1) Monaco, a … Read Full Bio ↴There are two different bands named Monaco on Last.FM:
1) Monaco, a duo consisting of New Order bassist Peter Hook and David Potts. Their biggest hit What Do You Want From Me?, came from their 1997 debut album Music for Pleasure. The album was a big hit and sold over 500,000 copies. In 2000 they released the follow-up Monaco, although a lengthy delay and minimal promotion led to it being nowhere near as much of a commercial success as the first album. This and New Order's reformation led to Monaco's break-up.
Monaco was a side project of New Order bassist Peter Hook. Together with David Potts, the other remaining member of Revenge (1989-1993), the band was formed in 1995. The group is best known for the 1997 single "What Do You Want From Me?" and the album from which it was taken, Music for Pleasure, which sold over half a million copies.
Resemblance to New Order
Because New Order was on hiatus during the mid-90s, Monaco was able to find success partly because they made music similar to that of New Order. This similarity of sound derives from the fact that their music were in the dance-rock-pop genre, just as was New Order's music; Hook carried over his recognizable style of playing melody high up on the bass; Potts' vocal timbre and delivery sometimes resembled that of New Order's vocalist Bernard Sumner.
Follow-up album fails
In 1999, Polydor Records rejected Monaco's follow up album, the self-titled Monaco, due to the radically changing trends in music at the time in a money saving move reducing their artists to the more popular music. Papillon Records agreed to pick up the album, though the planned single release of "I've Got A Feeling" was recalled in the UK due to sample clearance issues. Despite favorable reviews, the album was released with almost no promotion at all; it is now sought after as a collector's item and fetches fairly high prices on sites like Amazon.com and eBay.
Break-up
In 2000, tensions mounted in the studio, partly due Potts' dissatisfaction with the band's failure to depart from a New Order-like sound, and partly due to Potts' workload. Following what Potts called "a disastrous gig" at the Eclipse festival, Hook and Potts had a major argument. They both took a break, and after letting things cool down, they met and decided it was best to split up Monaco. Potts eventually went on to form RAM and has been nurturing a solo career; meanwhile Hook reunited with New Order, playing with them until 2007, and formed Freebass in 2007.
After the success of the Revenge reissues in 2005, Hook announced that he and Potts were working on similar Monaco reissues for release sometime in 2007. This did not materialise.
In March 2007, Hook and Potts performed Monaco songs together at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester under the name "Hooky & Pottsy". Original Monaco drummer Paul Kehoe also played along with Hook's son Jack. In October 2007, the same line up performed again as Monaco at the Ritz in Manchester which raised money for Oxfam.
Album Discography
1-Music for Pleasure
Released: 1 June 1997
2- Monaco
Released: 21 August 2000
Singles Discography
"What Do You Want From Me?" February 1997 11 24 61 75 Music for Pleasure
"Sweet Lips" May 1997 18 - - - Music for Pleasure
"Shine" September 1997 55 - - - Music for Pleasure
"I’ve Got a Feeling" (withdrawn in the UK) July 2000 - - - - Monaco
"See-Saw" (limited vinyl 12" only release) March 2001 - - - - Monaco
2) a Boulder, Colorado four-piece.
Boulder, Colorado’s Monaco is singer/guitarist Brandon Whalen, singer/guitarist/pianist Andrew Martin, bassist Jeff Lambert, and drummer Matt Hayes. The quartet, incepted in September 2006, write and perform anthemic, introspective rock songs with metal—and plenty of melody to go hand in hand with the spacey, atmospheric guitar riffs and angular drumming. Their demo was recently finished and showcases five atomic rock pieces, tying them together with spacey, delicate interludes.
The band share an array of tastes; Hayes enjoys everything from legends like Pink Floyd and The Doors to modern influencers The Bled and Refused; Lambert enjoys post-modern rock acts like The Smashing Pumpkins and Tool; Whalen gets off to today’s metal and rock as shown by bands like Thrice, Every Time I Die, Norma Jean, and Underoath; and Martin encapsulates a wide spectrum of tastes from bands like Circa Survive, Armor For Sleep, Rival Schools, Saves The Day, The Receiving End Of Sirens, and Brand New. It’s this wide span of tastes and loves that makes MONACO all they are—a diverse group of individuals combining forces to form equally diverse songs.
Over the band’s spring break, the four members collaborated and recorded a 9-song demo, filled with songs the band has written over the past 6 months. A result of pure dedicated vigor, the demo showcases the band’s ability to write songs that are belligerent and vicious one moment, calm and serene the next. Sure, it’s a formulae we’re all used to—that is, part screaming, part singing—but it’s the band’s notion for dynamics that makes them something special. The EP was a result of literally 80 hours of hard, rigorous effort; even though it was all self-recorded, the quality is quite astounding.
Whether it’s the blasting opening to “Let’s Talk (In Terms Of) Fashion,” the intense crescendo of “Ambulance,” the poppy, sing-a-long hooks of “Hand To God,” the spacey atmospheres created on “Not All Fertilizers Work,” or the introspective lyrics on “White Light,” there’s a lot of something everyone can enjoy from what MONACO have to offer. If you’re enticed by bands who create sounds truly on their own, who strive to avoid the clear borders and boundaries set by the scope of vanity and trendsetters, you’ll certainly enjoy what MONACO have to offer. Though the influences of today’s Thrice, Circa Survive, Boys Night Out, The Bled, and Underoath are all clearly apparent within the songs the band creates, it’s hard to pin-point exactly what the band sounds like—probably because they couldn’t even tell you themselves.
Download their entire debut demo, “The Hope Sessions EP” album here, and be sure to check them out if you’re in the Denver/Boulder area in 2007.
What Do You Want
Monaco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sha-la la la la-la la
Sha-la la la la-la la
Sha-la la la la-la la
There is one thing that I would die for
It's when you say: "My life is your hands"
'Cause when you're near me your love is all I need
What do you want from me
It's not how it used to be
You've taken my life away
Ruining everything
What do you want from me (sha-la la la la-la la)
It's not how it used to be (sha-la la la la-la la)
You've taken my life away (sha-la la la la-la la)
Ruining everything (sha-la la la la-la la)
Give me something I can rely on
Far away from the life that I once knew
What does it matter, that's all I have to say
And I can't imagine
What do you want from me
It's not how it used to be
You've taken my life away
Ruining everything
What do you want from me
It's not how it used to be
You've taken my life away
Ruining everything
Sha-la la la la-la la
Sha-la la la la-la la
Sha-la la la la-la la
Sha-la la la la-la la
What do you want from me (sha-la la la la-la la)
It's not how it used to be (sha-la la la la-la la)
You've taken my life away (sha-la la la la-la la)
Ruining everything (sha-la la la la-la la)
The lyrics of Monaco's song "What Do You Want From Me" expresses the feeling of being controlled and confined in a relationship. The singer expresses a deep level of infatuation with his partner and says that if it were up to him, he would die for her. He mentions the importance of her love and presence in his life and how he can't imagine living without her. However, there's a noticeable shift in emotions when he asks, "What do you want from me?" This implies that he feels she's taking too much from him and that he doesn't know how to satisfy her anymore. He says that things aren't the same as they used to be, and that she's "taken my life away, ruining everything."
The "Sha la la la" chorus emphasizes the singer's frustration and exasperation. He's likely trying to project the feeling of incomprehension that comes with repeated frustration. Perhaps he's trying to convince himself that he's okay, or perhaps he's trying to drown out the nagging vocals in his head. As the song continues, the singer suggests that he needs something he can rely on, something to remove himself from the life he used to know. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that it might not make much of a difference, and still repeats the phrase "I can't imagine."
Overall, "What Do You Want From Me" seems to express the idea that the singer is losing himself in a relationship where the other person seems to take more than they give. There's a noticeable sense of frustration and confusion throughout the song, as well as a sense of wanting to break free from a relationship that might be hurting him.
Line by Line Meaning
There is one thing. That I would die for.
There is only one thing that is so important to me that I would sacrifice anything for it.
It's when you say. My life is in your hands.
When you tell me that you have control over my life, it makes me feel vulnerable but also trusted.
When you're near me. Your love is all I need.
I am complete just by being close to you and feeling your affection.
Now I can't imagine.
Without you, my life seems empty and unimaginable.
What do you want from me?
I am confused and unsure about what you expect from me.
It's not how it used to be.
Things between us have changed and I don't know what to do about it.
You've taken my life away
Your actions have caused chaos in my life and I feel lost.
Ruining everything.
Unfortunately, because of you, everything has been destroyed.
Give me something. I can rely on.
I need assurance and a sense of security in my life.
Far away from. The life that I once know.
I need a fresh start and to distance myself from my past.
But what does it matter. that's all I have to say.
Despite my desire for a new life, ultimately, it might not make a difference.
Sha la la la la la la
A repeated phrase used to emphasize the emotional intensity of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID POTTS, PETER HOOK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian J. Carnevale
This song poses a question. Mhiw about an answer from you?
What is it you want me to do?
Be clear so we can comply with your wishes.
Zoomer woman. They want one thing one day then switch up the next
Right right not how it used to be but don’t flatter yourself as you ruin nothing. Just something to do if I am bored
How dat make you feel kid??
“ what do you want from me?”
Huh huh huh huh huh huh ????
Mister K
I've been looking for this song for 25 years since I heard it on the radio but didn't know the name. My son found it for me today because I remembered the melody of the background chorus. What a great feeling, hearing this song for the first time after 25 years!
steve robbins
Ditto
monkwhitley
Been listening to it for 25 years 😂
brian cox
Exactly heard it on the radio today great track
Aaady
Same. I just googled it and found it. Took me back to childhood radio days!
marwan
It's crazy because I am looking for this song too many years and I found it at the end
Alex R.
Eu fico emocionando lendo só comentários . Música mexe demais com meus sentimentos , eu amo essa música, conheci ela no CD as 07 melhores da jovem pan ritmo da noite 6. Inclusive é um CD todo ótimo. Sinto tanta saudade, e quando leio os comentários e vejo quanta gente que eu não conheço partilha do mesmo sentimento , sinto vontade de abraçar todo mundo. Obrigado Deus , por todos esses sentimentos de amor :)
Leonardo Leal
Exatamente isso, Alex. Dá uma coisa boa e ao mesmo tempo uma tristeza no peito, sei lá. Talvez pelas pessoas que já perdemos. Que nostalgia!! Que saudade!!
Lauro Cesar
Ouvia essa no meu walkman da Aiwa hehe
Alex R.
@Lauro Cesar hahaha minha irmã já teve esse walkman tb