1. Kayak is a legendary Du… Read Full Bio ↴There are four bands with the name Kayak.
1. Kayak is a legendary Dutch progressive rock band, mostly known during the 1970’s. Formed from the ashes of the group High Tide Formation (who released only one single before disbanding), the early sound was typified by the contrasting songwriting styles of keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel and drummer Pim Koopman, as well as the distinctive vocals of Max Werner.
The band saw an increasing streamlining of their songwriting, as well as greater commercial fortunes, over the years, hitting their peak of popularity with the smash success of their single “Ruthless queen”, a sizable European hit from their 1979 album, Phantom Of The Night.
Kayak disbanded in 1981, after their semi-conceptual Merlin and subsequent live album Eyewitness. Ton Scherpenzeel subsequently joined progressive rock legends Camel and contributed to their 1984 album Stationary Traveller, as well as to 1999's Rajaz.
Kayak reunited in 2000, releasing one of their best albums yet: Close to the Fire, with a guest appearance of Andrew Latimer of Camel. Being active ever since, Kayak released two further conceptual opuses: Merlin: Bard of the Unseen (an elaboration of their 1981 album) and Nostradamus: The Fate of Man.
In 2007 the band released the live CD KAYAKoustic, to return in 2008 with a new studio album called Coming Up For Air. The coinciding tour celebrated their 35th Anniversary.
Current line up: Ton Scherpenzeel (keyboards) Pim Koopman (drums) Edward Reekers (voc) Cindy Oudshoorn (voc) Joost Vergoossen (guitr) Rob Vunderink (voc, guitr) and Jan van Olffen (bass).
On 23 November 2009, drummer Pim Koopman unexpectedly died of sudden heart faillure...all concerts were cancelled for the remainder of 2009 and for 2010
2. Hardcore/metal band from Moscow, Russia consisting of The Price of One Day ex-members.
3. Kayak is a new electronic artist from Zig-Zag Records
4. Ayong, the drummer of Chinese post-rock band 48V, produces electronic music using the name kayak (styled in lower case).
No Man's Land
Kayak Lyrics
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Life is what they call it and some people know
Exactly where they're going to and where it's at
What they want and even what they're gonna get
When I try to match the ones that pull the strings
All I so is risk my neck and sell my skin
I'm feeling like an actor every word I say
No man's land, taking shelter from the eager crowd
No man's land, where my mind needs to be leveled out
Here I see the madman's silhouette
Standing out against the dream he's had
No man's land
Like oxygen I need my no man's land
Prophets of the distant eye, your shallow din
Slowly turns the world into a lifesize ring
Where acrobats and jugglers can perform their tricks
Audience longing for more thrilling kicks
No man's land, between the borders of our common past
No man's land, beyond the longitudes of east and west
Like an outcast, rogue or refugee
Victimized by my own fantasy
No man's land
The story's ended nowhere - no man's land
The lyrics of Kayak's song No Man's Land express a sentiment of confusion and disillusionment towards life and society. The main character in the song seems to be unable to comprehend why people pursue their goals with such determination, as if they knew exactly what they wanted and how to get it. The first verse suggests that the singer has been watching a television show that he finds ridiculous and dismisses as a "rotten play". He feels like an actor in this show, with every word he says being prompted by a "madman". The imagery of the "eager crowd" evokes a sense of pressure and expectation that the singer can't live up to.
The second verse introduces the idea of prophets, who through their words and actions, turn the world into a "lifesize ring" where people are entertained and distracted from their problems. The acrobats and jugglers are metaphors for people who perform for others' entertainment, while the audience is portrayed as "longing for more thrilling kicks". The singer feels like an outcast or refugee, who seeks refuge in his own "no man's land", where he can escape the pressures of society. The final line of the song, "The story's ended nowhere - no man's land" suggests that the singer has accepted his place outside societal norms and expectations.
Kayak's No Man's Land was a part of their 1977 concept album "Starlight Dancer". The album had a space-themed cover and was a departure from Kayak's earlier progressive rock sound, towards a more accessible and radio-friendly style. The band's leader and main songwriter, Ton Scherpenzeel, described the album as a "journey through time and space". The album was a commercial success in the Netherlands, reaching the top 10 on the charts.
Line by Line Meaning
I could never understand that silly show
I don't understand life
Life is what they call it and some people know
Some people have figured out life
Exactly where they're going to and where it's at
They know where they're headed
What they want and even what they're gonna get
They know what they want and how to get it
When I try to match the ones that pull the strings
When I try to keep up with those in control
All I so is risk my neck and sell my skin
All I do is put myself in danger and sacrifice my own well-being
I'm feeling like an actor every word I say
I feel like I'm not being true to myself
Prompted by a madman in a rotten play
Because of someone else's influence
No man's land, taking shelter from the eager crowd
A place where I can escape from the pressures of society
No man's land, where my mind needs to be leveled out
A place to clear my head and find balance
Here I see the madman's silhouette
I see the harmful influence that's affecting me
Standing out against the dream he's had
That influence is standing in the way of my own aspirations
Like oxygen I need my no man's land
I need my space to breathe and think
Prophets of the distant eye, your shallow din
People who claim to have all the answers but don't really understand
Slowly turns the world into a lifesize ring
They're limiting our potential and possibilities
Where acrobats and jugglers can perform their tricks
The world becomes a place for people to show off, rather than to truly live
Audience longing for more thrilling kicks
Society is always looking for entertainment, rather than genuine connection
No man's land, between the borders of our common past
A place beyond the constraints of our shared history
No man's land, beyond the longitudes of east and west
A place beyond geographic limitations
Like an outcast, rogue or refugee
I feel like I don't belong anywhere
Victimized by my own fantasy
I'm struggling because of my own unrealistic ideals
The story's ended nowhere - no man's land
I'm lost and directionless
Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.