After winning The X Factor, Steve Brookstein was immediately signed to the Sony BMG record label through which he released his first single, a cover of "Against All Odds" on 20 December 2004. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 2 and then rose to the number 1 spot on 2 January 2005, and stayed there for one week. In Ireland, the song peaked at number 11. The music video for the song was a montage of clips from his time on The X Factor, from his initial audition to his final performance after being declared the winner.
Brookstein released his debut album Heart & Soul on 9 May 2005 through Sony BMG, five months after his first single reached number one. The album was an immediate success, also debuting on the UK charts at number one and going on to sell approximately 250,000 copies. Although Brookstein continued to perform tracks from his album on television shows, a second single failed to materialise. In August 2005 it was announced that Sony BMG had dropped him from their line-up only eight months after his X Factor victory and despite the success of his debut single and album. Brookstein maintains that the decision to 'drop' him reportedly came after he was offered a second album and to come back on the show, which he declined as it was to be another album of covers and he preferred a mix of old and new.
After being released from his contract by Sony BMG, Brookstein spent the next year writing his own material and forming his own record label. On 2 October 2006, he released his second single (and first from his upcoming album), Fighting Butterflies, independently. Although accompanied and promoted by a music video, the song failed to crack the UK Top 75. Undeterred, Brookstein released his second album, 40,000 Things, on 9 October 2006. However, the album also failed to chart.
From September to November 2006, Brookstein embarked on a nationwide tour of small venues in order to promote his new album. Many of the shows were sold out, but several had to be cancelled due to low ticket sales.
In June 2007, Brookstein appeared on the P&O Portsmouth to Bilbao ship for cruisers, alongside X Factor series 2 alumni Chico and Journey South In September 2007, Brookstein embarked on his Great American Soul Book tour, and in October he recorded and contributed the track "Head Over Heels" for Ian Levine's Disco 2008 album. In 2008, he played 'the father' in a touring production of the award-winning musical Our House.
In 2009 he was working on producing his wife Eileen Hunter's jazz album and performing at smaller venues. He also recorded a cover of Promised Land with the Boogie Pimps which was a best seller for the label, Liberty Records.
Since his 2004 X-Factor win and subsequent fall from grace, Steve has spent much of his time bitterly, publicly and vociferously criticising Simon Cowell, The "X-Factor" phenomenon and the media generally, via his website and twitter feed.
If You Don't Know Me by Now
Steve Brookstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You will never never never know me
All the things
That we've been through
You should understand me
Like I understand you
Now girl I know the differenceBetween right and wrong
I ain't gonna do nothing
To break up our happy home
Don't get so excited
When I come home
A little late at night
'Cause we only act like children
When we argue fuss and fight
If you don't know me by now
You will never never never know me
We've all got our
Own funny moods
I've got mine,
Woman you've got yours too
Just trust in me like I trust in you
As long as we've been together
It should be so easy to do
Just get yourself together
Or we might as well say goodbye
What good is a love affair
When you can't see eye to eye
If you don't know me by now
You will never
Never never know me
The song "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Steve Brookstein is a classic soulful ballad about the importance of understanding and communication in a relationship. In the song, the singer states that if his partner doesn't know him by now, then they never will. The first verse speaks to the importance of understanding and empathy in a relationship. The singer mentions that the couple has been through things together and should understand each other as a result. The second verse speaks to the idea that everyone has their own moods and quirks, and that the singer and his partner should trust each other enough to work through them.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of trust and communication in a relationship. He mentions that he knows the difference between right and wrong and won't do anything to break up their "happy home." He also asks his partner not to get upset when he comes home late at night because they are only "acting like children" when they argue. Ultimately, the song is a reminder that it takes work to maintain a healthy relationship, and that understanding and trust are crucial components.
Line by Line Meaning
If you don't know me by now
If you have not understood me by now
You will never never never know me
You will never understand me
All the things
All the situations
That we've been through
That we have experienced together
You should understand me
You should comprehend me
Like I understand you
As I realize your thoughts
Now girl I know the difference
I am aware of the contrast
Between right and wrong
Between what is ethical and what is not
I ain't gonna do nothing
I will not do anything
To break up our happy home
To ruin our joyful relationship
Don't get so excited
Don’t became so enthusiastic
When I come home
When I reach home
A little late at night
A little later at night
'Cause we only act like children
Because we have the mentality of children
When we argue fuss and fight
When we are having an argument and creating a fuss
We've all got our
We all have our
Own funny moods
Abrupt changes of temperament
I've got mine,
I have my own
Woman you've got yours too
And you have yours too, woman
Just trust in me like I trust in you
Just have faith in me, as I do in you
As long as we've been together
Since the time we have been together
It should be so easy to do
It should be a simple thing to do
Just get yourself together
Just compose yourself
Or we might as well say goodbye
Otherwise, we may better separate
What good is a love affair
What purpose does a romantic episode fulfill
When you can't see eye to eye
When we cannot agree on things
If you don't know me by now
If you have not grasped my nature until now
You will never
You will not
Never never know me
Fully understand me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crumpet68
YES met the man quite a few times love the man
@latakbako
so great!!!!!!!!!!
@postmanpat6
I really liked Steve in series 1 of the X Factor. Now all i can do is compare him to Leona Lewis. She is totally different class to any contestant that has ever been on this show.
@lianfarr
what a voice god dam !!!!
@miralow5727
If you don´t know me by now- this is a tune I recall by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, later covered by Simply Red and by Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. I do love this rendition here fully well. God Bless.
@crumpet68
Great singer love him.
@Trix71
So short to sing such a great song... but he did it so well...
@floramargarine
Damn right all she can do is screech and warble. He sings.
@crumpet68
he is brill what a singer
@crumpet68
AT about nine different venues and going to see him at the northan soul gig he is one of the four vandals have you seen them on youtube