The project is formed by the following people:
Alex Wende – composer, producer
Hennig Westland and Jäcki Reznicek – musicians
Thomas Pflanz – author of the Latin lyrics;
Diana Lasch, Kira Primke, Lawrence Sihlabeni, Maggie Reilly and Tom Cunningham - session soloists
The "Carl Maria von Weber" choir on the albums Mystic. Spirit. Voices. and Chapter 2
and Chor Der Deutschen Oper Berlin ("Choir of the German Opera, Berlin") on the album Times.
Lesiëm released its debut album, Mystic, Spirit, Voices, in 2000. The songs Fundamentum and Indalo (recorded with Lawrence Sihlabeni) were taken in rotation of German radio stations and were later released as singles in January and June of 2000. Soon after this, the album was re-released in more than 50 countries all around the world. When the album was released in the United States in 2002, it climbed to no. 7 on the U.S.
Lesiëm’s second album, Chapter 2, was released in 2001 in Europe, Initially, a limited pre-edition was released in March of 2001, followed a month later by the official release, with all tracks re-arranged. In some countries the first, limited, edition was released as official. The album was release in the U.S.A. in 2003 under the title Illumination.
The ethnic theme (which first appeared in Indalo from "Mystic. Spirit. Voices") was continued in the track Africa (released as a single in March 2001). The vocals on this track are performed by Lawrence Sihlabeni. During creation of "Chapter 2" the musicians used ethnic musical instruments, for example the doudouk (in the track Aureus) and the great highland bagpipe (for the track Britannia) and operatic parts (e.g. Susanne Kirchbaum's soprano part in "Aureus"). However, there were no hits like Fundamentum in this album.
The first two albums were a sort of prelude for the pop-opera Times, which was Lesiëm’s 3rd album (released as Auracle in U.S.A. in 2004). The musicians started their work in March 2002 and finished it in the end of July. The single Caritas (feat. Maggie Reilly and Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin) was presented in December 2002 on the philanthropic TV-show of Jose Carreras “Carreras Gala”.
In 2001, Lesiëm presented a huge show with lasers and pyrotechnics, called "Leipziger Feuerzauber". It took place at the Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig. More than 200,000 people visited it; a few millions of Germans watched it on the TV.
Roma
Lesiëm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one there to guide your way.
So many roads to choose. Win or loose.
Fight the tears of defeat,
they'll turn from bitter to sweet
Follow me, to where you belong
you'll find a place to carry on.
Soto le stelle tu e
Nobilis lupina
Mater magna
Nervus rerum
O Roma locuta
Come my way - I'll show you the light,
we will paint bright days out of Italian nights.
Follow me out of the cold
to warm our hearts and free our souls
Soto le stelle tu e
Roma aeterna Roma
Nobilis lupina
Mater magna
Nervus rerum
O Roma locuta
L'ultima Donna per me
Roma urbanus Roma
Quo tandem? In hortum
Purpuratum
Floret pratum
Amicus romani
The lyrics to Lesiem's song Roma speak about a journey of self-discovery and finding one's place in the world. The song starts with a question of where one wants to stay, with no guide to lead the way. The singer acknowledges that there are many roads to choose from and that one must decide whether to win or lose. The tears shed in defeat are acknowledged, but the singer assures the listener that they will turn from bitter to sweet.
The chorus of the song is in Latin and evokes the eternal city of Rome, with its powerful and noble history. The listener is invited to follow the singer to where they belong, to a place where they can continue to grow and thrive. The second verse invites the listener to follow the singer out of the cold and into the warmth of community and shared experience. The final verse speaks of a woman in Rome who represents the city and its urban culture.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of community, history, and shared experience. It speaks of finding one's place in the world, overcoming adversity, and embracing the beauty of life. The evocation of the ancient city of Rome provides a powerful symbol for this journey and invites the listener to be a part of that story.
Line by Line Meaning
Where, you wanna stay?
Asking where do you want to be, what's your goal?
No one there to guide your way.
You are on your own, there's no one to guide you.
So many roads to choose. Win or loose.
There are many paths to take but either you succeed or fail.
Fight the tears of defeat, they'll turn from bitter to sweet.
Do not surrender to the sadness, because from it will emerge a sweeter outcome.
Follow me, to where you belong you'll find a place to carry on.
Join me, come to where you fit and will be able to continue living.
Soto le stelle tu e Roma aeterna Roma Nobilis lupina Mater magna Nervus rerum O Roma locuta
Under the stars, you are Rome, the eternal Rome, noble she-wolf, great mother, sinews of the world, Rome spoken.
Come my way - I'll show you the light, we will paint bright days out of Italian nights.
Come with me, I'll show you the hope, together we will turn dark times into bright ones.
Follow me out of the cold to warm our hearts and free our souls.
Join me in leaving the harshness behind to find warmth for your feelings and freedom for your spirit.
L'ultima Donna per me Roma urbanus Roma Quo tandem? In hortum Purpuratum Floret pratum Amicus romani
The last woman for me, urban Rome, where at last? In the purple garden the meadow flourishes. Friend of Romans.
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.