Before recording any full length albums, Radiohead found their demo tape and invited them to be part of the US tour for The Bends. After that, they moved from Birmingham, Alabama to Los Angeles, California to record their first album. Several band mates suffered from substance abuse and homelessness after moving from Alabama.
Their first album, self-titled, drew from these experiences and unfortunately received little recognition or sales. The subsequent album Villa Elaine caused them to be praised as "the next big thing". Villa Elaine was recorded when the band was living in an apartment of the same name in Hollywood. Remy Zero's third album The Golden Hum was also received well. A 30 second clip of the song "Save Me" from The Golden Hum was used as the theme song for WB's Smallville. Remy Zero's music has also been on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show. Most recently Remy Zero's song "Fair" from Villa Elaine was used in the film Garden State, and "Prophecy", also from Villa Ellaine was used in The Last Kiss. In 2003 Jeffrey Cain, Cedric Lemoyne, and Gregory Slay formed The Engine Room and wrote the theme song to the television show Nip/Tuck titled "A Perfect Lie" which was nominated for an Emmy Award.
Remy Zero broke up after making The Golden Hum and many of its members have joined new bands. Shelby and Cinjun Tate have created Spartan Fidelity, Jeffrey Cain has formed Isidore with Steve Kilbey of The Church and recorded a solo album under the name Dead Snares,Gregory Slay has recorded multiple albums as Sleepwell, and Cedric Lemoyne has collaborated with Orenda Fink of Azure Ray on an album set for release in early 2009.
In 2006 there was reason to believe, from their MySpace posting, that the group was attempting to reform. However, as of Summer 2007, the Remy Zero MySpace page showed the following statement: "The story so far: We formed in Birmingham, AL in 1989. We took a break in 2003. We thought momentarily that we might start making music again, but now... who knows. We'll keep you posted here on whatever we're doing - together or separately - as much as we can. Stay tuned...". The Remy Zero website now has the following message:
"The five of us thank all of you who have listened, & had faith in us.
These years as Remy Zero have given birth to music and friendships that will hopefully live on past this moment. We will take the inspiration, lessons, and spirits we have encountered as each of us moves forward into new territories. Remy Zero has been put to rest.
thank you again
peace,
cedric, cinjun, jeffrey, gregory, shelby".
On Tuesday May 22, 2007 Jeffrey Cain's solo album Dead Snares Speak the Language was released, featuring performances with fellow Remy Zero members Cedric LeMoyne, Gregory Slay and Leslie Van Trease. A limited edition release on 180 gram vinyl was made available through SoundIsidore Recordings.
Christmas
Remy Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The summer sun comes down.
I can hardly see the window
From here now.
Here and now.
The snow,
In waves you'll never know,
Just let it go.
Hey, on this sacred, sun-rinsed day.
They'll sell our culture and
They'll sell the ways, the blaming.
Standing still, we'll fall.
Burn this sadness from my soul, babe.
I guess that's all.
Fear, and the sky begins to clear.
Through this ever-changing midnight.
Christmas cheer.
Christmas cheer.
The lyrics of Remy Zero’s “Christmas” convey a sense of disillusionment and sadness around the holiday season, which is usually associated with happiness and joy. The song starts by describing a summer day that is coming to an end as the sun begins to set, leaving the singer feeling isolated and unable to see outside due to the fading light. The next lines, “The snow / In waves you'll never know / Through this ever-changing midnight / Just let it go” seem to suggest that the singer is trapped in a limbo between summer and winter, unable to escape the constant changes around them.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to a more direct critique of the commercialization of Christmas, with lines like “On this sacred, sun-rinsed day / They'll sell our culture and / They'll sell the ways, the blaming” pointing to the ways in which consumerism has taken over the holiday. The next lines, “Standing still, we'll fall / Burn this sadness from my soul, babe / I guess that's all” suggest a sense of hopelessness and resignation in the face of these larger societal forces.
The final lines of the song, “Fear, and the sky begins to clear / Through this ever-changing midnight / Christmas cheer / Christmas cheer” seem to offer a glimmer of hope, as the singer acknowledges the fear that they feel but also suggests that there is a possibility for the sky to clear and for the holidays to bring some happiness, despite everything else.
Overall, the lyrics of “Christmas” capture a complex mix of emotions surrounding the holiday season, from isolation and disillusionment to hope and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Sounds,
The song begins with the simple word 'Sounds' indicating the start of a journey or a moment.
The summer sun comes down.
The mention of the sun coming down, possibly sunset, is setting a mood of closure or ending.
I can hardly see the window
From here now.
The singer is describing a change of perspective that is making it difficult to see the same things they used to see.
Here and now.
Reinforcement of the present moment is the theme of this line.
The snow,
In waves you'll never know,
Through this ever-changing midnight.
Just let it go.
Describing the beauty of snow and the idea of letting go of something that is always changing, which is a metaphor for life.
Hey, on this sacred, sun-rinsed day.
The use of the word 'sacred' indicates the importance of the day, while 'sun-rinsed' gives it a sense of purity and cleansing.
They'll sell our culture and
They'll sell the ways, the blaming.
This line is commenting on the commercialization of Christmas and how it is taking away from its true meaning.
Standing still, we'll fall.
This is a warning that staying static or not moving forward in life can lead to failure.
Burn this sadness from my soul, babe.
I guess that's all.
Asking for the sadness to be removed from the artist's soul, but with a sense of resignation that it might not happen or this is all that can be done.
Fear, and the sky begins to clear.
Mention of fear being a weight that can be lifted, and the sky clearing up could signify the breaking of the negativity.
Through this ever-changing midnight.
Referencing the earlier metaphor about life with the snow, the sense of change being the essence of it.
Christmas cheer.
Christmas cheer.
Closing line with a possible sense of sarcasm, since the rest of the song has been about uncertainty and the struggle towards a happier life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AUGUST CINJUN TATE, CEDRIC LEMOYNE, JOE IPPOLITO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind