Blue Hawaii, Arbutus Records and many of their Montreal counter-parts all began with the same breath in early 2010. Their debut album Blooming Summer (2010) was recorded following the pair’s travels in Central America. It frames a time of warmth and novelty, featuring dense female harmonies, tape saturated synths, guitars and drum machines. Eventually Ra (Raphaelle Standell-Preston) returned to her role in Braids, touring constantly, while Agor (Alexander Cowan) moved to Europe, treading deeper into dance music, electronics, and production.
The two decided to make Untogether in 2012; they began recording on New Years Day in Vancouver and intermittently worked on the project until summer broke in Montreal. The music followed their winter in Canada, it became colder, more introspective. It again captured a time and place, but instead of a dense saturation of love and excitement, this record reflects the vast world of self-awareness and delicacy. It takes for its subject the question of belonging, despite overwhelming space.
Musically, the production on the album is more spacious and physically it was recorded in separation. Despite this, it belongs together in its final form. It demonstrates successful creative process in a pair who composed apart, and in doing so it is a meditation on communication: how technology and art influence modern human relationships. It contains the vast space of two years passing, including watching their Montreal scene change as some launched into international success and others turned deeper inwards. Here, the album finds the conflict of separation/belonging to one’s self and community.
The duo notice that throughout the changing social and personal landscape which is one’s twenties, these divided notions and people somehow stay together. Even the name Blue Hawaii suggests a kind of melancholic, jaded paradise, but a paradise after all. It is because – or perhaps in spite of – these disjointed intersections that the record is called Untogether.
No One Like You
Blue Hawaii Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love
Say that you want to feel
Say that you want me near to you
Say that we will grow up
Together, and not apart
To surround me with the sunshine that follows you
We've been here so many times
Walked all the mountains (walked all the mountains)
Dipped in the streams (dipped in the streams)
And sometimes I've floated along
Sometimes I've drowned
And it's so scary, I can't forget
I'll always need someone like you
To surround me with the sunshine that follows you
What if I only remember the good times?
Would I be lying to myself?
What if I denied that you ever hurt me?
Would I be true to myself?
Is that what you want from me?
Is that what you want from me?
There's never been no one like you
There's never been no one like you
There's never been no one like you
There's never been no one like you
There's never been (there's never been)
No one like you (no one like you, like you)
There's never been (there's never been)
No one like you (no one like you)
There's never been (there's never been)
No one like you (no one like you, like you)
There's never been (there's never been)
No one like you (no one like you, like you)
There's never been (there's never been)
No one like you (no one like you, like you)
There's never been (there's never been)
No one like you (no one like you, like you)
(There's never been no one like you, like you)
(Like you)
In the song "No One Like You" by Blue Hawaii, the lyrics express the longing for a deep and meaningful connection with someone special. The repetitive line "Someone like you" reflects the desire for a person who understands and appreciates the singer's emotions and wants to be close to them.
The lyrics convey the hope of a lasting relationship where both individuals can grow and evolve together. The singer wants to be with this person in a way that they won't drift apart, emphasizing the importance of staying connected and committed. The line "Say that you want me near to you" highlights the desire for emotional closeness and the need for constant presence.
The mention of walking mountains and dipping in streams metaphorically represents the journey of the relationship. It suggests that they have encountered challenging times but also enjoyed moments of bliss and joy. The mention of both floating and drowning signifies the uncertainty and fear that come with being vulnerable and deeply invested in a relationship.
The lyrics also explore the conflict between remembering only the good times and denying the pain caused by the other person. This internal struggle reflects the complexity of relationships and the difficulty of balancing the desire for truth while protecting oneself from emotional harm.
The repetitive refrain "There's never been no one like you" reinforces the singer's belief that this person is unique and irreplaceable. It emphasizes that the connection they share is incomparable to anything experienced before, highlighting the depth of their feelings towards this individual. The repetitions and the variations in the refrain reinforce the intensity and significance of this sentiment.
Overall, "No One Like You" captures the longing for a special connection, the complexities of relationships, and the deep emotional impact someone can have on an individual's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Love
The essence of the song is about love and the desire for a special person in one's life.
Say that you want to feel
Expressing the need for emotional connection and intimacy with the person.
Say that you want me near to you
Expressing the desire for physical closeness and proximity to the person.
Say that we will grow up
Expressing the desire for a long-lasting relationship that matures and develops over time.
Together, and not apart
Emphasizing the importance of staying together and not allowing distance or separation.
I'll always need someone like you
Acknowledging the constant need for someone similar, who brings positivity and happiness.
To surround me with the sunshine that follows you
Describing how being with the person brings warmth and brightness to one's life.
We've been here so many times
Reflecting on past experiences and encounters with the person.
Walked all the mountains (walked all the mountains)
Metaphorically expressing the journey taken together, overcoming challenges and obstacles.
Dipped in the streams (dipped in the streams)
Symbolizing the moments of joy and happiness experienced together.
And sometimes I've floated along
Describing the moments of bliss and contentment felt in the relationship.
Sometimes I've drowned
Acknowledging the instances where the relationship became overwhelming or difficult.
And it's so scary, I can't forget
Expressing the lingering fear or anxiety associated with the challenges faced in the relationship.
What if I only remember the good times?
Pondering the possibility of selectively remembering only the positive aspects of the relationship.
Would I be lying to myself?
Questioning whether consciously choosing to focus on the positives disregards the reality of the relationship.
What if I denied that you ever hurt me?
Contemplating the idea of denying past emotional pain caused by the person.
Would I be true to myself?
Reflecting on the authenticity of pretending the hurt doesn't exist for personal inner honesty.
Is that what you want from me?
Questioning the expectations or desires of the person regarding emotional honesty and vulnerability.
There's never been no one like you
Expressing the uniqueness and irreplaceability of the person in the singer's life.
No one like you (no one like you, like you)
Reiterating the absence of anyone comparable to the person and emphasizing their special qualities.
(There's never been no one like you, like you)
Further emphasizing the unparalleled nature of the person in the artist's life.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Alexander W. Cowan, Kenton Nix, Raphaelle Standell Preston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind