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.”
Soul And Body
The Parlotones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will you still love him the same when his money is gone?
Electric fingertips used to tremble excitedly
You used to light up the room
And now the magic is gone
Your soul, your soul
Your soul and body
You belive me
If your dreams escape your lips
And force your heart and soul and body to commit
Your soul, your soul,
Your soul, your soul and body
Young pretty bride,
You've gone and swallowed your destiny
All for the love of a man,
Whose in love with himself
There used to be a time when forever really meant infinity
It's a two way street,
You're with a dead beat
Afraid of being lonely,
In fact you're really lonely
You gotta get it out, yes you gotta let it out
Your soul, your soul
Your soul and body
I hope, I hope
You belive me
If your dreams escape your lips
And force your heart and soul and body to commit
I hope my second hand opinions somehow inspire brand new decisions
Seduced by the promise of rapture
The magic you will rediscover
I know you will
I know you will
You'll learn to live again
Your soul, your soul,
Your soul, your soul and body
I hope, I hope
You belive me
If your dreams escape your lips
And force your heart and soul and body to commit
The Parlotones' "Soul and Body" explores the theme of a broken relationship where one partner has lost their soul and is struggling to find their place in the world without the other partner. The lyrics in the verse address the partner who has lost her soul and is pretending to be okay while lying to herself and others. He recognizes that her eyes can't lie and questions whether she will still love her partner when his money is gone. He also acknowledges how she used to be electric and had a magic that lit up the room. However, that magic is now gone, and her soul and body have become mere shadows of what they once were.
In the chorus, he emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and their dreams. He urges her to let her dreams escape her lips, forcing her heart and soul and body to commit. He believes in her and hopes that his second-hand opinions inspire her to make brand new decisions. He encourages her to rediscover the magic that life has to offer because he knows that she will learn to live again.
Interesting facts:
Line by Line Meaning
Lip Thespian, so sorry but your eyes can't lie to me
I can tell from your eyes that you're not being genuine
Will you still love him the same when his money is gone?
Are you really in love with him or just his money?
Electric fingertips used to tremble excitedly
You used to be full of energy and excitement
You used to light up the room
You had a positive impact on everyone around you
And now the magic is gone
You've lost that spark that once made you special
Your soul, your soul
Your inner self, your true nature
Your soul and body
The combination of your physical and spiritual self
I hope, I hope
I wish and hope for you
You believe me
You trust and have faith in me
If your dreams escape your lips
If you speak your dreams aloud
And force your heart and soul and body to commit
And motivate you to fully dedicate yourself
Young pretty bride,
A young and beautiful newlywed
You've gone and swallowed your destiny
You've accepted your fate without questioning it
All for the love of a man,
You've sacrificed everything for a man's love
Whose in love with himself
Who is only in love with himself
There used to be a time when forever really meant infinity
You once believed in the eternal nature of love
It's a two way street,
A relationship requires effort from both parties
You're with a dead beat
You're with a lazy and unambitious partner
Afraid of being lonely,
Terrified of being alone
In fact you're really lonely
Alone and unhappy
You gotta get it out, yes you gotta let it out
You need to express your feelings and release your emotions
I hope my second hand opinions somehow inspire brand new decisions
I hope my advice encourages you to make new choices
Seduced by the promise of rapture
Lured in by the idea of an exciting future
The magic you will rediscover
The special spark you will find again
I know you will
I believe in you and your ability to overcome this
You'll learn to live again
You'll find a way to move forward and find happiness again
Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elena
god i lost so many years of music of this band ...