In November 2003, at the age of 19, Melua released her first album, Call off the Search, which reached the top of the United Kingdom album charts and sold 1.8 million copies in its first five months of release. Her second album, Piece by Piece, was released in September 2005 and to date has gone platinum four times. Melua released her third studio album Pictures in October 2007, which has been announced to be the last of her albums in collaboration with Mike Batt. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2008, Melua has a fortune of £18 million, making her the seventh richest British musician under thirty.
In the summer of 2003, aged just 18 and still studying at the Brit School of Performing Arts in leafy Surrey, no-one, least of all Katie, would have predicted what the next few years would hold for the teenager. Four years later, Katie has sold more than 7.5 million albums becoming, in 2006, the year’s best selling British female in the world along the way.
Georgian born Katie relocated from Tbilisi to Belfast at the age of 8 due to her father’s profession as a heart surgeon and 5 years later moved to South East London. After her GCSEs Katie joined the Brit School for Performing Arts where she undertook a BTEC and Music A-level and discovered different styles of music including Queen, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Irish folk music and Indian music. On hearing an Eva Cassidy song Katie was blown away and when she discovered that Eva was no longer alive wrote the song ‘Faraway Voice’ as a tribute to her. It was this song that attracted the attention of the composer and producer Mike Batt. Katie signed to Batt’s record label Dramatico but stayed at the Brit School to complete her studies – she graduated with distinction in July 2003.
During the summer of 2003 her debut single, ‘The Closest Thing To Crazy’, attracted the attention of British station BBC Radio 2 and upon its release entered the charts at number 10. Released in November, Katie’s debut album ‘Call Off The Search’ hit the UK number 1 spot in January 2004 and has subsequently scored top 10 positions throughout Europe. The album has since been certified gold in Holland, Hong Kong and Switzerland, platinum in Denmark, New Zealand and Australia, 2 x platinum in Germany, Ireland, Norway and South Africa and received the IFPI Double Platinum Award for 2 million European Sales. In March 2005 ‘Call Off The Search’ hit the number 1 spot in Denmark, a year after its initial release and became a top five album in Japan. Katie was awarded Best International Newcomer at Germany’s ECHO Awards in April 2005. In Britain, Katie was the highest selling female artist in 2004 – ‘Call Off The Search’ has now sold 1.8 million copies and is 6 x platinum (in Britain alone) and worldwide sales exceed 3.5 million.
Katie joined the line up for the Band Aid 20 single to record a new version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’. As an ambassador for Save The Children this was particularly poignant for Katie. In March 2005 Katie was invited by Nelson Mandela to perform at his 46664 concert in aid of Mandela’s AIDS foundation. In addition to performing a full live set, Katie joined Queen on stage to perform a moving version of ‘Too Much Love Will Kill You’. Katie flew from South Africa to Sri Lanka where she experienced the work that is being done by Save The Children, particularly with child soldiers.
In August 2005 Katie and her family swore allegiance to The Queen and became British Citizens following a ceremony in Surrey, England. Katie was asked to perform at the Royal Wedding of Prince Pieter-Christiaan in Holland and at the Norwegian Royal Gala Concert in the presence of the Crown Prince Of Norway. Continuing the royal theme, the American TV show ‘Good Morning America’ broadcast live from Buckingham Palace and Katie was invited by the show to perform ‘Nine Million Bicycles’ and ‘The Closest Thing To Crazy’. Katie performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Norway.
In between her overseas travel Katie recorded her new album, ‘Piece By Piece’, which was released in Europe on September 26th 2005. The album comprises more self-penned songs including the title track as well as a cover of the 1987 Cure hit ‘Just Like Heaven’ that Katie recorded for a new DreamWorks film starring Reese Witherspoon. The first single, ‘Nine Million Bicycles’, preceded the album release and gave Katie her highest UK single chart entry at number 5. One week later and Katie entered the UK album charts at number 1 and Europe swiftly followed with the album reaching #1 in Norway, Denmark and Holland, #2 in Ireland, #2 in Iceland, #3 in South Africa, #4 in Poland and #2 in Germany giving an overall chart position of #2 on the Billboard European Top 100 Chart.
Katie was nominated for two Brit Awards in the “Best Female” and “Pop” categories, for the “Best International Female” at the Edison Awards in Holland and was awarded “Best International Female (Rock & Pop)” at the Echo Awards in Germany. Once again Katie was pronounced the highest selling female artist in Britain in 2005 selling more than 1 million albums.
It is fair to say that 2006 was yet another extraordinary year for 22 year old Katie. In addition to the awards nominations, Katie had a Dutch tulip named in her honour, toured America coast to coast, raced at 160mph round Grand Prix circuit Silverstone, flew a plane, launched Save The Children’s ‘Rewrite The Future’ campaign, made the headlines with a Guinness World Record for the deepest concert when she performed 303 meters beneath the North Sea in the leg of a gas rig and was awarded the World Music Award for Britain’s Biggest Selling Female. Whilst in 2004 and 2005, Katie was the greatest selling female artist in Britain, in 2006 Katie was the highest selling European female artist in the world selling more than 3 million copies of her second album ‘Piece By Piece’.
Awarded the Golden Camera Award for International Pop Artist at the start of 2007, Katie was presented with the Echo Award for International Female Artist in March 2007.
October 2007 saw the release of Katie’s third album ‘Pictures’ – a record which has delighted her legions of fans, confirmed Katie’s status as a unique and remarkable vocalist, and revealed the third chapter in what is destined to be a long musical career.
Katie’s fourth album, “The Katie Melua Collection”, is a musical summary of the 24 year old’s journey so far and is being released to coincide with Katie’s arena tour in October and November 2008.
www.katiemelua.com/
Ghost Town
Katie Melua Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the feeling that I'm living in a ghost town
Barn door bangin' in my face
Like tumbleweed
I'm rolling 'round this place
I see you arriving at the station
But it's only in my imagination
Turn around
And save me, baby, please
From this ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
Hey kid, I remember all the laughter
Especially when we woke the morning after
Why did you have to go away?
Leaving me to wander every day
In this ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
We were born to ride
Side by side
We were always reaching for the stars
And they can still be ours
If you free me from this
Ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
I'm living in an old ghost town
In Katie Melua's song "Ghost Town," she describes the feeling of living in a place with no life, no hope, and no one around. The lyrics depict a sense of loneliness and isolation, with the repetition of "ghost town" adding to the desolate vibe of the song. Melua uses visual metaphors like "Barn door banging in my face like tumbleweed" to describe the emptiness of the town. She also dreams of her lover returning to her, which would bring life back to her world. However, the stark reality of the situation is that she's stuck in this abandoned place, without anyone to turn to. The song ends with the same line that started it: "I'm living in an old ghost town."
The sense of hopelessness in the lyrics of "Ghost Town" is emphasized by the soft and slow melody of the song. The slow tempo and melancholic tone of the music create a somber atmosphere that complements the haunting images in the lyrics. The song is a lament for a love that has been lost, and a plea for someone to save her from the suffocating loneliness that she experiences in the ghost town.
Line by Line Meaning
The thing that makes me feel the most down
What brings me the most sadness
Is the feeling that I'm living in a ghost town
Is the feeling of being alone
Barn door bangin' in my face
Doors slamming in front of me
Like tumbleweed
With nothing to catch on to
I'm rolling 'round this place
Feeling lost in this location
I see you arriving at the station
I imagine you coming to see me
But it's only in my imagination
But I know it's not real
So I'm begging on my knees
So I'm pleading with you
Turn around
Come back to me
And save me, baby, please
And rescue me
From this ghost town
From this lonely place
I feel like giving in
I feel like surrendering
Since you left I'm living in
Because you left me, I'm now residing in
An old ghost town
An abandoned place with no one around
Hey kid, I remember all the laughter
I remember all the good times, my friend
Especially when we woke the morning after
Especially when we woke up the next day after a fun night
Why did you have to go away?
Why did you have to leave me?
Leaving me to wander every day
Causing me to aimlessly wander without purpose
We were born to ride
We were meant to live our lives to the fullest
Side by side
Together, always
We were always reaching for the stars
We always aimed for the highest goals
And they can still be ours
And we can still achieve them
If you free me from this
If you help me escape this situation
I'm living in an old ghost town
I'm dwelling in a deserted and lonely place
I feel like giving in
I feel like giving up
Since you left I'm living in
Because you're gone, I'm living in
An old ghost town
An abandoned place devoid of life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Katie Melua, Mike Batt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ruckizucki13
Lyrics :
The thing that makes me feel the most down,
Is the feeling that I'm living in a ghost town.
Barn door bangin' in my face,
Like tumbleweed,
I'm rolling 'round this place.
I see you arriving at the station,
But it's only my imagination.
So I'm begging on my knees,
Turn around,
And save me, baby, please.
From this ghost town,
I feel like giving in,
Since you left I'm living in,
An old ghost town.
Hey kid, I remember all the laughter,
Especially when we woke the morning after.
Why did you have to go away,
Leaving me to wander every day.
In this ghost town,
I feel like giving in,
Since you left I'm living in,
An old ghost town.
We were born to ride,
Side by side.
We are always reaching for the stars,
And they can still be ours.
(If you free me from this)
Ghost town,
I feel like giving in,
Since you left I'm living in,
An old ghost town.
I feel like giving in.
Since you left I'm living in,
An old ghost town.
I feel like giving in,
Since you left I'm living in,
An old ghost town.
Living in an old ghost town
@spettabilesignor
The thing that makes me feel the most down
Is the feeling that I'm living in a ghost town
Barn door bangin' in my face
Like tumbleweed
I'm rolling 'round this place
I see you arriving at the station
But it's only in my imagination
So I'm begging on my knees
Turn around
And save me, baby, please
From this ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
Hey kid, I remember all the laughter
Especially when we woke the morning after
Why did you have to go away?
Leaving me to wander every day
In this ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
We were born to ride
Side by side
We were always reaching for the stars
And they can still be ours
If you free me from this
Ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
I feel like giving in
Since you left I'm living in
An old ghost town
I'm living in an old ghost town
@alexferry6032
"...and they can still be ours" at 2:29 the way Katie extends and changes note on "ours" is sublime. Love her vocals.
@jis87BE
One of her best....god, how much I love her.
@xav1952
My morning treat !Such a fine voice, thank you Katie.I can't wait to hear you in concert again !
@brucekigllis6544
Le reggae géorgien,c'est cool...!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰
@universal-zy5bh
Katie can sing anything! What a gorgeous talent!
@alessiosantacroce9650
This is a kind of magic
@nicholozzie6148
მიყვარს ძალიან ეს სიმღერა 💚
@alilekabyle7424
Love you Katieeeeeeeeeeeeee
@christianwestphal4641
Klasse ❤️ 💕 🐗 🇨🇱
@abyooki
Amazing guitar and keys riffs with your smooth voice singing beautiful lyrics and simple brass notes .. This is definetely "less is more"