Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, they recorded the 1991 album Sadisfaction, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta (Peterson's wife at the time) and Birgit Freud. However, this was the only album in that style.
In 1998, Peterson and his team Jan-Eric Kohrs, Michael Soltau and Carsten Heusmann re-invented the project to perform popular songs in the Gregorian style. The criteria for song selection were strict; in order to be considered, a song needed to be translatable into the 7-tone scale. For each album, songs were carefully chosen in addition to original songs written by Jan-Eric Kohrs, Amelia Brightman and Carsten Heussman. Twelve vocalists - previously acclaimed session and choir singers - were then hired to record the tracks.
Each Gregorian album is initially digitally tracked at Nemo Studios, Peterson's Hamburg studio. The vocalists then record their parts in a church atmosphere with dimmed lights and candles, in order to escape what Peterson referred to in a 2001 interview as the "cold and technical" studio atmosphere.
The concept proved to be successful, and the group proceeded to record several more Masters of Chant albums in the same style. Their 2004 album, The Dark Side, was a slight departure from the others, featuring a darker repertoire consistent with the title.
In 2005, The Masterpieces, a compilation album with a live DVD, was released. A fifth Masters of Chant album was released on 31 March 2006. In 2006, a festive album was also released, titled Christmas Chants. A sixth Masters of Chant album was released on 28 September 2007. In 2009 a seventh Masters of Chant album followed.
Gregorian in 2009
On 8 September 2010 the next album, titled The Dark Side of Chant, was announced to be published on 15 October 2010.
The members of the Gregorian choir group are Richard Naxton (Naxos), Johnny Clucas (Johnny), Chris Tickner (Chris T.), Richard Collier (Rich), Gerry O'Beirne (Gerry), Lawrence White (Lorro) and Rob Fardell (Rob F.).
Others who contribute to the vocals or sound of Gregorian are Sarah Brightman (under the pseudonyms Hepsibah or Sarah Hellmann), Amelia Brightman (Sarah Brightman's younger sister), Frank Peterson, and staff of Nemo Studio among others.
Blue Monday
Gregorian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are?
Thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your words
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Those who came before me
Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion
They'll turn away no more
And I still find it so hard
To say what I need to say
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me
Just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune
I'd be a heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken
And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how should I feel?
Now I stand here waiting
I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach
Tell me, how does it feel
When your heart grows cold?
The lyrics of Blue Monday delve into the complex emotional experience of being mistreated by someone you care about deeply. The first verse asks how it feels to be treated poorly by this person, after they have already revealed themselves to you. The singer thought they had heard the person's words correctly, but now questions their interpretation of the relationship. The chorus immediately follows, with the singer seeking clarification on their feelings. The second verse dives deeper into the idea that previous generations have had to work through their own life struggles, but it is time for the current generation to face their own challenges head-on. However, the singer still struggles to express their innermost thoughts and feelings, hoping that the person who hurt them will be able to guide them in the right direction emotionally.
The final verse speaks to the singer's heart-wrenching struggle to come to terms with their emotions. They see a ship in the harbor and believe they could still be a happy person today, if not for the person who has caused them pain. The singer acknowledges their initial hesitations, but must now ask themselves how they truly feel now that they are vulnerable and heartbroken. The song concludes with the singer standing, waiting for answers and pondering if they will ever be able to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel
How does it feel to treat me poorly?
To treat me like you do?
To treat me with such disrespect?
When you've laid your hands upon me
When you've physically hurt me?
And told me who you are?
And revealed your true character to me?
Thought I was mistaken
I initially believed you had good intentions?
I thought I heard your words
I believed the things you said to me?
Tell me, how do I feel?
Can you explain the emotions you're making me experience?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Can you tell me currently how I'm experiencing things?
Those who came before me
People who preceded me?
Lived through their vocations
Worked jobs they felt passionate about?
From the past until completion
From the beginning of their lives until the end?
They'll turn away no more
They'll no longer ignore their true passions?
And I still find it so hard
I struggle to express how I truly feel?
To say what I need to say
To convey what's in my heart?
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me
I'm confident you'll attempt to control my emotions?
Just how I should feel today
How I should experience things at this very moment?
I see a ship in the harbor
I observe a vessel in the port?
I can and shall obey
I have the ability to follow commands?
But if it wasn't for your misfortune
If you hadn't detrimentally impacted my life?
I'd be a heavenly person today
I'd be living my life happily and free of pain?
And I thought I was mistaken
I had once believed I had misunderstood the situation?
And I thought I heard you speak
I had believed that you had communicated something to me?
Tell me, how do I feel?
Can you help me comprehend the current way I feel?
Tell me now, how should I feel?
What specific emotions should I currently possess?
Now I stand here waiting
I am currently waiting for something to happen?
I thought I told you to leave me
I had given you clear instructions to leave me alone?
While I walked down to the beach
While I took a leisurely stroll to the seashore?
Tell me, how does it feel
Can you explain how you're currently feeling?
When your heart grows cold?
When your personality and actions begin to show a coldness and lack of empathy?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gillian Lesley Gilbert, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jerry haydel
How does it feel
To treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are?
Thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your words
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how do I feel?
Those who came before me
Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion
They'll turn away no more
And I still find it so hard
To say what I need to say
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me
Just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune
I'd be a heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken
And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me, how do I feel?
Tell me now, how should I feel?
Now I stand here waiting
I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach
Tell me, how does it feel
When your heart grows cold?