He learned the tricks of the trade working with the group Swinging Soul Machine, and became the youngest lead singer that the group had ever known in its twenty-five years of existence. CB also worked as a session musician for famous artists such as Madeline Bell and The Trammps. Through the bass player of The Trammps, CB Milton came into contact with the successful Belgian production duo Phil Wilde and Peter Bauwens. After seeing a performance, the spiritual father of 2 Unlimited, Jean-Paul De Coster, fell for CB Milton's talent. The rest is history.
Their first period of work together resulted in the release of a debut single Send Me An Angel, which has made people everywhere sit up this year. This number was in the charts for many weeks, amid rapidly rising international interest which culminated in a worldwide release. One interesting detail : during promotional performances on radio and television, CB Milton has consistently surprised friends and enemies alike by insisting on singing live, even though programme directors have often advised him against doing so.
The nine follow-up-singles (amongst them If You Leave Me Now, It's A Loving Thing and A Real Love) and two albums proved CB's talents. Most of them charted in his home-territory the Benelux and many of them became European airplay-hits
He now is a highly-respected natural talent, and takes to stage performances like a fish to water. CB had now sold over 500.000 records. It's A Loving Thing was covered by the Italian project Paul Barry.
In 1998 CB Milton completed his third album From Here To There and currently achieved massive airplay on all these tracks in his home territory the Benelux. Get Into My Life, What About Me, and his latest release Carry On gave CB Milton the chance to project himself as a pop artist where in the past he was considered as a dance artist.
The last and fourth single from CB Milton's most recent album From Here To There was released in Belgium on February 15th 1999.
2001 : CB Milton released a new single in The Netherlands. It's a collaboration with the dutch trance-DJ Mark van Dale : a Discohousetrack uing the vocals of CB Milton. The title is Something Going On under the name of Mark van Dale ft. CB Milton.
2002 : CB Milton released a new single called Friendly Morning Sky.
2007 : he took part to the multicultural project 08001 based Barcelona under its own name Clarence Bekker. On their album Voragine, he sung on the track Jungle, a combination of rock and world music.
2008 : he did vocals on Tikaro's single Shine On Me. He also contributed to a collective cover of Stand By Me by the Playing For Change foundation under the name Clarence Bekker.
He is part of Playing for Change...a movement to use music to change the world.
As of November 2019, he has been performing and recording in Barcelona.
Redemption Song
CB Milton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sold I to the merchant ship
Minutes after they took it
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the arms of the almighty
We forward in this generation
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom
It's all I ever had
Redemption song
Redemption song
Emancipate yourself from
Mental slavery
None but ourself can free our mind
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time
How long must they kill our profits
While we stand aside and look
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
The lyrics to "Redemption Song" by CB Milton speak on the theme of redemption and freedom from oppression. The song uses the imagery of pirates who have robbed and sold the singer to a merchant ship from a bottomless pit. Despite this, the singer sings confidently of the strength given to him by the Almighty, pushing forward in this generation while singing songs of freedom. The chorus of the song continues with the theme of redemption and self-liberation, urging listeners to emancipate themselves from mental slavery and take control of their own minds. The song speaks on broader societal issues as well, calling out the killing of profits and the need to fulfill a greater book or purpose.
These lyrics can be interpreted as a call to action for oppressed people to rise up against their oppressors and fight for their freedom. The pirate imagery can be seen as a symbol for the greed and corruption of those in power who seek to subjugate the masses. The mention of the Almighty is a nod to the power of faith and hope in overcoming adversity. The reference to mental slavery speaks on the power of the mind and the importance of breaking free from dominant social narratives that hold people back.
Line by Line Meaning
Old pirates yes they rob I
Referring to the cruel colonial past where pirates robbed and sold innocent people as slaves
Sold I to the merchant ship
Indicating the deep-rooted systemic problem of trading humans as commodities
Minutes after they took it
The slavers acted on greed and devoid of any compassion
From the bottomless pit
Shows that the slavers saw the enslaved as inferior and worthless beings who were meant to be thrown away
But my hand was made strong
A statement of resilience and strength despite being oppressed and abused
By the arms of the almighty
The belief that faith and divine intervention can provide comfort and power to oppressed people
We forward in this generation
Pledging to continue the fight for freedom and justice in current times
And triumphantly
With the determination to emerge victorious in the struggle for liberation
Won't you help me sing
Requesting for solidarity in the fight for freedom and equality for all people
These songs of freedom
Music as a powerful tool to inspire and motivate people in their fight for liberation
It's all I ever had
The importance of hope and freedom as essential qualities in life
Redemption song
The song personifies the idea of freedom, hope, and liberation
Emancipate yourself from
Urging people to liberate themselves mentally from the chains of oppression and discrimination
Mental slavery
Being trapped in a mindset that accepts oppression and doesn't question it
None but ourself can free our mind
The realization that people must take action themselves to dismantle systems of oppression
Have no fear for atomic energy
Urging people not to be afraid of powerful entities and instead focus on empowerment and liberation
Cause none of them can stop the time
The belief that time is on the side of justice and change will eventually come
How long must they kill our profits
A rhetorical question on why there is continued systemic oppression towards marginalized communities
While we stand aside and look
Pointing out the harmful consequences of being passive and not taking action to create change
Some say it's just a part of it
Critiquing the normalization of oppression and refusal to acknowledge the deep-rooted issues that exist
We've got to fulfill the book
Reaffirming the commitment to fighting for justice and equality as mandated by history and morality
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Superguinplen
I didn't expect such a nice remake...like it! and it's good that eurodance artist from 90's CB milton who has really strong voice is back
@simonanders5676
Great remix of an amazing vocal eurodance.
@rudyvanbreda3229
Eén van de beste nummers aller tijden. Echt geweldig.
@gedeon2305
oh, i only discover it now, very good, i prefer the original music but this is excellent and what a great voice.
@ricardosoares5000
Legal a montagem 🎧🎧👍
@theodorverhaegh6417
fabulous mix. can't get enough 90ties. Great!!!
@Albedo900
PURE ADRENALINE ... REMEMBER THE GREAT TIMES ^_^
@KiberGnida
Good new start for a reborn a old song from the dust - Love it ...
@rmeretired
CIRO! One of my favorites.
@HPro1971
Very Good Version!!!