Born in 1970 and raised in Kitchener, Ontario , he began his professional career playing with the Rhinos before beginning a solo career. In the late 1990s, he moved to Ottawa, where he developed a loyal following with a weekly show at the Manx Pub on Elgin St. In his live shows, he often uses looped live samples of his guitar and other instruments to create a richly layered solo performance. While at the Manx he often entertained with cover versions of songs by some of his favourite artists, including David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and the Rheostatics. At the same time, he began to amass an extensive repertoire of original tunes, and briefly joined local power-pop band Starling.
As a songwriter, he has released six albums, including an album devoted to covers David Bowie songs. His albums have often been recorded in a home-studio with him performing most, if not all, instruments. He is a talented guitarist who is universally lauded for his lyrics, having been compared to Elvis Costello and received accolades from renowned Canadian author Timothy Findley.
In 2004, Danny was nominated for Best New Artist at the Juno Awards following the release of his album "Tales from the Invisible Man" the previous year. The award went to Michael Bublé.
Clear
Danny Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm not even scared
Up 'til now I've been faking
And up 'til now I didn't care
But everything has changed
When the bandits left they left us nothing
There wasn't even water in the pipes
I never even put up a fight
When I'm feeling strong, like I could make the grade
My heart goes off playing games
It fills me with fear until I look into your tears
Everything becomes clear
I see your lights on the horizon
I hear your engine in the wind
Have you come to take me riding
To places I have never been
Like El Paso way
And now you putter in the kitchen
The cat sleeps in puddles of sun
I count my stars and quit my bitchin'
'Cause I know we've just begun
The lyrics in Danny Michel’s song ‘Clear’ are haunting, touching upon themes of fear, uncertainty, disappointment, and hope. The opening lines reveal the singer’s state of mind – they would usually be scared in their current situation, but they are not. The singer confesses to ‘faking’ so far, but this has changed – there is a shift in how they perceive and deal with things. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a difficult situation, which is evident in the lines, ‘When the bandits left, they left us nothing/There wasn't even water in the pipes.’ The singer is bitter and disappointed with their lot – they trusted someone (or something), and it backfired on them. However, the lyrics take a hopeful turn, with the singer acknowledging that, even in the darkest of days, there is that glimmer of hope that keeps them going, and this hope comes from within – ‘When I'm feeling strong, like I could make the grade/My heart goes off playing games/It fills me with fear until I look into your tears/Everything becomes clear.’
The next stanza brings in imagery of somebody coming to take the singer on a ride – ‘I see your lights on the horizon/I hear your engine in the wind/Have you come to take me riding/To places I have never been/Like El Paso way.’ This could either be a metaphorical ride, a journey towards an unknown destination, or a literal ride, indicating somebody coming to rescue them. Either way, the imagery shows hope and a willingness to move ahead. The final stanza has a comforting tone, with the singer taking stock of the present and recognizing that, despite everything, they are grateful for what they have – ‘And now you putter in the kitchen/The cat sleeps in puddles of sun/I count my stars and quit my bitchin'/’Cause I know we've just begun.’
Line by Line Meaning
Normally right now I'd be shaking
Under normal circumstances, at this moment, I would be trembling with fear
But I'm not even scared
However, surprisingly, I am not afraid
Up 'til now I've been faking
Until recently, I have been pretending to be someone I am not
And up 'til now I didn't care
And I did not give much thought about the situation
But everything has changed
But now there has been a significant shift in circumstances
When the bandits left they left us nothing
The robbers took everything from us when they departed
There wasn't even water in the pipes
There was not enough water supply given by the pipes
Is that what I get for being so trusting
Do I deserve this for being too naive?
I never even put up a fight
I didn't even try to defend our belongings
When I'm feeling strong, like I could make the grade
During some times when I am confident and competent
My heart goes off playing games
My emotions become unpredictable
It fills me with fear until I look into your tears
It scares me until I see you crying
Everything becomes clear
I suddenly understand everything better
I see your lights on the horizon
I notice your bright lights coming from far away
I hear your engine in the wind
I perceive your motor roaring in the gusty air
Have you come to take me riding
Are you here to take me on an adventure?
To places I have never been
To unknown or unexperienced locations
Like El Paso way
Example of an exotic place of adventure
And now you putter in the kitchen
Now you are busying yourself with domestic activities in the kitchen
The cat sleeps in puddles of sun
The cat naps in the warmth of the sunlight
'Cause I know we've just begun
Because I am aware that this is only the start of our journey
Contributed by Eliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.