VNV Nation's inspiration was originally the clash of the modern and classical European cultures, where mythology and technology live in an uneasy fusion, but this has since broadened to encompass a world view. The music ranges from electronic dance music to ballads and classically inspired music. Inspirations are taken from a wide range of styles including contemporary underground club culture, industrial, trance and classical music. The lyrics draw on philosophy, religion, literature, art, politics and different forms of symbolism, although VNV Nation does not advocate any ideology. It is a metaphor for expression. The letters VNV stand for "Victory Not Vengeance". The meaning behind this stylised motto is that one should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret.
VNV Nation's first releases were in 1990 with two self produced vinyl releases, "Body Pulse" and "Strength of Youth" (which are now long deleted with Ronan Harris himself not having a copy). After working on some VNV Nation tracks and supporting Nitzer Ebb on tour whilst living in Toronto, Canada, Ronan returned to London and released some tracks on sampler CDs. This caught the interest of German label Discordia and in July 1995, "Advance and Follow" was released. At around about the same time, Mark Jackson joined the band.
In January 1998, VNV Nation signed with the German label, Off Beat Records, releasing their second album "Praise the Fallen" in June 1998 and the EP "Solitary EP" in September 1998. With VNV Nation increasing in popularity, they began their first headline tour in Germany in September 1998.
In 1999, the Off Beat label collapsed, leading to VNV Nation (along with other artists such as Covenant, Suicide Commando and Velvet Acid Christ) collaborating with Stefan Herwig (a former A&R manager with Off Beat) to create Dependent Records. In late 1999, the album "Empires" was released, staying at number 1 in the German Alternative Chart (DAC) for seven weeks, and winning the award for DAC Album of the Year.
From "Empires" two singles were released "Darkangel", which tops the DAC for 5 weeks in mid 1999 and "Standing", which stays at no.1 in the DAC for 8 weeks in early 2000 (the maximum a single can remain in the DAC) winning a German Alternative Music Award for most successful single of 2000 and sharing the place for most successful single in the DAC's history with the Chemical Brothers. A limited edition of the "Standing" single was also released entitled "Standing / Burning Empires" which contained alternate versions and remixes by VNV Nation of tracks from "Empires". This remains one of the most sought after VNV rarities, fetching large sums on auction sites, although it has recently been released on iTunes to allow casual listeners to purchase it.
In March 2001, "Advance and Follow v2" was released as a limited edition, which was a remastered and partially re-recorded version of the original 1995 album "Advance and Follow". The band were never particularly happy with the first album due to it being recorded in less than a week, so the release was seen by the band as a way to put that right.
In October 2001, VNV Nation embarked on their "Futureperfect" tour of Europe and North America, promoting the album "Futureperfect" which was released in January 2002. It reached number 25 in the full German Album Charts, with the single "Beloved" reaching number 60 in the full German Singles Chart. Following the release of "Beloved", VNV Nation part ways with Dependant and create their own label "Anachron Records".
In June 2003, the Honour 2003 EP is released, promoting the "Pastperfect" live DVD, which following many delays and problems was finally released in May 2004. Following this the rest of 2004 and beginning of 2005 was spent producing the album "Matter and Form", which was released in April 2005. Preceeding the album release, one of the tracks "Chrome" was sold in March 2005 as a download on the VNV Nation website, as well as iTunes.
In April 2007, the album "Judgement" was released, and an extensive world tour in support of the album followed. In January 2009, VNV Nation published their plans for 2009 on their website, indicating that the long delayed "Reformation" EP would be available, but now as a full "CD Pack". Also due for release in 2009 is the new album entitled "Of Faith, Power and Glory".
In November 2017 Mark Jackson left the band to "pursue other paths in life".
To read more about Ronan Harris and his motivations behind the band and 2009's "Of Faith, Power and Glory," please visit http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/interview-ronan-harris-of-vnv
Saviour
VNV Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I'll find you staring at the sky
Pointlessly reaching for some light
You hope to guide your sorry way
Your body bleeding
Your body burned
Your body scarred
A God of love
A God of care
A God of hope
A God of words
A God as lost as you and blind
To fill your hollow soul again
You seek a God to stand above you
Wrapping healing arms around you
You'll find another God of pain
A God of suffering and tears
Give yourself unto your God
Sacrifice yourself again
Burn your thoughts erase your will
To Gods of suffering and tears
Tie hallowed bonds around your hands
Kneel before this seat of shame
To Gods as lost
Gods as blind
Gods of suffering and pain
The lyrics to VNV Nation's "Saviour" are a reflection on the desperation and vulnerability that can arise in times of great pain and suffering. The singer speaks to someone who is deeply wounded, physically and emotionally, observing their hopeless attempt to find guidance in the stars above. The song goes on to describe the person's search for a higher power, a God who can fill the hollow void within them and heal their wounds. However, the singer warns that in desperation, it is possible to fall prey to Gods of suffering and pain, to sacrifice oneself again and again to a cycle of suffering.
The chorus of the song seems to speak directly to this person who is suffering, encouraging them to give themselves over to their chosen God, to tie themselves to a seat of shame and erase their thoughts and will. It's a heartbreaking proposition, but it speaks to the desperation that can result from prolonged suffering. The final lines of the song seem to offer a warning about the dangers of this kind of self-sacrifice, suggesting that we must be careful not to fall into patterns of pain and torment, even in our search for solace.
Overall, "Saviour" is a poignant exploration of the human need for healing and the dangers of seeking it in the wrong places.
Line by Line Meaning
As the stars appear
As night falls,
I know I'll find you staring at the sky
I know I'll find you looking up at the stars,
Pointlessly reaching for some light
Reaching for something you can't have,
You hope to guide your sorry way
You hope to find direction in life,
Your body bleeding
Your body has wounds,
Your body burned
Your body has been damaged by fire,
Your body scarred
Your body bears scars from past injuries,
Around the cinder of your heart
Around the remains of your heart,
A God of love
A deity who represents love and compassion,
A God of care
A deity who represents care and concern,
A God of hope
A deity who represents hope and optimism,
A God of words
A deity who uses language to communicate with humans,
A God as lost as you and blind
A deity who is also lost and unable to see the way forward,
To fill your hollow soul again
To give you hope and purpose once more,
You seek a God to stand above you
You look for a deity to worship and obey,
Wrapping healing arms around you
Providing comfort and support,
You'll find another God of pain
You will encounter another deity who represents suffering and hardship,
A God of suffering and tears
A deity associated with pain, grief, and sorrow,
Give yourself unto your God
Submit yourself to your deity,
Sacrifice yourself again
Give up something important for the sake of your religion,
Burn your thoughts erase your will
Eliminate your own desires and ideas,
To Gods of suffering and tears
To the deities who represent pain and sorrow,
Tie hallowed bonds around your hands
Make a sacred commitment to your religion,
Kneel before this seat of shame
Accept your guilt or unworthiness,
To Gods as lost
To deities who are also unable to find their way,
Gods as blind
Deities who cannot see clearly,
Gods of suffering and pain
Deities who oversee pain, hardship, and trauma
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BEN LANGMAID, ELLY JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@randomlollis
A God of love
A God of care
A God of hope
A God of words
A God as lost as you and blind
To fill your hollow soul again
You seek a God who stands above you
Wrapping healing arms around you
You'll find another God of pain
A God of suffering and tears...
@idealfather3547
I have listened to this song for 20 years now.
@ChristopherTakakura
been listening to this song for 15 years now. Still great.
@christophecapello2333
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fm21VGfNo32o%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2YvS7NXw5lMnIau4H6IAC3e1xbL8bwvUEfpWzJywJeUDON3XA9o8nNo_Y&h=AT0szWpF8epeXYIclOzapR1ZgHazX3khdQ36qEXR4PM4Abb4YID5-7Ac7X19P60Wu0W_rmi_nOCThvQfi_Pft9GPWP0d7QR-PBO-C_e7Js_gyLIMqIMmShgzti5SUjxcd6KCbNK6Vr5XCd3iozhl&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT3iYl9-WIZMyvnR6SQlkRfaJx-1eIZewBaGCwmhpNz-EFSy7gk5JOGAWOIGe5tuSxExpHKgxvQqzGnzqfKmXidoPK8KLqXFuvDiks_QNlbu8zUIFnD_qcYUpINyWu4MbA6Sm9dox-wI-CODd3FZMGy0sA
@Kuato
That’s gotta be a world record. Have you at least taken pee breaks?
@koonjar
Right 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
@SrNutritivo
24 now
@billielurk8557
Same here❤
@MrBrightWave
Anything is possible. This song and VNV Nation as a whole gives you hope that you can have a better present and an even more inspiring tomorrow.
Victory Not Vengeance
@lordurban4919
you say it :D
@dystopian2153
Thank you