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.
Fantastic place
Danny Michel Lyrics
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Have you ever seen a sky look more clear?
Big stretched Cadillac, hottub, destination Timbuktu
Hey...I dig your smile
If you don't mind I might stay awhile
Full moon, skinny dip, share a tent, acoustic, campfire blues
And I said, ooo..., what a fantastic place to be
Hey...mumble bee
Mumbles a little tune in the key of Z
Raccoon, garbage cans, grizzly, pterodactyl eggs, and coyotes too
Hey...the sun on your breast
A metal detectin' old man searches for the treasure chest
Beach ball, trampoline, no zinc, the seagull burglar comes with flies
I built a castle out of blankets and chairs and hope you'd move in with me
And I said, ooo..., what a fantastic place it would be
Hey...don't, don't cry
The clumsy giraffe stands up and bumps his head on the sky
Let's not think about no diesel, iron factories and no neon lights
I was fishin' in the fountain of youth I caught a Spanish doubloon
And I said, ooo..., what a fantastic place this could be
While I was dangling from the chandalier I though, ooo..., it all looks so big from up here
And I said, ooo..., what a fantastic place
Ooo... what a fantastic place to be
The song "Fantastic Place" by Danny Michel is a whimsical and dreamy composition that describes a wondrous and magical world that the artist contemplates. The song opens with the singer encouraging the listener to "look up" and observe the clarity of the sky. This is followed by a fantasy of escaping with an unidentified companion on a stretched Cadillac road trip, eventually reaching Timbuktu. The singer then proceeds to describe a series of surreal scenes, including falling asleep on a hot air balloon and awakening on the moon, building a castle of blankets and chairs, and fishing in the fountain of youth, among many other imaginative scenarios.
The lyrics of "Fantastic Place" are highly reminiscent of the absurdist and surrealist genres of literature and art. The artist's use of imagery and vivid descriptions invoke a sense of wonder and a desire to escape reality. The notion of finding happiness in obscure places adds to the feeling of disillusionment with contemporary society. The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the monotony of modern-day living and a yearning for escapism.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey...look up here
The singer draws attention to a beautiful sky above.
Have you ever seen a sky look more clear?
The singer admires the clarity of the sky and asks if it's been noticed before.
Big stretched Cadillac, hottub, destination Timbuktu
The singer lists luxurious items and a faraway location that may seem appealing.
Hey...I dig your smile
The singer compliments someone on their smile.
If you don't mind I might stay awhile
The singer asks if they can stick around for a bit.
Full moon, skinny dip, share a tent, acoustic, campfire blues
The singer lists romantic or intimate activities that two people can share together in nature.
I fell asleep in a hot air balloon and I woke up on the moon
The singer mentions a surreal experience where they ended up on the moon while sleeping in a hot air balloon.
And I said, ooo..., what a fantastic place to be
The singer expresses awe and wonder at their surroundings.
Hey...mumble bee
The singer addresses a bumble bee.
Mumbles a little tune in the key of Z
The bumble bee makes unintelligible sounds that are compared to a musical key.
Raccoon, garbage cans, grizzly, pterodactyl eggs, and coyotes too
The singer mentions various animals and objects that can be found in the wild.
Hey...the sun on your breast
The singer compliments someone on their body.
A metal detectin' old man searches for the treasure chest
An old man searches for treasure using a metal detector.
Beach ball, trampoline, no zinc, the seagull burglar comes with flies
The singer lists beach-related objects and mentions a seagull thief.
I built a castle out of blankets and chairs and hope you'd move in with me
The singer created a cozy setting using common household items and expresses a desire for someone to share it with them.
Hey...don't, don't cry
The singer tells someone not to cry.
The clumsy giraffe stands up and bumps his head on the sky
A giraffe, known for its height, hits its head on the sky, emphasizing the vastness of the scene.
Let's not think about no diesel, iron factories and no neon lights
The singer urges the listener to forget about industrialization and urbanization.
I was fishin' in the fountain of youth I caught a Spanish doubloon
The singer describes catching a valuable coin while fishing in a mythical fountain that grants eternal youth.
And I said, ooo..., what a fantastic place this could be
The singer continues to express wonder and awe at the possibilities of their surroundings.
While I was dangling from the chandalier I though, ooo..., it all looks so big from up here
The singer mentions an elevated perspective and how it changes their view of everything around them.
Ooo... what a fantastic place
The singer repeats the chorus and continues to express amazement at their surroundings.
Ooo... what a fantastic place to be
The singer reiterates their sense of awe and appreciation for wherever they are.
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.