History… Read Full Bio ↴Shakra is a Swiss hard rock band founded in the late 1990's.
History:
With their first releases "Shakra" (1997), and "Moving Force" (1999), and by touring with Great White and Uriah Heep, the early career of this Swiss band was a steep learning curve with dramatic success but the real breakthrough came with their third record "Power Ride" (2001) when singer Pete Wiedmer was forced to leave the band because of ill health, replaced by Mark Fox. Mark immediately put his stamp on the following album "Rising" (2003), which saw Shakra rise higher on the career ladder than ever before and hit the German and Swiss album charts. The band played several concerts and festivals, one of which was the prestigious "Bang Your Head" event.
The controversial video clip for the song "Chains Of Temptation" showed singer Fox giving himself a heroin injection. After supporting Iron Maiden at the Swiss "Spirit Of Rock" festival, Shakra then took the decision to tour through 12 countries with HammerFall and Stratovarius. The band played a huge show in Zurich with Guns N' Roses in 2006. Shortly after the Everest album was released, Mark Fox left the band and was replaced by John Prakesh on vocals. New releases include "Back On Track" in Feb 2011 and "Powerplay" in Jan 2013. On April 23, 2014, John Prakesh announced he was leaving Shakra. October 2015, Mark Fox joined Shakra again. A new single, Hello, was released.
Studio albums:
Shakra (1998)
Moving Force (1999)
Power Ride (2001)
Rising (2003)
Fall (2005)
Infected (2007)
Everest (2009)
Back On Track (2011)
Powerplay (2013)
High Noon (2016)
Snakes & Ladders (2017)
Live albums:
The Live Side (2000)
My Life My World (2004)
Compilation albums:
Life Tales – The Ballads (2017)
The Other Side
Shakra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be good or an example for the crowd
You can take a look but don't touch
You can feel but never taste
Don't swallow, only tasting is allowed
'Cause you are, yes you are, part of the master plan
And you are what you are if you strictly hold the line
Now take me to the other side and give me what I need
Now take me to the other side and make my life complete
Only born to pay for someone else's intention
The first breath signs a lifelong resolution
You proclaim your situation but nobody ever cares
The system seems to work fine without you
'Cause you are, yes you are, part of the master plan
And you are what you are if you strictly hold the line
Now take me to the other side and give me what I need
Now take me to the other side and make my life complete
Now take me to the other side and give me what I need
Now take me to the other side and make my life complete
Free but so constricted, analyzed self-control
Be good or an example for the crowd
You can take a look but don't touch
You can feel but never taste
Don't swallow, only tasting is allowed
'Cause you are, yes you are, part of the master plan
And you are what you are if you strictly hold the line
Now take me to the other side and give me what I need
Now take me to the other side and make my life complete
The song "The Other Side" by Shakra is a commentary on the societal pressure to conform and the restrictions that come with it. The lyrics talk about how people are expected to behave in a certain way and follow a strict set of rules, lest they face criticism or ostracization from their peers. They cannot fully express themselves or indulge in the pleasures of life, as they are constantly being watched and judged by others.
The line "You can take a look but don't touch, You can feel but never taste, Don't swallow, only tasting is allowed" highlights the idea that people are allowed to experience things, but not fully immerse themselves in them. The song suggests that people are merely pawns in a grander scheme, and their individuality is sacrificed for the sake of conformity.
The chorus of the song provides a glimpse of hope, urging the listener to break free from the constraints of society and seek fulfillment on "the other side." The repeated lyrics "Now take me to the other side and give me what I need, Now take me to the other side and make my life complete" serve as a powerful call-to-action to rebel against conformity and live life on one's own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Free but so constricted, analyzed self-control
Although you may think you are free, you are actually quite limited by constantly analyzing and controlling yourself.
Be good or an example for the crowd
You must act in a certain way so that others will view you as a good example to follow.
You can take a look but don't touch
You are allowed to observe or look at something, but you are forbidden from physically interacting with it.
You can feel but never taste
You may experience something partially, but you are not allowed to fully immerse yourself in it.
Don't swallow, only tasting is allowed
You are not allowed to fully embrace or become a part of something, you can only sample it.
'Cause you are, yes you are, part of the master plan
You are a part of a larger system that controls and directs your life.
And you are what you are if you strictly hold the line
If you adhere to the rules and restrictions set forth by the system, you will fit into your pre-determined role.
Now take me to the other side and give me what I need
Bring me to a place where my desires and needs can be met and fulfilled.
Now take me to the other side and make my life complete
Bring me to a place where I can finally feel satisfied and fulfilled in all areas of my life.
Only born to pay for someone else's intention
Your existence seems to only serve the purpose of furthering someone else's plan or agenda.
The first breath signs a lifelong resolution
The moment you are born, you are already set on a specific path that will determine the course of your entire life.
You proclaim your situation but nobody ever cares
You may try to express your dissatisfaction or discomfort with your current situation, but no one seems to listen or care.
The system seems to work fine without you
The system or society seems to function perfectly fine even if you are not a part of it or contributing to it in any meaningful way.
Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.