“Boring DJs be very afraid: Gareth Emery is about to kick your arse”. So said Mixmag, when in 2002, they took the bold step of predicting that a virtually unknown 22 year-old would rise to become a major dance music star. However, six years later, it’s likely that even their expectations have been well surpassed. His current tour diary reads like the departure board at London’s Heathrow Airport. Desert island raves in Indonesia and snow-drenched mountains in Vancouver sit alongside major global events like San Francisco’s iconic Love Fest and Holland’s 30,000 strong Trance Energy. The likes of Asian superclub Zouk and Bondi Beach in Sydney complete the picture: in short, you’ll find Gareth at a mouth-watering, hand-picked selection of the planet’s coolest clubs and events, including UK super brands like Ministry of Sound and Gatecrasher.
When not on tour, he’s kept rakishly busy in his Cambridgeshire studio as one of the scene’s most in-demand producers and remixes. If you’re not familiar with anthems like ‘More Than Anything’, ‘Formentera What’ or his seminal classic ‘Mistral’, you’re probably a little out of touch with the modern dance scene, but suffice to say that Tiesto, Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten and Judge Jules are all big fans, and Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren liked his work so much that they both commissioned him to work on their respective labels (Vandit / Armind). However, the majority of his music is still released on his Five AM imprint, (described by DJ Mag as ‘the most consistent trance label in the world’), where he’s a co-owner and A&R. Whatever the label, one thing that’s clear is that Gareth Emery stamps his hallmark of quality on a record, people listen.
Always ahead of the game, Gareth was the one of the first leading DJs to embrace podcasting when he started his fortnightly radio show The Gareth Emery Podcast in early 2006. The show become an overnight success, immediately becoming an essential download for savvy dance music fans, and its widely imitated format has since helped to explode the popularity of dance music podcasts. It was also nominated for a Miami WMC IDMA Award for ‘Best Podcast’ along with Roger Sanchez and Pete Tong in 2007.
Although he always ranked well in the annual DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, he became cynical about the amount of advertising and self-promotion that DJs put into it, and in 2013 asked fans not to vote for him.
Gareth haș worked with a number of collaborators and vocalists, including his sister Roxanne Emery.
I Could Be Stronger
Gareth Emery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was trying to be better for you
It kept my head above the water
From drowning in a river of blues
I am burning out on empathy
I am finding it hard to believe
That everything I got to do
I could be better i could be stronger
But only for you sooner or later
I will be someone but only for you
She slowly does it throws everything away
Put out the fire go easy on my pain
I am hopelessly lonely
I have been burning out for days
I am slowly learning i have loved you
In every way
I know I promised better things
I never though you were leave
I understand that time is on our side
And I hope you can breathe
I could be better i could be stronger
But only for you sooner or later
I will be someone but only for you
She slowly does it throws everything away
Put out the fire go easy on my pain
I am hopelessly lonely
I have been burning out for days
I am slowly learning i have loved you
In every way
I could be better i could be stronger
But only for you
The lyrics of Gareth Emery's song "I Could Be Stronger" delve into the complexities of a relationship and the struggle to improve oneself for the sake of the other person involved. The singer acknowledges their past attitude and behavior, recognizing that they were trying to become a better person for their partner. This effort allowed them to keep their head above the metaphorical water, preventing them from drowning in sadness.
However, despite their attempts at self-improvement, the singer feels a sense of burnout and difficulty in maintaining their empathy. They find it hard to believe that everything they do leads them back to their partner, constantly revolving around them. The repeated line of "I could be better, I could be stronger, but only for you" reflects the dependency and desire to change for the sake of the relationship.
The chorus suggests that the singer's partner has been slowly distancing themselves, gradually letting go of everything they once had and dampening the pain the singer feels. The singer admits to being hopelessly lonely, burning out emotionally, and gradually realizing the extent of their love for their partner.
Overall, the lyrics depict a complicated emotional journey, with the singer struggling to fulfill their partner's expectations while grappling with their own limitations and yearning for love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I had an attitude
I acknowledge that I had a negative mindset
I was trying to be better for you
I made an effort to improve myself for your sake
It kept my head above the water
It prevented me from feeling overwhelmed
From drowning in a river of blues
From being consumed by sadness
I am burning out on empathy
I am exhausted from constantly putting myself in others' shoes
I am finding it hard to believe
I struggle to trust or have faith
That everything I got to do
That all my actions and responsibilities
I am always running back to you
I constantly find myself coming back to you
I could be better i could be stronger
I have the potential to improve and become stronger
But only for you sooner or later
However, it's only for you, whether now or eventually
I will be someone but only for you
I will become a better version of myself, but solely for your sake
She slowly does it throws everything away
She gradually discards everything
Put out the fire go easy on my pain
Please extinguish the flames and be gentle with my suffering
I am hopelessly lonely
I feel desperate and deeply alone
I have been burning out for days
I have been exhausting myself emotionally for an extended period
I am slowly learning i have loved you
I am gradually realizing that I have loved you
In every way
Completely and wholeheartedly
I know I promised better things
I am aware that I made commitments for a brighter future
I never though you were leave
I never expected you to depart from my life
I understand that time is on our side
I comprehend that we have time on our side
And I hope you can breathe
And I desire that you can find peace and calm
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9
Written by: GARETH THOMAS RHYS EMERY, COREY SANDERS, SEBASTIAN MONTE STERNBERG, PEDRO VITO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David
Lyrics : ♥
I know i had an attitude
i was trying to be better for you
it kept my head above the water from drowning above a river of blues
i am burning out on empathy
i am finding it hard to believe
that everything i got to do i'm always running back to you
i could be better
i could be stronger
but only for you
sooner or later
i will be someone
but only for you
she slowly does it throws everything away
put out the fire go easy on my pain
i am hopellessely lonely
i ve been burning out for days
i slowly learning i have loved you in every way
i know i promised better things
i never really thought you would leave
i understand that time is on our side
and i hope you can breathe
i could be better
i could be stronger
but only for you
sooner or later
i will be someone
but only for you
she slowly does it throws everything away
put out the fire go easy on my pain
i am hopellessely lonely
i ve been burning out for days
i slowly learning i have loved you in every way
Johnny Tsalavoutas
I know I had an attitude
I was trying to be better for you
It kept my head above the water
From drowning in a river of blues
I know I promised better things
I never really thought I would leave
I understand that time is on our side
And I hope you can breathe
I am hopelessly lonely
I have been burning out for days
I am slowly learning
I've been loving you in every way../ #heart_issues
Locdogs GG
All these years later I wake up with this song stuck in my head 🤷♂️
Just an amazing song
Thx for songs like these gareth ❤️
Shane Swift
I am an addict, music is my drug, and Gareth Emery is my dealer.
This was a particularly strong dose, I cant eat, I cant sleep, there is only this track.
Mouh Mouh
me to
smackedinthejaw
sniffs and twitches
"Yeah, can you get me another hit of 'I could be stronger'? I feel like I'm going cold turkey."
Magnus Pettersson
love this comment! I feel the same and wish we could be addicts together <3
Kaisi the Nerd
I am playing this at my wedding, heard it on your podcast, and i t got me in the feels. amazing music.
Josh D
Did you get married yet?
Stephen Lee Calgary
Gareth, Gareth....or Mr. Emery.
Please may i request one thing from you? Never, Ever stop making music the way you do. It has helped me conquer negative emotions, bad times, and have truly helped me become a stronger person, in every sense. Thank you for sharing your talent and being unselfish in doing so. It is appreciated.
#inspiringUplifting
#stephen_lee10
plexx365
Absolutely incredible song!! The melody is haunting and beautiful; the vocals and lyrics even better! STUNNING SONG!!!
Benjy Puttarugsa
The first time I listened to this song, first thing that popped up in my head was "wow... it's so beautiful.". With this melody and this lyrics together, this song got me deeply in love with it. ♥