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 .
Where Are They Now?
Gene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should look to the future
I've seen and I'll stay here
I don't know why
I am tied to the winter
Can't find the time to live
The smallest gentle gesture
All I needed was a word
Where are they now?
The sky seems a little lower
But for that a normal day
Do I ask too much
Where are they now?
You said that I
Take more than I offer
Yes, this is how I spend my time
You'll come undone
If you don't make the effort
Seek and ye shall find
So when disaster struck me
No heart left to offend
I only wanted friends
Where are they now?
Will you be there forever
And say I'll never be without?
Don't blame me for my doubt
You see I cannot stand alone
I'm incapable of breathing
Incapable of love
In my world
Make it safe
Take me home
I'm incapable of breathing
Incapable of love
You said that I
Should stop trying to call you
You've had it up to here
I know your sort
But I just can't ignore you
I'm lost in the fog
In Gene's song "Where Are They Now?" the singer seems lost and unable to move forward. He is tied to the previous winter and cannot seem to find the time to embrace life. He seeks comfort in the smallest gestures and wonders where his friends are now. He is incapable of standing alone and is unable to love. The singer wonders if he asks too much in wanting his friends around him when he needs them. He has no one to turn to when disaster strikes and questions if anyone will be there forever.
The lyrics seem to be about the struggle of moving forward when past experiences have left you broken and unable to trust. The singer is looking for affirmation and support from his friends in a time of need but finds himself alone. The line "I'm lost in the fog" seems to sum up his feelings of uncertainty and confusion.
Overall, the song portrays a feeling of isolation and abandonment. The singer is struggling to find his way and cannot seem to do it alone. He needs the support of his friends but is left wondering where they are and if they will ever return. The song is a poignant reflection on the importance of friendship and the need for human connection.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
You said that I
The singer remembers a conversation where someone advised them.
Should look to the future
The advice given was to focus on the future.
I've seen and I'll stay here
However, the singer is content with where they are and does not want to move on.
I don't know why
And they don't understand why they feel this way.
I am tied to the winter
They feel trapped and unable to move forward, like being stuck in a season.
Can't find the time to live
The singer is struggling to make the most of their life.
The smallest gentle gesture
Even a small act of kindness
Keeps the enemy at bay
Can ward off potential adversaries or negative forces.
All I needed was a word
The artist is seeking validation or support.
Where are they now?
However, no one seems to be there for them now.
The sky seems a little lower
The singer feels small and insignificant.
But for that a normal day
Despite feeling this way, everything else seems normal.
Do I ask too much
The singer wonders if their needs are too great or unreasonable.
You said that I
The singer recalls another conversation.
Take more than I offer
Someone accused the singer of being selfish.
Yes, this is how I spend my time
The artist admits to being self-focused.
You'll come undone
The artist warns that without effort to change, the accuser will fall apart.
If you don't make the effort
The singer believes it is necessary to try to improve.
Seek and ye shall find
The singer suggests that trying and looking can lead to answers and support.
So when disaster struck me
The artist faced a difficult situation.
No heart left to offend
They were too upset to argue or harm anyone else.
I only wanted friends
All the artist wanted was support from others.
Where are they now?
But it seems that no one was there for them in this situation either.
Will you be there forever
The artist is unsure if anyone can offer lasting support.
And say I'll never be without?
They're asking for someone to promise that they will always have someone there for them.
Don't blame me for my doubt
The singer wants to be understood and not judged for their lack of faith in others.
You see I cannot stand alone
The singer admits to needing help and support from others.
I'm incapable of breathing
Without support, the artist feels like they cannot survive or function properly.
Incapable of love
They also feel like they cannot love or care for others without the same support.
In my world
They are sharing their inner experiences.
Make it safe
The singer wants help and comfort.
Take me home
They desire to be in a safe and nurturing space or environment.
You said that I
The artist recalls another conversation.
Should stop trying to call you
Someone has told the artist to stop contacting them.
You've had it up to here
They are fed up with the attention and the singer's behavior.
I know your sort
The artist is familiar with people who treat them this way.
But I just can't ignore you
Despite knowing this, the singer still feels attached to this person.
I'm lost in the fog
The singer is directionless and unsure of what to do next.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIFF GLEN EIDELMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@isaacpeterson5247
Some of my favorite lyrics ever:
You said that I
Should look to the future
I've seen and I'll stay here
I don't know why
I am tied to the winter
Can't find the time to live
The smallest gentle gesture
Keeps the enemy at bay
All I needed was a word
Where are they now?
The sky seems a little lower
But for that a normal day
Do I ask too much
Where are they now?
You said that I
Take more than I offer
Yes, this is how I spend my time
You'll come undone
If you don't make the effort
Seek and ye shall find
So when disaster struck me
No heart left to offend
I only wanted friends
Where are they now?
Will you be there forever
And say I'll never be without?
Don't blame me for my doubt
You see I cannot stand alone
I'm incapable of breathing
Incapable of love
In my world
Make it safe
Take me home
I'm incapable of breathing
Incapable of love
You said that I
Should stop trying to call you
You've had it up to here
I know your sort
But I just can't ignore you
I'm lost in the fog
@user-nm1mr9sc3j
This song is so beautiful. The lyrics. The music. The melody. Thank you for sharing.
@edgardogregorini4777
These romantic alternative pop rock of the 90's
I miss, i miss ❤❤
@crozwayne
I loved this band, Martin's voice so distinctive, one of my favourite bands of the 90s
@isaacpeterson5247
Some of my favorite lyrics ever:
You said that I
Should look to the future
I've seen and I'll stay here
I don't know why
I am tied to the winter
Can't find the time to live
The smallest gentle gesture
Keeps the enemy at bay
All I needed was a word
Where are they now?
The sky seems a little lower
But for that a normal day
Do I ask too much
Where are they now?
You said that I
Take more than I offer
Yes, this is how I spend my time
You'll come undone
If you don't make the effort
Seek and ye shall find
So when disaster struck me
No heart left to offend
I only wanted friends
Where are they now?
Will you be there forever
And say I'll never be without?
Don't blame me for my doubt
You see I cannot stand alone
I'm incapable of breathing
Incapable of love
In my world
Make it safe
Take me home
I'm incapable of breathing
Incapable of love
You said that I
Should stop trying to call you
You've had it up to here
I know your sort
But I just can't ignore you
I'm lost in the fog
@lauram544
He sounds like an absolutely unbearable ex. "I take more than I give, but YOU should make the effort!" Oh Jesus.
The song's great, though, the trick is ignoring the lyrics. XD
@raconteurtroubadour
Love this band!! What a superb chord progression and epic vocals from Martin.
One of the greatest bands of the nineties imho!!
🤘🎶🥰🎶🤘
@pietropes1322
Love this song - melancholic yet comforting at the same time.
@NicolaHoney
Forgot about this gorgeous song!
@PaulB324
One of the best songs of the 90s
@hanssiemes9248
No doubt about that 😊