Gonzalez and Fromageau parted ways shortly after touring their second album Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. Gonzalez records primarily on his own, with other artists as guest musicians. The band is signed to Mute Records and found international success in 2011 with the single "Midnight City". Their most recent album Fantasy was released on 17 March 2023.
Anthony Gerard Gonzalez (born March 13, 1980) grew up in Antibes, France together with his brother Yann. His family had a great interest in football and Gonzalez had trials with AS Cannes, while his maternal grandfather is the French international Laurent Robuschi. At the age of 14 he got injured and turned to music instead after his parents bought him a guitar. Gonzalez developed his interest in music and American culture while at secondary school. Together with Fromageau he formed a post-rock outfit called My Violent Wish.
At the age of 17, Gonzalez bought a synth to record a demo, which he sent to a number of French labels. When the Paris-based Gooom Records appeared interested, he recruited Fromageau to "help me because I didn't feel like I had the shoulders to carry the project on my own". The band is named after the galaxy of the same name.
The band's musical aesthetic is characterized by extensive use of reverb effects and lyrics spoken softly over loud instruments. Gonzalez has been inspired by aspects of the American Dream and his songs have been outlined as themed around "adult-scripted teen dreams". Inspiration for the 1980s style found in much of Gonzalez’s music includes bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Pink Floyd, and Tangerine Dream. Between various electronic music properties and album artwork, M83’s style includes a mix of both contemporary pop and 1980s dream pop.
Moon Child
M83 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything was in the dark
No memories at all
Just a tiny freezing wind in my back
As I was sitting there
Singing a song they had never heard before
Suddenly, a voice told me
"Keep on singing, little boy
Raise your arms the highest you can
So the whole universe will glow"
My first vision was a bush growing down the river
And I couldn't stop crying
Something was missing
I realized I was in love with a voice
I called it, again, and again
But all I heard was the echo in the light
M83's song "Moon Child" is a dreamy and atmospheric song that tells a story. The song's opening lines suggest that the singer of the story (either the singer or the listener) is responsible for creating the moon. The character has no memories but is sitting in a dark atmosphere with a "tiny freezing wind" blowing against their back. The character begins to sing a song that no one has ever heard before when suddenly a voice speaks to them. The voice instructs them to keep on singing and to raise their arms as high as they can into the sky. The song is an invitation to let go of limitations and become a part of the universe.
The singer's first vision is a bush growing down the river, and they can’t stop crying. They feel that something is missing, and they realize that they are in love with the voice that spoke to them earlier. They call out to the voice, but all they hear is an echo. The song suggests that the singer is on a quest for something, and this quest might be to find their place in the universe or to find their true purpose in life. The dreamy and atmospheric feel of the song adds to the sense of searching and longing for something just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
They say I made the moon
The singer of the song is being credited as the creator of the moon.
Everything was in the dark
The beginning of the world was enveloped in darkness.
No memories at all
Before the singer created the moon, there were no memories or history to be accounted for.
Just a tiny freezing wind in my back
The artist recalls a cold sensation while creating the moon.
As I was sitting there
During the creation of the moon, the artist was in a stationary position.
Singing a song they had never heard before
The singer was creating the moon while singing an original tune.
Suddenly, a voice told me
The singer received some form of divine inspiration during the creation process.
"Keep on singing, little boy
The inspirational voice urged the artist to continue creating the moon, calling him a little boy.
And raise your arms in the big black sky
The inspirational voice instructed the artist to raise his arms towards the sky as he created the moon.
Raise your arms the highest you can
The inspirational voice urged the artist to stretch his arms to their limits while creating the moon.
So the whole universe will glow"
The inspirational voice promised that the singer's efforts would lead to an illuminated universe.
My first vision was a bush growing down the river
The artist recalls his first visions occurring by a river in the form of a bush.
And I couldn't stop crying
The singer appears to be overcome with emotion during his first vision.
Something was missing
Despite having had a vision, the singer still feels that something is missing.
I realized I was in love with a voice
The voice which previously inspired the singer has now become an object of affection for him.
I called it, again, and again
The artist calls out to the voice repeatedly, yearning for its presence once more.
But all I heard was the echo in the light
Despite his calls, the artist hears only an echo in return, realizing that the voice may not have been real after all.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY GONZALEZ, YANN GONZALEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erik Suarez
They say I made the moon
Everything was in the dark
No memories at all
Just a tiny freezing wind in my back
As I was sitting there
Singing a song they had never heard before
Suddenly, a voice told me
"Keep on singing, little boy
And raise your arms in the big black sky
Raise your arms the highest you can
So the whole universe will glow"
My first vision was a bush growing down the river
And I couldn't stop crying
Something was missing
I realized I was in love with a voice
I called it, again, and again
But all I heard was the echo in the light
DuckAnh
Thank you M83, Mercedes Mclaren SLR, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for being a part of my childhood.
Jaggs
What? Who? Why?
DuckAnh
@Jaggs Just search "top gear slr oslo" and you will get it.
Em Jackson
This and Speed Me Toward Death by Rob Dougan, incredible.
Da`Man
It was almost 20 years ago :) Spoken some time ago with 19 year old dude about TG. He told me that Clarkson is a old racist prick who is misogynist, and that`s how our heroes from childhood will be forgotten :)
DuckAnh
@Da`Man that sounded moronic
Jesse pinkman
the drums in the beginning give me chills. this band is one of those bands you never get tired of ( at least i dont) and the first thing i always think of is space. nothing in particular, just space. outer space and how beautiful it is. like this band.
plzifna
Can we give this man a hand for speaking my mind for me
Jesse pinkman
i heard this song forever Ago and fell in love with m83, the song "my tears are becoming a sea" is another amazing song, all there songs are great but i love those two a lot,
Quade Carter
This music sounds like it was picked up from a radio broadcast from a higher form of intelligent alien life.