"One of my earlier memories of music is my mom sitting at the piano late at night, playing us to sleep with Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata,'" Marc says. With a father who preached and led worship and a mother who led the church choir and played piano, Marc was raised in a music-intensive environment.
His parents instilled a love for music in him that followed him throughout his childhood through eight years of piano lessons, through Disney duets he would sing with friends, through hours he spent alone teaching himself guitar all the way to a small college in Saskatchewan, where he formed the band Downhere with his roommate Jason Germain and a few close friends in 1999.
"Our friendship was always based around music," Marc says. "We really hit it off musically... we realized we shared a lot of the same taste in music, while also bringing different influences."
Downhere developed their sound while touring on behalf of the college, which would send them out on the road with production, lighting, sound, and even a vehicle and trailer. After four years of college, the band left their Canadian roots behind and relocated to Nashville, TN, where they signed with Word Records. Downhere has since gone on to win multiple Juno Awards and a Dove Award. They have released 10 albums, including their latest release, On the Altar of Love, which reflects a different approach to songwriting than their previous releases.
"For me it used to be all about being musically complex and artsy," Marc says. "And then I had a real perspective-shifting experience. At one of our shows there was a little girl standing front-center with her mother. When I said the next song was "How Many Kings," her face lit up as she looked up at her mom and grabbed her hand. She sang along to every word. I thought to myself, 'I've got to write more songs like THAT.'"
In September 2011, Marc entered a competition to join Roger Taylor, original drummer for the legendary rock band Queen, on stage for the Queen Extravaganza Live Tour. Throughout his career with Downhere, concertgoers have often approached Marc insisting he sounds just like Freddie Mercury, legendary singer of the rock band Queen.
"I don't think I've done a show in the last five or six years where five to ten people haven't come up to me and said, 'Hey, anyone ever tell you that you sound like Queen?' or 'that guy from Queen' or 'Eddie Mercury,'" he says laughingly. "In the list of great rock signers, he is considered one of the best if not the best and it's always just a huge compliment when people tell that to me."
It seems that Downhere concertgoers aren't alone in their thinking, as Marc's entry for the Queen Extravaganza contest, a video of Marc singing along with the Queen classic "Somebody to Love," generated more millions of views on YouTube after being up for only a few days.
Whether it's onstage with Downhere or on a computer screen, Marc has a message and a voice that has captured millions for the past decade. Through music, Marc is after the one thing people are always looking for a connection.
"There is always time for exploring new soundscapes and interesting arrangements…but the song has to connect with people or there's not much point to it. I'm really trying to stay in that magic equilibrium now as I write, the union of intriguing artistry combined with strong human connection."
My Way
Marc Martel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The end is near
And so I face
The final curtain
My friend,
I′ll say it clear
I'll state my case,
Of which I′m certain
A life that's full
I′ve traveled each
And every highway
But more,
Much more than this
I did it
My way
Regrets,
I′ve had a few
But then again,
Too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through
Without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step
Along the byway
And more,
Much more than this
I did it
My way
Yes, there were times,
I'm sure you knew
When I bit off
More than I could chew
But through it all,
When there was doubt
I ate it up
And spit it out
I faced it all
And I stood tall
And did it my way
I′ve loved,
I've laughed and cried
I′ve had my fill
My share of losing
And now,
As tears subside
I find it all
So amusing
To think
I did all that
And may I say -
Not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it
My way
For what is a man,
What has he got
If not himself,
Then he has naught
To say the things
He truly feels
And not the words
Of one who kneels
The record shows
I took the blows
I faced it all
And I stood tall
And did it
My way
The lyrics of "My Way" by Marc Martel celebrate a life lived on one's own terms, without regrets or the desire to conform to expectations. It begins with a reflection on the approaching end, with the singer facing the "final curtain" of life. However, he is not afraid, and instead declares his independence with the strong assertion that he has done things his way. He has led a full life, exploring every possible route, and is certain that he has made the right choices in each case. Even when he has faced obstacles, he has seen them through to the end without any exemption, and is proud to have stood tall and done everything in his own unique way. The song ends with a reflection on the value of individuality and authenticity, as the record shows that the singer has taken everything in stride and faced life with courage.
One possible interpretation of this song is that it speaks to the universal human desire for free will and self-expression. It suggests that we are all capable of living life on our own terms, with courage and determination, and that we should be proud of our unique paths. This is a message that can resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with societal expectations or the pressure to conform. The insistence on individuality and authenticity is especially powerful in a world that can often feel homogenized and conformist.
Line by Line Meaning
And now,
The present moment in time is upon us
The end is near
Life is reaching its conclusion
And so I face
I must confront
The final curtain
The end of life's journey
My friend,
A term of endearment to the listener
I'll say it clear
I will speak plainly and without hesitation
I'll state my case,
I will present my argument
Of which I'm certain
I have no doubt
I've lived
I have experienced life
A life that's full
A life filled with experiences
I've traveled each
I have explored every
And every highway
Path that presented itself
But more,
Furthermore
Much more than this
In addition to what has been mentioned
I did it
I lived my life
My way
In accordance with my own beliefs and values
Regrets,
Feelings of remorse
I've had a few
There are a number of things I wish I had done differently
But then again,
However
Too few to mention
There aren't many instances of regret
I did what I had to do
I acted in the way I believed was necessary
And saw it through
Continued until completion
Without exemption
Despite any difficulties or challenges
I planned each charted course
I carefully considered my choices
Each careful step
Every decision made was thought-out
Along the byway
Throughout the journey
Yes, there were times,
Admittedly, there were instances
I'm sure you knew
That you are aware of
When I bit off
When I undertook
More than I could chew
More than I was capable of handling
But through it all,
In spite of everything
When there was doubt
During times of uncertainty
I ate it up
Confronted and overcame it
And spit it out
Dismissed any lingering fears
I faced it all
I dealt with everything that came my way
And I stood tall
I maintained a sense of pride and resilience
And did it my way
By adhering to my own principles and beliefs
I've loved,
I have experienced love
I've laughed and cried
I have experienced joy and sorrow
I've had my fill
I have experienced enough
My share of losing
I have dealt with my fair share of setbacks
And now,
In the present moment
As tears subside
After a period of emotional upset
I find it all
Everything seems
So amusing
Somewhat entertaining or funny
To think I did all that
Reflecting on all that I have accomplished
And may I say –
Allow me to add
Not in a shy way
Not in a hesitant or timid manner
Oh no, oh no, not me
That is simply not who I am
I did it
I overcame every obstacle
My way
By sticking to my own set of values and beliefs
For what is a man,
What is the purpose or significance of a human being?
What has he got
What does a human possess
If not himself,
Other than his own identity and personality
Then he has naught
He has nothing
To say the things
To express one's own thoughts and feelings
He truly feels
That are genuinely experienced
And not the words
And not simply reciting the phrases
Of one who kneels
As spoken by someone who submits to another's influence
The record shows
My actions and decisions are evident from the facts
I took the blows
I encountered many hardships and obstacles
I faced it all
But I never backed down
And I stood tall
I remained strong and resilient
And did it
I accomplished everything
My way
By following my own path and making my own decisions
Writer(s): Brandon Javan Wright, Frank Childress
Contributed by Chase E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@martinakelly
Fantastic...as always. It's not Frank, it's not Freddie... it's the one and only, Mr Marc Martel. One of these masters. Not copying them, he's one of them. Bravo, maestro. ❤️
@jack-qm5mk
ITS Michael buble
@ThatllShowEm
@@jack-qm5mkMichael Bublé borrows too!
@Yochanangp
We cannot deny this pure talent ❤
@GeorgeLimaaa
As a fan of both Sinatra and Freddie, this is probably the most magnificent thing I've ever heard.
@yesiamathinker1580
ABSOLUTELY AGREED!!!
@louhollingsworth1273
When Marc had his own band he’d come off stage and people would say you know who sound like? He finally got to the point that he’d say yeah Freddie Mercury. That’s how he sounds normally. He does an an absolute amazing job on this classic from Frank Sinatra! I’ve always been a big fan of Frank Sinatra. I guess Bc my dad was and he had all his records. When my dad sang he sounded just like Frank.
@louhollingsworth1273
Out of many One that would be amazing but he does Queen’s Extravaganza Tour so I don’t think they’d like him singing any of the old Standards. Marc had his own band in Canada and would travel around. After every show people would stop him and say you know who you sound like and he’d finally say yes Freddie Mercury. He truly does and that’s his natural singing voice. He is so talented. Freddie could sing the phone book and sound amazing. I think Marc could also Bc it’s a different era than Freddie. He’s a very talented guy. And he really sounds great and does an amazing job on the old Standards. I love hearing him singing the old standards. Absolutely beautiful! But Freddie will always live in our hearts. There’s no one that can compare to him and his voice. Absolutely beautiful! Forever in our hearts!
@brookeneese2652
Well said my friend!
@nic4092
That's because you haven't watched this then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5a_v0MP_Fk