In her native country, the vocal capacities of Petra Berger are often compa… Read Full Bio ↴In her native country, the vocal capacities of Petra Berger are often compared to those of Andrea Bocelli or Céline Dion. "She doesn’t sound Dutch at all!" people often say. They don’t mean to be impolite; coming from a Dutchman it is a great compliment! Dutch singers with a vocal range comprising more than three octaves usually sing opera and don’t bother with pop music. In addition to her technical qualities, Petra Berger is tremendously musical in an emotional sense. She has the gift to stir up an audience to great highs and lows, because she personally wants to experience the significance of each and every note and word that she sings. Petra is a perfectionist. And besides being a perfectionist, she is very ambitious when it comes to the content of a song. "A beautiful melody," she explains, "simply won’t do. Each song has to be about something."

That quality, often lacking in pop musicians, has resulted in two ambitious musical projects that were composed and written with a certain theme in mind. Eternal Woman (2001) is about the lives of eleven great women, ranging from Maria Magdalena and Cleopatra to Marie-Antoinette and Catharina the Great. This project was followed in 2003 by another ‘concept’ album (Mistress), this time about the fate of famous and tragic lovers such as Catharina de Medici, Frida Kahlo and even Hillary Clinton. Both albums were a huge international success and Eternal Woman even became platinum.

However, on tour Petra came to realize that these wonderful historical productions, how interesting they were and still are, had nothing to do with her own life. She doesn’t play a role in the political arena and she is definitely not a tragic lover. Furthermore, Petra and her husband Jeroen Englebert (composer/producer) are now the proud parents of a son and a daughter, which has altered their perspectives on life and work tremendously. "It was time to look for repertoire that not only appeals to me musically. Its content should also reflect who I am and what makes me tick at this moment in my life," she says.

"As a result, this is the most intimate and tender record I can think of. I wonder if I will be able to stay as true to myself in the future. Love, in all its manifestations, is the central theme of this album, ranging from the love of a son for his deceased father (If came the hour), romantic love (happy or not) and, for instance, the love between two fighting friends who don’t want to let go of each other (Can’t let go). They are able to forgive because they realize that their friendship is more important than their wounded egos. It’s a beautiful duet with Simone Kleinsma, whom I know very well, having co-starred with her in the musical Sweeny Todd many years ago. Then there are two compositions especially for my children, one of them being Conta sempre su di me, which means: whatever you do, you can always count on me. The music was written by Tjeerd Oosterhuis, who also produced this album. The Italian lyrics are a faithful translation of the lyrics about the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child that I wrote for this song. It’s a different relationship from any other. It’s true: you bring them into this world, look into their eyes and you know: this is forever. Liberta, the other song, is an encouragement for my children to become who they truly want to become."

Last but not least, there is the all-revealing title track ‘Here and Now’, which reflects the overall emotional significance of the album both in its lyrics (Petra Berger) and music (After Forever). Based on the books of mystic Eckhart Tolle, it is a spirited and intensely cheerful recommendation to us all to let go of our past disappointments and pain; to no longer be afraid and just live in the NOW.

(taken from her official site)

Here and Now
Petra Berger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Feel deep within your sense of being
See your own true self awakening
Be where you are right now, the present moment holds the key
Don't keep the past alive, allow the now to be
Eternally...

The time is here and now, the moment sets you free
We step into a timeless state, into eternity

We're here to celebrate, let's make a solumn vow
The time and place is here and now...

See how the light defeats the darkness
Feel it's warming touch and tenderness
Surrender to the now, become aware of who you are
Don't wait for more to come, allow the now to be
Eternally...

The time is here and now, the moment sets you free
We step into a timeless state, into eternity
We're here to celebrate, let's make a solumn vow
The time and place is here and now...

You, you are the only one who can change your life, open up your heart...

Oh, oh - (koor)

How do we know... Live beyond your thought and mind
Where do we go... Leave your worries far behind
When will it show... Open up and you will find

Create a prophecy
Make it reality

The time is here and now, the moment sets you free
We step into a timeless state, into eternity
We're here to celebrate, let's make a solumn vow
The time and place is here and now...

The time is here and now, the moment sets you free
We step into a timeless state, into eternity
We're here to celebrate, let's make a solumn vow
The time and place is here and now...

This time's the finest hour

The place to feel the power
The time and place is here and now...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Petra Berger's song "Here and Now" encourage living in the present moment and embracing oneself. The first verse highlights the importance of feeling deeply within oneself and awakening to the true self. The present moment holds the key to life, and one should not keep the past alive. The chorus reiterates the significance of living in the present and stepping into a timeless state. We should celebrate the present moment and create a prophecy to make it a reality.

The second verse brings imagery of light defeating darkness and warming touch and tenderness. It encourages surrendering to the present moment and becoming aware of oneself. One should not wait for more to come and should allow the present moment to be eternal. The bridge preaches self-acceptance and self-love, emphasizing that one is the only one who can change their life. The time and place for change and living life fully is NOW.

Line by Line Meaning

Feel deep within your sense of being
Open yourself up to your innermost thoughts and feelings.

See your own true self awakening
Realize your true potential and abilities.

Be where you are right now, the present moment holds the key
Live in the present moment as it holds the answers to your life.

Don't keep the past alive, allow the now to be
Move on from the past and embrace the present moment.

Eternally...

The time is here and now, the moment sets you free
The present moment is the best time to take charge of your life.

We step into a timeless state, into eternity
Take a step to a place where time has no limits or bounds.

We're here to celebrate, let's make a solemn vow
Take this moment to celebrate your life and make a commitment to yourself.

The time and place is here and now...
The best time and place to take action is the present moment.

See how the light defeats the darkness
Notice how positive energy overpowers negative energy.

Feel it's warming touch and tenderness
Experience the positive effects of positivity.

Surrender to the now, become aware of who you are
Embrace yourself and your surroundings in the present moment.

Don't wait for more to come, allow the now to be
Don't wait for things to happen; make the most of what you have.

You, you are the only one who can change your life, open up your heart...
Only you have the power to transform your life; start by being open to new possibilities.

How do we know... Live beyond your thought and mind
Don't allow your thoughts or fears to hold you back from living your best life.

Where do we go... Leave your worries far behind
Leave your worries and problems behind to experience true freedom.

When will it show... Open up and you will find
Be open to new opportunities and experiences, and you will find what you seek.

Create a prophecy
Predict your future by setting goals and working towards them.

Make it reality
Turn your dreams into reality through hard work and dedication.

This time's the finest hour
The present moment is the best time to make a change in your life.

The place to feel the power
Embrace the present moment to harness your inner strength and power.

Contributed by Keira R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS