Scarcely another band among the German-speaking Alternative /(Dark)Wave-scene has polarized media and audience within the last fifteen years as much as ILLUMINATE. Either praised up to the skies or torn apart as "Schlager" (a German derogatory term for bad pop songs) – be that as it may, for the last decade, Johannes Berthold and his band have left their mark on the Dark scene...
ILLUMINATE manage to combine classical elements, dance rhythms, electronic sound collages, romantic piano parts and heavy guitars without being unfaithful to their typical, unmistakable sound. After seventeen years of band history, 12 studio albums, world-wide life-performances, and having an enormous fan-base, ILLUMINATE are one of the most successful acts of the Alternative / Dark Wave-segment.
Members
* Johannes Berthold - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Programming, Bass Guitar
* Manja Wagner - Vocals
* Sylvia Berthold - Vocals
* Jörn Langenfeld - Guitar, Bass Guitar
* Johannes Knees - Keyboards
* Stefan Dittrich - Drums, Programming
Discography
1993 Poesie (MC)
1994 Es atmet (Maxi-MC)
1996 Verfall
1997 Erinnerungen
1998 Erwachen
1999 Nur für Dich (Promo-Maxi-CD & Special-Promo-Maxi-CD)
1999 Letzter Blick zurück
2000 Dunkellicht (Maxi-CD)
2000 Ein neuer Tag
2001 Bittersüßes Gift (Maxi-CD)
2002 Kaltes Licht
2003 10x10 Schwarz (Best-Of)
2003 10x10 Weiß (Best-Of)
2004 AugenBlicke
2006 Zwei Seelen (+Bonus-Live-Album "In Metal")
2008 Zeit der Wölfe
2009 CD Splitter (Best-Of)
2009 CD Ohne Worte (Best-Of)
2011 GemEinsam (Download-Single)
2011 Grenzgang
2012 Zwischenwelten
2. DJ Illuminate, a House, Electro, Dubstep music producer hailing from United States. His works incorporate headbanging elements of Hard Bass Music with Melodic Trance Synths into Modern Electronic Dance Music. Although highly underrated, DJ Illuminate is known for his free EP, "Legacy", released at August of 2013.
Ferne Städte
Illuminate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Solange ich mein Herz noch sehen kann
Erblicke ich doch nur der Qualen Spiegelbild.
Und ich sag`:
"Versteh`, alle Hoffnung ward auf Dich gesetzt
Wenn alles mich an Dir doch nur verletzt
So weiß ich nicht, was mich verführt!"
Und du sagst:
"Ferne Städte entstehen am Horizont Deiner Augen
Wenn Du nur willst, wenn Du nur willst
Kannst Du sie seh`n
Wie sie blüh`n -
Und vergeh`n
The song Ferne Städte by Illuminate is a reflective piece on the theme of hope, heartbreak, and longing for something that has been lost. The opening lyrics, "Zuletzt - im Taumel und im Rausch ertränkt," suggest a state of being overwhelmed and intoxicated by one's emotions. The following line, "Solange ich mein Herz noch sehen kann," implies that despite the confusion and turmoil, the singer is aware of their feelings and isn't completely lost in the chaos. However, when the singer looks within, they see only the reflection of their pain.
The chorus of the song is the conversation between the singer and the person they're addressing. The singer expresses their dismay and desperation, saying that all their hope was placed in the other person, but everything about them causes pain. The person responds by saying that if the singer wants to, they can see far-off cities on the horizon of their eyes when they bloom and fade. This idea suggests that there is beauty and wonder beyond the present pain and that hope and new experiences are waiting to be discovered.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the relationship between hope and heartbreak, the struggle to move forward, and the beauty that can be found even in the midst of pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Zuletzt - im Taumel und im Rausch ertränkt
Finally - drowned in frenzy and intoxication
Solange ich mein Herz noch sehen kann
As long as I can still see my heart
Erblicke ich doch nur der Qualen Spiegelbild.
I only see the reflection of my suffering.
Und ich sag`: "Versteh`, alle Hoffnung ward auf Dich gesetzt
And I say: 'Understand, all hope was placed on you'
Wenn alles mich an Dir doch nur verletzt
When everything about you just hurts me
So weiß ich nicht, was mich verführt!"
So I don't know what seduced me!
Und du sagst: "Ferne Städte entstehen am Horizont Deiner Augen
And you say: 'Distant cities arise on the horizon of your eyes'
Wenn Du nur willst, wenn Du nur willst
If you only want to, if you only want to
Kannst Du sie seh`n
You can see them
Wie sie blüh`n -
How they bloom -
Und vergeh`n
And fade away
Contributed by Landon K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.