Heap grew up playing music from an early age, and by her eleventh birthday she was writing her own songs. From the age of 15, she studied at the BRIT School Of Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon, South London, recording three tracks for the school's annual CD between 1994 and 1995, "Aliens" being the title track of the latter.
After being introduced to Nik Kershaw by his manager Mickey Modern, Heap and Kershaw recorded four demos that Mickey Modern took to Rondor Music. Consequently, a few months later Heap signed her first record contract at 18 to independent record label Almo Sounds. During 1996, Heap began working with an experimental pop band called Acacia, which featured her future collaborator Guy Sigsworth and was fronted by the singer Alexander Nilere. While never a full member of the band, Heap was a guest vocalist (as a counterpart to Nilere) and contributed to various Acacia single and album tracks in 1997. One Acacia song, "Maddening Shroud", would later be covered by Frou Frou.
Heap enjoyed a prestigious live début, performing four songs (backed by friends Acacia) between sets by The Who and Eric Clapton at the 1996 Prince's Trust Concert in Hyde Park, London. Her début album, I Megaphone (an anagram of "Imogen Heap") was internationally released in 1998 on independent record label Almo Sounds and garnered critical acclaim. However, as production of the album neared completion, it was announced that the record label had been sold and would be shut down. I-Megaphone featured collaborations with Guy Sigsworth and Dave Stewart. In Japan, the regional distributor, Zora, re-released the album in 2002, featuring "Blanket," her collaboration with Urban Species which was released as a single in the United Kingdom, and a Frou Frou remix of one of her B-sides, a video to which was released exclusively to Japanese media. Following the disbanding of her UK and USA record label, I Megaphone was scarce in circulation, having not been re-printed until November 2006. An independent Brazillian record label has rights to the record, and has issued limited copies, some of which are available on eBay. It has also been released through the iTunes Music Store under the Almo label.
At the same time as the Japanese re-release, Heap was working on new tracks with producer Guy Sigsworth, who had collaborated on "Getting Scared" from I-Megaphone. Together, they formed an electro-pop group Frou Frou, releasing an album called "Details" and singles, "Breathe In", "It's Good To Be In Love" and "Must Be Dreaming." The album was a full collaboration between the two artists. Frou Frou were approached to cover "Holding Out for a Hero", originally performed by Bonnie Tyler, for the soundtrack to the highly successful movie Shrek 2. An album track, "Let Go", was featured in the movie Garden State in 2004.
In December 2003, Heap announced on her web site that she was going to write and produce her second solo album, using her site as an online blog to update fans on progress, even seeking them to be her A&R team for the lyrics to "Daylight Robbery". Heap set herself a deadline of one year to make the album (she booked the album mastering for December 2004), and re-mortgaged her flat to fund production costs, including the use of studio time and instruments (which she purchased as a birthday present to herself). Having been burned by previous challenges with record labels (Heap had been spurned twice by record companies, when Almo Sounds was sold and when Frou Frou's label staff focused on promoting other acts), Heap decided to form her own record label on which to release the new record. At the end of 2004, Heap premiered two album tracks online, enabling fans to pay for a digital download, entitled "Just For Now" (which was up for a limited time as a Christmas gift), and "Goodnight And Go", which had been featured on the second season of hit US TV drama The O.C.
In April 2005, The O.C. season two finale featured another track, the sparse vocodered-vocal track, "Hide And Seek". The track was released immediately to digital download services such as iTunes where it became an instant fixture in the chart. The track was released as a digital download on the 5th July 2005 in the UK and peaked at #8 on the iTunes download chart.
The album, entitled "Speak For Yourself" was then released in the UK on July 18th 2005 on her own record label, Megaphonic Records. The album was also released on iTunes UK, where it entered the top 10, selling strongly. "Hide And Seek" also received radio attention from the popular UK radio station BBC Radio One, with DJ Scott Mills featuring it as his "Record of the Week", and provoking strong reactions ("love it or hate it") from other DJs at the station. Due to popular demand, the track was commercially released on a special limited edition (1500 copies were printed) 7" vinyl in the UK in September. Speak For Yourself was licensed to Sony BMG imprint RCA Victor in August 2005, enabling the record to be released in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was released in those territories in November, and Heap appeared on the Hotel Cafe Tour promoting the record. Imogen also performed "Goodnight And Go" on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 11, 2006. Heap is slated to continue touring in 2006 in the US and UK to support the record.
As well as TV soundtracks (Frou Frou and Heap's solo records have been featured in shows as varied as The O.C. to CSI, among others), Heap has also contributed solo tracks to movie soundtracks. Her cover of the song "Spooky" (made famous by the band Classics IV, and previously covered by Dusty Springfield) for the soundtrack to the Reese Witherspoon movie Just Like Heaven. Heap also wrote a special track entitled "Can't Take It In" for the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She has also appeared on the second soundtrack for the HBO television series "Six Feet Under", entitled "Six Feet Under Vol. 2: Everything Ends" with a 50-second track that closed the Season 4 episode "I'm A Lonely Little Petunia (In An Onion Patch)". Three versions were recorded and are available from Heap's official web site.
In addition to producing her own records, she has also produced a track for Nik Kershaw and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Joshua Radin, Jeff Beck, Temposhark, LHB, Way Out West, Jon Bon Jovi, Mich Gerber, Sean Lennon, Urban Species, Blue October, Jon Hopkins and Acacia.
Heap's 2009 album 'Ellipse' features Canvas, Aha! and Half Life.
Sites: Twitter
www.imogenheap.com
Xizi She Knows
Imogen Heap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From hustlers to emperors
For power and pleasure
We carve through the cars
Dance around the Daily News
Cue in the Grande ballabile
Even your ten-ton tone rings home for Marco Polo
(Slow down)
From a thread of sky (Slow down)
To the warp and weft your being (Slow down)
You're beautiful, graceful, like no other
Pretty damned good as you are
(Slow down)
Friend of mine (Slow down)
In a terrible hurry for change (Slow down)
As you unravel your marvels
From evergreen gardens
Remember we loved you this way
To treasure it all, scroll out to see
In gold, fire, wood, clay and water
Your structure and flow, adagio to allegro
With leaves to the tide
In full moon, plum blossom, we salute to you
(Slow down)
From a thread of sky (Slow down)
To the warp and weft your being (Slow down)
Dynamic and playful, you opened my eyes yeah
Pretty damned good as you are
(Slow down)
Friend of mine (Slow down)
Could you go for progression not pace (Slow down)
As you unravel your marvels
Don't lose them all on the way
(Slow down)
From a thread of sky (Slow down)
To the warp and weft your being (Slow down)
You're beautiful, graceful, like no other
Pretty damned good as you are
(Slow down)
Friend of mine (Slow down)
In a terrible hurry for change (Slow down)
As you unravel your marvels
From evergreen gardens
Remember we loved you this way
(Slow down)
To the warp and weft of your being
Beautiful, graceful, like no other
Pretty damned good as you are
(Whoa) Xizi she knows that once it's gone, then it's gone
Xizi she knows that once it's gone, then it's gone
Xizi she knows that once it's gone, then it's gone
The song Xizi She Knows, by Imogen Heap, is a tribute to the great city of Hangzhou, China. The lyrics describe the city’s rich and complex history, referencing both its hustlers and emperors, and the power and pleasure they sought. The song also alludes to Marco Polo, who famously journeyed from Venice to Hangzhou in the 13th century, and who described the city as one of the most beautiful in the world.
As the lyrics continue, the singer implores the city of Hangzhou to "slow down," urging it to take time to appreciate its own beauty and complexity. The city is praised for its structure and flow, which are described as moving "adagio to allegro" with the leaves to the tide. The singer implores the city not to lose its marvels, but instead to treasure them and remember the love that others have for it.
Finally, the song’s chorus repeats the phrase "Xizi she knows that once it’s gone, then it’s gone," emphasizing the importance of cherishing the moment and appreciating what one has in the present.
Overall, Xizi She Knows is a thoughtful and powerful tribute to Hangzhou, China, celebrating both its rich history and its continuing beauty and vitality.
Line by Line Meaning
We come to your shores over misty millennial
We are descendants of those who have come to your land over thousands of years, surrounded by fog and mystery.
From hustlers to emperors
From those who seek power through deceitful means, to those who rule with respect and authority.
For power and pleasure
We seek control and enjoyment in life.
We carve through the cars
We move through the hustle and bustle of city life, making our way through the traffic and crowds.
Dance around the Daily News
We dance around the constant stream of news and information that comes at us every day, trying to keep up with the world.
Cue in the Grande ballabile
We are ready to dance to the big, grand performance of life.
Even your ten-ton tone rings home for Marco Polo
Even the sound of the city, from the heaviest and loudest to the softest and most subtle, reminds us of the travels of Marco Polo and the connection we all share.
(Slow down) From a thread of sky
Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the sky and the world around you.
(Slow down) To the warp and weft your being
Take a moment to appreciate the complexity and intricacy of your being, made up of many different parts woven together.
(Slow down) You're beautiful, graceful, like no other
Take a moment to appreciate your unique beauty and gracefulness.
Pretty damned good as you are
You are already good enough just the way you are.
(Slow down) Friend of mine
Let's take a moment to reflect and slow down, my dear friend.
(Slow down) In a terrible hurry for change
You are in a hurry to change things, but it's important to take the time to reflect and make thoughtful choices.
(Slow down) As you unravel your marvels
As you explore the wonders and mysteries of life, make sure to take your time and enjoy the journey.
From evergreen gardens
From the beauty and stability of nature and the natural world.
Remember we loved you this way
Remember that those who care about you love you for who you are, just the way you are.
To treasure it all, scroll out to see
To appreciate the beauty and value of everything around us, and to take a wider perspective on life.
In gold, fire, wood, clay and water
In the elements that make up our world and our lives, from the precious and refined to the raw and elemental.
Your structure and flow, adagio to allegro
The way your life is organized and the way it moves, from the slow and steady to the fast and exciting.
With leaves to the tide
With the ebb and flow of life, like leaves tossed by the sea.
In full moon, plum blossom, we salute to you
In the beauty of the full moon and the delicate plum blossom, we honor and respect you.
(Slow down) Dynamic and playful, you opened my eyes yeah
You are full of energy and fun, and you have helped me see the world in a new and exciting way.
(Slow down) Could you go for progression not pace
Rather than being in a hurry to move forward, let's focus on making steady progress and growth.
(Slow down) Don't lose them all on the way
Don't forget to take the time to enjoy the things that matter most, and not lose sight of them in the rush of life.
To the warp and weft of your being
To the complexity and beauty of your existence, woven together like threads in a cloth.
Xizi she knows that once it's gone, then it's gone
Xizi knows that once something is lost, it is lost forever.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IMOGEN JENNIFER JANE HEAP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@StephenKim422
We come to your shores over misty millennia
From hustlers to emperors
For power and pleasure
We carve through the cars
Dance around the Daily News
Cue in the Grande ballabile
Even your ten-ton tone rings home for Marco Polo
Slow down
From a thread of sky
Slow down
To the warp and weft of your being
Slow down
You're beautiful, graceful, like no other
Pretty damned good as you are
Slow down
Friend of mine
Slow down
In a terrible hurry for change
Slow down
As you unravel your marvels
From evergreen gardens
Remember we loved you this way
To treasure it all, scroll out to see
In gold, fire, wood, clay and water
Your structure and flow, adagio to allegro
With leaves to the tide
In full moon, plum blossom, we salute to you
Slow down
From a thread of sky
Slow down
To the warp and weft of your being
Slow down
Dynamic and playful, you opened my eyes yeah
You're pretty damned good as you are
Slow down
Friend of mine
Slow down
Could you go for progression not pace
Slow down
As you unravel your marvels
Don't lose them all on the way
Mantoshan
Slow down
From a thread of sky
Slow down
To the warp and weft of your being
Slow down
You're beautiful, graceful, like no other
Pretty damned good as you are
Slow down
Friend of mine
Slow down
You're in a terrible hurry to change
Slow down
Unravel your marvels, from evergreen gardens
Remember we loved you this way
Whoa, to the warp and weft of your being
You're beautiful, graceful, like no other
P-p-pretty damned good as you are
Xizi she knows that once it's gone, then it's gone
Xizi she knows that once it's gone, then it's gone
Xizi she knows that once it's gone
Then it's gone.
@AquilaLiberum
As someone who's really interested in the sociology of city life, this song speaks VOLUMES to me and has done ever since it was released years ago. The contrast of the mechanical printing press with the graceful dancer represents what the city is moving towards vs the beauty of the city as it is. And the Xizi she talks about is the name of the river that flows through the city, I love how she personifies it by saying 'Xizi she knows'.
Add in the fact that the percussion from this is made up purely of recorded and remixed sound from the newspaper printers and this song is just mindblowing. I love it. Immie is one very talented lady.
@Mandon97
Very good comprehension of the song. Although I believe Xizi here means the West Lake in Hangzhou that remains relatively unchanged during the fast development of that city. The lake was named after an ancient beauty Xi Shi, who was sometimes called Xizi in Chinese poems.
@zweifelausdereifel3987
I have lived in China for a year and have completely fallen in love with that dynamic and beautiful country. I've had that song in my favorites list for years and even though I had never been to China that time the song still connected me to it. Now that I have returned I feel that this song together with the video really captures the China spirit that I miss every day. Thank you for this beautiful song!
@vc50er
Check out Cowboy Junkies. She teaches English to Chinese children.
@jonajon91
I don't know why, but the part with the worker dancing in the printing press was so striking to me, great stuff.
@noxaurum1
Dangerous af
@Mandon97
She was required to do the same thing as a challenge on a culture project so that was a piece of her personal experience.
@ongbonga9025
With her supervisor quietly observing her. Bet she got fired and the camera person marched out of the building.
@MaMa-rx5jz
Reminded me of dancer in the dark
@biglittlefilms4382
Imogen, everything about this is just wonderful, the song, the visuals, the feel of it. You are such an accomplished and fully realized artist.