1) A Britis… Read Full Bio ↴There are 7 artists/bands under the name of Renaissance:
1) A British progressive rock band - The first incarnation of Renaissance came out of the ashes of The Yardbirds in early 1968 when drummer Jim McCarty and guitarist/vocalist Keith Relf formed an acoustic based band. They added keyboardist John Hawken, bassist Louis Cennamo and vocalist Jane Relf (Keith's sister). This band released two albums (Renaissance (1969) and Illusion (1971)) before breaking up. Some of the members reformed as Illusion.
McCarty then reformed the band with singer Binky Cullom, bassist Jon Camp, keyboardist John Tout, drummer Terence Sullivan, and guitarist/composer Michael Dunford. Cullom was promptly replaced by Annie Haslam, then McCarty himself left soon after, but this group went on to become the "classic" lineup of Renaissance. They recorded a string of successful albums starting with the LP Prologue (1972). Throughout numerous personnel changes in the 70s, Haslam, Dunford and Camp remained the core of the band.
Their particular brand of mixing classical and classically-inspired music with melodic rock is arguably one of the most successful attempts at this sort of fusion. In the 80s, the band saw their popularity wane with a turn to shorter song forms dominated by synthesizers. After breaking up in the mid-80s, various combinations have reformed for concerts and recordings.
2) A Mexican rock band ( Mexican Renaissance)
3) A Japanese band. (Japanese Rеnaissance)
4) A Serbian medieval/renaissance assemble
5) Renaissance - The band was originally formed back in November 1991 by Chriss Ons (guitar) who decided to leave the band he was in at the time, Chronic Death. His band mates Dirk Vollon (bass) and Jürgen De Wispelare (drums) joined the new project, followed by Domingo Smets (guitar). The idea was to musically break out of restraining thrash/death metal sound and to incorporate more harmonic content & epic song structure into the songwriting, something which seemed impossible if staying in Chronic Death. The band set out to rehearse and by early '92 had some song ideas together, most of which would wind up on the bands debut demo Archway later that year. By late '92 The band got offered a split 7" EP (with the band Ancient Rites) on a small Belgian label, After Dark Records, and used the demo track "Windows" for that release. Meanwhile the band had also been brought to the attention of Hans de Wyngaert of the new label Shiver Records. A deal to release the 13 minute epic track "Tired Blood / Vaudeville" (split over 2 sides) on a 7" single was signed in early '93. Both EP's sold really well, yet while keeping on searching to find new band members, it was mainly Chriss who, assisted by Dirk, would continue writing new material using a small 4 track recorder. Despite the fact that it looked like the trio Chriss/Dirk/Santiago had become a studio project until other musicians were found, Shiver records offered them a CD deal. During the summer of '93, about a year after the bands first demo; Chriss and Dirk recorded a 40-minute piece called "The Death Of Art". The initial idea was to make a concept album and to focus on just the music, and add vocals later. A friend of the band, Canadian writer and philosophy student John Hymers, was asked to write a poem entitled "The Death Of Art", which would serve as working material for vocalist Santiago. After the final vocal tracks had been recorded, Chriss finished the project by himself due to a lack of input and interest from Dirk. The album finally saw release on Shiver Records in February 1994. The first pressing of the CD sold out in a matter of months, and the album has been repressed and licensed since (including a Polish issue in cassette format). Chriss took a break from writing and recording for about a year, only to start doing so again by mid '95, with Dirk Vollon sporadically collaborating. For the time being, the project name was also changed to Rinascimento, to avoid confusion with the other Renaissance, a band that released material mainly during the 70's. Tons of stuff was recorded over the following years, but, reluctant to release another record without the ability to perform any of it live, most of this demo material was shelved or not entirely completed - Chriss didn't really feel the "need" to make the music commercially available on a label so in 1998, a double CDR set aptly titled "Rinascimento - demos 1995-1998" was distributed among just a few friends of the band. Due to other interests and activities, the whole project was laid to rest by late 1998 ... (from the official website - http://renaissance_online.tripod.com/biography.html )
6) Renaissance - an Acapella Christian Quartet - In 1985 a new birth of music took place in Los Angeles, California that would change the landscape of acappella gospel music forever.
The quartet is comprised of soprano and first tenor Sharon Harris, first and second tenor George Pendergrass, baritone Adam Thompson, and first and second tenor Ronald Walker. All four are noted alumni of Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas.
Every member of the group is also a distinguished lead singer in a league all their own. In addition to the Renaissance project, members of the group have also left an indubitable imprint on the world of Christian music. Not only has he released several solo albums, Ronald Walker has deposited a treasury of well-known songs particularly among church groups, sadly many of which still go without his credit today. Sharon Harris has lent her angelic voice to several projects including Los Angeles' own Southside Church of Christ Choir, Reflections, enjoyed a brief stint with Straight Company, and was a featured vocalist on "Acappella Gospel," produced by George Pendergrass and Keith Lancaster. Adam Thompson has provided "the bottom" on Ron Walker's projects, is a worship leader in Reseda, California, in addition to pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. Probably the most notable member of Renaissance to date is George Pendergrass who is known to people everywhere as the lead singer of the internationally known group, Acappella. His powerful voice is immediately recognizable and needs no introduction in most circles of the music industry. Featured on over 15 albums on the Acappella Music Group, George has also performed with U2, Michael W. Smith, on a Disney soundtrack and with a host of other well-known recording artists.
7) An all-female accapella group from the University of Maine, Orono.
Ocean Gypsy
Renaissance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And learn her freedom just inside a day
And find her soul
To find their fears allayed
Tried to make her love their own
They took her love, they left her there
They gave her nothing back
Gold and silver rings and stones
Dances slowly of the moon
No one else can know
She stands alone
Sleeping dreams will reach for her
She cannot say the words they need
She knows she's alone
And she is free
[Chorus:]
Ocean gypsy of the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
For you to hold
Ocean gypsy, where are you?
The shadows followed by the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
Then she met a hollow soul
Filled him with her light
And was consoled she was the moon
And he, the sun was gold
Eyes were blinded with his light
The sun she gave
Reflected back the night
The moon was waning
Almost out of sight
Softly, ocean gypsy calls
Silence holds the stars awhile
They smile sadly
For her where she falls
Just the time before the dawn
The sea is hushed
The ocean calls her
Day has taken her, and now she's gone
[Chorus]
No one noticed when she died
Ocean gypsy shackled to the tide
The ebbing waves were turning
Spreading wide
Something gone within her eyes
Her fingers lifeless stroke the sand
Her battered soul was lost
She was abandoned
Silken threads like wings still shine
Winds take pleasure, still make patterns
In her lovely hair
So dark and fine
Stands on high beneath the seas
Cries no more
Her tears have dried
Oceans weep for her, the ocean gypsy
The lyrics of “Ocean Gypsy” by Renaissance tell a story of a woman who is searching for her identity and freedom amidst the constraints placed on her by society. The first verse describes her struggle to break free from the expectations of others, as she tries to embrace her true self and overcome her fears. In the second verse, she is lured into a relationship with someone who ultimately proves to be unfulfilling and draining, leading to her ultimate demise.
The chorus speaks of the woman’s connection to the natural world, particularly the ocean and the moon, which are depicted as symbols of the cycles of life and the passage of time. The final verse describes her tragic end, as she becomes a victim of societal pressures and the limitations of human existence. The song speaks to the universal human desire for freedom and individuality, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life within the constraints of society.
Overall, the lyrics of “Ocean Gypsy” are deeply poetic and evocative, creating vivid imagery that transports the listener to a mystical realm of dreamlike beauty and haunting sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Tried to take it all away
They attempted to steal everything from her
And learn her freedom just inside a day
They wanted to understand her idea of freedom within a very short amount of time
And find her soul
They wanted to discover the essence of her being
To find their fears allayed
They expected to have their own fears alleviated by finding her soul
Tried to make her love their own
They attempted to force her to love them
They took her love, they left her there
They stole her love from her and abandoned her
They gave her nothing back
They did not give her anything in return for the love she gave them
That she would want to own
They did not give her anything desirable in exchange for her love
Gold and silver rings and stones
Valuable jewelry made of gold and silver
Dances slowly of the moon
Moves gently like the moon's movement in the sky
No one else can know
It's private and cannot be known by anyone else
She stands alone
She is by herself
Sleeping dreams will reach for her
Her subconscious mind will reach out to her while she sleeps
She cannot say the words they need
She is not able to express what others require from her
She knows she's alone
She is aware that she is by herself
And she is free
She has her freedom and is independent
Ocean gypsy of the moon
A woman who is free as the ocean and moves like the moon
The sun has made a thousand nights
The sun has caused many nighttime periods
For you to hold
For her to experience and cherish
Ocean gypsy, where are you?
Where is the free-spirited woman?
The shadows followed by the stars
The dark areas following the stars
Have turned to gold, turned to gold
They have become valuable and precious like gold
Then she met a hollow soul
She came across an empty spirit
Filled him with her light
She brought light and meaning to the void
And was consoled she was the moon
She found comfort in knowing that she was the moon
And he, the sun was gold
And he became precious to her like gold because he was the sun
Eyes were blinded with his light
Her eyes couldn't see clearly due to his brightness
The sun she gave
The love and light she gave him
Reflected back the night
Brought darkness and sadness to her
The moon was waning
The moon was decreasing in brightness and size
Almost out of sight
It was almost impossible to see the moon
Softly, ocean gypsy calls
The woman calls softly like the ocean
Silence holds the stars awhile
The stars pause in time in response to her silence
They smile sadly
The stars feel pity and comfort for her
For her where she falls
For her, as she falls
Just the time before the dawn
Just minutes prior to sunrise
The sea is hushed
The ocean is silent
The ocean calls her
The ocean summons her
Day has taken her, and now she's gone
Daylight has come and she is no more
No one noticed when she died
No one realized that she had passed away
Ocean gypsy shackled to the tide
The free-spirited woman was tied to the ocean
The ebbing waves were turning
The waves were flowing out to sea
Spreading wide
They expanded and grew in size
Something gone within her eyes
There was something missing in her eyes
Her fingers lifeless stroke the sand
Her hands lay there, unmoving, on the sand
Her battered soul was lost
Her soul was damaged and lost
She was abandoned
She was left alone without support or care
Silken threads like wings still shine
Her hair still has a beautiful shine like wings, but it's soft like silk
Winds take pleasure, still make patterns
The wind still takes pleasure in making patterns in her hair
In her lovely hair
In her beautiful hair
So dark and fine
Her hair is dark and refined
Stands on high beneath the seas
She is standing tall beneath the ocean's surface
Cries no more
She is no longer crying and in pain
Her tears have dried
Her sadness has dissipated
Oceans weep for her, the ocean gypsy
The oceans mourn her and her free spirit
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL DUNFORD, BETTY THATCHER, BETTY MARY THATCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matthewcrowley9204
One of their most beautiful songs. Annie's voice is the voice of an angel.
@davidw5993
The five octave, crystalline voice of an angel. Just saw them on oct 20, 2022 in Red Bank NJ and she still has got it...I never thought I'd see The Captive Heart done live...I was moved to tears.
@2old2Rock
I saw them this week too and I couldn't believe how great she sounded. This was my 8th time seeing them so I really didn't mind all the solo material. "The Angels Cry" had me tearing up!
@andrewshaw8396
Congrats mate! I envy you that one. 👍
@ElvireTanks
You’re lucky
@janjean1186
she is an angel
@beans2000623
Saw her and the new orchestra in 2022, fantastic , nostalgic show. And Annie lives here in Pa
@bobwaller1649
I’m watching this tonight in sadness knowing this kind of music used to be played on radio stations at one time.Growing up in the New Jersey outskirts of Philly and WMMR I was treated to an age of radio never to be repeated.Played at night with a quotation,poetic line or story by a cerebral DJ then sequeing into pure musical magic. R.I.P.
@craigcolbert9403
Annie has the voice of an Angel!
@brunovallesmunoz4757
GREATEST FEMALE VOICE IN PROG ROCK.
PERIOD!.