"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."
Silver Bells
Marc Martel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dressed in holiday style
In the air, there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner, you'll hear
Silver bells (silver bells)
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling)
Hear them ring (oh, hear them ring)
Soon it will be Christmas day (uh, uh)
Swings of street lights, even stop lights
Blinking bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle, you'll hear (you'll hear, yeah)
Silver bells (silver bells)
Silver bells (silver bells)
It's Christmas time in the city (yeah, they come, oh)
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling)
Oh, hear them ring (hear them ring)
Soon it will be Christmas day
Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be
Christmas (Christmas day)
Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be
Christmas (Christmas day)
Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be
Christmas (Christmas day)
Gonna be, gonna be
Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city (in the city)
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling)
Oh, hear them ring (hear them ring)
Soon it will be Christmas day (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Uh, uh
The lyrics to Marc Martel's song "Silver Bells" paint a vivid picture of the bustling city streets during Christmas time. The song begins by describing the city sidewalks, dressed in holiday style, creating an atmosphere filled with the feeling of Christmas in the air. The joyful sounds of children laughing and people passing by with smiles on their faces further add to the festive ambiance. On every street corner, the lyrics tell us that the sound of silver bells can be heard, ringing and filling the city with the unmistakable sound of Christmas.
The second verse focuses on the visual aspects of the city during the holiday season. The swinging street lights and blinking red and green stoplights illuminate the scene, creating a magical display of lights. As shoppers rush home with their treasures, the lyrics emphasize the sensory experience by mentioning the sound of snow crunching underfoot and the sight of children gathered together. The lyrics also suggest that this is Santa's moment, his grand entrance into the city.
Overall, the lyrics of "Silver Bells" celebrate the festive atmosphere of Christmas in the city. It highlights the joy, excitement, and sensory experiences that come with the holiday season. The sound of silver bells becomes the symbol of Christmas as it rings through the air, reminding everyone that soon it will be Christmas day.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, uh, city sidewalks, busy sidewalks
The singer is describing the crowded and bustling streets of the city during the holiday season.
Dressed in holiday style
The city is adorned and decorated with festive decorations and lights.
In the air, there's a feeling of Christmas
There is a tangible sense of Christmas spirit and excitement in the atmosphere.
Children laughing, people passing
The joyous sound of children's laughter and the constant movement of people going about their day.
Meeting smile after smile
Every person they encounter greets them with a warm and friendly smile.
And on every street corner, you'll hear
Throughout the city, there are street performers or musicians playing festive music.
Silver bells (silver bells)
The familiar sound of bells ringing, symbolizing the holiday season.
It's Christmas time in the city
The city has transformed into a festive and cheerful atmosphere due to the arrival of Christmas.
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling)
The repetitive and melodic sound of the bells ringing.
Hear them ring (oh, hear them ring)
The importance of actively listening to the joyful sounds of the ringing bells.
Soon it will be Christmas day (uh, uh)
The anticipation that Christmas is approaching rapidly.
Swings of street lights, even stop lights
The street lights and stop lights are swinging or blinking in synchronization with the festive spirit.
Blinking bright red and green
The lights are flashing in vibrant red and green colors, adding to the visual spectacle.
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
The hurried pace of shoppers as they eagerly go back to their homes carrying the gifts they have purchased.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
The singer draws attention to the sound of footsteps on the snowy ground and the joyful gathering of children.
This is Santa's big scene
The festive ambiance and activities capture the essence of Santa Claus and his role during Christmas.
And above all this bustle, you'll hear (you'll hear, yeah)
Despite the busy and noisy atmosphere, the sound of the silver bells can still be heard.
Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be
Christmas (Christmas day)
Reinforcing the message that Christmas is imminent and approaching quickly.
Silver bells
The recurring mention of silver bells emphasizes their significance and importance during the holiday season.
It's Christmas time in the city (in the city)
The city is fully immersed in the spirit of Christmas.
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling)
A repetition of the sound made by the bells, creating an infectious and joyful rhythm.
Oh, hear them ring (hear them ring)
Encouraging the listener to truly pay attention and appreciate the delightful sound of the bells ringing.
Soon it will be Christmas day (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Reiterating the anticipation and excitement for the arrival of Christmas.
Uh, uh
A vocal expression that adds emphasis to the previous lines and the overall mood of the song.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Estrella
I don’t usually listen to Christmas music before Halloween but for Marc I’ll make an exception. This was stunningly beautiful. ❤️
artful stories
Bella Música my feelings on this matter resonates with yours. 😂😂
Estrella
artful stories ❤️ no surprise there! 😂
Estrella
artful stories I won’t be able to attend any of the concerts on their tour but I hope someone some good video footage to share!
Estrella
Denise Greaud I listen to How Many Kings year round as well. ❤️
Tab Ten
@Estrella you can just pretend you're in the Philippines. They celebrate early Christmas, starts in 1st September 😊
저스틴의 5분묵상
It is a lovely and beautiful song. As for Christmas in 2021, the footsteps of the Second Coming seem to be louder than the bells of Christmas. Merry Christmas to everyone! ❤️
Mike Parker
Awesome collaboration!
M VC
It’s like getting to enjoy Freddy Mercury alive. Thank you Marc for such an awesome voice 👍🏼
ÓDonovan
I love the way Amy's voice "ties" the two guys' voices together. The three of them together could sing the phone book and it would sound amazing.