Keane achieved mainstream, international success with the release of their debut album Hopes and Fears in 2004. Topping the UK charts, the album won the 2005 Brit Award for Best British Album and was the second best-selling British album of 2004. It is one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history. Their second album, Under the Iron Sea, released in 2006, topped the UK album charts and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200. Their third album Perfect Symmetry was released in October 2008.
In May 2008, both Hopes and Fears (number 13) and Under the Iron Sea (number 8) were voted by readers of Q magazine as among the best British albums ever, with Keane, The Beatles, Oasis and Radiohead the only artists having two albums in the top 20. In 2009, Hopes and Fears was listed as the ninth best-selling album of the 2000s decade in the UK. Their EP Night Train was released in May 2010. Their fourth studio album Strangeland was released in May 2012 and peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart.
Keane are known for using keyboards as the lead instrument instead of guitar, differentiating them from most other rock bands. The inclusion of a distorted piano effect in 2006 and various synthesisers were a common feature in their music which developed on the second and third albums. Keane have sold over 13 million records worldwide.
After the release of their compilation album The Best of Keane in 2013, the band took a hiatus, lasting nearly 5 years.
The band returned after the hiatus with new music, announcing their fifth studio album titled Cause and Effect on 6 June 2019 and releasing the lead single from the album "The Way I Feel". A collection of the songs were written by Tim Rice-Oxley during his divorce, and after discussions with Tom who had visited Tim the previous year, decided to proceed with recording the songs for the album. Cause and Effect was released on 20 September 2019. After the release of the album, the band embarked on the Cause and Effect Tour, visiting Europe and Latin America, before the remainder of the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keane_(band)
Studio albums
Hopes and Fears (2004)
Under the Iron Sea (2006)
Perfect Symmetry (2008)
Strangeland (2012)
Cause and Effect (2019)
What a Wonderful World
Keane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"
I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Oh yeah
The lyrics to Keane's version of What a Wonderful World is a beautiful reflection of the simple things in life that are often taken for granted. The song begins by describing the beauty of nature, such as the trees with green leaves and red roses, which bloom for everyone to appreciate. It sets the stage for the theme of the song, which is that the world is wonderful despite its troubles.
The next verse focuses on the sky and the way the clouds come and go. This could be a metaphor for human emotions and experiences that are ever-changing. Regardless of whether it is bright or dark outside, whether it be a happy or sad event, the world is still wonderful. The chorus then repeats the main message of the song which is simply, what a wonderful world.
The following verse is about people and their interactions with one another. The colors of the rainbow are beautiful in the sky, but people's faces can be just as full of color and life. The song lyrically notes that people shake hands and greet each other warmly, which translates to saying "I love you". Then the song goes on to talk about the wonder of life and watching babies grow and develop with curiosity and wonder. The last two lines again emphasize the overall message that the world is truly wonderful.
Line by Line Meaning
I see trees of green, red roses too
I notice the beauty of nature, represented by green trees and red roses
I see them bloom for me and you
I recognize the natural beauty is for all to enjoy, not just me
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I reflect on the awesomeness of the world and how it fills me with happiness
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
I notice the sky's colours and structure, blue during the day and white during the night
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
I acknowledge and appreciate the beauty of both daily and nightly atmospheres
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I mentally respond to the world in a positive and appreciative manner
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
I take notice of the rainbow's colors, which are breathtaking in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I recognize that the colors of the rainbow exist not only in the sky but also on humans' faces
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' 'How do you do?'
I observe people greeting each other cordially, asking how each other feels
They're really saying 'I love you'
I recognize that this brief greeting is a demonstration of affection and caring
I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
I acknowledge both the struggles and joys of parenthood as I see babies cry and mature
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
I realize that children will gain knowledge beyond what I understand
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I continue to think positively about the world around me
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I reaffirm my appreciation of the world
Contributed by Daniel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sandi
on I Need Your Love
Leanest