Gare du Nord kicked off early 2001 when producers Doc (Lancee, Ferdi) & Inca (Fransen, Barend) were asked by a French promotor to deliver the soundtrack for a fashion & lifestyle event in Brussels labeled Excellence. Instead of going just for moody sounds and lounge atmospheres the twosome decided to go beyond synths and beats and composed a songcycle to express their contemporary interpretation of traditional delta blues. Excellence became Excellounge, excellounge became lounge and that kept Western Europe busy for quite a while. The debut album (in search of) Excellounge featured the hit single Pablo’s Blues, dominated by the dobro rif of Lancee and the voice of legend Robert Johnson. The album was released worldwide with special editions in Canada, Australia and Russia and was certified gold. Follow up Kind Of Cool was built around the title track, a grooving jazzy blues track in the Miles Davis mode. That track and another key track of the album, Sold My Soul, found its way to American tv series and movies. The album was certified gold upon re-release in 2009. After a Russian Tour in the slipstream of the second album the third Gare du Nord album, Club Gare du Nord, hit the streets by the end of 2005. Featuring trumpeter Erik Truffaz the album captured the now typical non-traditional sound scape structure that became the Gare du Nord sound. Although the album was released to high critical acclaim and generated a hit single (the Steely Dan-tribute Go Back, Jack) sales were only modest. Nevertheless, Club is a precious pearl in the catalogue not in the least because of its key track We Still Grow that would become a highlight of the live shows in later years.
2006-2010
In the fall of 2006 Fransen & Lancee wrote a song for a US- biopic in the making based upon the life and times of Soul legend Marvin Gaye. The song, Marvin & Miles, was sung by singer Dorona Alberti. The Marvin link triggered the two and a second song, You’re My Medicine, was written for the movie. Medicine featured the original Marvin Gaye vocal track from the classic track Sexual Healing, recorded in 1982 in Belgium. A third song, Somethin’ In My Mouth, again with Alberti, was written by means of a soundtrack to the bestselling book Stout by Heleen van Royen and Marlies Dekkers. Dekkers, then already a famous Dutch lingerie designer was asked to design the iconic cover for the new Gare du Nord-album, to be titled Sex ‘n’ Jazz. The album also featured the song Ride On, sung by British singer Paul Carrack.
Sex ‘n Jazz was a smash; the Top Ten-album spent a stunning 100 weeks in the Dutch album charts and was certified multi platinum. New York based jazz label offered Gare du Nord a record deal for a new album and for two mix albums. The 2009 album Love For Lunch was certified platinum and both the mix albums, Jazz In The City (2007) and Let’s Have A Ball
(2010) mixing Blue Note tracks from the likes of Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill and Bobby Hutcherson were certified gold. A round up of the first ten years of Gare du Nord was presented on the compilation album Greatest Hits, released by the end of 2010.
The year 2011 marks a new perspective. A more intimate, direct approach of producing and songs that cross borders in the direction of white soul, ska and even a little touch of country. The lyrics of the new songs reflect the great feelings and little mysteries of (Dorona Alberti’s) pregnancy as a metaphor for new life. Lilywhite Soul is a new episode in the ever changing moods of Gare du Nord.
Call It Quits
Gare du Nord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Means losing what you've got
You better think it over
Cause you're losing quit a lot
Hey baby, won't you settle down for me?
Well you believe in what you see
But seeing is believing.
If it's all the same to you
Hey baby, stop your fooling round for me.
I wanna know.
Won't you tell me?
I'm tired of these pieces and bits
I wanna know.
Now tell me.
Before it hurts where it is.
Before real.
Or let's call it quits.
Listen
Making it with me
Means giving up on her, yeah
No more double dealing, no more digin' in the dirt
No baby,
Don't you mess with me no more!
I wanna know.
Won't you tell me?
I'm tired of these pieces and bits
I need to know.
Please tell me.
Before it hurts where it is.
Ohhh, I need to know
Please.
I'm tired of these pieces and bits
I need to know.
Please tell me.
Before it hurts where it is.
Before real.
Or let's call it quits.
Before real.
Or let's call it quits.
The lyrics of Gare Du Nord's song Call It Quits are laced with themes of love, betrayal, and uncertainty. The song talks about a relationship that is not in a good place, where both parties have to make a decision on what direction to take. If one individual is getting what they desire, it means the other must give up something they already have. Consequently, there would be a significant loss of something that is already present. Hence, the line "If getting what you want means losing what you've got, you better think it over."
The song's protagonist is imploring their partner to consider his/her decision carefully and decide what they want. The plea to settle down implies that the singer is not satisfied with the current state of the relationship and desires a more meaningful commitment. The song's chorus repeatedly emphasizes the desire for clarity, with the words "I wanna know, won't you tell me?" The singer is tired of being on the receiving end of bits and pieces of information, and the uncertainty of the current relationship inevitably hurts.
In conclusion, The song Call It Quits by Gare Du Nord is an emotional tune that deals with the complexities of a broken relationship, the agony of betrayal, and the yearning for clarity. It is a call to action, urging the other party to make a decision on the future of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If getting what you want
If acquiring what you desire
Means losing what you've got
Results in giving up what you already possess
You better think it over
It is wise for you to carefully consider your options
Cause you're losing quit a lot
Because you stand to lose a significant amount
Hey baby, won't you settle down for me?
Dear, could you please commit to me?
Well you believe in what you see
You hold strong conviction in your observations
And I do believe you do
And I trust that you do
But seeing is believing.
However, visual confirmation is not always accurate
If it's all the same to you
If it has no significant difference to you
Hey baby, stop your fooling round for me.
Dear, please refrain from playing games with me
I wanna know.
I desire to learn the truth
Won't you tell me?
Could you please inform me?
I'm tired of these pieces and bits
I am weary of vague information
Now tell me.
Please provide me with an answer
Before it hurts where it is.
Before it causes emotional harm in its current form
Listen
Pay attention
Making it with me
Being in a relationship with me
Means giving up on her, yeah
Requires abandoning your other romantic interests
No more double dealing, no more digin' in the dirt
No more deceitful actions, no more hiding secrets
No baby, Don't you mess with me no more!
Do not continue to deceive me
I need to know.
I must find out
Please tell me.
Kindly share with me
Before it hurts where it is.
Before it causes emotional pain in its current state
Ohhh, I need to know Please.
Oh, I am desperate to know
Before real.
Before the situation becomes too serious
Or let's call it quits.
Otherwise, we should put an end to our relationship
Before real.
Before the situation becomes too serious
Or let's call it quits.
Otherwise, we should put an end to our relationship
Contributed by Isaac L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.