1. Dark Electro/Harsh EBM/Industrial arti… Read Full Bio ↴At least 2 bands by This Name
1. Dark Electro/Harsh EBM/Industrial artist named Against I which is re-directed to I Against I.
2. Punk Band
2.The story of I Against I is a classic Punk Rock tale. Born and raised in Smalltown Holland, Ronald van Maren and Jasper Blazer were bored senseless by the time they reached puberty. There were no gigs, no record stores, and they were too young (again) to go drinking in the local bar. With nothing else to do, classmates Ronald and Jasper met up every Friday after school to play along to their Iron Maiden records ( Hey, they were young, okay?). Ronald owned a beat up acoustic guitar, while Jasper thrashed away on a plastic bucket. They couldn't play, nor did they have the ambition to, who cared, no one was listening anyway. That all changed when a friend brought them a Dead Kennedys tape. Blown away by Jello's anger energy, they burned their Iron Maiden records and started collecting Punk Rock records of all sorts, from The Clash to Bad Religion, from No Means No to Down By Law, from Fugazi to the Descendents. Listening to all these great records came the notion that they could actually form a band; I against I was born. Through a mutual friend, Ronald and Jasper met up with bass player Bob, and after getting rid of the bucket and the acoustic guitar they started rehearsing. One and a half year later, they were the first band to be signed by Epitaph. So far, this is the story a lot of people are familiar with; I against I becomes the first European band to ink a deal with Epitaph and in the summer of '97 they release their first EP called "Top of the world". They play tons of shows in Holland and Belgium (on their own, and with the likes of Bad Religion, Down By Law, Pennywise and Blink 182) and by the end of the year they fly over to the infamous Blasting Room studio, owned by ALL/Descendents members Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton to release their debut album "Headcleaner". Again, this release is backed with more live shows, in Holland, Belgium, Germany and the USA, but it isn't until spring 1999 that the boys go on their first real European tour, as support act for ALL. A few months after this tour, their inspired titled second album "I'm A F***ed Up Dancer But My Moods Are Swinging" was released. This piece of plastic sees the band crossing the boundaries of melodic Punk more than once. Looking for a different angle, the band experimented and came up with a sound no one had expected from them: samples, drumloops, screaming vocals and clean sounding guitars. Other boundaries were crossed spring 2000 when they undertook their second tour of Europe, this time in the company of Down By Law. The band is now a four piece (introducing Robin Baard on second guitar) and played shows in Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, England and France. They lose a few pair of pants (don't ask!) and of course some equipment, but they gain a lot of new fans with their energetic and hard rockin' live show. It isn't until June 2002 before another release sees the light of day. I against I's contribution to the Split Competition Vol. 2 of Ammonia Records (distributed by V2 Italy) was intended as a demo only, but the label liked the five songs enough to officially release them and send the band on tour in Italy, Germany and Belgium. In a review, leading Dutch magazine "Aardschok" remarks I against I sure sound dirtier and angrier after leaving Epitaph. And now, there's a new, self-titled record just waiting to be released. Recorded in their hometown and mixed once again by Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore this is a record from a band coming into their own. Finally, I against I blended all the separate aspects of their sound into a coherent set of songs. Of course there's the strong focus on melody. Try getting ''Once again'', ''Serve and protect'' or ''Calm down'' out of your head! However, the occasional shifting into overdrive isn't forgotten either with "Nowhere else but here" and "I could be wrong for instance." The band ventures into new directions with the spine chilling "Gone" and "Defeated", which starts off almost like an Irish folk song but bursts into an orgy of loud guitars, just when you were getting comfy! The intro to hard-rocking anthem "The first element" probably describes this record best: we started on the corner, and finished on the square. Backed by the amazing mixing job done by Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, I against I truly "finishes on the square" with this record.
Passed Me By
I Against I Lyrics
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The lyrics to I Against I's song "Passed Me By" express the pain and isolation felt by a young person at the beginning of their life. The singer is just 21, but already feels like they are going insane, struggling to find the words to express themselves and clear their mind. They spend every night alone, unable to explain why they are unable to connect with others. They long for someone to hold and share their feelings with, but despite having a lot to give, no one seems to care. The song ends on a wistful note, with the singer reflecting on a time when they felt alive, but those good times have now passed them by.
The lyrics of "Passed Me By" are painfully relatable to many young people who feel isolated and misunderstood. The song captures the frustration of wanting to connect with others, but feeling like there is no one out there who truly understands you. The repeated refrain of "passed me by" serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential that can come with feeling so alone.
Despite its somber subject matter, "Passed Me By" showcases I Against I's raw talent and emotional depth. The band was active in the 1990s and 2000s, fusing punk rock with reggae and other influences. They had a small but dedicated following and left an indelible mark on the Dutch punk scene.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm 21 my life has just begun.
I am young and have so much ahead of me.
but already I'm in pain.
However, my life has already caused me great emotional pain.
I feel like I'm insane.
My pain and confusion make me question my own sanity.
I don't know how I could express myself.
I struggle to find the right words to describe how I feel.
the words are hard to find.
I am unable, or struggling, to articulate my feelings.
I cannot clear my mind...
My racing thoughts and emotions are a constant burden.
each night I sit at home.
I spend my nights alone with my thoughts and feelings.
I cannot find an explanation.
I am unable to understand why I feel this way.
what is it about me that is making me stay alone?...
I wonder what it is about me that keeps me isolated and alone.
every day I think about how it could be.
I imagine the possibilities of how my life could be different.
with somebody to hold.
If only I had someone to hold and comfort me.
so I wouldn't feel so cold.
Perhaps then I wouldn't feel so emotionally cold and disconnected.
is there no one to share my feelings with?
I yearn for someone to whom I can open up and share my deepest emotions.
'cause I've got a lot to share.
I have many emotions and thoughts inside that I want to express.
but no one seems to care.
However, it seems as though no one is interested in what I have to say or feel.
there was a time when I felt alive.
There was a time in my life when I felt truly alive and happy.
somehow those good times have passed me by.
Unfortunately, those happy moments seem to be in the past and out of reach now.
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SirTomJoad
wooohooo!! youth was such a great time..:)
viennaNOFXER
Nice Album, hard to find on youtube...
zalasta11
Hehehe Dutchies can rock ! I have this cd somewhere... Shouldn't be that hard to tab yourself ;)
jose carlos Zarazua
where you get this tune man?