Roughly half a decade later, in 2004, that end turned out not to be a permanent one. Secret Discovery were back, with a new prayer up their sleeves. "Pray" was the title of their … let's call it "comeback album", which went down extremely well with the public. The band presented themselves more mature in terms of their song-writing, as well as their stylistic elements, mixed by the quintet to develop their very own Secret Discovery sound.
Little wonder, you might be tempted to think, after all Secret Discovery, alongside acts such as Project Pitchfork, Deine Lakaien, Das Ich, Lacrimosa and Goethes Erben, were not only a strong motor for the renaissance of the German gothic scene in the early Nineties, but also forerunners of gothic metal made in Germany, and their 1993 offering, "Into The Void" is still considered a genre classic. The more years that passed, the more the band opened themselves to new ideas and different styles. "Question Of Time" manifested their status on the Mount Olympus of rock, metal and crossover, "Slave" being the final and definitely worthy swansong of this unique act.But why waste time on all this background information?
Secret Discovery have tasted blood again. The success of "Pray" and the thoroughly enthusiastic reactions to their hand-picked gigs motivated the band further, inspiring them to work on their latest release, "Alternate".
"Alternate" is aptly entitled, because Secret Discovery's sonic update alternates, too. Their guitars rock heavily, the keyboards caress Kai Hoffmann's constantly progressing vocals, and then there are those hook lines! Secret Discovery have come up with their very own version of contemporary pop music, and that's a real compliment.
"We're used to falling between the stools, and we don't want to be categorized in a single pigeonhole," frontman Kai Hoffmann explains, adding with a smug undertone: "We've always enjoyed helping ourselves to various genres, to be honest. We're open to different musical directions, and looking at it in a positive way, we may end up creating a new pigeonhole, just for ourselves." Right he is. In terms of their lyrics and their music, "Alternate" is Secret Discovery's coming of age. And what a coming of age!
"Our lyrics are always marked by our own personal experiences, the highs and lows in our lives. Dreams and fears, love or hate can be found in the themes of our lyrics," Kai adds, "and we always strive for a lyrical style that's not overly clear, but subtle instead. There should always be enough room for personal interpretation. Our musical influences still stem from the Eighties, the early days of new wave and gothic, particularly when it comes to our songwriting, but pop acts such as Coldplay, R.E.M. or Placebo have also left their traces." And it's still good to be back, isn't it?
"Oh yes," Kai replies, "'Pray' was important in that it helped us collect our thoughts, musically. In terms of sound, it's a fairly typical Secret Discovery recording, sounding a little like a journey in time through the tracks on our first albums, only in a modern outfit. Looking at it this way, 'Pray' was a statement first and foremost: 'We're back, we still sound like Secret Discovery – we are Secret Discovery!'"
"'Alternate' was different. This time around, it was our aim to develop the overall sound, we wanted to do something that still sounds like Secret Discovery, but is different at the same time; contemporary in true SD style on the one hand, and at the same time different enough to make it impossible to compare to its predecessors. When it came to the songwriting, we freed ourselves of all parameters, it materialized in the process which direction we were going to take. We definitely didn't want any templates to restrict our creativity in any way." Mission accomplished. "Alternate" is Secret Discovery Mark 2006.
Without limits, without pigeonholes, without parameters, more from the gut, with more authenticity and even more amazing hooklines.
Thomas Thyssen (Winter 2005)
American lifestyle
Secret Discovery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when I hear your smile,
there's a feeling I detest,
what could be behind this
and I open you the door
just to let it in,
this feeling that I mean,
to come over me
just a feeling, just a try
to be one of you,
and I really ask me why
to accept your rules
I don't need the American Lifestyle
and I don't dream the American Dream
and I don't live the American Lifestyle,
I don't need...
And I dedicate myself,
like a modern toy,
to some moments of delight,
to some days of joy
then I start to realise
what I leave behind,
and I ask me where I am,
where I lost my pride
just a feeling...
The lyrics to Secret Discovery's song "American Lifestyle" evoke a sense of detachment and disillusionment with the American way of life. The opening lines suggest a certain distance from the joy and happiness of those who are immersed in this culture. The singer detests this feeling and yet still yearns to be a part of it, as seen in the line "just a feeling, just a try to be one of you."
However, as the song progresses, the singer begins to question this desire and realize that perhaps they don't actually need or want the American Lifestyle. The chorus repeats this sentiment, declaring that they don't need, dream, or live this lifestyle. The second verse reveals the singer's fleeting enjoyment of this lifestyle, but also their realization that they have lost their sense of pride and sense of self.
Overall, "American Lifestyle" grapples with the idea of the American dream and the cultural pressures to conform to certain expectations. The lyrics suggest that it is possible to reject this lifestyle and find a sense of self outside of it.
Line by Line Meaning
When I see you dancing now,
Observing someone happily enjoying themselves
when I hear your smile,
Perceiving someone's happiness audibly
there's a feeling I detest,
Experiencing a negative emotion towards what's happening
what could be behind this
Wondering about the reason for the emotion
and I open you the door
Welcoming this feeling into one's life
just to let it in,
Intentionally allowing the feeling to take hold
this feeling that I mean,
Referring to the previously mentioned negative emotion
to come over me
Feeling overwhelmed by the emotion
just a feeling, just a try
Acknowledging that this is an attempt to fit in
to be one of you,
Striving to belong in the same group
and I really ask me why
Questioning the reasons behind this longing
to accept your rules
Being willing to abide by the expectations of that group
I don't need the American Lifestyle
Not desiring the lifestyle often associated with America
and I don't dream the American Dream
Not fantasizing about the ideal life in America
and I don't live the American Lifestyle,
Not currently living that lifestyle
I don't need...
Reiterating that the person is content without it
And I dedicate myself,
Committing oneself to something
like a modern toy,
Viewing oneself as an object to be used
to some moments of delight,
Finding enjoyment in specific moments
to some days of joy
Experiencing happiness during some days
then I start to realise
Becoming aware of something important
what I leave behind,
What is being sacrificed for these happy moments
and I ask me where I am,
Questioning one's place in life
where I lost my pride
Thinking about when one stopped valuing oneself
just a feeling...
Referring again to the previously mentioned emotion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FALK HOFFMANN, KAI HOFFMANN, LARS GRAEBE, MATHIAS GLATHE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind