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.
Teen Angst |Mix|
M83 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How fast we cry
The more we learn
The more we die
The more we learn
The more we cry
How fast we burn
How fast we die
I hear the planet crying now
The lyrics of M83's "Teen Angst" seem to reflect on the rapid pace at which we live and how we often burn out just as quickly as we ignite. The first four lines of the chorus emphasize this idea with the repetition of "How fast we burn, how fast we cry, the more we learn, the more we die." The contrast between the initial upbeat tempo and catchy melody with the weighty words seems to challenge the listener to consider the cost of living life in the fast lane. It appears that the first part of the chorus is a reminder of the fragility of life, the more we try to grasp the more we slip away, the more we understand, the harsher life can become. The repetition of the chorus in the song helps reinforce how quickly time flies and the cycle of life and learning that we go through.
The lyrics then shift as the singer notes that they "hear the planet crying now." This line seems to suggest that not only do individual lives burn out quickly, but the earth itself is in peril due to the way we choose to live. The use of the word "crying" imbues the planet with a sense of humanity, as if the earth is lamenting the damage that we have caused in our rush to live faster, consume more and destroy our natural resources. In this way, the song calls attention to the often-overlooked cost of modern life and the havoc it can wreak on the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
How fast we burn
We tend to move too quickly and recklessly which often leads to chaotic situations.
How fast we cry
Our emotional capacity for sadness and heartbreak is vast and sometimes overwhelming.
The more we learn
As we acquire knowledge and experience, our understanding of the world becomes richer and more complex.
The more we die
As we gain experience, we also become more aware of our own mortality and the fleeting nature of life.
The more we learn
Our desire to understand and make sense of the world can lead to increased vulnerability and emotional sensitivity.
The more we cry
Our heightened awareness and sensitivity can result in deeper and more intense emotional reactions.
How fast we burn
Our reckless behavior and tendency towards chaos can have destructive and far-reaching consequences.
How fast we die
Our mortality is an ever-present reality that we must confront and come to terms with.
I hear the planet crying now
Our actions have consequences that extend beyond our individual lives and impact the world around us.
I hear the planet crying now
The natural world is increasingly threatened by our actions and needs to be protected and preserved.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY GONZALEZ, YANN GONZALEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
angelicgurl77
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: This is the best song of all time.
turbofanlover
LOL. Seriously?
Josh LaClair
You guys, this isn't even the best song on the album. Y'all need to broaden yr horizons, and start with "Svefn-
g-Englar" on Sigur Ros' masterpiece, 'Agaetis Byrjun.' You will always remember where you were the first time you listened to it, and lament the fact that can never go back and hear it for the first time again. You're welcome.
RC
I'd usually call BS on a comment like this but you're correct. This is the best song ever.
joe rosales
All m83 is the best of all time
Bryan Hess
Top 3 m83 song and m83 will always be one of my top 2 bands of all time...so yeah
Abraham
this song and vid, despite the poor old quality, brought me to tears. dream pop / shoegaze music feels so emotionally and spiritually powerful (I'm not even religious), and I haven't found anything as soul-satisfying. I love M83, among other dream pop bands. They've helped me through the darkest parts of my life. I wouldn't be the same without their music, hell, I probably still wouldn't be here.
This music is so fucking perfect.
turbofanlover
Please don't swear. It's very offensive.
Sir Richter
This is not dream pop. Dream pop would be beach house or Dreams We’ve Had
PlanetSleaze
Check out the channel “underrated” and their videos under the titles “Shoegaze Hidden Gems” and “Dreampop Hidden Gems”. There’s a girl with an YouTuber named Dropdeadkxy that does AMAZING shoegaze covers that are better than a lot of the originals! And I have a really individual track-specific playlist titled “SG” you should skim when you’re bored. There are lots of uplifting/heart-wrenching/nostalgic good’uns on there.