Since the late Eighties, when the band first got together, Vanden Plas never lost sight of their ambitious goal: expressive music with emotional depth and a melancholy prog metal corset. Starting off with their debut album Colour Temple (1994), the band continued to gather an ever-increasing following with their versatile, intuitive and always unbridled lust for playing. Two years later, in 1997, Vanden Plas brought out their epic bombast successor The God Thing, which was praised by renowned magazines like Metal Hammer, Rock Hard, Burrn!, Aardschock and Flash. A six week tour with Dream Theater followed, like a sort of knighthood conferred on the highest level. The group went on to bring out the unplugged EP AcCult, on which the fascinating aspects of their compositions came to fruition in all their purity. Each Vanden Plas release shows the great musical diversity of the five band members, who have all repeatedly been involved in theatre projects and rock musicals like 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', 'Little Shop of Horrors' or 'Evita'. In September 1999, Vanden Plas returned to the limelight with Far Off Grace, which had been recorded by Pink Cream 69 bassist/producer Dennis Ward at the House Of Audio. The band presented themselves in an even more compact and determined style, remaining melodic and innovative at the same time.
Spring 2000 saw Vanden Plas recording a concert in front of enthusiastic fans at the Elysée Montmartre in Paris, releasing the cuts on their Spirit of Live album, which also featured a duet by vocalist Andy Kuntz and Don Dokken on the Dokken cover 'Kiss Of Death', and a breathtaking duel between guitarist Stephan Lill and his French colleague Patrick Rondat - over 73 minutes of intense live atmosphere which speak of the band's unbridled enthusiasm for their music. The same enthusiasm comes across on Beyond Daylight, combined with a determination to link past, present and future.
They have since released three more albums (Christ 0, The Seraphic Clockwork and Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld (Path 1)).
The band's line-up is formed by Andy Kuntz (vocals), Stephan Lill (guitars), Andreas Lill (drums), Günter Werno (keyboards) and Torsten Reichert (bass).
Side-projects include:
Abydos, a rock opera by Andy Kuntz and Andreas Lill among others.
Missa Mercuria, a metal opera by Stephan Lill, Günter Werno and DC Cooper (DC Cooper, Silent Force among others), among others, released in 2003.
Consortium Project III - Terra Incognita (The Undiscovered World). Featuring Stephan Lill on guitar, this project of Elegy vocalist Ian Parry was released in 2003.
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Note that "Vanden Plas" are different to "The Vanden Plas" which is a British electronic act.
Georgia on My Mind
Vanden Plas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
Georgia, Georgia, a song of you
Comes sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find
Just and old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find
Just and old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
Just and old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
On my mind...
The lyrics of “Georgia On My Mind” express the songwriter’s deep longing for his home state of Georgia. The repetition of the name Georgia throughout the song is a testament to the songwriter’s strong connection to the place of his birth. He describes how a sweet song, like the memory of his home, constantly plays in his mind, never leaving him in peace. He also refers to the peaceful dreams he has of Georgia, and how despite being surrounded by the attentions of other people, his thoughts always return to his home.
The chorus of the song is particularly evocative and poignant. The repeated line, “Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind” reinforces the idea that memories of home can never truly be escaped. For the songwriter, Georgia remains a source of comfort and longing, no matter how far he may roam.
Line by Line Meaning
Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Georgia is constantly on my mind throughout the day
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
A nostalgic and comforting song reminds me of Georgia
Georgia, Georgia, a song of you
My thoughts and feelings are expressed through a song about Georgia
Comes sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines
I can vividly envision Georgia's beauty and serenity through the clarity of the song
Other arms reach out to me
I am faced with other opportunities and experiences
Other eyes smile tenderly
Others express affection towards me
Still in peaceful dreams I see
Despite these alternatives, Georgia remains a tranquil and desirable place in my mind
The road leads back to you
No matter where I go, I am inevitably drawn back to Georgia
Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find
My mind is restless without the presence of Georgia
Just and old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
The song continues to evoke memories and emotions tied to Georgia
On my mind...
The lingering thoughts and feelings of Georgia remain ever-present
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.