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.
wonderwall
Gregorian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
Backbeat the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before but you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don't know how
Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me?
And after all
You're my wonderwall
Today was gonna be the day but they'll never throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow realized what you're not to do
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
And all the roads that lead you there were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don't know how
I said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me?
And after all
You're my wonderwall
I said maybe (I said maybe)
You're gonna be the one that saves me?
And after all
You're my wonderwall
I said maybe (I said maybe)
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (That saves me)
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (That saves me)
The song "Wonderwall" by Gregorian is about unrequited love and the singer's desperation for the person he loves to save him from his emotional turmoil. The first verse establishes that today is the day that the singer's love interest will realize that he is the one for her. The second line suggests that the person should have already known what to do, but evidently, she hasn't. The singer then confesses that he feels something deep for her that no one else does, and he desperately wants her to feel the same way about him.
The chorus of "Wonderwall" is the most recognizable part of the song. The singer ponders whether the love interest could be the one to save him from himself. He confesses that she is his "wonderwall," a term that refers to someone that stands between him and the world's troubles. In the second verse, the singer realizes that today is probably not the day it will happen, and he has lost hope. The roads and lights mentioned at this point are probably the obstacles and distractions keeping the singer and his love interest from each other. The song ends with the singer once again musing on the chance that his love will save him.
Line by Line Meaning
Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you
Today is the day when the universe will give you an opportunity to fix something that went wrong in the past and correct something that was meant to be corrected
By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do
By now, you should have understood that you have to take some action or make some important decisions in order to move forward
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
I truly believe that the love and affection that I have for you now is something that nobody else can match
Backbeat the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out
The gossip circulating around town is that you have lost your passion for something that was once very important to you
I'm sure you've heard it all before but you never really had a doubt
You may have heard this before, but you've never really taken it seriously, and it's time to pay attention now
And all the roads we have to walk are winding
The journey we have to take is full of twists and turns and is not a straightforward path
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
The path to our destination is filled with bright lights that can sometimes distract us from our true path
There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don't know how
There are many things that I want to express to you, but I find it difficult to put it into words
Because maybe
Perhaps
You're gonna be the one that saves me?
Are you the one who can rescue me from my problems?
And after all
Despite everything that has happened
You're my wonderwall
You are the one I turn to when I need someone to lean on, you are my support system
Today was gonna be the day but they'll never throw it back to you
Today was supposed to be the day when you could settle an old score, but unfortunately, you won't get that chance
By now you should've somehow realized what you're not to do
At this point, you should have learned from your mistakes and know what not to do in the future
I said maybe
I suggested earlier
You're gonna be the one that saves me?
Are you the one who can rescue me from my problems?
And after all
Despite everything that has happened
You're my wonderwall
You are the one I turn to when I need someone to lean on, you are my support system
I said maybe
I suggested earlier
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (That saves me)
Are you the one who can rescue me from my problems?
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (That saves me)
Are you the one who can rescue me from my problems?
Contributed by Samuel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Travis Johnson
Maybe it's just me, but their songs are always hilarious for the first couple seconds after the vocals come in, and then that soon gives way to appreciation for their truly beautiful arrangements. It's like turning a joke into legitimate art.
RHITCCDSCCS
I thought it was just me...LOL
RHITCCDSCCS
In fact, the only reason why they don't tour the States is because we would probably laugh them off the stage, at first.
Teresa Kinsey
I’m sat here at 4am can’t sleep so I’m listening to the soothing sounds of Gregorian, can’t beat a great way to relax.
Maleficus Ira
It's amazing how people can sing in a chorus like this and stay on key and be singing at the same time
Hilario Lopez
Me encanta esta musica
Nicole💫LittleNiggyTarot😇&More
MASTERPIECE 🙏
climbingplant
...the first time i listen to a song by gregorian... and i really like it!! it's not mainstream, it's different. it's relaxing, it's true, lovely music. music, which touchs me.
K. Thisdale
Wow this is seriously amazing. ALL of your covers are purely fantastic. Keep up the good work, I'll spread the word!
Nick Waters
This is the best version of the song ever :')