The band started in May 1994 when vocalist John Grant and bassist Chris Pearson had a chance meeting at Rock Island, a club in Denver’s lower downtown warehouse district. It took over a year to pull a complete band together and play their first show. The early years were slow, but recording began with local music icon Bob Ferbrache in 1995, who produced the first two albums. Contrary to press releases, the band actually self-released two albums, “Moodswing” and “La Brea Tar Pits of Routine” on their own label, Velveteen Records in 1995 and 1997, the later was sent to Cocteau Twins' Bella Union in London. Bella Union thought there was some promise and a follow-up five-song demo was quickly recorded and sent to Cocteau’s Simon Raymonde. He offered the band a four album deal soon after. The Czars would be the first American band to sign with London's Bella Union. A string of local opening gigs followed with opening slots for Low, the Dirty Three, and Ween
Recording on “Before...But Longer” was initiated at London’s September Sound studio in September ’98, and Raymonde finished production on the album in December.
By the end of ‘99 The Czars were named Best Rock Band by Westword (a local Denver music magazine). The following year the band was approached to compose the soundtrack for an independent film, “I’d Rather Be … Gone" again through the connections of Bella Union. Although it never saw the light of day outside of the Gay and Lesbian film festival in San Francisco, the soundtrack mini EP was released by Toronto's Absalom Recordings that November. Self-produced by the band in Denver with Colin Bricker at NFA studios this remains a collector's item.
Even though, the band didnt sell many records, the label stuck with them, and next up was the second album “The Ugly People vs. The Beautiful People.” Recorded in Denver over a month in early 2001, when Simon Raymonde took more time away from his family and label back home in London and produced it out of his love for the band. It was released in October with cover art featuring asses and tattoos. After 23 takes at “Black and Blue” the band nearly killed each other, but the recording was finished and accolades poured in, winning the 2002 album of the year in Westword and receiving critical praise from Mojo, Q, and NME. The band signed to Manifesto Records for a one-record deal for the United States.
The Czars toured Europe opening for David Gray, 16 Horsepower, and The Flaming Lips. Three small US tours followed. The band recorded and self-produced the tour EP “X Would Rather Listen to Y Than Suffer Through a C of Z’s”, a reference to John’s linguistics book on Russian sentence structure.
Despite all the touring, the band were not making any kind of critical breakthrough, despite Bella Union's best efforts in bringing the band over to Europe several times and releasing several singles. The band recorded "Goodbye” with money donated by fans. Work was completed in June 2004, and “Goodbye” was released to much acclaim last September. Picked as the 38th on the Top 50 albums of the year by Mojo, it beat out such luminaries as The Shins, Morrissey, and Bjork. Still the breakthrough wasn't on the horizon and whilst fellow labelmates like Explosions in The Sky and Midlake were also selling records as well as picking up plaudits, The Czars remained an enigma. The band were rarely happy in each other's company and recording and touring always seemed traumatic. Perhaps the audience picked up on this in someway.
In 2004, the core of the band would dissolve away over the course of the ultimately prophetic last album entitled “Goodbye”. Over the span of nine months would see the departure of five out of six members, including original founding members Jeff and Chris, plus long-time guitarists Andy and Roger, as well as violinist Elin Palmer.
Where The Boys Are
The Czars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A smilin' face, a warm embrace, two arms to hold me tenderly
Where the boys are, my true love will be
He's walkin' down some street in town and I know he's lookin' there for me
In the crowd of a million people I'll find my valentine
Then I'll climb to the highest steeple and tell the world he's mine
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are someone waits for me
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are someone waits for me
The Czars's Where The Boys Are is a cover of the famous song by Connie Francis, released in 1960 as a single and included in the soundtrack of the homonymous movie. The song narrates the search for love and the desire to find a special person who will hold and embrace us tenderly. The lyrics express the idea that among a million people, there is someone special waiting for us, someone with whom we will experience love, companionship, and an intense emotional bond.
The singer of the song is eager to find that person, and she is willing to wait until she does, even if it makes her impatient. The lyrics' romanticism is evident, as the singer envisages climbing to the highest steeple to tell the world that she has found her love. The song's musical arrangement is delicate, with a soft melody that contributes to creating an atmosphere of intimacy and shared emotions.
The song's lyrics reflect themes that are recurrent in the musical and cultural production of the 1960s, such as the search for love, the celebration of romanticism, and the exploration of gender roles in relationships. As a cover, The Czars's version of Where The Boys Are does not alter the original lyrics' meaning but adds a unique and intimate tone to the song, highlighting the emotional depth of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the boys are, someone waits for me
I am eagerly waiting for my lover to come find me.
A smilin' face, a warm embrace, two arms to hold me tenderly
I long for the comforting presence of my loved one with a smiling face, who will wrap me in a warm and tender embrace.
Where the boys are, my true love will be
I am certain that my true love is searching for me in some part of town where boys usually gather.
He's walkin' down some street in town and I know he's lookin' there for me
I am convinced that my lover is wandering down random streets, seeking me in every face he sees.
In the crowd of a million people I'll find my valentine
Even if there are a million people around me, I will spot my one true love because he is special to me.
Then I'll climb to the highest steeple and tell the world he's mine
Once I have found my lover, I want to shout out our love from the top of the tallest building and declare to everyone that he belongs to me.
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
I am anxious and eager to be in the arms of my most treasured one.
Where the boys are, where the boys are
I will keep waiting where there are many boys, hoping to eventually find my significant other there.
Where the boys are someone waits for me
I am convinced that my love is out there waiting for me where the boys usually are.
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Manuel Cabral
Where the boys are, someone waits for me
A smilin' face, a warm embrace, two arms to hold me tenderly
Where the boys are, my true love will be
He's walkin' down some street in town and I know he's lookin' there for me
In the crowd of a million people I'll find my valentine
Then I'll climb to the highest steeple and tell the world he's mine
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are someone waits for me
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are someone waits for me
Manuel Cabral
Where the boys are, someone waits for me
A smilin' face, a warm embrace, two arms to hold me tenderly
Where the boys are, my true love will be
He's walkin' down some street in town and I know he's lookin' there for me
In the crowd of a million people I'll find my valentine
Then I'll climb to the highest steeple and tell the world he's mine
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are someone waits for me
'Til he holds me I'll wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are someone waits for me
Scott Tian
Such fantastic voice mr. John you are amazing.
mancjock
sends a shiver down the spine, amazing version as is his version of patsy clines "I fall to pieces"
Millennium Fantasy
Never imagined this song in such a sensual light!
이현우
노래 너무 좋다...
kurtsupreme
This beautifully performed song was the 1960 era love anthem for heterosexual girls and gay boys everywhere! This is an interesting interpretation of this classic standard; however, only Connie Francis (and possibly Neil Sedaka, a gay / bisexual man himself, who wrote it) have sung it with all the power and emotion that it commands. Regardless, it remains a great song from a wonderful bygone era.
Dubheasa Danes
Poignant and beautiful.
Michael Scott
I crave this song. UGH!
hj M
me too
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