After notching up six studio albums, several chart-topping singles, a string of awards and countless sold-out gigs, Prime Circle have earned their status as South African rock royalty. Now they are also making strong inroads into the European market, gigging intensively and being playlisted on German radio – and to crown it all, the band is headlining major German rock festivals.
In mid-2016, Prime Circle's single Ghosts reached the top 150 of Germany’s weekly airplay charts. This came on the back of performing at mega-events such as Rock im Revier, Rockavaria and Rock in Vienna in Germany and Austria alongside Iron Maiden and Iggy Pop, to promote their first official European release, Let the Night In – Deluxe Edition. Prime Circle were also the headline act at the Kieler Woche, the world’s leading sailing event, as well as Hamburg Harley Days – the biggest annual Harley Davidson gathering in Germany. They also took their powerful live act to football audiences at the UEFA Champions League Festival in Milan.
Between July and September, Prime Circle were booked to open as special guests for Berlin superstars The BossHoss during a succession of German festival dates. And in August, the band was invited to headline the Rock Auf Der Berg Königstein and the Pflasterfest in Hameln, also in Germany – an outstanding achievement and a fitting tribute to their persistent hard work and dedication.
Formed in Witbank, Mpumalanga, in 2001, Prime Circle have demonstrated unparallelled staying power with a dynamic signature sound that continues to evolve in exciting, progressive directions. The five members have shown it is possible to be a successful and enduring South African rock act by constantly challenging themselves while exploring new geographical and musical horizons. Their six albums – Hello Crazy World (2003), Live This Life (2005), All or Nothing (2008), Jeckyll & Hyde (2010), Evidence (2012) and Let the Night In (2014) – have all reached gold or platinum status, morphing in style from commercial, anthemic radio hits to a harder, edgier sound.
Prime Circle have won several South African Music Awards for their albums and music videos, including Best Music Video of the Year at the SAMA XXI category as well as nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Pop & Alternative Act and Best Music Video of the Year for their single DOORS off their album Let The Night In. The band was also nominated for Best Artist in African Rock at the All Africa Music Awards.
Over the past few years, they have taken their well-crafted tunes and powerful live energy to international markets while not forgetting their massive South African fan base. They have toured extensively throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland – as well as Germany, which is fast becoming the band’s second home. Says singer-songwriter Ross Learmonth: “Without the fans, we would be nothing. And I don’t ever want to do anything else. Creating music for a living is a privilege, and we never forget that.”
Change
Prime Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You might see what I'm after
Be still and take a look
To see what's coming up inside you
The past will always find you
I know you're trying to be somebody else
You didn't have to change
I know you're trying to be like everyone else
Didn't have to change
Didn't have to change
Don't wish your days away
See what's hidden right inside you
That's the thing that will define you
Be sure it's not just a phase
You don't have to justufy it
If you need it more than I did
I know you're trying to be somebody else
You didn't have to change
You didn't have to change
I know you're trying to be like everyone else
Didn't have to change
Didn't have to change
Won't you stay the same?
I stay the same
I know you're trying to be somebody else
You didn't have to change
You didn't have to change
I know you're trying to be like everyone else
Didn't have to change
Didn't have to change
The lyrics of the song "Change" by Prime Circle are about being true to oneself and not trying to change to fit in with everyone else. The first line, "If I could turn the world a little faster, you might see what I'm after," suggests that the singer wishes things could move more quickly to help the person they are singing to see their true selves more clearly. The following lines, "Be still and take a look, to see what's coming up inside you, the past will always find you," encourage the listener to take time and reflect on who they are and what they really want for themselves. The next verse reinforces this idea, with lines like "Don't wish your days away, see what's hidden right inside you, that's the thing that will define you."
The chorus is a repeated reminder that the listener does not have to change to fit in. The lines "I know you're trying to be somebody else, you didn't have to change" are a clear indication that the singer supports the listener's original self and wants them to be true to who they really are. In the last verse, the lines "Be sure it's not just a phase, you don't have to justify it, if you need it more than I did" suggest that being true to oneself may not always be easy but it is worth it. The final line, "Won't you stay the same? I stay the same" reinforces the idea that the singer wants the listener to be who they really are and not change just to fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could turn the world a little faster
If I could change the way things happen around me, I would.
You might see what I'm after
You might understand my true intentions and desires.
Be still and take a look
Take a moment to reflect and examine yourself.
To see what's coming up inside you
To identify what you truly feel or think about yourself or a situation.
The past will always find you
Your past experiences will always catch up with you and shape your present and future.
I know you're trying to be somebody else
I understand that you are pretending to be someone you're not.
You didn't have to change
You didn't need to transform yourself to fit in or succeed.
Didn't have to change
You could have stayed true to yourself and still achieve your goals.
Don't wish your days away
Don't waste your precious time wishing things were different.
See what's hidden right inside you
Discover the talents, passions, and qualities that are already within you.
That's the thing that will define you
Those innate characteristics are what will make you unique and distinguish yourself.
Be sure it's not just a phase
Make sure that what you are feeling or doing is not just a temporary trend or influence.
You don't have to justify it
You don't need to explain or defend your choices to anyone else.
If you need it more than I did
If you find that this is something you truly need to do for yourself more than anything else.
Won't you stay the same?
Why can't you remain who you truly are?
I stay the same
I refuse to change who I am to please others.
Writer(s): Neil Breytenbach, Marco Sergio Gomes, Dirk Theodorus Bisschoff, Dale Wayne Schnettler, Theo Crous, Ross Andrew Learmonth
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.