Lead vocalist Danny Wilde began his musical career as the lead singer of The Quick, an L.A.-based punk and power pop inspired combo briefly popular in the late 70s, breaking through with their song "Pretty Please Me". The musical duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem had roots in an early 80s new wave/power pop band, called Great Buildings, which released a single critically-lauded album on Columbia in 1981. Although spawning minor hits in "Hold On To Something" and "Maybe It's You", major success eluded the outfit.
After they disbanded, Wilde released a series of slick 80s solo albums before rejoining with his former partner to form the Rembrandts. Initially, the band was heavily indebted to simplistic guitar pop reminiscent of early work from The Beatles and The Everly Brothers. They also took serious inspiration from pop contemporaries such as Squeeze and Crowded House. Their first, self-titled album, released in 1990, featured the surprise #14 hit "Just the Way It Is, Baby", which managed to claw its way onto top 40 playlists despite sounding out of place for the time. Follow-up singles "Someone" and "Save Me" also garnered some airplay.
Their second record, released two years later (and titled, humorously, 'Untitled') also spawned minor hits in the brooding, violin-spiked "Johnny, Have You Seen Her?" and the breezy "Rolling Down the Hill". Both songs showed the band's partial influence from alternative rock groups. In 1995, however, the Rembrandts became a surprise, seemingly-overnight success when they recorded the theme song to the program 'Friends', a ditty reminiscent of British invasion groups called "I'll Be There For You",
The song became an instant smash based on its thirty-second TV version. Interestingly enough, they recorded the full-length version of "I'll Be There For You" only after the shorter version was recorded specifically for the TV show. The band was busy prepping their third release, 'L.P.', at the time that "I'll Be There For You" became so successful, and it was shoehorned last minute onto the end of the track order (initial pressings omit the song on the track list). Unfortunately, much of the new audience generated by the hit didn't take a shine to the rest of the low-key pop rock on the disc. The album went platinum and picked up supportive critical reviews, but it has become something of a lost 90s classic. A few follow-up singles, notably "This House Is Not a Home", generated a small amount of interest, but nothing compared to that of the 'Friends' theme.
The sudden shift in the band's fanbase-- where they had gone from being a low-flying critical success to a discarded 'one-hit-wonder' in the popular consciousness-- took its toll on the band, especially Solem. He outright quit several years later. Danny Wilde produced another Rembrandts album without him, but it was a commercial failure. In 2001, however, the duo reunited for 'Lost Together', their fourth album as a duo and fifth overall. A greatest hits compilation was released in 2006, displaying that the band did in fact have a singles history far deeper than the 'Friends' theme. As time has gone on, they've also had a cult following among power pop fans.
The Other Side Of Night
The Rembrandts Lyrics
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But still I search for hidden answers, underneath this faded moon
The view from here should soothe my soul, even shed some kind of light
Because I know the sun is shining, on the other side of night
On the other side of night
Now, you're movin' through your wakin' world, while in my sleep, I dream
But I know you're there beside me, just beyond my line of sight
Out where the sun is always shining, on the other side of night
On the other side of night
If you had stayed, would I have ever found a reason
To feel this way, if you had waited one more season
Though, I know you're out there somewhere, only you can prove me right
Since you're the one who crossed the boundary
To the other side of night
To the other side of night
To the other side of night
To the other side of night
To the other side of night
To the other side
To the other side of night
The Rembrandts’s “The Other Side of Night” is a song about a lost love and the futile attempts to bring them back. The singer acknowledges that no matter what spell they could cast or what answers they could find, their loved one will never return too soon. However, they continue to search for solace and answers under a faded moon, hoping that they might find some kind of comfort.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is haunted by their lost love even in their dreams. They imagine their beloved is still with them, hiding just beyond their view. But the singer knows that their loved one is moving through the waking world while they are stuck in their dreams, searching for a way to bring them back. The view from where they are should be soothing, and yet it only reminds them of what they’ve lost.
The song suggests that the only hope for the singer is to accept that their loved one is gone and to hold onto the belief that they’re in a better place. The sun is always shining on the other side of night - a metaphor for the afterlife - and the singer imagines that’s where their lost love is. They wonder if they would have felt this way if their loved one had stayed just a little longer, and acknowledge that only their beloved can prove them right about the other side of night.
Line by Line Meaning
No spell that I could cast would ever bring you back too soon
Despite my efforts, I cannot bring you back to me right away.
But still I search for hidden answers, underneath this faded moon
But I continue to search for answers and seek comfort under the moon.
The view from here should soothe my soul, even shed some kind of light
Looking from where I stand should provide some relief and clarity.
Because I know the sun is shining, on the other side of night
I know that happiness and light exists beyond the darkness that I am currently facing.
Now, you're movin' through your wakin' world, while in my sleep, I dream
While you go about your own life, I dream of you when I am asleep.
You drift as closely as you can without your ever being seen
You are close to me but remain hidden from my sight.
But I know you're there beside me, just beyond my line of sight
However, I am aware that you are next to me.
Out where the sun is always shining, on the other side of night
I believe that you are now in a happy place, beyond the dark times.
If you had stayed, would I have ever found a reason
I wonder if I would have continued on my path if you had stayed with me.
To feel this way, if you had waited one more season
If you had not left at that specific time, would I still be feeling this pain?
Though, I know you're out there somewhere, only you can prove me right
However, I still believe that you exist and only you can confirm that for me.
Since you're the one who crossed the boundary to the other side of night
Because you are the one who left this world and crossed over to the other side beyond death.
To the other side of night
To the other side where light and happiness exists beyond darkness.
To the other side of night
To the other side beyond death and towards a peaceful rest.
To the other side of night
To the other side where those who have passed on may exist.
To the other side of night
To the other side beyond the darkness and towards hope and light.
To the other side of night
To the other side where there may be answers and closure.
To the other side
To the other side where a new journey, experience or existence awaits.
To the other side of night
To the other side beyond sorrow, despair and pain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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