Growing up in Toronto, Canada, the youngest of five children, Ryan and Dan Kowarsky’s love of opera was spawned by the music of their childhood – the songs of the legendary Mario Lanza and the great Luciano Pavarotti. As teenagers they came to admire the pop harmonies of the Bee Gees, the melodies of Stevie Wonder and the smooth R&B vocals of Boyz II Men.
Guided by their opera singing father, Ryan and Dan spent many evenings of their youth watching his performances from the side of the stage.
“We never took vocal coaching or formal lessons,” says Dan. Yet their voices, which effortlessly slide from baritone to soprano, full voice to falsetto, have a stunning clarity and purity.
They have been performing on stage, in plays and musicals since they were about four years old. In high school they shared the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, though no one else could be sure who was Joseph on any given night.
It was natural, then, that they should want to become performers, and at the age of 18, they (together with a friend) walked into the offices of Sony Music in Toronto. Through a combination of chutzpa, charm and luck, they secured an audition with the vice president and walked out with a record deal. The three subsequently performed as the boyband "Before Four" aka "b-4-4", which went on to release two full length albums that had considerable success, in fact going multi-platinum in Canada and Germany. Nevertheless, they gradually became dissatisfied with pop fare.
“We reached a point at which the two of us felt that something was missing,” explains Ryan. “Dan and I have always tried to inject a lot of emotion into our singing and we wanted audiences to focus on vocal interpretation rather than on our hair. We decided that it was time to change direction and go back to our roots … to the kind of music we listened to as children.”
The emotion with which they sing is undeniable - and that emotion was evident during the recording process of their album. They composed “Tears of an Angel” in honour of their young niece Tal. “She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour and was undergoing chemotherapy at the time. We haven't played the song for her yet.” This was not their first encounter with life’s misfortunes. Their mother was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Despite the uncertainties in life, Ryan and Dan find much to celebrate. The energetic and uplifting song “High” (penned by seventies folk artist Judie Tzuke, also composer of another album track, “Like The Sun”) reflects their optimism and how they view life’s challenges.
The recording of the album was preceded by a process of elimination. To help them choose which songs they wanted on the album, they recorded over 50 songs before deciding on the final 12.
The album was produced by Steve Anderson (Kylie Minogue’s long-term musical collaborator), mixed by Ren Swan (Il Divo / KT Tunstall) and recorded in a private London recording studio owned by Grammy winning songwriter Terry Britten (Tina Turner's “What's Love Got To Do With It”). With a vintage Neve sound console once used by Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, and a microphone used by Frank Sinatra, the album combines Pro Tools technology and vintage recording equipment to beautifully create the rich orchestra accompaniment required for RyanDan's unique voices.
The fact that they are identical mirror-image twins - Dan being left handed and Ryan being right-handed - adds an extra dimension to their sound. When they harmonise they have the power of a duet yet they sound as one. “Even our parents don’t know who is singing which part,” Dan adds.
They have always shared a telepathic link. “If one of us was hurt, the other would feel pain at the same time, even if we were not together” explains Ryan. “This still happens sometimes.” Similarly their thoughts are often in harmony. One of them might start talking – only to have the other complete the sentence.
And inevitably, as children, they would playfully swap identities. “Being identical twins enabled us to play all kinds of games with our teachers and our friends” says Ryan. “We were troublemakers during our teenage years, and probably drove everyone crazy. In some ways we are very similar” he adds, “particularly with regard to staying positive. Also, we’re both very open and introspective - we get that from our mother. In other ways, we’re different. Dan tends to be more intense than I am. I’m a little more laid back.”
“It's extremely important to us that our music reflects the depth and strength of our emotions. We pour our hearts and our souls into our singing, and we want people to feel that passion.”
“We think of the album like a meal. Starting with an appetizer, you get into your main course and finish with dessert, and hopefully after you've devoured the whole record you'll feel satisfied like you do after a great meal,” they say, complementing each other in speech as in song.
Somewhere deep in their souls, their past and present fused together and is reflected in their astonishing debut album – one that is powerful and pure and is destined to turn these brothers into international stars.
Like The Sun
RyanDan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I failed
I tried to lie to you
But how I failed
And even in my darkest time
You gave me light
I never knew this kinda love could feel so right
When I'm in your arms
We could be anywhere
So I can keep on dreaming
[Chorus]
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
And I know
Whenever you want me to, I'll go
And even when your not with me
I feel you there
I only have to look and see
And I'll know where
When I'm holding you
The world can stop it's turning
You're always gonna pull me through
And I won't be returning
[Chorus]
You're like the sun
You keep me warm
You're telling me
When I'm in your arms
We can be anywhere
We can be anywhere
[Chorus]
I am the one who makes you shine
You're like the sun
You're like the sun
In the song "Like The Sun" by RyanDan, the singer talks about how they tried to hide and lie to their partner but failed. However, even in their darkest times, their partner brings them light and a love that feels so right. The singer finds themselves believing that they can be anywhere and keep on dreaming when in their partner's arms. The chorus emphasizes the importance of their partner, how they make them feel like the sun and how they are the one who makes them shine. The singer expresses their willingness to go wherever their partner wants them to and how they always feel their presence, even when they are not physically together. The song concludes with the repetition of the words "You're like the sun," emphasizing the feeling of warmth and comfort that their partner brings into their life.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was released in 2008, but it gained immense popularity in Japan in 2009, leading to its re-release with an added Japanese version. Another interesting fact is that RyanDan is a duo consisting of twin brothers Ryan and Dan, who started their music career on the Canadian children's TV show "Shining Time Station." The song "Like The Sun" was a major hit in Canada, reaching number 7 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart. It was also used in the finale of the Australian reality TV show "The Farmer Wants A Wife."
Furthermore, the song was compared to the music of Il Divo, as RyanDan's music is known for being operatic and classical-inspired. RyanDan has released three studio albums and a holiday album, and they have performed in many concerts and events worldwide. Interestingly, they performed for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their royal visit to Canada in 2011, and they sang the national anthem during the Women's World Cup in 2015.
The chords for "Like The Sun" are as follows:
Verse: Am, F, C, G
Chorus: F, C, G, Am
*Note: These chords may vary depending on the version of the song and the key in which it is played.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to hide from you
I attempted to conceal myself from you
But I failed
My effort was fruitless
I tried to lie to you
I attempted to deceive you
But how I failed
But I failed miserably
And even in my darkest time
During my bleakest hour
You gave me light
You brought me hope and happiness
I never knew this kinda love could feel so right
I never understood how this type of love could be so perfect
When I'm in your arms
Whenever I'm holding you close
I find myself believe it
I feel certain and trust in it
We could be anywhere
We could be anyplace in the world
So I can keep on dreaming
So I can continue to have my aspirations
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
Whenever you are near me, I feel your warmth and brightness
You feel like the sun
You make me feel as though I'm under the sunlight
And everyday you telling me
Each day, you're saying to me
I am the one
I am the person
I am the one who makes you shine
I am the one who brings out the best in you
And I know
I am certain
Whenever you want me to, I'll go
Whenever you need me, I will be there
And even when your not with me
Even when you are absent
I feel you there
I sense your presence
I only have to look and see
All I have to do is glance and observe
And I'll know where
And I will comprehend where you are
When I'm holding you
Whenever I have you in my embrace
The world can stop it's turning
The world could come to a halt
You're always gonna pull me through
You will always guide me forward
And I won't be returning
And I won't look back
You keep me warm
You give me comfort
I am the one who makes you shine
I am the one who brings out the best in you
You're like the sun
You radiate warmth and light
You're like the sun
You're similar to the sun
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter Gordeno, Judie Tzuke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chaymaebelkis4911
Lyrics
I tried to hide from you
But I failed
I tried to lie to you
But how I failed
And even in my darkest time
You gave me light
I never knew this kinda love could feel so right
When I'm in your arms
I find myself believe it
We could be anywhere
So I can keep on dreaming
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
And I know
Whenever you want me to, I'll go
And even when your not with me
I feel you there
I only have to look and see
And I'll know where
When I'm holding you
The world can stop it's turning
You're always gonna pull me through
And I won't be returning
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
You're like the sun
You keep me warm
You're telling me
When I'm in your arms
We can be anywhere
We can be anywhere
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
I am the one who makes you shine
You're like the sun
You're like the sun
@user-jo7fp7is6z
I tried to hide from you
But I failed
I tried to lie to you
But how I failed
And even in my darkest time
You gave me light
I never knew this kinda love could feel so right
When I'm in your arms
I find myself believe it
We could be anywhere
So I can keep on dreaming
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
And I know
Whenever you want me to, I'll go
And even when your not with me
I feel you there
I only have to look and see
And I'll know where
When I'm holding you
The world can stop it's turning
You're always gonna pull me through
And I won't be returning
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
You're like the sun
You keep me warm
You're telling me
When I'm in your arms
We can be anywhere
We can be anywhere
Whenever your close to me, you're like the sun
You feel like the sun
And everyday you telling me
I am the one
I am the one who makes you shine
You're like the sun
You're like the sun
@JulieElizabethPowell
This was our song! Sadly my husband died last week and he was my sun. I hope that one day we will be together again. Thank you for this wonderful song.
@oloksinxs
Oh Julie, this is such a powerful song. I’m very sorry for your loss. As the other person mentioned…if you truly believe. You will see your loving Husband again. He’s left you with a whole vault full of loving memories. Whenever you feel down. Go into that vault and surround yourself with his love. And, don’t forget to play “Like the Sun”. Such a beautiful song🙏🏽💜🙏🏽
@jhaelobrien7735
U will see him him heaven
@mattstarf4294
Shit thats awful... I hope one year on, your are getting things together... you deserve all the peace and love in the world from your friends and family xxxxx
@cienlama4507
❤
@victor666ification
He is with you
@user-it6mp9hv1u
Who is here from 2023
@sethcorn7933
Who’s listening or watching in 2018 or 2019?
Come on guys for RyanDan!!! 😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️
@peterprice-patrickofpenkri1898
8 people.
@petrasimon1429
I am.....