1) a Br… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists by the name of David Gray, including:
1) a British singer-songwriter
2) an Italian disco musician
3) an American singer-songwriter
4) drummer for the British blackened death metal band Akercocke
5) a musician from South Africa
6) a British classical hornist
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1) David Gray is a British singer-songwriter born on June 13, 1968 in Sale, United Kingdom. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later in 1999.
Gray moved to Wales at age 9 and later returned to the north-west of England to attend the University of Liverpool. His musical career got early support from a dedicated Irish fan base. After a few marginally-successful releases through the 1990s, Gray's breakthrough came with the worldwide release in 1999 of his fourth album, White Ladder; this was a critical and commercial success and included his best-known songs, "This Years Love" and "Babylon". In the United States, the album received a boost from jam-band leader Dave Matthews, who made it the first release by the record company he co-founded, ATO Records.
On August 11, 2001 White Ladder at last reached the top of the UK charts, having been selling steadily since its reissue the previous May, thereby setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted climb to No. 1. The follow-up, A New Day At Midnight, also hit No. 1, and Gray's seventh album, Life in Slow Motion was released on September 12, 2005.
Gray's early music was in a contemporary folk-rock, singer-songwriter mode; his primary instrument was acoustic guitar, with occasional piano. 1996's Sell Sell Sell featured some rock arrangements and electric instrumentation. Starting with the release of White Ladder in 1999, Gray began to make significant use of computer-generated music to accompany his voice and acoustic instrumentation, a technique which differentiates him from many of his peers. Despite the move to more complex music, Gray has used small-scale, often home-based, recording methods and equipment and espoused a "do it yourself" approach to music production. However, Life in Slow Motion is a collaboration with noted producer Marius De Vries.
David Gray's brothers-in-law are Paul and Phillip Hartnoll, formerly of the Techno/Rave band Orbital. Because of this relationship, Gray performed guest vocals on the Orbital single Illuminate, while Paul Hartnoll produced a breakbeat remix of Gray's song "Please Forgive Me".
His successful single "January Rain" was included in the original soundtrack of the movie Serendipity, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
Pictures and additional information can be found on his website, www.DavidGray.com.
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2) David Gray was an Italian disco musician who had a hit with "Dead in the Water"
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3) David Gray is an American singer-songwriter
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4) David Gray is drummer for the British blackened death metal band Akercocke
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5) David Gray is a musician from South Africa
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6) British classical hornist, originally from London, England, UK, residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Studied at the Curtis Institute Of Music. Former Principal Horn with The London Symphony Orchestra (1964-1972). Member of The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.
What Are You?
David Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once you sang your own song
Now you're dancing to the same drum
What have you become?
And what is that you're wearing?
Money's ugly confidence
You sacrificed the poem of your imagination
Me, I take the cynic's role
Throw scorn on your empty mind
I've seen this monotonous world
Make dull what used to shine
You lost interest, you lost your spine
Oh, that spine, fine, fine
When there' nothing left
On this plate you're handed
You find yourself running the gauntlet
Of all of these double standards
It's very thin ice over which you're skating
And after this black winter, the thaw
So what are you?
Tell me, tell me what are you
And what have you become
The lyrics of What Are You by David Gray reflect a sense of disappointment and disillusionment towards someone who has lost their sense of individuality and artistic expression. The singer questions the person's identity by asking "what are you becoming?" and "what have you become?" It is evident that the person used to be creative and unique, singing their own song, but now they have given into conformity and are "dancing to the same drum". The use of the phrase "Money's ugly confidence" highlights the idea that the person has given up their poetic imagination for the sake of material gain.
The singer's perspective is one of cynicism towards the person's mind which he considers empty. He has seen the monotony of the world make dull what used to shine, and he believes the person he is addressing has lost interest and their spine in being an artist. The line "When there's nothing left on this plate you're handed" conveys the helplessness and void that the person feels in a society that demands conformity.
The song ends with the singer still questioning the person's identity, wondering what they have become. This song shows a critical outlook towards the societal norms that stifle creativity and encourages people to maintain their own unique identity.
Line by Line Meaning
What are you becoming? What have you become?
I am curious about what you are transforming into, and how different you are from who you were before.
Once you sang your own song
You used to have your own unique voice and ideas.
Now you're dancing to the same drum
Nowadays, you follow the same trends as everyone else.
What have you become?
I am wondering how you have changed and developed over time.
And what is that you're wearing?
I am interested in knowing about the clothes you are wearing at the moment.
Money's ugly confidence
The possession of money has given you an unappealing sense of self-assurance.
You sacrificed the poem of your imagination
For these pounds and pence
You traded your creative and imaginative side for the sake of making money.
Me, I take the cynic's role
I am usually skeptical and distrustful of people and their motives.
Throw scorn on your empty mind
I criticize and mock your mind for being devoid of original thoughts or ideas.
I've seen this monotonous world
Make dull what used to shine
I have observed how our mundane world can dim and lessen the lustre of things that were once brilliant.
You lost interest, you lost your spine
Oh, that spine, fine, fine
You have lost passion and the courage to stand up for yourself or what you believe in.
When there' nothing left
On this plate you're handed
When you've exhausted all your options.
You find yourself running the gauntlet
Of all of these double standards
You encounter double-dealing, discriminatory, and unfair schemes.
It's very thin ice over which you're skating
And after this black winter, the thaw
You are skating on a precarious footing, and you should be wary, but there's still hope for recovery after the difficult times pass.
So what are you?
Tell me, tell me what are you
And what have you become
I am asking you to reveal your current identity and how it has changed or evolved over time.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Gray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind