During his home schooling in Winnipeg he had barged and searched for his parent’s R&B, blues and soul albums, spending a lot of time in his basement sampling old retro music. Shand's funk sense of music typically made him an outcast from outsiders who did not share his passion. The soul styling music of Remy Shand is considered and labeled by some as neo soul. His parents had encouraged him to earn his GED, and to work on his music just as a project.
The Way I Feel
By the age of 19 Remy Shand managed to send a demo tape to Steve Warden who became his manager and helped to find Shand a prominent record deal. Three months after Shand had a chance to be signed a recording deal he was offered two different labels for development but turned down the offer, fortunately Universal Music Canada had signed Shand to a record deal with Motown Records in the United States. Recording and mixing on Shand's debut album, The Way I Feel, began during the spring of 2001 at his home in Winnipeg. The album featured songs such as "The Colour of the Day" and "I Met Your Mercy", are a few examples of his particular genre. Shand says his track "Everlasting" was sort of the blueprint towards The Way I Feel's content, being the oldest track on the album (it was recorded in 1998).
The Way I Feel was released on March 12, 2002, and won a Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording in the 2003 Juno Awards. Other than being successful in Canada, he managed to sell roughly 500,000 albums in the U.S. Shand received four Grammy nominations for his work.
Shand's wife (since 2001) is Maiko Watson, a singer from the now-defunct girl group Sugar Jones, who were featured on Global's Popstars.
Rocksteady
Remy Shand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could it open my eyes
For the night
It took me by surprise
Oh what you said to me
Love me do
Whatever you want back darlin' won't be good
Rocksteady can't break my world
Nobody's gonna ever think twice
Oh how I, how I often try
Rocksteady can't make that change
Nobody's gonna ever rearrange (oh yeah)
As time moves slippin' fast
Love just won't become you
Now my mind, baby
My mind is free
Oh you played it hard, lady
So hard and deep
Oh when you said to me
Love me do
Whatever you want back darlin' won't be good
That is why I woke and cried out
Rocksteady can't break my world
Nobody's gonna ever think twice
Oh how I, how I often try
Rocksteady can't make that change
Nobody's gonna ever rearrange (oh yeah)
As time moves slippin' fast
Love just won't become you
Rocksteady can't break my world
Nobody's gonna ever think twice
Oh how I, how I often try
Rocksteady can't make that change
Nobody's gonna ever rearrange (oh yeah)
As time moves slippin' fast
Love just won't become you
Rocksteady can't break my world
Nobody's gonna ever think twice
Oh how I, how I often try
Rocksteady can't make that change
Nobody's gonna ever rearrange (oh yeah)
As time moves slippin' fast
Love just won't become you
In Remy Shand's song Rocksteady, the lyrics are about the pursuit of love and the realization that no matter how hard we try to control and hold onto it, love can never be forced or changed. The song begins by asking a question: "Tell me how, baby, could it open my eyes for the night, it took me by surprise, oh what you said to me." The singer is reflecting on a moment of clarity that came from something their partner said. The lyrics then move to a plea from the singer to their partner to love them regardless of what they may do. "Love me do, whatever you want back darlin' won't be good. That is why I woke and cried out." This line suggests that the singer may have made mistakes in the past, but they are now at a point where they are willing to change, and they need love and support to do so.
The chorus of the song repeatedly states that "Rocksteady can't break my world, nobody's gonna ever think twice," and "Rocksteady can't make that change, nobody's gonna ever rearrange." The word "Rocksteady" may be a reference to a sub-genre of Jamaican music that emerged in the 1960s. The genre was known for its steady, rhythmic beats and optimistic lyrics about love and unity. By using this term, the singer may be suggesting that they are unshakable in their resolve to hold onto their love. However, the chorus also acknowledges that "love just won't become you" and that time is slipping away. This may indicate the singer's realization that they cannot force someone to love them or change their feelings, and that they must accept that love may not always last.
In conclusion, Remy Shand's song Rocksteady is a reflection on the universal human experience of love and the difficulty that comes with trying to control or hold onto it. The lyrics suggest that perhaps the best way to keep love is to acknowledge its unpredictability and accept it for what it is, rather than trying to force it to conform to our expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me how, baby
Asking the person to explain how they were able to make you realize the truth
Could it open my eyes
Asking if their actions and words made you see the truth clearly
For the night
Referring to a time when they spent together, maybe a night of conversation
It took me by surprise
Their words were unexpected and caught you off guard
Oh what you said to me
The words they spoke that made you realize the truth
Love me do
Asking for their love and affection
Whatever you want back darlin' won't be good
Warning them that if they don't reciprocate your love, it won't be good for them
That is why I woke and cried out
You woke up in realization that their love was one-sided and cried out in pain
Rocksteady can't break my world
Saying that nothing can shake your foundation, referring to their love not being reciprocated
Nobody's gonna ever think twice
Others won't think twice about your pain and struggle
Oh how I, how I often try
Even though you have accepted the situation, you still try to make things right
Rocksteady can't make that change
Nothing can change the fact that their love is not returned
Nobody's gonna ever rearrange (oh yeah)
Nobody can change the reality of your love not being reciprocated
As time moves slippin' fast
Time moves fast and you might not have the chance to love again
Love just won't become you
You won't be able to love because you're still healing from the pain
Now my mind, baby
After realizing the truth, your mind is now free
My mind is free
Your thoughts are no longer clouded, and you can think clearly
Oh you played it hard, lady
Referring to the person who didn't reciprocate your love and made it hard for you
So hard and deep
Their actions and words cut deep and left a lasting impact on you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Remy David Shand
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@D_Essco5109
Who is still listening to this smooth chill jam with that soul in 2023 and will keep listening to it in the near future... Love this jam
@user-uq7iz2jz6q
me x
@lorim3b357
Still love him!
@chuckemc8187
Motown didn't give Remy the love. I'm still bumping it.
@michaelwright131
ME!!!! 😂
@manorajf15lover69
This will forever be my chill jam. Forever evergreen to me.
@mominthe209
Remy: if you still have that voice, get up, dust yourself off and get back in the game. You gave a God given voice that people need to hear.
@tessah.7641
This jam... Remy my bro, my soul brutha where are you???
@Jason-rl7nf
Over 20 years and I couldn't remember his name. I started with nothing. Finally remembered it was an R name. Went through Ravi, then Revi, then remembered a song with the word color in it, then remember Remi, thought Remi Soul...looked that up and finally found Remy Shand. You know that feeling when you all of a sudden remember a kick ass old artist but can't remember a single thing about them other than the sound, and then you FINALLY find them? That's where I am right now. I LOVED this album back in the day. Me and an ex used to listen to him and the Philosopher Kings all the time.
@kellygrohs2841
Too funny, I've been listening to Remy and Philosopher Kings/Jarvis Church too. They must have been out the same year.