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.
Pictures Of The Other Side
Gareth Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even seen in the years, they come and go
We remember the world that's in our mind
So then everything you had ever seen
Every color of memory, that's end
Everyone of ahead is opponent
[Chorus]
Within the pictures of the other side
I know we slide
We come in the best fly over here
Gala's between the blue skies there to raining sends
We can fly
If you tired of listen close your mind
You cough me on your reason far behind
We spoke in the silence as before
We are everything all you have to do
Is think of me, as in to you
We deliver messages of "put me up"
[Chorus]
We come in a star shine and arise
Within the pictures of the other side
I know we slide
We come in the best fly over here
Gala's between the blue skies there to raining sends
We can fly
Fly away
Oh, we can fly! Oh
If you coming closer, take my hand
There's no limit around me, understand
We going far
We are everything all you have to do
Is think of me, as in to you
We deliver messages of "put me up"
[Chorus]
We come in a star shine and arise
Within the pictures of the other side
I know we slide
We come in the best fly over here
Gala's between the blue skies there to raining sends
We can fly
We come in a star shine and arise
We can fly, oh oh, woh
We come in a star shine we can fly, we can fly
In Gareth Gates’s song Pictures Of The Other Side, the lyrics are focused on the idea of memories and how they can transport us to another world on the “other side”. The opening verse, “we are water of tears you’re watching go, even seen in the years, they come and go” suggests the idea that our memories, like tears, are fleeting and disappear over time. However, the second line also denotes that those tears are "seen" (remembered) even after time passes.
The chorus, “We come in a star shine and arise within the pictures of the other side” implies that memories can be like stars, bright and shining, and can transport us to another world. The repetition of the phrase “we can fly” also drives this idea, displaying the limitless potential of our memories. The second verse, “If you tired of listen close your mind, you cough me on your reason far behind,” encourages us to turn inward and focus on our inner selves to remember past times.
Finally, the bridge “If you coming closer, take my hand, there's no limit around me, understand” invites listeners to grasp tightly to memories and emotions, promising an escape to another reality. The song’s lyrics overall reveal how memories can create a world without limits and boundaries, transporting us to a place where we can “fly” freely.
Line by Line Meaning
We are water of tears you're watching go
We are like the water that forms when you cry, which you are witnessing as we move forward
Even seen in the years, they come and go
As time passes, we may be perceived or remembered differently as we continue to change and evolve
We remember the world that's in our mind
Our memories and perceptions of the world are shaped and stored in our mind
So then everything you had ever seen
Every experience and image you have witnessed in your life
Every color of memory, that's end
Every vivid memory, with all its associated emotions and sensory details, eventually fades and ends
Everyone of ahead is opponent
Everyone who is ahead of us in some way can be seen as competition or a challenge
We come in a star shine and arise
We arrive in a moment of brightness and energy
Within the pictures of the other side
Within a realm or dimension beyond the one we perceive
I know we slide
I am aware that we are constantly moving and shifting, possibly in unexpected ways
We come in the best fly over here
We are flying high and powerfully in this particular situation
Gala's between the blue skies there to raining sends
There are beautiful celebrations happening in the midst of the clear blue skies, despite the occasional rain
We can fly
We have the capability and freedom to soar through the air
If you tired of listen close your mind
If you are weary of hearing the same things, try to open your mind for a fresh perspective
You cough me on your reason far behind
You might realize that you have been holding back your thinking, but now you see things differently
We spoke in the silence as before
We communicated without speaking verbally, as we may have done in the past
We are everything all you have to do
We represent all of the possibilities and potential that you need, if you can only call on us
Is think of me, as in to you
Simply envision me or imagine connecting with me, like I am reaching out to you
We deliver messages of "put me up"
We are communicating to you to lift us higher or ascend to a greater understanding or level
If you coming closer, take my hand
If you are approaching or coming nearer to us, reach out and take our hand for guidance
There's no limit around me, understand
There are no boundaries or barriers to what we can achieve or explore together
We going far
We are embarking on a journey with vast potential and possibilities
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DARREN BERRY, GARETH PAUL GATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind