The roots of Gene lay in a band called Spin, which featured guitarist Steve Mason and drummer Matt James. Spin disbanded after their career was sidetracked by their bassist's injury in a car crash, yet Mason and James continued playing together, recruiting bassist Kevin Miles through a mutual friend. The trio eventually met Welsh native Martin Rossiter, and the quartet formed Gene in 1993. Over the course of the next few months, the band wrote a batch of songs and had performed a number of concerts by the end of the year. A pair of music journalists, Keith Cameron and Roy Wilkinson, formed the Costermonger label in order to release Gene's debut single, "For the Dead," in April 1994. Nearly every copy of the limited-edition release sold out within the first week, and Gene soon became favorites of the British music weeklies. That July, "Be My Light, Be My Guide" became a number one hit on the indie charts, and Gene had emerged as one of the leading new bands of the burgeoning Britpop movement. Major-label interest beckoned, and the group signed with Polydor, who subsidized Costermonger in the U.K. An acclaimed third single, "Sleep Well Tonight," followed in September, and in January of 1995, Gene was named Best New Act at NME's Brat Awards.
Until the release of the group's debut album, Olympian, in the spring of 1995, Gene had continued to build momentum, partially because Martin Rossiter had adopted Morrissey's technique of giving articulate, outrageous and witty interviews. Olympian, however, was greeted with mixed reviews, and although the group had a sizable fan base -- the album debuted in the Top Ten -- they were soon overshadowed by the legions of groups that popped up in the wake of Blur and Oasis' success. Even so, "Haunted by You" and "Olympian" both became Top 20 hits. Early in 1996, To See the Lights, a collection of B-sides and BBC sessions, was released in England. For the remainder of the year, Gene was quiet, preparing their second album, Drawn to the Deep End. "Fighting Fit" was released as a teaser in the fall and became a Top Ten hit, but Drawn to the Deep End didn't follow through on its success. Although it debuted in the Top Ten upon its release in early 1997, it was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews and quickly fell down the charts, although the group's core audience remained loyal. By the new millennium, the band was without a label. They founded Contra and issued the live set Rising for Sunset: Live at the Troubadour in 2000. The album went almost unnoticed among the indie scene, however a true comeback loomed ahead. In mid-summer 2002, Gene emerged with Libertine, their strongest material since Olympian. A late summer/early fall trek across America coincided with the release.
Bibiography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another artist ith the same name:
2) GENE (جين) a Syrian neoprogressive rock band, one of the best acts in the Syrian rock scene, they started under the name ZODIAC playing progressive rock songs for bands such as ( Karmakanic ) later on they changed their name to GENE and decide to use Arabic lyrics with the progressive music creating a very unique style of their own, proving again how flexible Arabic language can be.
They are:
Maen rajab: Guitars
Omar harb: Bass guitar (The Hourglass - Anas & Friends)
Shadi Ali: Vocals (Guest in Anas & Friends)
Sahel Zen Eldien: Drums
Hazem Al-Ani: Piano & Keyboards
Anas Abd al-Moumen: Guitars (Anas & Friends)
GENE released their debut self-titled album in August 2008 .
Left-Handed
Gene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So take cover, I am coming out today
There is no turn of phrase, no easy way to say
"I'll find my feet
I'll choose my own name"
It's hard to be left-handed
But smile you're not the only one
Bruised, kicked
Lost your mother's love
But take it from me
I will be here tomorrow
Evil
I've seen your face and I know just how you feel
You Victorian descendant
It's illegal, that my clan just aren't seen as people
On the Isle of Man
I'll serve my time
In "Left-Handed," Gene sings about the struggles of being different, whether it be being left-handed or being a part of a marginalized culture, and how it can be difficult to find your place in the world. The opening verse speaks to Gene's own experiences, as he acknowledges that he only has one success to his name, but now he is ready to embrace his individuality and seek his own path. Despite the challenges he may face, he is determined to find his feet and choose his own name, showing that he is not going to let the obstacles he has faced in the past hold him back.
The chorus is an uplifting message to listeners who may be feeling the same way as Gene, struggling to fit in or feeling isolated because of who they are. Gene acknowledges that being left-handed can be tough, but reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. He offers encouragement by telling us that he will be here tomorrow, a simple but powerful statement that lets us know that there is hope for a better future.
The final verse takes a darker turn as Gene confronts the evil that he has seen in the world. He references the discrimination and prejudice he has faced as a member of a group that is not seen as "people" on the Isle of Man. He uses the phrase "Victorian descendant" to describe those who perpetrate these injustices, implying that their attitudes stem from outdated and harmful beliefs. However, Gene doesn't let this get him down - even as he serves his time, he remains hopeful for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I have one single success to my name
I haven't accomplished much in my life
So take cover, I am coming out today
I'm about to make my presence known
There is no turn of phrase, no easy way to say
It's difficult to express
"I'll find my feet
I'll choose my own name"
I'll figure out who I am and make my own way
It's hard to be left-handed
It's tough to be different
But smile you're not the only one
You're not alone in your struggles
I know you've been left stranded
I understand you've been abandoned
Bruised, kicked
Lost your mother's love
You've been through some tough times
But take it from me
I will be here tomorrow
I'll be here for you in the future
Evil
I've seen your face and I know just how you feel
I recognize the pain that wickedness can cause
You Victorian descendant
You're a product of your time and culture
It's illegal, that my clan just aren't seen as people
It's unjust that my group is overlooked and dehumanized
On the Isle of Man
I'll serve my time
I'll endure the hardships of my situation
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KEVIN MILES, MARTIN ROSSITER, MATT JAMES, STEVE MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind