The Parlotones’ three studio albums —2005’s Radiocontrolledrobot, 2007’s A World Next Door To Yours, and 2009’s Stardust Galaxies, have racked up numerous platinum and gold certifications and South African Music Awards, while their three live CD/DVD packages (culminating in 2010’s Live Design) have cemented their reputation as a fiery force to be reckoned with onstage. Confronted with the sight of powerfully expressive frontman Kahn Morbee leading the band — which also includes guitarist Paul Hodgson, bassist Glen Hodgson, and drummer Neil Pauw — to soaring emotional heights during their Fall 2011 club tour of the U.S., the Boston Herald predicted that “The Parlotones could become huge here. Killers huge, Muse huge, Coldplay huge.” Filter magazine reckoned that “their earnestness, work ethic, and charm may be their biggest weapons.”
Those qualities will serve The Parlotones well in 2012 as they prepare to expand their loyal fanbase beyond South Africa and Europe (where they also have a devoted following) to the United States with the release of their new album Journey Through the Shadows, via their own Sovereign Entertainment label, on May 8th. “America dictates trends around the world,” Morbee says. “If you’re big there, the rest of the world listens. It has a ripple effect. We would be very proud to achieve success in the U.S. because very few artists from our country have managed it. I think for a long time, South Africans have had an inferiority complex in terms of our place in the world and our relative insignificance compared to the super powers. It would be nice to have a success story, especially in a nation that needs uplifting, and instill in folks back home that ‘can do’ belief.”
To achieve their goal, The Parlotones have crafted the kind of melody-minded arena-filling songs that transcend language and culture barriers on Journey Through The Shadows. First single “Save Your Best Bits,” with its theme of not allowing negative things from the past to affect the good parts of your soul, and the celebratory “I Am Alive” are about catharsis. They chase those moments of universal human experience when everyone in the room is uplifted by a shared emotion. “My goal is to connect with people across the world, and I think the human condition is very similar regardless of where you are,” Morbee says. “I think the theme of these songs is hope and that life is worth living regardless of its ups and downs.”
That theme informs the album’s title, Journey Through The Shadows, which, Morbee explains, is a metaphor for the human experience. “You’re not given a guidebook or map at birth that guarantees the smoothest path,” he says. “Ultimately, we all walk through with a candle that only allows us to see so far in front of ourselves. You never know what’s around the corner, so it’s an analogy for life.”
In keeping with The Parlotones’ big themes are big ideals. Ever since these four school friends formed the band in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort in the late ’90s they have always aspired not only to have fun making music, but also to give back to their community. Over the years, they have raised funds and awareness for a variety of social and environmental organizations, lending their high profile to initiatives such as Live Earth, Earth Hour, The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Carbon Free campaign, Nelson Mandela’s 46664, and Live Earth’s Run for Water, among others. They are also ambassadors for the anti-poaching organization Rhino Force, United Against Malaria, and several other non-profits that combat problems that acutely affect South Africa. In March 2012, they will join with Africa Unites for a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise global awareness about ending violence against women and girls in Africa. The band sees the music and the activism, as well as their other creative business endeavors (the band has its own boutique wine label, which has released three highly successful blends) as one and the same: methods of expression, communication, and connection.
“People in the public eye have the ability to spread a message very quickly and effectively,” Morbee says. “So we try to do so when it concerns issues we feel strongly about. But we never want to come across as a band that's preaching. All we're really doing is drawing attention to causes that we support. South Africa is our home and home to our families and our friends. We certainly want to make sure they have a bright future. If we can get involved and encourage people to get involved, it can only have positive effects.”
The Parlotones are excited to be representing their homeland and shining a spotlight on it in the process. “Every band dreams of making a living, touring, and having a large fan base around the world,” Morbee says. “Those were our aspirations from the beginning, but because the music market in South Africa wasn’t developed, they were very difficult to achieve. We had to pave our own way. For me the success is not in what we may eventually achieve but in actually taking the journey. Yes there's a lot of risk associated, but we’ve soaked up such a wealth of experiences that it makes it all worthwhile.”
Lisa se Klavier
The Parlotones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vêr by die blou see
Teen die hang van Tafelberg
As die son sak
Speel sy die mooiste melodieë
Haar vingers ken die pad
Opgesluit
Die klavier se grootste vreugde
Hartseer en verlange
Verstaan die hart se diepste smart
En die hele wêreld word stil
En luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
Lisa kan nooit ophou
As sy eers begin het nie
Sy laat my nooit huis toe loop
Of afskeid neem
Voor my laaste sigaret nie
Ek staan op haar balkon
Ek drink haar appelkoostee
Kyk ek na Kaapstad
In die nag, in die liggies
En die swart, swart see
En die hele wêreld word stil
En luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
Ja, die hele wêreld word stil
Luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
En onder op die sypaadjie
Sien ek die bergie en sy maat
Gaan staan en opkyk vêr na bo
Vanuit die vullis
Van Oranjestraat
Hul ken al lank die klanke
Wat uit haar woonstel stroom
Lank na twaalf met die vensters oop
Al moan die bure ook al hoe
Word Lisa elke boemelaar se droom
En die hele wêreld word stil
Luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
Ja, die hele wêreld word stil
En luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
En die hele wêreld word stil
Luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
Ja, die hele wêreld word stil
Luister in die donker uur
Na die naggeluide
Van Lisa se klavier
Lisa
Lisa se klavier
Lisa
Lisa se klavier
Lisa
Lisa se klavier
Lisa
Lisa se klavier
The Parlotones's song Lisa se Klavier tells the story of a man who is captivated by a friend named Lisa and her ability to play beautiful melodies on her piano. Lisa is located near the blue sea, surrounded by the mountains of Cape Town, South Africa. The lyrics paint a picture of Lisa playing her piano as the sun sets, her fingers dancing across the keys while the world around her falls still to listen. The song's narrative centers around Lisa's ability to evoke both sadness and longing in her playing, reflecting the deepest emotions of the heart.
Throughout the song, the singer is drawn into Lisa's world, spending long nights watching the city from her balcony, drinking apple-coffee and smoking cigarettes. Lisa's music becomes a backdrop for the singer's life, with the neighborhood bohemians all drawn to her playing, and the sound of her playing reaching far beyond the walls of her apartment. The song is about the power of music to connect people, to evoke emotion, and to reach beyond the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Ek het ‘n vriendin
I have a girlfriend
Vêr by die blou see
Far by the blue sea
Teen die hang van Tafelberg
Against the slope of Table Mountain
As die son sak
As the sun sets
Speel sy die mooiste melodieë
She plays the most beautiful melodies
Haar vingers ken die pad
Her fingers know the way
Opgesluit
Locked up
In wit en swart
In white and black
Die klavier se grootste vreugde
The piano's greatest joy
Hartseer en verlange
Sadness and longing
Verstaan die hart se diepste smart
Understand the heart's deepest pain
En die hele wêreld word stil
And the whole world becomes silent
En luister in die donker uur
And listens in the dark hour
Na die naggeluide
To the night sounds
Van Lisa se klavier
Of Lisa's piano
Lisa kan nooit ophou
Lisa can never stop
As sy eers begin het nie
Once she has started
Sy laat my nooit huis toe loop
She never lets me walk home
Of afskeid neem
Or say goodbye
Voor my laaste sigaret nie
Before my last cigarette
Ek staan op haar balkon
I stand on her balcony
Ek drink haar appelkoostee
I drink her apple iced tea
Kyk ek na Kaapstad
I look at Cape Town
In die nag, in die liggies
In the night, in the lights
En die swart, swart see
And the black, black sea
Ja, die hele wêreld word stil
Yes, the whole world becomes silent
Luister in die donker uur
Listens in the dark hour
Na die naggeluide
To the night sounds
Van Lisa se klavier
Of Lisa's piano
En onder op die sypaadjie
And down on the sidewalk
Sien ek die bergie en sy maat
I see the little hill and his buddy
Gaan staan en opkyk vêr na bo
Standing and looking up high
Vanuit die vullis
From the rubbish
Van Oranjestraat
Of Oranjestraat
Hul ken al lank die klanke
They have known the sounds for a long time
Wat uit haar woonstel stroom
That flow out of her apartment
Lank na twaalf met die vensters oop
Long after twelve with the windows open
Al moan die bure ook al hoe
Even though the neighbors complain
Word Lisa elke boemelaar se droom
Lisa becomes every drifter's dream
Lisa
Lisa
Lisa se klavier
Lisa's piano
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@linda-annsa4351
Still one of my favourite covers of this song. ❤
@dutch2168
Soooo good... bunch of rooinekke singing afrikaans
...
Loved it
@GatekeeperMarketing
Well done manne!!
@dyllanpretorius7244
This is Awesome
@NelietaMishchenko
I love this version! Dankie!
@jubbajoubert4259
Baie mooi,Jacques
@dattebayo155
Ha ha what a fun tune. That singing riff is the best thing ever :D sweet!
@liezlsmal9151
Dankie Parlotones.
@lindadewet5722
Wow. Baie dankie. 😊
@big_underscore_a1701
Love it!!!