He started his first group while still at the Conservatory, called Deliverance. A mix of his gospel-music upbringing with his passion for roots rock such as Elvis and Perkins, the band recorded three albums over the course of 10 years, topping the charts in Germany and reaching #56 on Billboard with 1979's "Leaving LA". Amid financial difficulties, Janz left the group and returned to Canada the next year. He found work doing various projects for commercials and enrolled in Simon Fraser University in '81 to study philosophy. With his passion in life still music, and still determined to make it in the business, he found time to record some demos, playing all the instruments himself. The demos caught the attention of several major labels, and signed to A & M in '84.
His first solo album was a Candian-only release, HIGH STRUNG. It's debut came in mid '85 and was met with critical praise. With production assistance from Lindsay Kidd, it featured cameos from Jim Vallance, Tom Colclough and Robbie King, and no less than four singles were released. The success of "Don't Cry Tonight", "Close My Eyes" and the title track shot the album up the charts. But it was the smash "Go To Pieces", with it's driving rhythms and mixing that showed off Janz's emerging productions skills and truly propelled him, helping earn the songwriter a Juno Award for most promising male vocalist . Recognizing the performer's immense talent, Michael Godin left his post as vice president of A & M Canada to become Janz's manager before the new year.
The bulk of the next album was recorded at Godin's Vancouver studio over the next year. Now with a deal with A&M's division in the US, ELECTRICITY hit the stores in the summer of '87 and again was met with instant critical praise. Produced by Janz with helping hands from the likes of Bob Rock and Mike Fraser in the mixing and featuring the lyrics of Pamela Phillips Oland, the album quickly gained Janz recognition as one of the country's finest new songwriters, as emphasized in the first single "One Night Is All It Takes". As well, "Go To Pieces", the smash single from his debut, was remixed and found it's way onto ELECTRICITY. The driving rhythms and complex mixing of the album showed off Janz's emerging production skills. His gospel roots were also made evident when The Sperling School Choir were brought in to highlight the moving "Believe In Me", the album's last single, which was dedicated to Janz's four kids. Other noteable tracks included "Send Me A Miracle", "Alien", both co-written by his wife, the melodic "Angel" and "I Won't Cry".
RENEGADE ROMANTIC was released in 1990 amidst much anticipation from the critics as well as the public. With Bill Drescher co-producing, most noteable for his work with Rick Springfield and The Bangles, the record" showed a growing maturity in his songwriting. The lead-off single "Every Little Tear" quickly shot up the charts, followed by the raucous "Rocket To My Heart". The added attention earned Janz an opening slot with Melissa Etheridge in his first national tour. The moving "Stand" was the third single, hitting the top 40 in both Canada and the US, followed by the ballad "Hold Me Tender", showing a definite sensitive side to him.
Despite the relative success of the album, Janz was still somehow managing to not live up to A&M's expectations, dropping him from the label at the end of the year. Now without a deal, he spent the next couple of years writing new material in his own BC studio and judging the business from a distance. He was picked up by Attic Records in '92, but before their first collaberation, A&M released PRESENCE, a greatest hits package, to capitalize on his past laurels. Janz's first record for Attic came out shortly thereafter when TRUST hit the stands. Inspired in part by his time spent doing joint missionary work with MuchMusic, the album seemed to contain a new 'awareness' to his music, with a direction less geared to 'pop radio'. The new single "Wind Me Up" gave him exposure on the newly-reforming adult contemporary radio audience, as did "Amazon Rain" and "Call My Personal Angel". But not really sure what to do with Janz and his evidently changing styles, he again found himself without a major deal the very next year.
Paul Janz is currently not recording new material, and seems to have pretty much dropped out of the scene all together. Never making a name for himself touring the world like some others, his reputation came from a deep sense of involvement in his work, writing some of Canada's most complex and diverse material. Always a perfectionist of his craft, Janz has always sat in the control seat. His records have always been spawned from his love of many different types of music, containing thought-provoking lyrics and complex instrument dubs, demonstrating why he's been referred to as one of Canada's best songwriters and most under-rated musicians.
Close My Eyes
Paul Janz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't look when you closed the door
It was easier before, being alone
You did something to my ordinary
You gave it all a reason
It's so hard to be here feeling, so alone.
I feel you are here
Near me again
And when I close my eyes
I feel the air you breathe
hear you say my name
we're alone
I see your face before me often
The way your eyes would soften
It's hardly there before it's gone, and I'm alone
Is there healing in your memory
Or is there only pain
You return and I remain so alone
And when I close my eyes
I feel you are here
Near me again and when I close my eyes
I feel the air you breathe
Hear you say my name
we're alone
And when I close my eyes
I feel you are here
Near me again and when I close my eyes
I feel the air you breathe
and hear you say my name
we're alone
Close my eyes. Close my eyes. Close my eyes.
The song "Close My Eyes" by Paul Janz is a heart-rending ballad about lost love and the longing for the return of a past lover. The lyrics convey the emotions of the singer, who is haunted by memories of a past relationship. The song's opening lines suggest that the singer had not been actively looking for love and had found it unexpectedly. However, when the lover left, the singer began to question the benefits of being alone.
The chorus of the song is the most powerful part, where the singer speaks of feeling their lover's presence when they close their eyes. It's a vivid expression of how memories of lost love linger and remain an integral part of one's emotional landscape. The singer also recalls the small details of their time together, such as the way their eyes would soften. The final lines of the song serve as a plea for the return of the lover, a desire to once again be alone with them.
Overall, "Close My Eyes" is a poignant and evocative song that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I found you when I wasn't looking
I unexpectedly found you without actively searching for you
I didn't look when you closed the door
I didn't try to hold onto you when you left
It was easier before, being alone
It was simpler to be by myself than to deal with the emotions that come with being with you
You did something to my ordinary
You changed my mundane existence and gave it purpose
You gave it all a reason
You provided a reason for me to live and love
It's so hard to be here feeling, so alone.
It's difficult to feel alone even when you're not physically around
And when I close my eyes
I feel you are here
Near me again
And when I close my eyes
I feel the air you breathe
Hear you say my name
we're alone
When I close my eyes, I can imagine you being close to me again, feeling your presence, and hearing you say my name, even though we're physically apart
I see your face before me often
I frequently remember and envision your face
The way your eyes would soften
I remember how your eyes would become tender and gentle
It's hardly there before it's gone, and I'm alone
The memory of you quickly fades away, leaving me feeling lonely once more
Is there healing in your memory
Does remembering you help me feel better?
Or is there only pain
Or does it just make me feel worse?
You return and I remain so alone
You may come back, but I still feel lonely without you
Close my eyes. Close my eyes. Close my eyes.
Repeating the phrase to emphasize the ability to escape from reality by closing one's eyes
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Skikev2010
Paul is my cousin. We lost our sweet Lucas on March 30th of this year. He was 10. 97.3 BOOM FM Toronto dedicated this to us the day we celebrated his life! We love you! #LMT ❤️🐒
@Fersomling
This song has a mystical feel to it. Best listened to at night.
@MakemeaTorontoStar
And I am listening to it at night and crying.
@deanarhyndress9135
Yes I agree at night is the best time to listen to this song, as I am right now
@darleneguglietti5599
D,
@TrainmasterCurt
@@MakemeaTorontoStar Then you should listen to the Album Version, it’s even more haunting. https://youtu.be/UG0DY2N0F4c?si=fkKzIJt9T9-9mi5Z
@TINSAY888567
Highly underrated Canadian artist. Fantastic voice, amazing melodies.
@MakemeaTorontoStar
I know people who never even heard of him.
@cindyscheuerman3046
I agree
@rushman9378
@@MakemeaTorontoStar I think the vast majority of the population hasn't heard of him. It's a shame he's real talented.