In September 1994, Sónia Tavares, Nuno and John Gonçalves, Miguel Ribeiro and Ricardo Braga enrolled in the Bar Ben Music Competition in Alcobaça and took second place in the competition, to everyone's great surprise, given the band’s short time in existence.
The band performed its first show at the Alcobaça Monastery in July 1995. This was followed by the Belém Cultural Centre (Lisbon) in September 1996 and the Labirintho Bar (Porto) in November 1996.
The Gift masterminded their first record, with the intention of using it as a demo for the media and labels. From this effort, “Digital Atmosphere” was born, a six track enhanced CD featuring interviews and videos, recorded at home but not available in stores. In 1997 the band went on the road, playing at over 30 theatres (many of which sold out) and released video at the end of the tour at Belém Cultural Centre and the Alcobaça Cine-Teatro shows.
Soon after the Digital Atmosphere Tour finished, Ricardo Braga left the band and The Gift was now a four member group once again. In 1998, they established themselves as an independent band forming g their own label, La Folie with the visionary goal of releasing a next record as independents.
Sónia Tavares, The Gift - photo by João Loureiro
In November 1998, the band’s first true record “Vinyl” is released. "Vinyl" combined the potentials of new technologies (samples and synthesizer) with classical instruments (violins, cellos, trumpets, saxophones etc.). “Vinyl” , which was fully funded by The Gift themselves, was named Album of the Year by the Diário de Notícias newspaper a first for a Portuguese independent band and began courting the attention of the labels that previously ignored The Gift’s work. In spite of this, the band chose to stay independent, opting to to use distribution contracts.
From November 1998 through 1999, The band performs over 80 shows, including the biggest Summer Festivals, sells out the most important venues in Lisbon and Porto, wins several awards with the first hit single “Ok! Do You Want Something Simple?” and sells over 35,000 records.
At the end of that year The Gift performs for the first time abroad, in Paris (at La Cigalle) and a few months later participates in the prestigious music fair MIDEM 2000 (in Cannes), taking the first step towards the band’s career outside Portugal.
In early 2000, the band closes the “Vinyl” era, simultaneously releasing the photo book “A Single Diary” (by Ana Pereira) and the video “Single Hand Camera Documentary” (by Gonçalo Covacich), two artistic visions and documentary pieces on the Vinyl Tour. Once again, all the, costs incurred were covered by the band establishing The Gift once and for all as a solid DIY band.
The steps taken abroad continued to gain momentum in June 2000 with the band’s first mini-tour outside Portugal, including dates in Germany (Expo 2000 – Hanover), Macau and again, France (Paris).
At the end of the year The Gift take a break from touring and start writing songs for the next album, some of which are introduced later in 2001 at the Eurosonic Festival in the Netherlands, representing Portugal .
Howie B produces “Film”, The Gift’s second album released again through theirown label, La Folie Records. The band shows its “Film” throughout the country, playing at the Paredes de Coura Festival, the optimushype@meco Festival (sharing the stage with Howie B and Matthew Herbert), at the Interactive TV’s launch in Portugal, live for Sic Radical channel, and radio Antena 3.
“Film” goes Gold at 25,000 units and The Gift win several more awards for its videos (“Waterskin” and “Question of Love” – the album’s first two singles). At the end of 2001, the band was once more invited by Cap Magellan to promote “Film” in Paris.
In March 2002, The Gift flies to the United States to enter the South by Southwest Music & Media Conference in Austin, Texas; in June returned to Paris to perform at the Hôtel de Ville Square; in August Popkomm and Musikfest Am-Ring festivals in Germany; Spain followed in September with shows in Barcelona; in October the band was back in the USA for a short tour in a few north-American cities New York); and in November its first concert in Madrid, Spain, took place.
Of the few performances in Portugal, the Manchester Mad Remixers (which featured The Gift together with Rodrigo Leão and Pedro Oliveira) concerts are a highlight (first at the nightclub Lux, and later at the Frágil and the Clinic bars). This was a project specially created for the "24 Hour Party People" film's premiere.
The band performs in numerous places, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Bilbao, Vigo, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston, San Diego, London, Caracas, Dunkirk, amongst many other cities.
The Gift was invited to open for The Flaming Lips and Cousteau, and at the end of the year, in December 2003, get an invitation to perform for the recently launched Portuguese MTV, recording one of the first MTV Live shows in the history of MTV Portugal.
In 2004, The Gift celebrated its first 10 years in music and returned to album releases. By the end of the recording sessions, The Gift was faced with a double album, where two distinctive but complementary environments surfaced (one more intimate and introspective, the other more euphoric) and in which duality was the key word. The new relese, the first in three years, is entitled “AM-FM”.
“AM-FM” was released in November 2004 with great expectation from the group's fans, who rapidly sold out the presentation concerts in Alcobaça, Lisbon and Porto (a few days after the band's shows in London, New York and Los Angeles. A week after the retail release, “AM-FM” goes Silver and not long after Gold, selling more than 25, 000 copies.
In 2005 they won the MTV Europe Award for Best Portuguese Act.
The album Fácil de Entender, their first live album was released in 2006. Sells over 25,000 units.
The Gift acted with great success on the Expo 2008 Zaragoza, the day of Portugal at the exhibition.
In 2008 and 2009, The Gift's Sonia Tavares and Nuno Goncalves along with fellow musicians, Paulo Praça [Plaza]and Fernando Ribeiro record and tour with their side project Hoje’s: Amalia Hoje. Amalia Hoje garners triple platinum status selling over 85,000 units and is the Portuguese runaway Album of the Year.
2010 The Gift returns to record Their 5th Album explode and invite Ken Nelson [Coldplay, Gomez, Kings of Convenience, Badly Drawn Boy to produce the Album. The Gift spends three months in Madrid recording
2011 is the year of Explode. Explode is released in Portugal on 1 April and immediately goes to number one in the charts where it holds top ten for over 10 weeks.
Explode is scheduled to be released in North America on 27 September 2011
www.gift.pt
2) THE GIFT are a Symphonic Prog band from, London, formed after Mike Morton (vocals, 6/12 string acoustic guitar, piano and string arrangements) and Leroy James (lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, samples, effects and programming, piano and string arrangements) came up with the idea of creating a band and making a concept album at the same time.
The concept was devised by Mike Morton and was initially meant to be just one piece.
They brought in other musicians to help with the recording, viz. Jim Thomas (bass), Rod Haverhill (keyboards) and David Storey (drums) and THE GIFT was born.
The band made some initial demos and pressed on with the idea. They sent the demos out to various places and general opinion was positive. So positive in fact, that the Cyclops label (responsible for bands such as Mostly Autumn, Pineapple Thief, Saens and Tr3nity) gave them a deal.
THE GIFT had the desire and conviction to record the album itself. The idea initially was to record one multi-themed piece (a suite called Awake and Dreaming), about “savagery and war and the final triumph of piece” (as their MySpace biography notes), but Cyclops felt it need to be longer and asked them to record a slightly extended finish. This ended up as another suite (of 30 minutes in length), called Fountains of Ash about “domestic violence, again seeking solace in the human spirit” (from their MySpace bio).
Their sound is quite varied, but takes on a definite symphonic rock air to it. They have hard rocking sections, pastoral songs, and “complex time signatures, wild key changes and ambitious concepts.”
Their progressive rock influences include Pink Floyd, Genesis (Gabriel era), Yes, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, Rush and Dream Theater. They also take influence from non-prog bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Who, Beatles, Massive Attack, U2, Sex Pistols and Prince.
Their debut album (a double CD) Awake and Dreaming, was released on October 9, 2006, by Cyclops.
3) The Gift is a funeral grunge band from Washington, DC featuring members of Turboslut, Exosus and Tradition Dies Here. Their debut LP "Mostly in Sickness" is out now on Amor y Lucha Records, www.amorylucha.org. Free tracks can be downloaded and streamed at their website, www.thegift.bandcamp.com.
1977
The Gift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
77 was the year where everything starts (Stop!)
I lived on the top of the street
In a building full of green. Field? Was not that
screen (Scream!)
To call my best friend, I lived on the other side,
TV off, computers on, bye bye
Like old times, no girls at all
All the time I was in school,
We change our friends, we change our clothes
We kiss the girls because we need to,
It's an ego of a normal boy
But why at that time,
It was strange not to look or act
Like a normal guy,
Songs were made to make me cry,
And we can meet The Smiths at any time of our lives,
'Cause songs will help you every time,
Just try to wake up one day, rewind,
We were only 17, and then
Did you wait for the lonely time
Just to say like a normal guy,
(HI) my bed it's empty,
You want to try?
We grow as normal nature
And we still believe that if we try
THE BAND can save your life
Can be such an easy thing,
Just think the kid you were before
Creep was like a bomb.
Share the songs with the friends,
He will know your thoughts,
He knows your songs,
He brings the light you wish,
It's the cure to yuor lonely time,
He's a Jesus in a genius way.
A lie, at that time it was just a way to put us by the same side,
We were more then 17
At that time a lie means a sacrifice,
Everybody knows why,
But we were only
Again out of time,
I know why we will say good bye,
Everybody knows why
And we were almost 21, and then,
Still you wait for a lonely time,
Just to say to a normal guy? Normal guy?
My bed is empty.
Why at that time
It was just a way to put us by the same side,
'Cause we were more then 17
And then, still you wait till the end,
To say like a normal guy. Goodbye
A lie, at that time it was just a way to put us by the same side,
'Cause we were blood of the same blood, and then,
Did you wait till the end,
To say like a normal guy
Goodbye
And why, why, why, why...
We're 27 years old.
The Gift's song "1977" reflects on the experiences of a group of young men in their late teens and early twenties, living in a building on the top of the street, in 1977. The lyrics describe the atmosphere of the time when everything was slowly starting to change, and the journey towards adulthood began. The singer reflects on the past, on changing friends and clothes, on kissing girls and trying to fit in, on finding solace in music and on feeling lonely. The song captures the sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, a time when everything seemed possible, and the future was unwritten.
The song speaks to the experience of a generation coming of age in a world changing rapidly, where traditional social norms and values were being re-defined. It reflects the feelings of isolation and uncertainty that often accompany this stage of life, as well as the search for meaning and connection that is common to all of us. Overall, "1977" is a powerful and poignant reminder of the challenges and joys of growing up and finding one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
A short piece of my life.
The singer is reminiscing about a particular period of their life.
77 was the year where everything starts (Stop!)
The year 1977 was significant for the singer as it marked the beginning of something important.
I lived on the top of the street
In a building full of green. Field? Was not that
screen (Scream!)
The singer lived in a building located at the top of the street. The area surrounding the building was full of greenery- not a screen. The scream could be an expression of enthusiasm or excitement.
To call my best friend, I lived on the other side,
TV off, computers on, bye bye
The singer had to call their best friend who lived on the other side of the street. They turned off the TV and switched to using computers to communicate with their friend.
We found outside a club, where boys can be boys,
Like old times, no girls at all
The singer and their friends went to a club that was only for boys- just like the old days. There were no girls present.
All the time I was in school,
We change our friends, we change our clothes
We kiss the girls because we need to,
It's an ego of a normal boy
During the singer's school years, they changed their friends and outfits frequently. They kissed girls simply because it was something that boys like them did- it was a part of their ego as a regular boy.
But why at that time,
It was strange not to look or act
Like a normal guy,
Songs were made to make me cry,
During that time, it was odd to not behave or appear as a typical guy. There were songs that were specifically designed to evoke emotional responses from the singer.
And we can meet The Smiths at any time of our lives,
'Cause songs will help you every time,
Just try to wake up one day, rewind,
The singer believes that they can encounter The Smiths at any moment- the magic of music is always present. They suggest that one should take some time to reflect on their life.
We were only 17, and then
Did you wait for the lonely time
Just to say like a normal guy,
(HI) my bed it's empty,
You want to try?
When they were 17, the singer wonders if their male friends also waited for a moment of solitude just to talk casually- like a typical guy. The singer asks their friend if they want to come hang out with them, as their bed is empty.
We grow as normal nature
And we still believe that if we try
THE BAND can save your life
Can be such an easy thing,
Just think the kid you were before
Creep was like a bomb.
Share the songs with the friends,
As we mature, we continue to believe that if we put in the effort, music can save our lives. It's easy- just think back to who you were as a kid. A particular song, 'Creep' had a big impact on the singer, and they recommend sharing music with friends.
He will know your thoughts,
He knows your songs,
He brings the light you wish,
It's the cure to yuor lonely time,
He's a Jesus in a genius way.
The singer believes that music knows what you're thinking and what you like. They can bring happiness and light into your life, essentially being a savior. The power of music can be compared to that of Jesus- miraculous and intelligent.
A lie, at that time it was just a way to put us by the same side,
We were more then 17
At that time a lie means a sacrifice,
Everybody knows why,
During that time, lies were used to unite people- it was a way to build camaraderie. The singer and their friends were over 17 at the time, and if you lied for the sake of the group, it meant sacrificing something important. Everyone understood this.
But we were only
Again out of time,
I know why we will say good bye,
Everybody knows why
And we were almost 21, and then,
Still you wait for a lonely time,
Just to say to a normal guy? Normal guy?
My bed is empty.
The singer and their friends were very busy- they didn't have much time together. Although they know the reason behind the group's upcoming break up, they still waited until the last moment to tell someone. They ask a normal guy if they'd like to hang out with them, as their bed is empty.
Why at that time
It was just a way to put us by the same side,
'Cause we were more then 17
And then, still you wait till the end,
To say like a normal guy. Goodbye
During that time, common experiences were used to unite people. The singer and their friends were over the age of 17 when they were still comfortable acting like typical guys. They question why they waited so long until the end to say their final goodbyes.
And why, why, why, why...
We're 27 years old.
The singer is questioning things that have happened in the past, and then reveals that they are now 27 years old.
Contributed by Julia H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alarciel
Repeat this song in 2023. Great musicians
@victorpons2588
♥️
@NathanDrake81
Fabulous
@luizacamilomatosolulu6182
Amo os The gift
@josemoreira121
A melhor música "new have" feita em Portugal!
@Malato1951
És Única !!!
@fadesoniatavares4328
Sónia Tavares, para mim és a melhor vocalista do Mundo inteiro. És a melhor, cantas muito bem, a tua voz é única, é infinita, a tua voz alegra os Portugueses, os Ingleses e até o resto do Mundo! Espero que tenhas muita sorte no Futuro. Que tenhas uma Grande Aventura de cantar de País em País, Cidade em Cidade e de palco em palco. Espero ver te mais vezes nos concertos e ter o Orgulho de gostar de ti de uma maneira que não sonhas. Gosto muito de ti que não passo um dia no YouTube sem ouvir músicas tuas e entrevistas tuas. Sónia Tavares isto é para ti " Quando for grande quero ser como tu ". Quero cantar, eu vivo da música e não passo um dia sem a música. A música é o meu Futuro e o teu também, continua assim e ainda vais ter muito sucesso, o sucesso que sempre procuraste e que ainda procuras. Beijinhos Sónia Tavares, amo- te ;)
@dondavilondon
Esta canción es de las que más me gusta, si no la que más Geniales!!
@Navega23
1977, se não fosse portuguesa...um sucesso intemporal
@AngeliqueGuillemet
♥️♥️♥️