In 1993, the band released their first single, Rising High. The track was extensively played in clubs and sold over 10,000 copies without a video or any advertising whatsoever.
The band rose to fame with their successful first album Time To Move, released in 1994. Part of this success was due to MTV and their repeated airplay of the videos for the "Risin' High" and "Move" singles. H-Blockx earned a nomination for "Best Breakthrough Artist" at the following MTV music awards (but lost to Dog Eat Dog). With the help of the singles "Risin' High", "Move", and "Little Girl" their debut album spent 62 weeks in the German album chart, selling over 750,000 copies worldwide, and earning the band their first gold album.
H-Blockx is still active to this day and are regularly releasing new albums, though none of them have caught the public or MTV's eye like "Time To Move" did. However, they had a minor hit in 2002 with a cover of Snap!'s "The Power".
Albums
* 1994 - Time to Move
* 1996 - Discover My Soul
* 1998 - Fly Eyes
* 1999 - Bang Boom Bang (Movie Soundtrack)
* 2000 - Ring Of Fire
* 2002 - Get in the Ring
* 2002 - Live
* 2004 - No Excuses
* 2004 - More than a Decade: The Best of H-Blockx
* 2007 - Open Letter to a Friend
Current members
* Henning Wehland: Vocals
* Tim Humpe: Guitar
* Steffen Wilmking: Drums
* Stefan "Gudze" Hinz: Bass
Past members
* Dave Gappa: Vocals
* Fabio Trentini: Bass
* Johann-Christop "Mason" Maass: Drums
* Marco Minnemann: Drums
* Martin "Dog" Kessler": Drums
www.h-blockx.de
Ordinary Man
H-Blockx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"You see things in life, and you'd be surprised what you see
Life, your whole life is changes
You go through changes in your life one second
You got it made
Next second you're down and you're done"
I can't think of why I shouldn't try to lay
Let's say
I'd try to lay a hand on awkward plans today
Subscribe my name to responsibility
You see
And I take the pain
And I take the gain
Tomorrow
I am
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
I am
(I am)
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
'Cause I ain't 22 and you can't take my name
In vain it just won't do to pay tribute
To me
'Cause I will lay a hand on awkward plans today
Subscribe my name to responsibility
You'll see
And I take the pain
And I take the gain
Tomorrow
I am
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
I am
(I am)
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
I am
I am
(I am)
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
Hah
Here I am
Life seems to be much overrated
Complicated and not updated
And not to exaggerated I cannot blame death to be my enemy
When I don't understand the difference to life
Who am I to blame, who am I to say
Who have I been and who am I today
Where have I been and where will I go
Tomorrow
Take the gain
Tomorrow
Sream, cry, dream, die
I am
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
I am
(I am)
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
I am
I am
(I am)
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
The lyrics to H-Blockx's "Ordinary Man" touches on the idea of self-empowerment, taking ownership of one's life beyond the ordinary, and leaving an impactful legacy. The opening lines "What's it like to be back?" suggest a reflective mood and a desire to re-evaluate life, which is further emphasized in the line "Life, your whole life is changes, you go through changes in your life one second you got it made next second you're down and you're done." This line acknowledges the constant flux of life, the highs, lows and the unpredictability of it all.
In the following lines, the singer takes an assertive stance by saying they see no reason why they shouldn't claim ownership of the things they've learned along the way. They vow to be accountable for their life, subscribing their name to responsibility. The chorus serves as a declaration of the singer's determination to be an extraordinary person with extraordinary plans beyond the ordinary. The verses also highlight the theme of gain and loss, pain, and pleasure, suggesting that the singer is ready to take on both and emerge victorious.
In the final verse, the singer expresses their frustration with life's complexities and their lack of understanding, wondering who they are and who they will be. In all, "Ordinary Man" seems to urge listeners to take control of their lives, to strive for greatness, and to leave an indelible mark beyond the ordinary.
Line by Line Meaning
What's it like to be back?
Asking about the experience of returning after being away for some time.
You see things in life, and you'd be surprised what you see
Life is full of unexpected events and experiences.
Life, your whole life is changes
Life is constantly changing and nothing stays the same forever.
You go through changes in your life one second
Life can change very quickly and unexpectedly.
You got it made
You may feel like you have everything under control and everything is going well.
Next second you're down and you're done
However, things can quickly take a turn for the worse and leave you feeling defeated.
I can't think of why I shouldn't try to lay
I can't see any reason why I shouldn't take advantage of my opportunities.
Claim on what I obtained along the way
I want to take ownership of what I have achieved in my life so far.
Let's say
For the sake of argument, let's assume that I have the ability to do this.
I'd try to lay a hand on awkward plans today
I want to take control of any plans that may not have gone smoothly in the past.
Subscribe my name to responsibility
I am willing to take responsibility for my actions and decisions.
And I take the pain
I am willing to endure hardship and difficulty.
And I take the gain
I am willing to take advantage of opportunities and reap the benefits of my hard work.
Tomorrow
In the future.
I am
I am a certain kind of person.
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
I am someone who stands out and has big aspirations.
(I am)
Emphasizing the point that I am someone special.
'Cause I ain't 22 and you can't take my name
I am an adult and I have established my identity.
In vain it just won't do to pay tribute
Trying to honor me for something trivial or meaningless is pointless.
To me
Referring to myself as someone who deserves respect and admiration.
Hah
Expressing amusement or satisfaction.
Here I am
Proudly announcing my presence and identity.
Life seems to be much overrated
Believing that life is not as great as people make it out to be.
Complicated and not updated
Life can be complex and sometimes outdated in its ways of thinking.
And not to exaggerated I cannot blame death to be my enemy
I don't blame death for being an adversary because it is a natural part of life.
When I don't understand the difference to life
When I am not sure of the distinction between living and dying.
Who am I to blame, who am I to say
I am not sure who to blame or what to say about the challenges of life and death.
Who have I been and who am I today
Reflecting on my past and who I have become in the present.
Where have I been and where will I go
Contemplating my journey thus far and what the future may hold.
Take the gain
Choose to accept and enjoy the benefits of my hard work.
Sream, cry, dream, die
Expressing various emotions and acknowledging the inevitability of death.
I am
Emphasizing my unique identity once again.
No ordinary man with ordinary plans
Reiterating that I am not like other people and have big aspirations.
(I am)
Stressing the point that I am exceptional and impressive.
Contributed by Samuel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.