He became known as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme. He has also recorded a solo album as well as having founded bands including Mourning Widows, Population 1, DramaGods, and The Satellite Party. In 2007, he also reunited with Extreme to record new music and tour.
He made albums with several different projects. His discography with Extreme includes: Extreme (1989), Pornograffitti (1990), III Sides To Every Story (1992), Waiting For The Punchline (1995).
In 2008, Extreme reunited for a world tour and new album, Saudades de Rock.
Solo albums Nuno made include Schizophonic (1997), Mourning Widows (1998) and Furnished Souls For Rent (2000).
In 2002 Nuno formed Population 1 and released Population 1 and the EP Sessions From Room 4 in 2004. In 2006 he released Love with his new band, DramaGods.
Other works
In 2008, Bettencourt was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture Smart People. Bettencourt is credited on the cover on the soundtrack as well. The soundtrack also features the Gary Cherone track, "Need I Say More", and Baby Animals selections. The album was released by Hollywood Records and is available on iTunes. The following year, Bettencourt was featured in a song and video called "Best Night Ever"[6] by Marshall Eriksen, a character on How I Met Your Mother. The video was a parody of Extreme's "More Than Words" video, in which the entire main cast of How I Met Your Mother made appearances.
In 1990, Bettencourt played rhythm guitar on the single version of Janet Jackson's "Black Cat," which was his first pop collaboration and a number one hit.
In 1991, Bettencourt produced Dweezil Zappa's release on Barking Pumpkin Records, Confessions. On this record Bettencourt also sings lead vocals for the first time, on a semi-ballad entitled "The Kiss", as well as playing guitar and singing background vocals on some other tracks. Extreme members Gary Cherone and Pat Badger also contributed.
In 1993, Bettencourt co-wrote and produced "Where Are You Going" for the Super Mario Bros. movie. He also joined Robert Palmer in the studio to record Palmer's album Honey. According to former Journey lead singer Steve Perry, Bettencourt has teamed with him to write and arrange songs. He also has writing and recording engagements with Maverick Records' Tantric (Bettencourt co-wrote Tantric's hit single "Hey Now"), Hollywood recording group BB Mak, Toni Braxton, and numerous others.
Bettencourt has also collaborated with singer Suze DeMarchi and with all of her Baby Animals bandmates. On Baby Animals' second release, Shaved and Dangerous, he produced a few songs and co-wrote "Because I Can". He also contributed to the writing, recording, and production of DeMarchi's solo debut from 1999, Telelove. In 1999, Bettencourt produced the album Magnolia, for the Portuguese singer and actress Lúcia Moniz. He also featured as singer and guitarist in the song "Try Again", which was included in Magnolia.
In 2006, Bettencourt along with his band DramaGods contributed their song "S'OK" to the album project Artists for Charity—Guitarists 4 the Kids, produced by Slang Productions to assist World Vision Canada in helping underprivileged kids in need.
In November 2009, Bettencourt announced that he would be touring with Barbadian singer Rihanna on her Last Girl on Earth Tour as lead guitarist, having appeared alongside her in several TV shows and other performances. He has since performed as Rihanna's lead guitarist on every subsequent tour, including her Loud (2010), 777 (2012) and Diamonds World (2013) tours.
In July 2011, Steel Panther reported to Loud magazine that Nuno would be "coming in to do something" on their then-upcoming release Balls Out. The collaboration resulted in the track "It Won't Suck Itself", which also featured Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger.
Rescue
Nuno Bettencourt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
have you stolen my backbone please
give it back to me
one thousand unseen hands
have crushed my plans
the ghost has avenged
love is war you take each other hostage
no daily resurrection
shipwrecked salvation
keep blaming the weather
did you notice 'cause if you'd notice
you'd rescue me
before i lose my final breath
could you please could you rescue me
just wondering when you get a chance
could you please could you rescue me
i'm fading and fading
from moment to moment
before i choke on common sense
could you please could you rescue me
leaving a senseless trail of devastation
constantly tangled up in conversation
as lonely as a clock
a cheap facade
the promise of pleasure
In Nuno Bettencourt's song "Rescue," he appears to be addressing a lover or partner who has taken something important from him, his "backbone." He describes feeling crushed and powerless, as though he has been taken hostage. However, he also seems to be suggesting that the person he is speaking to may not have even realized what they have done. He asks if they have noticed the effect their actions have had on him, and if they have, pleads with them to rescue him before he fades away completely.
The second verse of the song continues to explore the theme of powerlessness and loneliness. The singer describes feeling constantly tangled up in conversations and leaving a trail of devastation, as though his attempts to connect with others always end in disappointment. He compares himself to a clock, ticking away without any real purpose, and says that he feels trapped behind a "cheap facade." He seems to be expressing a deep sense of frustration and sadness, both at his own situation and at the wider world around him.
Overall, "Rescue" is a powerful and emotional song that deals with themes of powerlessness, loneliness, and the struggle to connect with others. It is perhaps Nuno Bettencourt's most introspective and personal song, and its haunting melodies and intimate lyrics make it a standout track in his discography.
Line by Line Meaning
curl up into a question mark and answer me
I feel confused and uncertain. Please tell me what's going on.
have you stolen my backbone please
I feel vulnerable and weak. Can you please give me the strength that I need?
give it back to me
I need you to return what you took from me so that I can move forward.
one thousand unseen hands
I feel like there are many external forces beyond my control affecting me.
have crushed my plans
My hopes and dreams have been shattered and I don't know how to move forward.
the ghost has avenged
I feel like there is a haunting presence that is responsible for causing me harm.
love is war you take each other hostage
Being in a relationship can feel like a battle of wills where each person is trying to gain power over the other.
one person becomes an occupying army
In relationships, one person can dominate the other and take away their freedom and autonomy.
no daily resurrection
There is no hope for a fresh start or a new beginning each day.
shipwrecked salvation
Even though I may be saved, I still feel lost and adrift in the ocean of life.
keep blaming the weather
I keep making excuses for the problems in my life instead of taking responsibility for my actions.
did you notice cause if you'd notice you'd rescue me
I'm hoping that you'll notice me struggling and offer your help.
before i lose my final breath could you please could you rescue me
I'm afraid that I'm running out of time and I need your help before it's too late.
just wondering when you get a chance could you please could you rescue me
I don't want to be a burden or demand too much of your time, but I really need your help.
i'm fading and fading from moment to moment
I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality and slipping away.
before i choke on common sense could you please could you rescue me
I don't want to make a mistake or do something foolish, so please help me before it's too late.
leaving a senseless trail of devastation
I feel like I'm leaving a path of destruction behind me as I go about my life.
constantly tangled up in conversation
I can't seem to communicate clearly or connect with others in a meaningful way.
as lonely as a clock
I feel like I'm isolated and alone even though I'm surrounded by people.
a cheap facade the promise of pleasure
I feel like the things that are supposed to make me happy are really just empty and meaningless.
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.