With 2 million albums sold (1 million of which were sold in Switzerland, which only has 7 million habitants), they managed to get multi-platinum awards in different parts of the world.
Influences include Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Aerosmith. Singer Steve Lee is especially fond of Whitesnake and has based his singing style on their lead singer David Coverdale.
Gotthard also performed "Immigrant Song" (originally by Led Zeppelin) live and it featured exclusively on a CD by Classic Rock (a long running monthly UK rock magazine). "Hush" was also performed live and can be found on Made In Switzerland album.
Another cover of a song they have recorded is "The Mighty Quinn", originally called Quinn The Eskimo, by Bob Dylan.
Singer Steve Lee was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 5th 2010. A truck struck him while he was stopped on the side of a desert road in Nevada (USA), putting on rain gear.
Current line-up:
Nic Maeder: Vocals
Leo Leoni: Lead Guitar
Freddy Scherer: Rhythm Guitar
Marc Lynn: Bass
Hena Habegger: Drums
Higher
Gotthard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a rocking storm
Coming over you
Alright let's go
We've got the last call
And we're ready to go
Lights are burning
It just feels alright
Shoulder to shoulder
Scream n' shout
We got what you need
A whole lotta dynamite
It just feels alright
It's now or it's never
Gonna make it last forever
It's really close to overload
We'll take you higher
More n' more
We'll take you higher
Than before
It's a journey to the eye of the storm
Hot vibrations coming one by one
Party's just begun
High speed running goes hundred and two
Power train rockin' all over you
Nothing you can do
Higher, higher, higher
We'll take you higher
Than ever before
Dig it
The central theme of Gotthard's "Higher" is living life to the fullest and enjoying the ride. The opening lines of the song, "Alright, now it's up to you / There's a rocking storm / Coming over you / Alright, let's go," seem to be an invitation for the listener to jump onboard with the band and experience the thrill of a rock concert. The imagery of a storm coming over the listener adds to the excitement and anticipation of the experience.
The band emphasizes that they are ready to put on a show by stating that they have the "last call" and the "lights are burning for another show tonight." The lyrics "Shoulder to shoulder / Scream n' shout / We got what you need / A whole lotta dynamite" are a great example of how Gotthard uses language to further fire up the audience. It's clear that the band is there to rock and they want the audience to join them.
The chorus of the song is all about taking the listener higher than ever before. The lines "It's now or it's never / Gonna make it last forever / It's really close to overload" speak to the fleeting nature of a concert experience and the band's desire to make the most of it. The bridge of the song features a description of the concert itself, complete with "hot vibrations" and "power train rockin' all over you." The final repeated line of the song, "Higher, higher, higher / We'll take you higher / Than ever before / Dig it," serves as a triumphant declaration of the band's ability to elevate the audience's experience to new heights.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright, now it's up to you
The responsibility for what happens next is yours.
There's a rocking storm
A force of excitement and energy is approaching.
Coming over you
This force will affect and engulf you.
Alright let's go
Let's take advantage of this energy and channel it.
We've got the last call
Time is running out, but we still have a chance.
And we're ready to go
Despite the limited time, we are prepared for whatever comes next.
Lights are burning
The stage is set and the excitement is building.
For another show tonight
This is just another opportunity to experience this energy and excitement again.
It just feels alright
We are confident and comfortable in our ability to handle this energy and excitement.
Shoulder to shoulder
Together, we are united and prepared to face whatever comes.
Scream n' shout
We are expressing our excitement and passion for this moment.
We got what you need
We have the ability to provide what you are looking for in this moment.
A whole lotta dynamite
We have an explosive amount of energy and excitement to offer.
It just feels alright
We are confident that we can deliver and satisfy your needs and desires.
It's now or it's never
This moment is crucial and may not come again.
Gonna make it last forever
We are going to make the most of this moment and make it unforgettable.
It's really close to overload
The intensity of this moment is at a critical level.
We'll take you higher
We will elevate you to a new level of experience and excitement.
More n' more
We will continue to build and enhance this experience.
Than before
This experience will surpass any previous ones.
It's a journey to the eye of the storm
We are in the midst of an intense and exhilarating experience.
Hot vibrations coming one by one
Our energy and excitement is building and amplifying.
Party's just begun
This experience has just started and there is much more to come.
High speed running goes hundred and two
Our energy is fast and intense, pushing us to our limits.
Power train rockin' all over you
We are a force of energy and excitement that is affecting and consuming you.
Nothing you can do
You cannot resist or escape our power and energy.
Higher, higher, higher
We will continue to elevate and intensify this experience.
We'll take you higher
We are in control and will guide you to new levels of excitement and energy.
Than ever before
This experience will be more intense and unforgettable than anything before.
Dig it
Fully embrace and enjoy this experience to its fullest potential.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT BRADLEY, TIM DIAZ, JEFF FOWLKES, ANDREW NEHRA, MICHAEL NEHRA, ROBERT J RITCHIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind