Gareth Paul Gates (born July 12, 1984, Bradford, United Kingdom) is a Briti… Read Full Bio ↴Gareth Paul Gates (born July 12, 1984, Bradford, United Kingdom) is a British pop singer who shot to fame in 2002 when he came second in the television talent show Pop Idol. A year earlier, he also appeared in the televised talent show Steps to the Stars presented by Claire Richards and Ian Watkins (known as H) from the pop group Steps.

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.

Electric
Gareth Gates Lyrics

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Her cigarette butt blocked my path
I didn't smoke but she thought she'd ask
She said 'Baby can I light you up?'
I sed lets quit this crowded bar
And stand outside under the stars
But it was dark and the sky was heavy
'Cause we're electric and we're electric
And when the storm comes

There'll be lightning, rain and sky
'Cos we're electric and we're electric
And when the thunder comes
Gareth Gates Electric Lyrics
There'll be nowhere left to hide
Her cigarette butt came undone
She said 'just take my hand let me be the one to help you
Oh to find your shelter'
I held her back and she ran inside

I said 'you won't feel if you never try to stand
Outside when the sky is crying'
'Cause we're electric and we're electric
And when the storm comes
There'll be lightning, rain and sky
You spend electric
And when you electric
And when the thunder comes
There'll be nowhere left to hide
Then summer's gone
And our moments come

Until the star beams come
We'll stand out,we'll stand out under the stars
'Cause we're electric and we're electric
And when the storm comes
There'll be lightning,rain and sky
You spend electric
And when you electric

And when the thunder comes
There'll be nowhere left to hide

Overall Meaning

In the song "Electric" by Gareth Gates, he portrays the idea of two people who have an undefinable connection that makes them feel electric. The opening line "Her cigarette butt blocked my path, I didn't smoke but she thought she'd ask" sets the scene for two people who are at a crowded bar and are immediately attracted to each other. The song continues with the idea of them leaving the bar, standing outside under the stars, talking about their connection and the storm that's about to come. The storm becomes a metaphor for the intensity and unpredictability of their relationship, where the lightning, rain, and thunder all represent the unpredictable ups and downs of their relationship. They are aware that the storm is coming, but they don't want to hide from it. Instead, they choose to embrace it and stay together, no matter what happens.

The chorus, where Gareth Gates sings, "we're electric and we're electric, and when the storm comes, there'll be lightning, rain and sky" emphasizes the idea that they can't control their emotions and attraction towards each other. The second verse of the song continues with the metaphorical connection between the two, where Gareth Gates sings "Her cigarette butt came undone, She said 'just take my hand let me be the one to help you. Oh to find your shelter'". Here, he is trying to convey that he can only trust this person who is holding his hand because their connection is something that he has never experienced before.

Line by Line Meaning

Her cigarette butt blocked my path
I was walking and her cigarette butt was in my way

I didn't smoke but she thought she'd ask
Although I didn't smoke, she still asked me if she could light my cigarette

She said 'Baby can I light you up?'
She wanted to light my cigarette for me

I sed lets quit this crowded bar
I suggested that we leave the crowded bar

And stand outside under the stars
I wanted to go outside and look at the stars

But it was dark and the sky was heavy
It was dark outside and the sky looked like there might be a storm coming

'Cause we're electric and we're electric
We have a strong connection between us

And when the storm comes There'll be lightning, rain and sky 'Cos we're electric and we're electric And when the thunder comes There'll be nowhere left to hide
We have a strong connection that is like a storm, and when it comes, there is no avoiding it

Her cigarette butt came undone She said 'just take my hand let me be the one to help you Oh to find your shelter' I held her back and she ran inside
Her cigarette fell apart and she offered to help me find shelter from the storm, but I held her back and she went inside without me

I said 'you won't feel if you never try to stand Outside when the sky is crying'
I told her that she wouldn't know what it feels like to be in the storm if she never tried standing outside while it was raining

'Cause we're electric and we're electric And when the storm comes There'll be lightning, rain and sky You spend electric And when you electric And when the thunder comes There'll be nowhere left to hide
Our connection is like a storm, and when it comes, we feel it strongly - we are full of energy, which can be both exciting and overwhelming

Then summer's gone And our moments come Until the star beams come We'll stand out,we'll stand out under the stars
As summer ends, our moments together become more important, and we will continue to stand outside and look at the stars

'Cause we're electric and we're electric And when the storm comes There'll be lightning,rain and sky You spend electric And when you electric And when the thunder comes There'll be nowhere left to hide
Our strong connection is still like a storm, and even when it comes, there is no hiding from it

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARETH PAUL GATES, RICKY ROSS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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