“COMING UP FOR AIR”
Released: 27th May 2010
Dan Reed… Read Full Bio ↴DAN REED
“COMING UP FOR AIR”
Released: 27th May 2010
Dan Reed was born in Portland, Oregon, but in early childhood moved to South Dakota after his mother remarried the owner of a cattle ranch. Growing up on 2000 acre's of land as an only child gave Dan plenty of time to daydream and it was here, riding tractor in the summer sun that Dan first fantasized about becoming a musician while listening to the Doobie Brothers, Kiss, Cheap Trick and Van Halen blaring on the tractor cabs' AM radio. All through his high school years he played trumpet in the school band, while studying Shoto-Kan Karate, and participating in every sport he could get his hands and feet in to, but it wasn't until a Japanese exchange student named Tsutomu Oki taught him how to play guitar that Dan realized that this was what he was searching for... the world of writing songs. After graduating from Aberdeen, South Dakota's Central High School, he packed his bags and headed west to Portland, Oregon... his place of birth and the closest 'big city' he could find near the ocean, a place he held in his childhood memory and missed dearly living in the Midwest.
Although there were many incarnations of bands Dan performed with in South Dakota and in Portland it was in December of 1985 where he truly first began his musical journey as the founder and lead singer of the band “The Dan Reed Network”. Garnering huge local support the band signed to PolyGram Records in the summer of 1987, home of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Tears For Fears. The Dan Reed Network released three successful albums to much critical and commercial success between 1988 and 1992 and sold nearly 2 million records worldwide.The band had the honor of 'seeing the world', opening for such bands as RUN DMC, UB40, David Bowie and Bon Jovi, eventually becoming the supporting act for the Rolling Stones’ 1991 European tour. It was at this time Dan journeyed to India with Bob Guccione Jr. to interview the Dalai Lama for Spin Magazine. It was during this trip that Mr. Reed began to hunger for more than the pop/rock music scene had to offer.
This hunger was the catalyst for the long journey that Dan has taken. Bringing him back in 2008 where he belongs, writing and performing new music. In the 1990’s he started an independent record company in his hometown of Portland, Oregon to help promote local Northwest bands, while at the same time studying acting. Dan was cast in a number of plays and small role's in television and film projects, and was given rave reviews for his performances, which gave him confidence to take it to the next logical step- screenplay writing. 'Zigzag', a script penned by Reed, caught the eye of a local production company in Portland and was produced in 1997 with Dan playing the leading role. The film reached the Top 20 in Billboard's home video rental category.
In 1999 Dan became a partner in an established blue's and rock music nightclub in Portland called Key Largo. Realizing that the electronic music scene was to date confined to warehouses, special events and outdoor parties, he saw an opportunity to turn Key Largo into a 'hybrid club', having live bands from 9pm to midnight and then switching gears from midnight to 4am with local and international DJ's. Renamed 'OHM Nightclub", the venue became the premier spot to check out cutting edge music, while at the same time introducing the future of music to the hardened rock audience.
After attending the Burning Man festival in late 2004 Dan realized that being pinned down in the nightclub world had it's dangerous side, for not only did he help create a great success with OHM, but he also succumbed to the darker side of the nightclub business. He realized his talent and his energy were being drained from the constant parties, substance abuse and endless late nights. With his father Thomas Reed being diagnosed with cancer and passing away shortly thereafter, Dan rallied his energy and left the Nightclub and headed back to India. Ironically the same place that gave him the incentive to leave the music business 15 years before, was soon to become the inspiration to return to music. Immediately upon arriving in Dharamsala, India in 2005 Dan sought out the Tibetan monks, feeling a need to connect with their philosophy and lifestyle. After befriending two monks Lobsang and Sonam, Dan was invited to live in a monastery guesthouse and with that came the ability to attend the daily prayer meetings and rituals. While washing clothes in the mountain stream one day, Sonam asked Dan to teach him the lyrics to 'We Will Rock You', which Sonam had heard on a tourists CD player one day. Reed then and there was reminded of the power of music and how it crossed all boundaries.
During the year long journey in India, Dan had met many Israeli musicians and artists vacationing throughout the country and became fascinated with the stories of Israeli life, the hope and the tragedies, and after meeting a fashion designer turned energy healer named Adi Hadani, he decided he would venture to the Middle East to see what he could learn about the beauty and the conflict of this most interesting and enigmatic part of the world. Upon visiting Kfir Shtivi in Jerusalem, an Israeli musician Dan met in Varanasi, India, he made the decision to re-locate his recording studio and his life from Portland to the ancient city of Jerusalem in 2005. It was here that he found the renewed spirit to channel his energies to his first love - Music. Reed built a studio and started recording, bridging the cultural and political divide while working with musicians from both Israel and Palestine.
The musical road Mr. Reed had walked away from had become a new path once again. Creating his own label 'ZERO ONE MUSIC', and working along side Toni Medcalf and Derek Shulman, both who played a major role in creating the success for DRN, Reed produced the new CD "Coming up for Air", which mirrors his life journey. With songs composed from Hong Kong to New Delhi, Jerusalem to London, Dan has come full circle to do what he has always done best- create and perform. From November 2008 to November 2009, Reed has performed over 65 solo acoustic shows throughout the US and Europe, and is now set to embark on full band shows in February 2010. Knowing the world faces challenging times, Dan sees the lines between entertainment and activism breaking down. To this end Reed threw himself into President Barack Obama's electoral campaign, performing at fundraising events, the Democratic Convention, and at the Peace Ball Inaugural celebration. Dan is also Vice-Chairman of the Board for the Middle Ease Peace Civic forum, a Washington DC based organization that promotes a two-state solution for Israel/Palestine.
Having come full circle and returned from the long journey more focused than the funk rocker of the last millennium, Dan Reed is back where he belongs, creating music that will entertain, inform and inspire.
For further information contact: Toni Medcalf, TMM, E-mail: TTMManagement@aol.com
(2) Dan Reed (1938-1986) was a native of Colorado, active in music, acting, and politics. His socialist political views caused him trouble in many countries, including the US, but he was popular within the Soviet Bloc, and earned the nickname "The Red Elvis."
Feels Like Home
Dan Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night, readched down from
The stars and turned on the light,
Her voice was too pure to clean
To ignore.I dove into the water
And crossed the distant shore.
You feel like. home to me.
Breathe".
You feel like home to me, the
Killing fields are far away from here.
All of the mountains reaching to
The sky, were only a test to see,
How high I could climb.
And every fear that tried to slow
Me down, were just dead ends
On the wrong side of town.
You feel like. home to me.
You whisper:"take your time and breathe",
You feel like home to me,
The killing fields are far away
From here.
Don't forget about me,
On your way back to the stars.
Released all the demons
Uncovered all my scars.
I'll grow you a garden, the
Dead flowers I will burn,
I'll build you a temple in
My heart, for you sweet return.
Feels like... home to me.
You whisper:"take your time,
And breathe." You feel like home
To me.The killing fields, my dear,
Are far away from here.
You whisper...
The lyrics to Dan Reed's "Feels Like Home" describe the feeling of finding solace in another person, who serves as a haven from the harshness and violence of the world. The singer describes hearing an angel singing, an ethereal voice too pure to ignore, and being inspired to cross the "distant shore" of the unknown. The singer then turns to the person they're addressing, saying that being with them "feels like home." The metaphor of home here is one of comfort, safety, and familiarity - the person being addressed is someone who makes everything feel OK.
The song goes on to describe how the singer has climbed mountains and overcome fears, all of which were only meant to test their resilience. The idea of tests and trials continues to be a motif throughout the song, with the "killing fields" being described as being "far away from here." This phrase serves as a reminder of the violence and chaos that exist outside of the comfort of being at home.
The final stanza has the singer promising to build a garden and temple for the person they're addressing, indicating a willingness to create something beautiful and lasting. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase "you whisper," suggesting that this person's words serve as a guiding force for the singer, and that their relationship is one of mutual support and care.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard an angel singing
Last night, I heard a pure, angelic voice singing.
Last night, reached down from the stars and turned on the light,
The angel's voice was so heavenly it seemed like it came down from the stars and lit up the night.
Her voice too pure to clean to ignore.
The angel's voice was too beautiful to ignore, it was like a force of nature that drew me closer to it.
I dove into the water and crossed the distant shore.
I was so drawn to the angel's voice that I dove into the water and swam across the shore to reach it.
You feel like home to me.
Being with you feels like I'm at home. I feel comfortable, safe, and loved with you.
You whisper: 'take your time and breathe'.
You soothe me with gentle words, reminding me to take my time and be patient with myself.
The killing fields are far away from here.
With you, it feels like all the pain and trauma of the past are far away from us. I feel safe and protected with you.
All of the mountains reaching to the sky were only a test to see, how high I could climb.
The challenges I faced in life were just obstacles to overcome to prove my strength and resilience.
And every fear that tried to slow me down were just dead ends on the wrong side of town.
My fears that held me back were only illusions. They were just distractions leading me away from where I truly belonged.
Don't forget about me, on your way back to the stars.
When you leave me, don't forget about our time together. Remember me and the love we shared.
Released all the demons, uncovered all my scars.
Being with you helped me heal and let go of all the pain and trauma that plagued my past.
I'll grow you a garden, the dead flowers I will burn.
I'll create a beautiful space for you to thrive in, filled with life and beauty. I'll let go of the past and anything that might hold us back from growing together.
I'll build you a temple in my heart, for your sweet return.
I'll cherish the memory of being with you and keep a special place for you in my heart, for when you return.
Writer(s): Dan Edward Reed
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.