2012 has started at the same amazing pace as 2011 for Scala & Kolacny Brothers, with a tour of Northern Spain, dates in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Ireland, an upcoming trip to Korea as well as TV appearances at ITV's Dancing On Ice (UK) and at the famous San Remo Festival... But 2011 was the breakout year for Scala & Kolacny Brothers as they conquered the United States and Canada with a major tour, in support of their first North American CD release, including headlining stages at SXSW and Coachella. This success was immediately followed by a first record release in the U.K., a sold out show at London's Union Chapel in June and a triumphant “special guest” performance at the Latitude Festival, where they played the prestigious Sunday noon slot. In June the group headlined at the Heineken Dia De La Musica in Madrid, in November the album ‘Scala & Kolacny Brothers’ was released in Italy, where it immediately hit the top 10 (!) and in December the group returned to 4 sold out shows in Berlin, as well as a Radio Eins very special-alternative-Christmas-songs special. 2011 has brought Scala & Kolacny Brothers the status of international phenomenon and it all seemed to start with a simple email.
When the email arrived in May 2010, the Kolacny brothers thought it was some kind of joke. “Yeah”, the brothers thought, “right.” But the request was genuine. And the film turned out to be The Social Network. It transpired that the director, David Fincher, is a huge fan.
The song in question is a hauntingly beautiful acoustic reworking of Radiohead¹s Creep. In July 2010, two months after the brothers received the email, the Social Network trailer was released. The powerful music was center stage, heightening a growing sense of unease like a chorus of fallen angels.
Like the film itself, the trailer has been a huge global hit more than 250m people have seen in the Cinema, on TV or online. Thanks in part to the subsequent buzz on social media, traffic to the brothers’ website went through the roof: their interpretation of Creep is an internet phenomenon, watched in various forms well over 25m times.
A record-label bidding war erupted in America but the brothers chose to sign with Atco, a subsidiary of Warner, with whom they had been negotiating. They released an eponymous album in in the US in March in the US and in the UK and most of the rest of Europe - 6 June 2011 (on Wall Of Sound). Italy followed in November of this year and the album was re-released in December in the UK, with two additional titles. In 2011 Scala & Kolacny Brothers also released 2 acclaimed video clips, for their versions of Use Somebody (directed by Inti Calfat) and Everlong (directed by Mark Woollen, who also directed the The Social Network trailer).
In September Scala & Kolacny Brother’s version of U2’s With Or Without You, was featured in the trailer for Season 2 of the British hit drama series Downton Abbey (broadcast in the USA on PBS where Scala & Kolacny Brothers also have their new special ‘Live From Bruges’ airing from December). And in December Scala’s version of Last Christmas was used in the trailer for the Downton Abbey Christmas special, while the group performed at Downton Abbey’s VIP Christmas special launch party in London.
But even with numerous TV shows (including 'the Simpsons'!) using Scala & Kolacny Brother’s music in 2011, it was the Social Network trailer which shone a spotlight on the unique musical project that is Scala & Kolacny Brothers an indie-rock choir, comprising of the two Kolacny brothers, Steven and Stijn, and Scala, their all-girl choir. Steven plays the piano, Stijn conducts the choir. The brothers usually work with 20-30 singers, aged 16-26, at a time, but these days have more than 200 girls on their books, ensuring plenty of cover for their increasingly busy schedule.
Scala & Kolacny Brothers take rock and indie songs and reinvent them as elegiac hymns to breathtaking effect with the piano often the sole accompaniment to the voices. On occasion they also use drum machines, sequencers and synthesizers, and also often perform with a full rock band.
The new album includes versions of Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana), Champagne Supernova (Oasis), With or Without You (U2), Use Somebody (Kings of Leon), Everlong (Foo Fighters) and more. Creep also features, as do three original compositions Seashell, Masquerade and Our Last Fight.
Rock and indie music works best because “the beating heart of the songs is often very black and very emotional, and the female voices of the choir add a certain melancholic touch”, says Stijn. “Sometimes they bring out whole new dimensions in the songs our version of Nothing Else Matters could be
classical music; its sound is nothing to do with Metallica anymore.” Other influences range from Sigur Ros to Nirvana and include the dark electro-pop of Goldfrapp and Depeche Mode, and the brooding mini-symphonies of Massive Attack.
Every Breath You Take
Scala & Kolacny Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I'll be watching you
Every single day
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I'll be watching you
O can't you see
You belong to me
My poor heart aches
With every step you take
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I'll be watching you
Since you've gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but it's you I can't replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please
O can't you see
You belong to me
My poor heart aches
With every step you take
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I'll be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take
I'll be watching you
The lyrics of Every Breath You Take by Scala & Kolacny Brothers are based on the idea of unrequited love and obsession. The song speaks to the singer's watchful eye over a loved one, with the repetition of "I'll be watching you" suggesting a continuous, unyielding presence. The singer wants to keep track of every action taken by their love interest, stating that they will be watching every breath they take, every move they make, every bond they break, and every step they take.
Further along in the song, the lyrics reveal that the singer's lover has left them, and the singer is still fixated on this person. They dream about them at night, and the void left behind by their departure is palpable. The chorus chorus repeats again with the reminder that the singer will still be watching their every move. In a way, the last line of the song seems to echo the first - emphasizing the singer's continued, unrelenting presence, no matter the loved one's whereabouts.
One of the most notable aspects of Every Breath You Take is the haunting melody and simplistic structure that adds to the sense of longing and obsession. The writing style portrays an emotional depth that resonates with listeners. The fact that it has become such an iconic song is a testament to its timeless themes and evocative lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Every breath you take
I am vigilant of your every action and thought, even as small as every breath you take.
Every move you make
I observe your every move, every action you perform.
Every bond you break
Even if you break a relationship or a bond, I'll be watching you and keeping an eye on you.
Every step you take
I keep a watchful eye on all your steps and movements, no matter where you go or what you do.
I'll be watching you
It's crystal clear, I'll be watching your every move, action, and thought. There's no escape from my watchful eyes.
Every single day
Every day of your life, I keep an eye on you, watching what you do.
Every word you say
No matter what you say, I listen carefully and attentively, always watching you.
Every game you play
I am aware of every game you play, every trick you use, even though you might think no one is watching you.
Every night you stay
Even when you think I'm not there, I'm watching you every night, even when you sleep.
O can't you see
Why can't you see that no matter where you go or what you do, I'm going to be watching you?
You belong to me
You're mine, regardless of what you think, and nothing you do will change that fact.
My poor heart aches
It hurts me deeply to see you make choices or take actions that are not what I want or expect from you.
With every step you take
Every step you take, even if it's just a metaphorical or mental step, I'm watching you and feeling the ache in my heart.
Every vow you break
Even when you break a promise or vow, I don't let it go unnoticed, and I'll continue to observe your every move.
Every smile you fake
Even if you pretend to be happy or smile while you're feeling differently or thinking something else, I'm perceptive to that and watching you closely.
Every claim you stake
Every belief or stance you take will be scrutinized by me, and I'll continue to observe you with careful attention.
Since you've gone I been lost without a trace
Since you left, I've felt an intense and bewildering emptiness without any sign or indication of where you might be.
I dream at night I can only see your face
My unconscious mind fixates on your image and face, even when you're not physically present.
I look around but it's you I can't replace
Even though I try to find new people or things to fill the void you left behind, nothing can truly replace you.
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I feel emotionally and physically cold and yearn for your warmth, touch, and presence.
I keep crying baby, baby, please
I can't help but express my heartbreak and plea for your return, even though I know my desires might not align with yours.
Every move you make
I continue to watch every move that you make, no matter where you are or what you do.
Every step you take
Even if you take a step away from me or move on, I won't stop watching and observing your every step.
I'll be watching you
As I have made perfectly clear, my gaze and attention will always be on you, every minute, every hour, every day.
Contributed by Hannah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.