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.
Jade
Illuminate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
was wir vergessen töten wir
an was wir denken leben wir
was uns vergißt das tötet uns
Ich hörte einst von Zeiten reden
als es Dich für mich nicht gab
Und hätt ich Flügel wie die Vögel
Ich fühle in der Welt nichts mehr
Und sei es nur der Traum vom Gestern
Ein letzter Ton in mir verklingt
Kein Zauberwort die Fluten zähmt
Ich sehe in der Welt nichts mehr
Und sei es nur das Rot der Sonne
Ein letztes Bild von Dir erscheint
von Deiner Haut die Jade gleicht
Die Stille zwischen uns verklingt nun
was ich vergesse ist nicht mehr
An was Du denkst das lebe ich
Soll die Erinnerung uns ruhig töten
Ich hörte einst von Zeiten reden
als es mich für Dich nicht gab
Und ich bräuchte keine Flügel
denn niemals flöge ich fort von Dir
Und ist auch in der Welt nichts mehr
So sei es unser Traum vom Gestern
Ein erster Ton in uns erklingt
Kein Zauberwort muß uns mehr retten
Und ist auch in der Welt nichts mehr
So sei es nur das Rot der Sonne
Das mir mein Bild von Dir erhellt
von Deiner Haut die Jade gleicht
The opening lines of the song, "The closeness behind us moves, what we forget we kill, what we think we live, what forgets us kills us" sets the tone for this deep and introspective song. The lyrics talk about forgetting and being forgotten, and the toll it takes on a person's psyche. The singer of the song had once heard about a time before they had met their love interest, a time when they hadn't even existed for each other. But now, the idea of being separated from their loved one is unbearable. They say that if they had wings like the birds, even the sun would be their grave - implying that they only want to be with their loved one until the end of their time.
The chorus talks about the singer not feeling anything anymore, even if it's just a dream from yesterday. But then they see one last image of their loved one, and their jade-like skin appears to them in a moment of clarity. In the following verses, the singer talks about the silence between them fading away, and how they live on in the thoughts of their loved one. They say that they don't need wings to fly away from their loved one, because they never want to leave them. The song ends on a hopeful note, where the singer says that even if there is nothing else left in the world, they will cherish the dream they built together.
Line by Line Meaning
Die Nähe hinter uns bewegt sich
What we leave behind is always present, though we may choose to ignore it.
was wir vergessen töten wir
Suppressing memories can eventually lead to their destruction.
an was wir denken leben wir
Our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality and existence.
was uns vergißt das tötet uns
Being forgotten can be as damaging as being remembered.
Ich hörte einst von Zeiten reden
I heard stories of a time before you were in my life.
als es Dich für mich nicht gab
A time when I did not have the joy of knowing you.
Und hätt ich Flügel wie die Vögel
If I had wings like birds do,
so wär die Sonne wohl mein Grab
I would soar into the sun and find my final resting place.
Ich fühle in der Welt nichts mehr
The world feels empty and devoid of meaning.
Und sei es nur der Traum vom Gestern
Even memories and dreams of the past bring little solace.
Ein letzter Ton in mir verklingt
The final notes of my inner music fade away.
Kein Zauberwort die Fluten zähmt
No magic word can calm the raging waters of my emotions.
Ich sehe in der Welt nichts mehr
The world around me is dark and unforgiving.
Und sei es nur das Rot der Sonne
Even the blazing red of the setting sun offers little comfort.
Ein letztes Bild von Dir erscheint
The final image of you appears in my mind.
von Deiner Haut die Jade gleicht
Your skin, as smooth and green as jade, is burned into my memory.
Die Stille zwischen uns verklingt nun
The silence between us is ending.
was ich vergesse ist nicht mehr
What I once forgot has come back to haunt me.
An was Du denkst das lebe ich
Your thoughts and hopes give me life.
Soll die Erinnerung uns ruhig töten
If our memories must destroy us, so be it.
Und ich bräuchte keine Flügel
If I had you, I would not need wings to fly away.
denn niemals flöge ich fort von Dir
I would never want to leave your side.
Und ist auch in der Welt nichts mehr
Even if the world falls apart,
So sei es unser Traum vom Gestern
Our shared dreams of the past will sustain us.
Ein erster Ton in uns erklingt
A new melody begins to play within us.
Kein Zauberwort muß uns mehr retten
No magic incantation can save us from our fate.
Das mir mein Bild von Dir erhellt
The glow of your image illuminates my world.
von Deiner Haut die Jade gleicht
You, with skin like smooth green jade, are the light at the end of my tunnel.
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.