At this time, Jake was playing with a death-metal band called "Vapid" who had an incredibly talented drummer called Gustav. Since Jake and Freddy already knew him, and also knew that he would do a great job behind the drums, Gustav was asked to be the drummer of the band. Even though it wasn´t really his bag, he accepted since he thought it would be a fun thing to do.Another guitarist was also necessary so another friend called Erik,(also a member of "Vapid" ) was asked to be a part of the band. He also accepted.The guys were also searching for a bassist but they couldn´t find any so the only solution was for Freddy to take the bass as well. He had never played this instrument before, only the guitar, but after a few rehersals, this turned out quite well anyway.
From the beginning, the idea was for Nostradameus to play just for fun, and was only going to participate in two rock-competitions in their home town. But in one of theese competitions, there was a man in the jury called Magnus Lundbäck, who immediately fell in love with the music of Nostradameus. He also was the chief of a label called Gain productions, and when the gig was over, he asked the very surprised guys if they had a demo. Since they didn't, he offered them to use his studio to record one, and after a few weeks of songwriting and other preparations ( Nostradameus only had one original song at this time ), they entered the studio on the 5-6 of December -98. The result was a real killer and the guys were really satisfied with it so on the 7th, the demo was sent away, but only to five labels, all german. The answer came two weeks later, from AFM-records who offered a contract at once and after some discussion, Nostradameus decided to sign with the label and did so in April -99.
During the spring and summer -99, the band was busy with writing and preparing new songs for the forthcoming album and in November -99, Nostradameus entered the studio again to record what was going to be the "Words of Nostradameus" album. The result of this recording turned out to be so good that the label decided to use the Finnvox studio in Helsinki to do the final mix of the album. This was, once again, a dream coming true to the band and even though they had to wait for about five months for a time in Finnvox ( it´s very hard to get a time with Mikko Karmila in this studio ) they decided that it was absolutely worth it. And it really was! The final product became so much better than the guys ever would have dreamed of.
Unfortunately, at this point of time, another problem had come up. Both Gustav and Erik had deciced to leave the band. They felt that it took too much time. Well, there was not so much to say about it. After all the band was just supposed to be "a fun thing" from the beginning and was now on its way to become something much bigger than that. So, without any hard feelings, Freddy and Jake started to search for some new members during the summer 2000. The first one they got in contact with was Michael Åberg. A very talented guitarist who played together with Magnus Rosén (Hammerfall) and Michael von Knorring (ex. Yngwie Malmsteen) in a cover band called M.M.M. Freddy just happened to be to be at the pub where they were playing one night and asked Michael if he´d like to try as the guitarist of Nostradameus once they had a new drummer. He said yes an the guys decided to stay in touch. Shortly after, Jake saw a note on the wall in a musicstore in Gothenburg about a hardrock/metal drummer who was looking for a band. So he wrote down the number and later on that evening, after having shared a couple of beers with Freddy, they decided to call this guy, Jesse. He seemed very enthusiastic and a few weeks later, the four guys started to reherse on the material. It turned out quite OK and since they both fitted so good as persons in the band, Jake and Freddy decided to take them in as permanent members in the autumn 2000. At this point of time it was decided that they had to get a bassist in the band also. It was no problem for Freddy to do both the bass and the vocals in the studio but it never was such a good idea when playing live shows. Jesse then came with the idea to contact an old friend of his, Thomas, who had a lot of experience from other bands where he´d played the bass. So they tried him and after the first gig with the new line-up, on November 15, Thomas was also a permanent member of the band.
In January -01 the band, now consisting of 5 members, started to concentrate on some new material for an upcoming second release. All the materiel was already written since Freddy and Jake have had plenty of time during the spring and summer -00 while the band didn´t have any more members. So the recording of the second cd, "The prophet of evil"-album was sceduled already for May the same year. So in the beginning of that month, the guys once again entered "Gain production"´s studio.Once the recording was done, it was again time to visit Mr. Karmila in "Finnvox" and as usual, he did a great job so the "Prophet..."-album was released in August -01. Less than a year after the debut.The new album received quite good reviews, eventhough they were not excellent...
But despite this fact, the guys finally got the opportunity to hit the roads for the first time for a major european tour as an opener for their labelmates Edguy. The only problem was that Jesse at this point of time, due to personal reasons, decided to leave the band. So a new drummer once again had to be recruited. Thomas came up with an idea of a friend of his that might be worth testing. This guy was Esko Salow and he, already from the start, made a tremendously stong impression on the rest of the band, so after the gig in Wacken, he was also a permanent member of the band. The tour lasted from the 2nd of November to the 8th of December and was a huge succes for all the parties involved. The ticketsales and the reactions of the audience was way much better than anyone dared to hope for before it started.
Since things, to this point, had gone quite fast (2 albums released in just 12 months) the guys felt a bit worried when the tour started since they almost didn´t have any new ideas for the future. But propably because of the very inspiring atmosphere, with the reactions of the fans during the gigs, the creativity was on top when they returned back home so in less than 2 months, enough material for a 3rd album was written. So in February -02, the guys once again hit the rehearsing room to prepare and arrange the new material.
The recording of what was going to be "The third prophecy"-album started in the summertime -02. This time, the guys decided to use a different studio than on the previous albums. First of all to get some new impressions, but also since the new materiel was a bit different, quite much more raw and heavy, than the previous ones. The recording was made in the KEG-house studio, situated on one of the islands outside Gothenburg, almost "at home" for Freddy and Jake. It was done in a very harmonic atmosphere and most of the time was used finding the right feeling in the recordings, something the guys didn´t put that much attention to on the previous albums when the main goal was to make tecnically perfect performances on each instrument. The result, however, was something quite extraordinary.
In September, the album was mixed, not in Finnvox this time, but in Studio Fredman in Gothenburg by Fredrik Nordström. The main reason was to acheive a little bit "rawer" sound, more a la "Heavy-metal" compared to the ordinary "perfect, but a bit soft"-sound that´s quite common in the Power-metal scene today. Of course, Fredrik sure didn´t disappoint anyone.
Since Nostradameus had some really nice experiences from the european tour with Edguy, the longing for another tour to promote the new album now grew stronger every day, and in the late autumn -02 the guys finally got the confirmation for another journey across Europe. This time together with HammerFall and their labelmates Masterplan...
If We Believe
Nostradameus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For all you good people who think one step ahead
How hard can it be
To see that they're twisting the thoughts in your own head
That all you know
And all you believe in is nothing but a lie
'Cause all they do is
Exploiting your body until the day you die
Since suffering and luxury
Are two sides of the same coin
There's one decision you must make
What's good and what is wrong
It's been the same through history
Alone we will fall but united we'll stand
We'll throw away all misery
If we believe in our dreams
They're poisoning your brain
Yeah, they do everyday, while you're standing peacefully
And get loaded with shit
With toughts they allow - We're like Zombies, you and me
Or is this what we want
All this pain and starvation for people in this world
That some people did die
'Cause of other men's greed - Is this the way it's supposed to be
Since suffering and luxury
Are two sides of the same coin
There's one decision you must make
What's good and what is wrong
It's been the same through history
Alone we will fall but united we'll stand
We'll throw away all misery
If we believe in our dreams
Since suffering and luxury
Are two sides of the same coin
There's one decision you must make
What's good and what is wrong
It's been the same through history
Alone we will fall but united we'll stand
We'll throw away all misery
If we believe in our dreams
The song "If We Believe" by Nostradameus tackles the idea of how powerful ideas and beliefs are in shaping an individual's reality. The first verse calls out those who believe they are thinking one step ahead, but in reality, they are being manipulated to think a certain way. The song highlights how everything individuals think they know and believe in could be wrong, and people are being exploited until their last breath. The chorus of the song speaks to the idea of suffering and luxury being the same coin with one decision to make, what is good and what is wrong. The song calls people to unite and work together to throw away all misery that plagues them today.
Throughout the song, the lyrics explore how people's thoughts and beliefs can be poisoned, leading them to accept and internalize ideas that are not based on truth. The second verse of the song explores the idea that people want something terrible to keep happening, like pain and starvation in different parts of the world. This chorus appeals for people to make the right decision on what is good and evil and the importance of unity against injustice.
In summary, the song "If We Believe" is a call to action for people to come together to fight injustice and throw away all misery that plagues them. The lyrics reveal the importance of understanding what is good and what is wrong because it can affect the reality of individuals significantly.
Line by Line Meaning
How hard can it be
Nostradameus questions the ease with which people can think critically
For all you good people who think one step ahead
Nostradameus addresses his message to those who think beyond the status quo
To see that they're twisting the thoughts in your own head
Nostradameus warns against those who attempt to manipulate people's thinking and beliefs
That all you know
Nostradameus emphasizes the idea of knowledge being important
And all you believe in is nothing but a lie
Nostradameus claims the knowledge that people hold is often not true or accurate
'Cause all they do is
Nostradameus identifies the culprits of misinformation and manipulation: those who seek to exploit others
Exploiting your body until the day you die
Nostradameus describes the insidious nature of exploitation that continues even until death
Since suffering and luxury
Nostradameus highlights the dichotomy of suffering and luxury
Are two sides of the same coin
Nostradameus suggests that suffering and luxury are connected and interdependent
There's one decision you must make
Nostradameus stresses the necessity of making a choice
What's good and what is wrong
Nostradameus calls for discernment between what is right and what is not
It's been the same through history
Nostradameus points out the recurring nature of this choice over time
Alone we will fall but united we'll stand
Nostradameus underscores the importance of solidarity
We'll throw away all misery
Nostradameus offers the idea of disposing of unhappiness and dissatisfaction
If we believe in our dreams
Nostradameus encourages the belief in a better future through active choice and solidarity
They're poisoning your brain
Nostradameus warns against the dangers of accepting manipulative thinking
Yeah, they do everyday, while you're standing peacefully
Nostradameus describes the subversive and ongoing nature of manipulation
And get loaded with shit
Nostradameus uses graphic language to emphasize the unpleasantness of what is being inflicted
With toughts they allow - We're like Zombies, you and me
Nostradameus likens the acceptance of distorted thinking to being mindless and controlled
Or is this what we want
Nostradameus poses the question of whether people desire the current state of the world
All this pain and starvation for people in this world
Nostradameus laments the suffering inflicted on individuals throughout the world
That some people did die
Nostradameus acknowledges the fatalities caused by a world that accepts and cultivates suffering
'Cause of other men's greed - Is this the way it's supposed to be
Nostradameus points out the role that greed plays in the world's current state
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FREDDY PERSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind