1. a Dutch singer/songwriter… Read Full Bio ↴There are four acts with the name Solo;
1. a Dutch singer/songwriter duo
2. an American hip-hop artist based in New York.
3. an American rhythm and blues/soul musical group.
4. a South African hip-hop artist based in Johannesburg.
1. The Dutch Solo started out as a duo: it was the band name used by Dutch singer/songwriter Michiel Flamman and his musical partner-in-crime, Simon Gitsels. The duo released two albums of melodic, melancholic songs on the esteemed Dutch indie label Excelsior Recordings: Songs 'n Sounds (2004) and Solopeople (2006). The latter album rather surprisingly spawned a Dutch top 20 hit single: Come Back To Me.
Flamman and Gitsels worked on the third Solo album (2008's Before We Part) together, but by the time it was released they had parted ways, rendering Solo a solo moniker for Flamman, who toured the Before We Part album on his own and announced that he would continue to work under the Solo moniker, but apparently there was a change of plan: the only Solo release since 2008 was a compilation album, entitled This Is Solo (2010).
Flamman moved to Berlin released an album under the moniker Unterwelten. In the years before working with Gitsels (in 2000, to be precise) Flamman also released an album as J Perkin.
In late 2022, Flamman and Gitsels surprisingly announced the return of the original Solo duo, starting with a live album entitled Solo Live, released on April Fools' Day of 2023. New studio material is said to be in the making.
2. SoLo (Pat Jamieson) who studied at Hofstra University - Hampstead, New York is now currently making a high boom in the music industry and as hyped on YouTube and is continuing his works with other 'underground' artists such as Miles Malcolm, Young Mel and Swagga Bob. His most popular song 'Movin' Out' featured Swagga Bob and Young Mel and managed to get 100K hits in around 8 months. Another song 'The News' hit 100K views. Now working on his new song 'Studio Therapy' he is planning on big things.
3. Eunique Mack, Darnell Chavis and Daniele Stokes performed on the streets of New York in the early 1990s. The production team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis overheard the guys and helped them get established. The bassist Robert Anderson joined the group to make them a quartet and the line-up that would be known as Solo. The group also had a fifth member named James Smith died before the group met Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The group dedicated an interlude to him on their debut album.
The group recorded their self-titled debut album in Minneapolis and released it in 1995. Released on A&M Records, the album featured production by Jam & Lewis. The album scored several minor hits, with its biggest being "Heaven" and "Where Do U Want Me To Put It." The two tracks reached #7 and #8 on the R&B charts respectively. The album moved enough copies that by early 1996, it managed to go gold.
Because the group's solo album did well enough to go gold, the group was able to release a second album, 4 Bruthas and a Bass in 1998. The album had a small hit with "Touch Me" which reached #26 on the R&B charts. After Perspective Records folded shortly after the rest of the group decided to focus on other endeavors as members Eunique Mack and Darnell Chavis released solo albums. Also Darnell Chavis and Daniele Stokes formed a production company called DarDan Entertainent. After spending several years working on solo material Eunique Mack, Darnell Chavis, Daniele Stokes, and Robert Anderson have reunited and are working on a new Solo project coming in 2009.
Better Man
Solo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A better lover and a better friend
I could have been what I was told to be
Could have been what you wanted to
But I never do the things I should
Will I become what I have been all along
And a life to find that time
It takes as little as we know
It takes passion, it takes peace
Fights and disbelief
But where life leads you, you must go
Could have been a poet or
Simply be the boy next door
Off to war, a soldier smoking roses
I have had my money’s worth
Bought and sold and feinted hurt
But destiny is the ground beneath our feet
It takes time to find your life
And a life to find that time
It takes as little as we know
It takes passion, it takes peace
Fights and disbelief
But where life leads you, you must go
When it all comes down
When it all blows up
When the choices have been made
When it all blows up
When it all comes down
It takes time to find your life
And a life to find that time
It takes as little as we know
It takes passion, it takes peace
Fights and disbelief
But where life leads you, you must go
The first two lines of the verse in Solo's song Better Man suggest that the singer could have been a better man, lover, and friend. He acknowledges that he could have taken the path that society urged him to, but he did not adhere as it is evident from when he sings "...But I never do the things I should." This implies that he did not conform to societal expectations and chose to be true to himself. However, he ponders whether he will ever discover his identity and finally become who he was meant to be.
In the chorus, Solo emphasizes that life is a journey that requires time, patience, and commitment. It involves experiencing high and low moments, moments of joy as well as fighting doubts, disbelief, and uncertainty. He is acknowledging the importance of persevering to find a purposeful existence. He advises that everyone should follow their path in life, regardless of the challenges they face on their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Could have been a better man
I had the potential to be a better person
A better lover and a better friend
I could have been more caring and devoted to those I love
I could have been what I was told to be
I had the option to live up to others' expectations of me
Could have been what you wanted to
I had the opportunity to be the person you wished for
But I never do the things I should
I had trouble fulfilling my responsibilities
Will I become what I have been all along
I wonder if I will always stay the same
It takes time to find your life
Discovering your path takes patience
And a life to find that time
It can take an entire lifetime to figure it out
It takes as little as we know
We often start off with very little knowledge
It takes passion, it takes peace
We need both drive and tranquility to succeed
Fights and disbelief
We will face challenges and moments of doubt
But where life leads you, you must go
We must follow our life's journey no matter where it may take us
Could have been a poet or
I could have pursued a creative path
Simply be the boy next door
I could have led a more ordinary life
Off to war, a soldier smoking roses
I might have gone to battle, or taken a dangerous route
I have had my money’s worth
I have experienced what I paid for, but is it enough?
Bought and sold and feinted hurt
I've been manipulated and pretended to be wounded
But destiny is the ground beneath our feet
Fate is the unchanging foundation of our existence
When it all comes down
When everything falls apart
When it all blows up
When things explode and get out of control
When the choices have been made
When decisions have already been set in stone
It takes time to find your life
Discovering your path takes patience
And a life to find that time
It can take an entire lifetime to figure it out
It takes as little as we know
We often start off with very little knowledge
It takes passion, it takes peace
We need both drive and tranquility to succeed
Fights and disbelief
We will face challenges and moments of doubt
But where life leads you, you must go
We must follow our life's journey no matter where it may take us
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Evan Hall
Thanks Ryan!! Your the man, I really appreciate this! Been trying to figure this out for years.
Ryan Lendt
I'm so glad to help! thank you for the request, that was a fun one :)
Dave Norman
Thanks brotha'....your freakin' awesome with your lessons. This one is exactly what i was looking for....been wondering for years how to play it.
Mucho appreciated !
Ryan Lendt
wow thanks for watching this one Dave! I'm really glad that was here for you :)
Gareth Roberts
Another AA+ lesson ryano liono! Nice simple explanation, thanks! This is a great blueprint to play along with someone else! p.s. hope the new home is going well!
Ryan Lendt
glad you liked it Gareth! The home search has FINALLY concluded and I'll have a nice place to narrowcast from shortly here :)
Nick Anderson
Thanks Ryan, obscure request for a rainy day. From touring band DVD foldback/harmony/thunderclap instrumental from the extras. Also the Puzzle and games demo for light years as found on YouTube. Good demo if you haven't heard it. Shares the light years solo.
Ryan Lendt
fantastic - then that's two for puzzles and games :)
Nick Anderson
I have not requested it before, I accidentally stumbled across it a week ago. YouTube was on auto play and never even had heard of it. Definitely worth a listen. Basically light years lyrics with different music except for solo. Thanks again for the channel definitely keeping me busy.
Ryan Lendt
did you request puzzles and games before or was that someone else?? I haven't heard it but it's on my list and I look at it from time to time and think 'maybe i should do this one...' and then I don't of course lol, but I will! And wow way to pull that one out, I'll be popping in that disc to address that sometime!