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.
Butterfly
The Gift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Don't go chasing Butterflies
I went through this life
Didn't think twice
I had to shut it down
I had to run to town
Money coming nice
But I had to stay strong
I just had to stay strong
I'm about to blow, now
I'm ready for the show
Everyone's turning
Everyone's drinking
You know I like how you ride it
You know I like how I rhyme with it
I see the stick, I pull it out
I watch the clit, I turn it out
Said I turn it out
I don't know what that is about
I'm just tryna speak my truth
I'm not really gonna get loose
I'm getting all the views
Making these hits
Sound coming quick
The money was quick
I'm rhyming this shit
I like what I see
I divide when I please
I say
I say don't watch
I say don't pree
Just be with me like a G
I say don't watch
Don't pree
Just be with the G my G
Listen
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Don't go chasing Butter-
Butterflies
Don't go chasing
Out here wasted
I got so much patience
I think I can make it
I pull out my spaceship
I get there quick
I am the bitch
Yeah
Pull up, I made it
I do it right
I live my life
I move how I want
I do what I want
I grab what I want
I want I want
Living my life
Just like I wanna
I be doing it right
I be getting the Guala
Be getting the racks
Getting the cash
Woah
All of the paper, the cash
Everything that I'm about
You know I'm out
In "Butterfly" by The Gift, the artist expresses a message of self-reliance and staying true to oneself despite the distractions and temptations of the outside world. The repeated phrase, "Don't go chasing Butterflies," serves as a metaphor urging listeners not to get distracted by fleeting and superficial things but rather focus on their own path.
The lyrics depict the artist's personal journey, highlighting moments of temptation and the decision to resist them. The lines "Money coming nice, Weed's getting long" suggest a life of material comfort and indulgence, but the artist recognizes the need to stay strong and true to themselves.
The artist acknowledges that success and fame are approaching, as indicated by the lines "I'm about to blow, now, I'm ready for the show." However, they emphasize that everyone around them is changing and engaging in self-destructive behaviors like excessive drinking. Despite this, the artist expresses their appreciation for an individual who stands apart from the crowd, admiring how they handle themselves and their ability to complement the artist's own creativity and flow.
Throughout the lyrics, the artist asserts their commitment to speaking their truth and maintaining authenticity in their music. They acknowledge that their rise to fame has brought about increased attention and scrutiny, but they make it clear that they won't be swayed to conform to others' expectations or compromise their artistic vision.
The chorus, "Don't go chasing Butterflies, Don't go chasing Butterflies," serves as a constant reminder to stay focused and not to get distracted by superficial pursuits or societal pressures. The repetition emphasizes the importance of consistency in staying true to oneself and avoiding the allure of temporary pleasures. The artist firmly asserts their determination to live life on their own terms, with lines like "I live my life, I move how I want, I do what I want." They are confident that they can achieve success on their own, with patience and persistence.
Overall, "Butterfly" by The Gift encourages listeners to resist distractions, maintain authenticity, and stay true to their own path in order to achieve genuine success and fulfillment. It serves as an anthem for self-reliance and personal growth in a world filled with superficial attractions.
Line by Line Meaning
Hmm
An expression of thought or contemplation
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Avoid pursuing fleeting and temporary desires or distractions
I went through this life
I experienced the ups and downs of life
Didn't think twice
Without hesitation or second-guessing
I had to shut it down
I needed to put an end to certain things
I had to run to town
I had to take action and leave my current situation
Money coming nice
I am earning a good income
Weed's getting long
My marijuana supply is increasing
But I had to stay strong
Despite temptations and challenges, I remained resilient
I just had to stay strong
Once again emphasizing my determination and resilience
I'm about to blow, now
I'm on the verge of achieving great success
I'm ready for the show
I am prepared for the spotlight or a major performance
Everyone's turning
People are starting to notice and pay attention to me
Everyone's drinking
Everyone is celebrating and enjoying themselves
You know I like how you ride it
I appreciate the way you handle yourself or navigate situations
You know I like how I rhyme with it
I enjoy how well my words or actions align with the situation
I see the stick, I pull it out
I recognize the obstacles and challenges and overcome them
I watch the clit, I turn it out
I observe the details and make things successful
Said I turn it out
Emphasizing the fact that I bring success to whatever I do
I don't know what that is about
I am unsure of the specific reasons or motivations behind certain actions
I'm just tryna speak my truth
I am simply expressing my honest thoughts and feelings
I'm not really gonna get loose
I won't let myself become reckless or lose control
I'm getting all the views
I am gaining attention and visibility
Making these hits
Producing successful and popular songs
Sound coming quick
The music I create is gaining popularity rapidly
The money was quick
I earned a significant amount of money in a short time
I'm rhyming this shit
I am effortlessly creating impactful and meaningful lyrics
I like what I see
I am content with the progress and achievements I observe
I divide when I please
I choose how to distribute my time and attention as I wish
I say don't watch
I advise against paying too much attention or being overly concerned
I say don't pree
I suggest not to scrutinize or monitor excessively
Just be with me like a G
Simply accompany and support me as a loyal and respectful individual
Listen
Pay attention to what I am about to say
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Avoid pursuing fleeting and temporary desires or distractions
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Reiterating the importance of avoiding empty pursuits
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Emphasizing once again the need to resist temptations and distractions
Don't go chasing Butterflies
Stressing the avoidance of short-lived and inconsequential pleasures
Don't go chasing Butter-
Avoid pursuing trivial and meaningless things
Butterflies
Symbolizing fleeting and transient pleasures or distractions
Don't go chasing
Do not obsessively pursue
Out here wasted
Living in a state of misdirection or wasted potential
I got so much patience
I possess a great deal of endurance and forbearance
I think I can make it
I believe I have the ability to achieve success
I pull out my spaceship
I confidently access my own path or means of transport
I get there quick
I expedite my progress or arrival
I am the bitch
I am powerful and assertive
Yeah
An expression of agreement or affirmation
Pull up, I made it
I successfully arrived or achieved my goal
I do it right
I handle things in a correct, skillful, or efficient manner
I live my life
I lead my own existence according to my own choices
I move how I want
I navigate through life freely and independently
I do what I want
I make decisions and choices based on my own desires
I grab what I want
I confidently acquire or achieve what I desire
I want I want
Expressing a strong desire or ambition
Living my life
Continuously experiencing and enjoying my own existence
Just like I wanna
Exactly as I desire or intend
I be doing it right
I confidently and effectively accomplish tasks or goals
I be getting the Guala
I am successfully attaining wealth or money
Be getting the racks
I am accumulating a substantial amount of money
Getting the cash
Earning a significant amount of money
Woah
An exclamation of surprise or awe
All of the paper, the cash
Referring to the accumulation of money and financial success
Everything that I'm about
All aspects of my identity and purpose
You know I'm out
Emphasizing my presence and involvement in various activities
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Angel Mutesasira, Gabrielle O'sullivan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JoanaMartinsCosta
The Gift será sempre uma das melhores bandas portuguesas ❤
Antonio Tavares
é tão bom recordar grandes temas como este, grande album FILME;)
Pedro Carita
Love this!
Joelle Ferreira
Descobri hoje : really GREAT... 🌊🌟🌬
🦋 🕊⚓💋💘🦋🌌💃🕉☯💫🔆↗💞💖💜💌☦↗🙏🎆🎼🎶🎵🕯🦉🕊✨🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Bruno Espadinha
melhor album