"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."
Our Best
Marc Martel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did things get so heavy?
We said one word to many
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Though we know where we're going
There's no comfort in knowing
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The sun won't burn forever
In the meantime, please remember
If the world ends tonight
We gave it our best
If we run out of time
We got no regrets
We gave it our best
Just as long as you and I are here
If it's one more night or a billion years
Oh, oh, oh
We got no regrets
We gave it our best
We gave it our best
We can give time the power
Melting years down to hours
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, we can fear all this fading
But like a steer I've been waiting
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
It's a crisp of clear moment
With our eyes finally open
If the world ends tonight
We gave it our best
If we run out of time
We got no regrets
We gave it our best
Just as long as you and I are here
If it's one more night or a billion years
Oh, oh, oh
We got no regrets
We gave it our best
We gave it our best
So when you're troubled in the dead of the night
Even if we tell ourselves "it'll all be all right"
And if a ton of this is too much to take
I'll hold you, I'll hold you, I'll hold you
My heart is happy and you're chilled to the bone
And someday one of us will wake up alone
So when your loneliness is too much to shake
I'll hold you, I'll hold you, I'll hold you
If the world ends tonight
We gave it our best
If we run out of time
We got no regrets
We gave it our best
Just as long as you and I are here
If it's one more night or a billion years
Oh, oh, oh
We gave it our best
We got no regrets
We gave it our best
We gave it our best
Yeah
We gave it our best
The lyrics to "Our Best" by Marc Martel seem to be addressing the idea of living life to the fullest and making the most out of the time we have. The song begins by pondering how things got so heavy and acknowledging that sometimes we say one word too many in our relationships, causing tension and conflict. However, the chorus reminds us that even in the face of uncertainty and limited time, we can take comfort in knowing that we gave it our best effort. The lyrics suggest that we shouldn't waste time worrying about what the future holds but instead focus on making the most out of each moment.
The second verse of the song reflects on how time can seem to move slowly, wasting away years without us realizing it. However, the lyrics challenge us to embrace these moments and not be afraid of the impermanence of life. The bridge encourages listeners to find strength in each other, even when facing loneliness and uncertainty. Ultimately, the message of the song seems to be that we should seize the day and make the most out of the time we have, without regret.
Line by Line Meaning
How did things get so heavy?
The singer is questioning why things got so complicated and difficult.
We said one word to many
They said something that caused things to escalate and get worse.
Though we know where we're going
The singer and their partner have a clear destination or goal in mind.
There's no comfort in knowing
Even though they know where they're going, it doesn't necessarily make things easier or less stressful.
The sun won't burn forever
The idea that time is limited and all things must come to an end.
In the meantime, please remember
Even though time is finite, the singer wants their partner to focus on enjoying the present moment.
We can give time the power
Although time is limited, time can have a powerful impact on their relationship.
Melting years down to hours
In the grand scheme of things, time is relative and the artist wants to make the most of every moment they have with their partner.
Oh, we can fear all this fading
The artist acknowledges that relationships can fade away over time and the fear that comes with that possibility.
But like a steer I've been waiting
The artist has been waiting patiently for the right time to take action and make the most of their time together.
It's a crisp of clear moment
They are in a moment of clarity, where everything feels very clear and in focus.
With our eyes finally open
The artist and their partner are finally able to see things clearly and understand the importance of making every moment count.
If the world ends tonight
The singer is using hyperbole to emphasize the importance of making the most of their time together.
We got no regrets
Even if their time together is cut short, they will have no regrets because they made the most of it.
Just as long as you and I are here
As long as the singer and their partner are together in the present moment, that's all that matters.
If it's one more night or a billion years
Whether they have just one more night together or a lifetime, the artist wants to make the most of every moment they have.
So when you're troubled in the dead of the night
The artist is there for their partner, even during the toughest and most challenging moments.
Even if we tell ourselves 'it'll all be all right'
Even if the situation seems hopeless, they will try to stay positive and find hope in their love for each other.
And if a ton of this is too much to take
Even if the weight of the situation feels overwhelming, the singer will support their partner and help them get through it.
My heart is happy and you're chilled to the bone
Even though one of them may be struggling, they find happiness and warmth in their love for each other.
And someday one of us will wake up alone
The artist acknowledges that one day they will have to face the reality of being without each other, but they want to make the most of their time together while they can.
So when your loneliness is too much to shake
The artist is there for their partner, even when they are struggling with loneliness and sadness.
We gave it our best
The singer wants to emphasize that they have done everything they can to make the most of their time together.
Contributed by Joshua S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.