Moby plays keyboards, guitar and bass guitar. He took his performing name from the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, who is his great-great-granduncle. His work, while focused in general on various forms of electronic music, have explored many other styles.
Early years
Moby used to be in a punk rock band called the Vatican Commandos, which was formed in 1980. The group evolved away from punk in 1989 for electronic music. He realized his music tastes and growth were going in a different direction than his previous band's vibe, and he broke off on his own.
His first album "The Story So Far (aka Moby)" featured the single "Go", which gained popularity in many discos, and earned a spot on the UK charts. The song is so popular that Moby still plays "Go" regularly in his sets. "Go" is a progressive track using the string line from "Laura Palmer's Theme" from the TV drama Twin Peaks.
1994-1998
His first album for the UK based MUTE Records was Everything Is Wrong (which had US distribution via Elektra) , which earned early critical praise and minor commercial success. He followed that up with a hard rock/electronic album called Animal Rights in 1996. In 1997, he released I Like to Score, a collection of music included in movies. Among those tracks was an updated version of the James Bond theme used for the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. However, both Animal Rights and I Like to Score had only limited success and Moby and Elektra parted company however he remained signed to MUTE.
1999-2004
After a decade's worth of music, Moby's breakthrough album was 1999's Play. Mainstream reviewers raved about his talents on the album (released on V2 Records) though some early fans were let down. The album has 18 tracks and was the first album in history to have all of its tracks commercially licensed: "Porcelain," for instance, appeared on TV commercials for Bailey's Irish Cream, Hong Kong's PCCW and Nordstrom, and Volkswagen's MKIV Jetta; "Find My Baby" was on a commercial for American Express featuring golfer Tiger Woods. The album's tracks eventually were accepted in various radio formats, but because of Play's extensive licensing, the album could have been financially successful even without radio play. In addition to fame garnered through its licensing, Play is also notable for its extensive sampling of old blues recordings collected by Alan Lomax. In a 2005 posting on his web site, Moby theorized that his eagerness to license his music is a result of "growing up in poverty."
In 2001, Moby founded the Area:One Festival. It was a popular touring rock festival that featured an eclectic range of musical genres. A second tour was organized for the following year.
In 2001 Moby also earned the ire of Eminem after calling his music misogynistic and homophobic; Eminem later satirized Moby (among others) in "Without Me," calling him a "fag" and questioning his relevance with the claim "Nobody listens to techno." Moby replied that he hadn't played techno since 1992. The two were in a confrontation at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, though Moby expresses respect for Eminem as an artist.
In 2002, Moby briefly had a television show on MTV, Señor Moby's House of Music, which focused mostly on more obscure electronic music. Also in 2002, Moby released 18, an album that had 18 tracks. The most popular song on the album was "We Are All Made of Stars". Moby says he wrote "We Are All Made of Stars" because of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks, which happened on his birthday.
2005
In 2005 Moby released "Lift Me Up", a single from his album Hotel, which featured, in addition to numerous remixes, UK company Digimpro's software. The program allows users to remix the song - using any or all of the samples included—and save it as an MP3 file. Thus unlimited, personalized versions of the title track were possible. Digimpro had previously seen exposure with group Erasure's single "Breathe," allowing users the same ability. Instead of his usual usage of samples, all of the vocals and instruments on "Hotel" were performed live in the studio by Moby and vocalist Laura Dawn, who is the Cultural Director of MoveOn.org.
For certain dates on Moby's 2005 European tour, Liveherenow provided concert goers with CDs of the show 10 minutes after the show finished. Other Mute Records artists like Erasure and Client have previously used this company for similar reasons.
2006
Moby has recently scored the soundtrack for Richard Kelly's upcoming movie 'The Southland Tales'. Whilst he is generally against composing music for films, he was a huge fan of Kelly's previous film 'Donnie Darko' and could not resist the offer the director gave him.
ITV in the United Kingdom use Moby's song "Lift Me Up" for their coverage of Formula One racing by using the song as the intro. and also snippets to segues for interviews and advertisements.
Also, Moby had one of his older songs used in a Original HBO series, The Sopranos. This song, "When its Cold I'd like to Die" was used in the last scene in which Tony was in his dream state.
Besides music
Moby is a vegan, non-denominational Christian and self-proclaimed "simpleton" (for his often sincere and idealistic political assessments).
Moby lives in New York City. Until recently he co-owned a small restaurant and coffee shop called TeaNY, where he occasionally waited tables. He also organized the Little Idiot Collective, a group of artists that also includes cartoonist and musician James Kochalka. He's a huge fan of the TV series "The Simpsons".
Moby's official website is at moby.com.
Activism
Moby is a well known advocate for a variety of progressive causes, working with MoveOn.org, and PETA, among others. He created MoveOn Voter Fund's "Bush in 30 Seconds" contest along with singer Laura Dawn and MoveOn Executive Director Eli Pariser.
He also actively engages in nonpartisan activism. He has performed benefit concerts for the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, promoting music therapy. Moby also serves on the Board of Directors of Amend.org, a nonprofit that implements injury prevention programs in Africa.
He is an advocate of network neutrality and he testified before the US House committee debating the issue in 2006.
If Things Were Perfect
Moby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[sample: "give me summer"] x2
Broken darkness my cold end
I look for places I've never seen
Nothing moves but the quiet on the street
Isolated walking long hard hours
Winter cold just brings me winter showers
It's so brutal with the cold sky
Wrapped in cold late at night
[sample: "give me summer"] x2
Come clean there's no sun yet
The only lights here are made
I can't speak, I can't hear, but I know I'm real
There's no warm here anyway
The darkest lights before the dawn
You remember the sun but it sank
In the water that eats the light
Wrapped in cold late at night
[sample: "give me summer"] x2
I open my eyes, it's cold
The only souls go by
Lift the bridge out of the water
The stone black light
Living is easy when it's night
The cold has covered the rain
I can see forever, to the deep
Wrapped in cold, late at night
[sample: "give me summer"] x4
Moby's song "If Things Were Perfect" contains lyrics that expresses a feeling of loneliness, numbness, and yearning for a change of season. The first verse describes a sense of isolation and lack of movement in the cold winter streets, with the singer's eyes opening to this bleak reality. The winter is portrayed as harsh and brutal, bringing nothing but continuous snow showers. The sample "give me summer" repeated twice acts as a contrasting call to the summer season, which can often evoke a sense of freedom, energy, and warmth.
The second verse reflects on the absence of sun and warmness, with the only light emanating from man-made sources. The singer is unable to communicate or hear, but still has an awareness of their own existence. The lyrics then shift to a moment of reminiscence, with the memory of the sun sinking into the sea. The final verse continues the theme of loneliness, with the only figures passing by being other isolated souls. The bridge being lifted out of the water alludes to a sense of separation, perhaps symbolizing a disconnection from others or even society. The song ends with the singer still wrapped in the coldness of the night, but with a final plea for summer.
Overall, the lyrics reflect a sense of disconnect from others and a longing for a change in season or circumstance. The use of winter imagery and the sample of "give me summer" creates a stark contrast between the cold, dark season and the hope and warmth of summer.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken darkness my cold end
I'm feeling lost and alone in the darkness, and my current situation seems hopeless.
I look for places I've never seen
Despite feeling hopeless, I'm searching for a new path or opportunity to help me escape my current situation.
Nothing moves but the quiet on the street
Everything around me is still and silent, leaving me feeling even more isolated.
Now I open my eyes to this
Suddenly, I'm faced with reality and see the cold and harsh truth of my situation.
Isolated walking long hard hours
I'm walking alone through life, enduring tough times and facing obstacles on my own.
Winter cold just brings me winter showers
The cold and dreary winter season only adds to my misery and brings more hardships.
It's so brutal with the cold sky
The frigid winter sky feels oppressive and harsh, adding to my struggles.
Wrapped in cold late at night
I'm left to face my struggles alone, feeling cold both physically and emotionally.
Come clean there's no sun yet
It's time to face the reality that things are not going to get better anytime soon.
The only lights here are made
The only sources of light in my life are artificial and not truly fulfilling.
I can't speak, I can't hear, but I know I'm real
I feel disconnected and unheard, but I know I exist and my struggles are valid.
There's no warm here anyway
Even if there was light or hope, it wouldn't bring true warmth to my life right now.
The darkest lights before the dawn
I'm trying to hold onto the hope that things will improve, but right now it feels like things will only get darker before they get better.
You remember the sun but it sank
I remember happier times, but those memories are fading and it feels like they're slipping away.
In the water that eats the light
Even the memories of better days are being swallowed by the darkness and struggle of my current situation.
I open my eyes, it's cold
I can't escape the cold and harsh reality around me, even when I try to close my eyes to it.
The only souls go by
I feel isolated and alone, with no human connection or support around me.
Lift the bridge out of the water
I'm searching for a way out of my current struggles and challenges.
The stone black light
Even the light around me feels cold and lifeless, with no hope or joy to be found.
Living is easy when it's night
It's easier to ignore the struggles and focus on the temporary escapes of darkness or distractions.
The cold has covered the rain
Even the rain, a symbol of cleansing and renewal, feels cold and bleak in my current situation.
I can see forever, to the deep
In my isolation and struggle, it feels like there is nothing but emptiness and darkness stretching ahead of me.
Wrapped in cold, late at night
I'm left feeling helpless and alone in my struggles, trapped in the darkness and cold of my current reality.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RICHARD MELVILLE HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daianna
Broken darkness my cold end
I look for places I've never seen
Nothing moves but the quiet on the street
Now I open my eyes to this
Isolated walking long hard hours
Winter cold just brings me winter showers
It's so brutal with the cold sky
Wrapped in cold late at night
x2
Come clean there's no sun yet
The only lights here are made
I can't speak, I can't hear, but I know I'm real
There's no warm here anyway
The darkest lights before the dawn
You remember the sun but it sank
In the water that eats the light
Wrapped in cold late at night
x2
I open my eyes, it's cold
The only souls go by
Lift the bridge out of the water
The stone black light
Living is easy when it's night
The cold has covered the rain
I can see forever, to the deep
Wrapped in cold, late at night
Matt Michaels
this song repairs the soul. moby is the man
Mandarin Geass
время от времени к этому альбому возвращаюсь! столько эмоций, потрясающая атмосфера.это не способно надоесть.
Ivana Petković
Jedini pravi umetnik, svestrani Moby 💗
MINARAE
This remember me a lot of things and feels when I was a child. I lo this song it makes me feel nostalgic in diferents ways, thanks you Moby for produce this kind of music, my mother plays a CD in her stereo in the early days of my existence.
matthew taylor
This remember me ???
Different.
Daianna
Broken darkness my cold end
I look for places I've never seen
Nothing moves but the quiet on the street
Now I open my eyes to this
Isolated walking long hard hours
Winter cold just brings me winter showers
It's so brutal with the cold sky
Wrapped in cold late at night
x2
Come clean there's no sun yet
The only lights here are made
I can't speak, I can't hear, but I know I'm real
There's no warm here anyway
The darkest lights before the dawn
You remember the sun but it sank
In the water that eats the light
Wrapped in cold late at night
x2
I open my eyes, it's cold
The only souls go by
Lift the bridge out of the water
The stone black light
Living is easy when it's night
The cold has covered the rain
I can see forever, to the deep
Wrapped in cold, late at night
MINARAE
Thanks you very much!✨
typeOhh
Love your playlist ;)
PHAX
Unreal, moby the king of sick production, love the vibes! Need more music like this
rlywhocares
i usually catch myself wanting to listen to this one or "down slow" & then i continue with second part of album cuz it fits my melancholic mood at he moment. just love all of your tracks with this personal intimate naked-soul sad melancholic minor touch. not only but few of few things that i love in my life