1: Bo… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists with the name “Pieter Gabriel”.
1: Born 2004, Pieter is a DJ and EDM producer from the Netherlands, most notable for producing a remix of “Venus” with Eric van Tijn for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Grand Final flag parade.
2: The world of Pieter Gabriel's songs is not necessarily a sunny place. Even if they seldom touch on the political dimension of the dystopian nightmare our (western) world has become. „I killed a man and i don't believe in god. He pulled his knife. I pulled the trigger of my gun.“ („Algerian Limbo“)
Pieter Gabriel, born 1981 lives in Vienna. His father picked his name intentionally, using the dutch spelling of the first name to make sure people really get the association with Peter Gabriel. Music mattered to his father.
Music matters to Pieter, who grew up listening to tons of stuff, „fortunately on vinyl“. Reading about it almost as passionately as he used his ears to explore the secrets and the beauty, the texture and the grammar of various sounds. By 2006 the self-taught musician started to write his own songs, today referencing greats like Nick Drake, Radiohead, Slint, Jeff Buckley or My Bloody Valentine who informed his own stlye and vision. Not to forget a long-lasting love affair with thinking men's pop-sensation Talk Talk. Or Tom Waits.
Pieter does not always or foremost chronicle his own pain in his songs, or analyse his own depression and uneasyness with a world going out of hand. Yet as an musical artist he is drawn to scenes and settings with a strange, alienating undercurrent. In the 8 songs of his first album „City Of Last Things“ you might find traces of writers like Paul Auster or Albert Camus, or a mood of impending doom not unlike the one dominating that great movie „Blade Runner“. Some might even hear voices („They shouted: Don't shoot! Just run!“ – „Voices“). There's even love, it's end and the endless doubts that come packaged with it. There's the desire to leave it all behind, to make a clean cut and leave it all on the outside. („Keep It All Inside“).
Yet we do not need worry about the person Pieter Gabriel. He deals with it all just as good as we all do – or just as bad …
„These are the last things existing around here. One by one they vanish. Away. I can tell you of those, of those that i've seen. And of those that no longer exist“ („City Of Last Things“).
At the beginning of his songs is a mood, an atmosphere, and a hint, a trace of a sound that might capture it. After long years of working a steady job Pieter Gabriel took a break and focused on developing his music, writing songs, home-recording them, playing them live, with a band and as a solo-performer. His girlfriend insisted on Pieter taking part in a music competition partly hosted by Radio FM4, austria's very important radio station when it comes to, yes, „good“ music. Winning that competition gave him the budget to realise „City Of Last Things“ the way he envisioned it.
It took 15 days in Herwig Zamernik's „Fuzzroom“ to get these songs on tape, Zamernik (Naked Lunch) helping to add the finishing touches to an already very much formed musical vision. Playing various instruments – Guitar, Syths, Piano, Organ etc – Pieter and Herwig created the sonic settings, the soundscapes where these 8 songs can come to life. It's the voice that guides us through „City Of Last Things“, from the openening „When I See You“ (also Pieter's first ever song) to the haunting beauty of „Time“ at the end. 37 minutes that touch on quite a few worlds.
And yes, most of them might be rather dark, dimly lit, even bleak at times. But then there's also light, moments of transcending beauty. Like the refrain of „Remains“ – „I'm sliding away from it all“.
Or when „Algerian Limbo“ reaches it's otherworldy, almost anthemic climax with the words „This ocean it knows no tides“. „Kitsch“ Pieter states rather dry. But that brilliant, addictive sort of „Kitsch“ one rarely gets to hear in such a subtle and musically well-balanced guise …
Voices
Pieter Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was burning like a silver flame
A summit of beauty and love
And Venus was her name
She's got it
Yeah baby she's got it!
Well I'm your Venus, I'm your fire, your desire!
I'm your Venus I'm your fire your desire!
Oh, happens with her crystal eyes
Making every man mad
Like her as a dark night sheet was
Got what no one else had
She's got it
Yeah baby she's got it!
Well I'm your Venus, I'm your fire, your desire!
Well I'm your Venus, I'm your fire, your desire!
I'm your Venus
The lyrics to Peter Gabriel's song "Voices" are actually from the 1969 hit song "Venus" by Dutch rock band, Shocking Blue. The song is a love letter to a woman who is described as a god on a mountaintop. The imagery paints her as a beautiful, powerful force that captures the hearts of every man who sees her, as if she possesses an otherworldly aura. The chorus repeats the refrain "I'm your Venus, I'm your fire, your desire!" and serves to emphasize the alluring power that the singer feels the woman possesses.
The use of the word "Venus" is also significant, as Venus is the Roman goddess of beauty, love, and desire. This draws a parallel between the woman the song describes and a goddess, elevating her to a divine status. The lyrics also mention her "crystal eyes" and being "like a dark night sheet," which further reinforces the idea of her being a captivating and ethereal being.
Line by Line Meaning
A God is on a mountain top
There's something powerful and divine present on top of a mountain.
Was burning like a silver flame
This divine presence radiates with an intense, sparkly light.
A summit of beauty and love
The place where this divine presence resides is breathtakingly beautiful and full of love.
And Venus was her name
This divine presence is referred to as Venus.
She's got it
Venus possesses something that the singer is enthralled by.
Yeah baby she's got it!
The singer is really excited about whatever Venus has.
Well I'm your Venus, I'm your fire, your desire!
The singer is identifying himself as Venus, as if he possesses the same qualities that the divine presence embodies.
Oh, happens with her crystal eyes
There's something mesmerizing about how Venus looks at people with her clear, bright eyes.
Making every man mad
Venus's gaze has a powerful effect on men, driving them crazy with desire.
Like her as a dark night sheet was
The singer compares Venus's appearance to a dark, mysterious night sky.
Got what no one else had
In addition to her appearance, Venus has something that no one else possesses.
Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Rover08
Lyrics
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
It's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
I'm listening to the conversation:
Judge and jury in my head
It's coloring everything
All we did and said
And still I head that sharp tongue talking
Talking tangled words
I can sense the danger
Just listen to the wind
I want you close I want you near
I can't help but listen
But I don't want to hear
Hear that voice again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
It's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
I'm hearing right and wrong so clearly
There must be more than this
It's only in uncertainty
That we're naked and alive
I hear it through the rattle of a streetcar
Hear it through the things you said
I can get so scared
Listen to the wind
I want you close I want you near
I can't help but listen
But I don't want to hear
Hear that voice again
What I carry in my heart
Brings us so close or so far apart
Only love can make love
I want you close I want you near
I can't help but listen
But I don't want to hear
I hear that voice again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
It's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
@calyman0
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
It's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
Oh, I'm listening to the conversation
Judge and jury in my head
It's colouring everything
All we did and said
And still I head that sharp tongue talking
Talking tangled words
I can sense the danger
Just listen to the wind
I want you close
I want you here
I can't help but listen
But I don't want to hear
Hear that voice again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
It's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
Oh, I'm hearing right and wrong so clearly
There must be more than this
It's only in uncertainty
That we're naked and alive
I hear it through the rattle of a streetcar
Hear it through the things you said
I can get so scared
Listen to the wind
I want you close
I want you here
I can't help but listen
But I don't want to hear
Hear that voice again
What I carry in my heart
Brings us so close or so far apart
Only love can make love
I want you close
I want you here
I can't help but listen
But I don't want to hear
I hear that voice again
I want to be with you
I want to be clear
But each time I try
It's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
@pressrolls
Manu's drumming on this track still takes my breath away. So many years ago now.
@francisbroka9471
Yes, and the sound of Tony Levin's bass is... no word.
@coolcat6303
Alot of Rock drummers sound similar but Manu’s shuffle and drumming style has a very unique sound & really stands out in every song he plays on. I would put him in the same class as Jeff Porcaro, Stewart Copeland and Phil Collins.
@peterpaluska7745
Yes, simply phenomenal.
@peterpaluska7745
Possibly my favorite moment of Manu's! 3:00
@TheHawkdoc60
This is one of Peter Gabriel's lesser known hits, but it is one of my absolute favorites off of his "So" album.
@Squab1972
One of my favourites as well, it showcases the songwriting talents of Peter Gabriel.
@MrSuperHappyPants
The entire record is a masterpiece, but this song, in particular, breaks me in half.
@francisbroka9471
Bass and drums...Incredible!!
@coolcat6303
This was never released as a single. Should've been though.