“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."
Sing To Me
Dan Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You keep me cool and you keep me warm.Its all I ever need.
You shake it loose when the times are tight,.you give colour to all this
black and white.Its all I ever need.
So I await your next arrival,
while I struggle for survival,
I hear the the song you used to play.
Won´t you sing to me, about al the light.
how love will roll the dice.
We were rough and played our games.
We were young and qaute insane we all
that ever mattered, all our enemies
got scattered, and the God of Elijah,
told me, just might surpirize ya.
We be walkin in sunshine.
Crawl back into the dark.
Won´t you sing to me, about all the
life you see how love will
roll the dice, how love will sacrifice.
Won´t you set me free, won´t you long to beall the light, sing to me .
While the ocean of Purity, keeps overlooking me, i need the song you used to play, won´t you sing to me, about all
the light you see, sing to me, wont you
set me free, won´t you long to,
sing to me.
The lyrics to Dan Reed's song "Sing to Me" express the singer's gratitude to someone who has been a source of calm and comfort in his life, someone who has helped him navigate the storms and hardships that he has faced. This person has the ability to shake him loose when times are tight and bring color to a world that can often seem black and white. The singer eagerly awaits this person's next arrival, recognizing that their presence can help him survive the challenges he faces.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of love and how it can both roll the dice and require sacrifice. The singer remembers a time of youth and recklessness, when he and his friends played games and indulged in their passions. However, he recognizes that all of that pales in comparison to the power of love and the way that it can scatter enemies and bring light to even the darkest of times.
Overall, the message of the song is one of gratitude and longing for the transformative power of love. The singer recognizes that life can be challenging and difficult, but he also knows that there are people and experiences that can bring color and light to even the bleakest of moments.
Line by Line Meaning
You keep me calm in a raging storm.
You have the power to keep me composed and provide stability in a chaotic situation.
You keep me cool and you keep me warm. Its all I ever need.
You balance my emotions, providing me with a sense of comfort and security. I don't require anything else.
You shake it loose when the times are tight, you give colour to all this black and white. Its all I ever need.
In difficult moments, you help me release stress and tension. You bring vibrancy and excitement to my life. I don't need anything else.
So I await your next arrival, while I struggle for survival, I hear the song you used to play. Won´t you sing to me, about all the light.
As I face challenges, I eagerly await your next visit. Amidst the struggle, your memory comforts me, and I yearn for you to remind me of the good times and all the positivity.
You see how love will sacrifice, how love will roll the dice.
Having experienced love, you understand that it involves taking risks and making sacrifices.
We were rough and played our games. We were young and quite insane, we all that ever mattered, all our enemies got scattered, and the God of Elijah, told me, just might surprise ya.
When we were young, we were reckless and played around, only focusing on ourselves. But we managed to defeat our opposition and accomplish what mattered most to us. I had a vision that something great might happen.
We be walkin' in sunshine. Crawl back into the dark.
There are times when we enjoy life and everything is going well. But there are also moments when we become deeply upset and fall back into despair.
Won´t you sing to me, about all the life, you see how love will roll the dice, how love will sacrifice.
Please share with me your insights on life and how love requires taking chances and giving up something in return.
Won´t you set me free, won´t you long to be all the light, sing to me.
Can you release me from any burdens that may be holding me back? Can you embody the positivity and shine your light on me?
While the ocean of Purity, keeps overlooking me, I need the song you used to play, won´t you sing to me, about all the light you see.
I feel like I'm being disregarded by purity and am in desperate need of your comforting presence. Please remind me of all the good and bring light to my life once again.
Won´t you set me free, won´t you long to, sing to me.
Can you help me escape from anything that may be holding me down? Can you bless me with your beautiful music once more?
Writer(s): Dan Edward Reed
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.