, Backspace Records is proud to re-release it along with Big Sky’s back catalog.
Very much still a family, only far apart in distance, the members of Big Sky support each other in their new endeavors and have a bond that few people will ever know. Very much still a family, only far apart in distance, the members of Big Sky support each other in their new endeavors and have a bond that few people will ever know.
Big Sky still continues to get together for select gigs in their strongest markets bringing there always high energy showman ship to its still large and loyal fan following. As for future albums:
Only time will tell…
2) A band from Minneapolis, MN, USA, consisting of Johnna Morrow (vocals, flute, guitar; also main songwriter), Steve Sklar (guitar, vocals, khoomei (throat-singing); also producer/engineer), Randy Davis (bass, vocals; also engineer) and Joe Miller (drums). Their debut - and, so far, only - album "Standing on this Earth" was released in 1998; several songs were also released by the band on the "old" MP3.com. The band is still active today, doing live performances. Their homepage can be found at http://www.bigskyrocks.com/
3) Big Sky is a post-rocky emo post-punk band from Iowa. Here is their bandcamp and facebook.
4) The now-defunct Milwaukee-based folk rock band started by Joe Panzetta and Peter Mulvey. For most of their Milwaukee run the band also included Suzanne Wolfe (Trombone & Vocals), Carl Schultz (Bass & Trumpet) and Dave Janssen (Drums & Percussion.) Prior to Schulz joining the band, they released the eponymous 5 song EP Big Sky in 1991 with Jim Dier of R. Mutt on bass.
5) In '96, Big Sky won the FNB Music Award for “Best South African Rock Act” for the album ‘Horizon’. One of SA rock's most talented and unassuming singer-songwriters, Steve Louw, first hit the spotlight with his mid-‘80s band, All Night Radio. Albums like ‘The Killing Floor’ evoked much interest and laid the foundations for Big Sky, which Steve formed in 1990.
The first Big Sky album, ‘Waiting For The Dawn’, introduced Steve's new, big rock sound and spawned three Top 10 hits. Steve is prolific writer of melodic, hooky and emotional songs. For the second Big Sky album, 1995’s ‘Horizon’, Louw flew to Los Angeles to work with the esteemed producer Shelley Yakus (U2, Tom Petty) and some of LA’s best session musicians. This album set a new standard for SA rock albums and sold over 10,000 copies as well as grabbing the above-mentioned award.
In '97, Big Sky released ‘Going Down with Mr Green’ and once again big sales and radio play followed. Louw was honoured with the support slot on Rodriguez’ triumphant ’98 SA tour. With Willlem Moller (guitar), Russel Taylor (keyboard), Reuben Samuels (drums), Graham Currie (bass) and Tonia Selley (percussion) performing behind him, Big Sky drew nation-wide attention to the solid and stimulating music produced by the band over the decade.
Late in 2002 Steve began to put together a new band for a series of benefit shows at Kirstenbosch. Willem Moller was called back as lead guitarist and Schalk Joubert, ex-member of the Afrikaans rock band Valiant Swart, came in on bass. Peter Cohen, who'd played with 90's bands like Bright Blue and Mango Groove and who currently plays in Freshly Ground, joined on drums and Simon Orange from The Blues Broers came in on piano and organ. It was this band that began to tour South Africa 2003 through 2008, with concerts at many of the national music festivals and live venues.
In January 2012 the documentary 'Searching For Sugar Man' was premiered at The Sundance Film Festival by it's director Malik Bendjelloul, setting off a year-long avalance of awards culminating in the 2013 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
The film depicts the story and music of the man known as Rodriguez, told from the point of view of the South African fans who sought to find out the cold facts regarding the artist that changed their lives, yet remained an enigma.
The documentary concludes with a music event that has since made the band 'Big Sky' a name recognized around the world.
Cellophane
Big Sky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up in space with Major Tom
I wanna be the one and only
I wanna be like...
I wanna be like Elvis Presley
Shakin hands with Nixon
So high but down for the cause
I wanna be the one and only
Well I'll be sittin on top of the world
Kicking back in a limousine
So roll the red carpet watchin young girls scream
Livin my life like the world's wide open
For all those years of just hopin, hopin
That life is just a dream
You gotta deal with the real everyday routine
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Whoever you are
I wanna be like Frank Sinatra baby
Breakin knuckles and singin songs
I wanna be like old blue eyes
But there's only one, only one
Well I'll be sittin on top of the world
On the cover of a magazine
50 most beautiful
You know what I mean
Livin my life like a long vacation
Hear me on the radio station, station
That life is just a dream
You gotta deal with the real everyday routine
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Whoever you are, whoever you are
Look where all the years have gone
Simple lies, same old song
Look where all the years have gone
It's the same old song, yea
I wanna be like David Bowie
I'm up on stage
I've got my pink dress on
Well I'll be sittin on top of the world
On the cover of a magazine
Tabloids cutting me
You know what I mean
Livin my life on the expectations
When I was on the radio
I'm on top of the world
In the limousine
But I will never be free
All y'all lookin at me
Going down town for the court room hearing
Wishing all of this would just disappearing
That life is just a dream
You gotta deal with the real everyday routine
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Whoever you are, whoever you are
Oh Yea, yea
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Whoever you are, whoever you are
Oh Yea, yea yea
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Whoever you are, whoever you are
The lyrics of Big Sky's song Cellophane describe the singer's desire to be like some of the biggest music legends of all time, including David Bowie, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra. The singer wants to live a life of fame and fortune, hoping to be the one and only in the music industry. The chorus of the song talks about sitting on top of the world, living a life of luxury, being on the cover of a magazine, and hearing oneself on the radio station while feeling like a star. However, the verse describes the reality of everyday life and the hard work required to achieve one's dreams. The song encourages the listener to never stop dreaming, as it is possible to achieve fame and be a star regardless of who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be like David Bowie
I aspire to be like David Bowie
Up in space with Major Tom
As David Bowie sang about Major Tom, I too want to experience space
I wanna be the one and only
I seek to be unique, unlike anyone else
I wanna be like...
I have multiple role models and inspirations
I wanna be like Elvis Presley
I aspire to be like Elvis Presley
Shakin hands with Nixon
I want to meet famous people, even Presidents
So high but down for the cause
I am willing to party and enjoy my life, but still care about important issues
Long live the king
A toast to Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll
Well I'll be sittin on top of the world
I will achieve great success
Kicking back in a limousine
I will enjoy the luxuries that come with fame
So roll the red carpet watchin young girls scream
Fans will adore and admire me, especially young girls
Livin my life like the world's wide open
With fame, the world is full of possibilities
For all those years of just hopin, hopin
After years of dreaming and hoping, I will finally achieve success
That life is just a dream
Fame and success may seem like a dream come true, but it comes with its own challenges
You gotta deal with the real everyday routine
With success comes a busy schedule and hard work
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Don't give up on your dreams, you could be the next big thing
Whoever you are
It doesn't matter who you are, you can achieve success
I wanna be like Frank Sinatra baby
Frank Sinatra is another inspiration for me
Breakin knuckles and singin songs
Sinatra was known for his toughness and singing skills, I aspire to have both
I wanna be like old blue eyes
I want to be like Sinatra, known for his blue eyes
But there's only one, only one
Sinatra was one of a kind, impossible to replicate
On the cover of a magazine
My fame will land me on magazine covers
50 most beautiful
I will be recognized for my good looks and charm
Livin my life like a long vacation
Success means I can enjoy my life like it's a never-ending vacation
Hear me on the radio station, station
I will be played on the radio for all to hear
Look where all the years have gone
Reflecting on the passage of time
Simple lies, same old song
Success comes with repetition and sometimes disingenuous behavior
Tabloids cutting me
The media will try to tear me down and expose my flaws
Livin my life on the expectations
With success comes pressure to meet expectations
When I was on the radio
Reminiscing about the past
But I will never be free
Despite success, there are still limitations and expectations
All y'all lookin at me
All eyes are on me
Going down town for the court room hearing
Even with fame, there are legal and personal issues to contend with
Wishing all of this would just disappearing
Sometimes the drawbacks of fame make me wish it would just go away
Oh Yea, yea
Vocalization in the style of the song
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Don't give up on your dreams, you could be the next big thing
Whoever you are, whoever you are
Success can come to anyone, regardless of who they are
Oh Yea, yea yea
Vocalization in the style of the song
Never stop dreamin ‘cause you know might be a star
Don't give up on your dreams, you could be the next big thing
Whoever you are, whoever you are
Success can come to anyone, regardless of who they are
Contributed by Amelia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.