Despite not winning the competition, he was soon signed up with Simon Cowell's record label BMG, alongside the Pop Idol winner, Will Young. (Cowell had been one of the Pop Idol judges, and had been notorious for his harsh criticisms of many of the contestants.) His first single, a cover of Unchained Melody, entered the UK Top 40 at number one, knocking Will Young's first single - the double A-sided "Evergreen"/"Anything is Possible" - off the top of the chart (as Young's single was intended for the winner of Pop Idol Gates also recorded versions of both songs, which were used as B-sides for Unchained Melody). These were possibly the fastest covers, having been released only three weeks after Will Young's record breaking versions. The single was voted 2002's Record of the Year by ITV viewers.
With The Kumars, Gates sang the 2003 Comic Relief charity single, "Spirit In The Sky", another cover of an old song. This was also a new entry at number one, and stayed there for two weeks. He also appeared in the charity's Celebrity Driving School.
Gareth also suffers from a stammer, but with the help of the McGuire program he has almost overcome it. He now works with the McGuire program passing on the things he has learnt to others suffering from stammers.
In 2002, Smash Hits magazine dedicated the 7th of November as International Gareth Day for his fans. On this day, fans around the world light candles and pay homage to the singer.
Gareth infamously lost his virginity in a London hotel to glamour model Jordan who was pregnant at the time. Despite initially denying the incident, he later admitted the affair.
The first single from Gates' third album was "Changes" which was released on 9 April 2007. The single peaked at Number 14. A second single, "Angel on My Shoulder", was released on 18 June 2007, peaking at Number 22. Both singles remained in the UK Top 40 for only one week. Gates' third album, Pictures of the Other Side, was released on 25 June 2007. It proved to be Gates' lowest selling album to date and spent only two weeks on the UK album chart, entering at Number 23 before falling to Number 66 the following week, then dropping out of the chart altogether.
19 Minutes
Gareth Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm already seeing the dark shadows growin'
I wonder what're u doing right now
Do u hurt like I hurt?
19 hours and i can't fall asleep
I've turned all the lights on
But the shadows are creepin'
All around the room that was our secret space
Look what u've done baby
Look what I've become
I'm just bleedin',I'm bleedin'
And it doesn't stop
I don't wanna put u down
But I feel like I've lost my ground
And the words that u left me
Don't pay, don't pay me for my pain...
19 days free to do what I want
To hang out late with the shadows
I know, what I want I can't have,
What I have I don't want...
I want u back...
Look what u've done baby
Look what I've become
I'm just bleedin', I'm bleedin'
And it doesn't stop
I don't wanna put u down
But I feel like I've lost my ground
And the words that u left me
Don't pay, don't pay me for my pain...
Suddenly the words we were too scared to speak
Became the words that released us...
Look what u've done baby
Look what I've become
I'm not bleedin', I'm breathin'
The pain's gone away
I don't wanna put u down
Cause I feel like I've found my ground
And the words that u left me just say
That all in good time hurt will fade
U've paid me for my pain...
In "19 Minutes," Gareth Gates reflects on the aftermath of a breakup. The opening verse sets the scene, 19 minutes since the end of the call, with the shadows growing and a sense of pain that is mirrored by the increase of darkness. This line hints at the possibility of the singer slipping into a dark place due to the separation.
In the next verse, the singer tries to adjust to the new reality of the breakup. The room that was once a shared space is now empty and incomplete, which leaves him struggling to breathe. The chorus repeats the phrase "Look what you've done, baby," which suggests that the other person holds some responsibility for the pain the singer is feeling. The lyrics illustrate the agony of trying to move on in the aftermath of a failed relationship.
Throughout the song, the singer oscillates between the pain and acceptance of the situation, but finally, in the last verse, the darkness fades as he finally accepts their second chance. He sees the pain that he felt fade as the other person comes back and the words that may have caused the pain initially, become the words that saved them.
Line by Line Meaning
19 minutes since u hung up the phone
It's been nineteen minutes since the other person hung up and the singer is already feeling the darkness creeping in.
I'm already seeing the dark shadows growin'
The singer can feel the darkness growing inside of them.
I wonder what're u doing right now
The singer is wondering what the other person is doing at the moment.
Do u hurt like I hurt?
The singer is wondering if the other person is feeling the same kind of pain they are.
19 hours and i can't fall asleep
It's been nineteen hours and the singer still can't fall asleep.
I've turned all the lights on
The singer has turned on all the lights in the room.
But the shadows are creepin'
Despite the lights, the darkness is still creeping in.
All around the room that was our secret space
The darkness is all around the room that used to be a special place for the singer and the other person.
I can't breath, I'm incomplete
The singer is feeling suffocated and incomplete due to the pain they're feeling.
Look what u've done baby
The singer is accusing the other person of causing their pain.
Look what I've become
The singer has become someone different due to their pain.
I'm just bleedin',I'm bleedin', And it doesn't stop
The singer is bleeding emotionally and the pain isn't going away.
I don't wanna put u down
The singer doesn't want to blame the other person completely but they feel hurt.
But I feel like I've lost my ground
The singer feels lost and doesn't know what to do due to the pain they're feeling.
And the words that u left me Don't pay, don't pay me for my pain...
The words the other person left behind don't help with the singer's pain.
19 days free to do what I want
It's been nineteen days since the other person left and the singer has some freedom.
To hang out late with the shadows
The singer is hanging out late with their emotional pain and darkness.
I know, what I want I can't have, What I have I don't want...
The singer knows they can't have what they want and don't want what they have either.
I want u back...
Despite everything, the singer still wants the other person back.
Suddenly the words we were too scared to speak Became the words that released us...
The singer and the other person speak the words they were afraid to speak and it helps them release their emotions.
I'm not bleedin', I'm breathin', The pain's gone away
The singer is no longer bleeding emotionally and the pain has faded away.
Cause I feel like I've found my ground
The singer feels like they have found their way and are stable now.
And the words that u left me just say That all in good time hurt will fade U've paid me for my pain...
The words the other person left behind now reassure the singer that the pain will fade with time and they have been paid for their pain.
Contributed by Kayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
samantha6992
I love this song and what it's about, the words are so beautiful. It's about being lost in your own sorrow, but than finding clarity, and it reminds me that even though you can hit rock bottom, time has a way of eventually picking you up. It's one of those songs that allows you truly feel.
ᆞ宮村よしかね
19 minutes since you hung up the phone
I'm already seeing the dark shadows growin'
I wonder what you're doing right now
Do you hurt like I hurt?
19 hours and I can't fall asleep
I've turned all the lights on
But the shadows are creepin'
All around the room that was our secret space
I can't breath, I'm incomplete
Look what you've done baby
Look what I've become
I'm just bleedin', I'm bleedin'
And it doesn't stop
I don't wanna put you down
But I feel like I've lost my ground
And the words that you left me
Don't pay, don't pay me for my pain...
19 days free to do what I want
To hang out late with the shadows
I know, what I want I can't have,
What I have I don't want...
I want you back...
Look what you've done baby
Look what I've become
I'm just bleedin', I'm bleedin'
And it doesn't stop
I don't wanna put you down
But I feel like I've lost my ground
And the words that you left me
Don't pay, don't pay me for my pain...
Suddenly the words we were too scared to speak
Became the words that released us...
Look what you've done baby
Look what I've become
I'm not bleedin', I'm breathin'
The pain's gone away
I don't wanna put you down
Cause I feel like I've found my ground
And the words that you left me just say
That all in good time hurt will fade
You've paid me for my pain...
sarahjane mom
Love all the songs on this album.
Zairrd Vordenta
2:50-3:02
that tune sounds so hauntingly wonderful
it's so satisfying and pleasurable to hear yet all it adds is more misery and all sorts of imaginations about how grand,how deep your sorrows
what lengths you would go to express it.
Inge Travers
I agree with you, love the lyrics. And the melody, a fantastic song.
ᆞ宮村よしかね
Good
安倍たくや
Please hold your baggage.
cozz
thumb this up if you love gareth
Mablestillman
I sure hope you are on wwwroleplayerme