*Jan started playing in various high school bands in the 90’s.
*1999: Venus In Flames went solo and got selected by Studio Brussel (belgian national radiostation) for the Debut Rock festival, a showcase for new talent.
*2000: Venus In Flames was the winner of the bronze medal at Humo’s Rock Rally, the biggest national rock contest with over 700 competitors. Critics and press loved it and called it ‘a revelation for fans of Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Neil Young or Nick Drake’.
*2001: Release of the debut EP ‘Cynthia’s Gone’ with high rotation airplay on national radios. Lots of small clubshows and support shows for o.a. Stereophonics, My Morning Jacket, Novastar, Arid, …
*2002: European tour as support act for K’s Choice. 6 amazing weeks of sold-out venues. One of the highlights of the tour was the concert at the famous Olympia in Paris.
*2003: Recording of the first full album ‘Notes Of Tenderness’ at the Jet Studios in Brussels with producer Gert Bettens. Mastering of the album at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. First single ‘Better Man’ stayed in the charts for 3 months. Tons of great reviews in the press, speaking of Radiohead, Beatles and Beach Boys.
*2004: Release in Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxemburg. Lots of touring in clubs and at festivals (o.a. Marktrock, Dranouter, Lokerse Feesten, Gentse Feesten, Pukkelpop etc). Support acts for o.a. Elbow, Counting Crows, Sarah Bettens, Simple Minds.
*2005: First headlining tour in Germany and Switzerland. Solo clubtour in Belgium. Jan got together with David Du Pré (Arid) for the recording and producing of the second album ‘Shadowlands’.
*2006: The mixing of the album took place at the Alamo Sound Services Studio (Brussels), the mastering was done in the Sterling Sound Studios in New York. First single ‘Easy Way Out’ (released on March 6 2006) got tons of airplay on Belgian stations Studio Brussel and Radio 1. The album reached number 28 in the alternative hitlist (Ultratop). Splendid press-reviews of the album came in from all sides. They called the album ‘more mature’ than the debut and compared it to the work of Radiohead, Coldplay and The Verve. It became a very busy year, including lots of summerfestivals and a fall club tour together with Mint.
*2007: In spring Jan did a double-bill club tour with Gert Bettens called ‘Double Solo’. He started writing songs for the next album and finished the year with a sold-out theatre tour with the band ‘Living Roots’, actually a bunch of musicians from all kinds of bands such as Triggerfinger, Kommilfoo, Ambrozijn, K’s Choice, Neeka etc, singing songs of their heroes.
Fearless
Venus In Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the sand stuck in your eye
I am the hangman looking for a trace of love
Your love
I am the beggar waiting for leftovers
I'll leave a big scar on your soul
I am the hammes nailing down your heart of gold
I know what you're thinking
Fearless because God is on your side
Fearless because God is on your side
I am your dream and your worst nightmare
I am the white noise in your head
I am an angel praying for a taste of blood
Your blood
I know what you're thinking
Fearless because God is on your side
Fearless because God is on your side
Do you care for me
Because I care for you
Do you care for me
Because I care for you
I know what you're thinking
Fearless because God is on your side
Fearless because God is on your side
I am yours
The lyrics of Venus In Flames's song "Fearless" present a dual narrative of the singer presenting themselves as both the antagonist and the singer. The first verse presents the singer as a menacing force, comparable to gangrene and sand in the eyes, and seeking to destroy love. The second verse, however, presents the singer as a wounded and vulnerable beggar seeking affection, causing lasting damage to the subject's heart. The repetition of "My gold" suggests that the singer desires to take something held dear from the subject.
The chorus repeats the same lines, "I know what you're thinking, Fearless because God is on your side", suggesting a mocking tone at those who are seemingly impervious to fear. The singer changes their approach in the third verse, claiming to be both a dream and a nightmare to the subject, as if representing their complex desires and fears. The line "I am an angel praying for a taste of blood, Your blood" suggests that the singer longs to hurt the subject they care for in a twisted sense of desire.
The final repetition of the chorus is left with "I am yours", suggesting that the singer is the subject's possession in some form or another. Overall, the lyrics of "Fearless" present a duality of personalities and emotions with a twisted tone that may make for an unsettling interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the gangrene hiding in your trenches
I am the sickness that you are unaware of and is slowly consuming you
I am the sand stuck in your eye
I am the small but persistent irritant that is bothering you
I am the hangman looking for a trace of love
I am the merciless destroyer of love and happiness
Your love
I am looking for a way to destroy it
I am the beggar waiting for leftovers
I am the one who is always there, even when not wanted, waiting for something to be given
I'll leave a big scar on your soul
I will cause immense pain and damage to you
I am the hammer nailing down your heart of gold
I am the one who will destroy the pure and precious things you hold dear
My gold
I will keep that which I destroy for myself
I know what you're thinking
I am aware of your thoughts and emotions
Fearless because God is on your side
You trust that God will protect you from harm, making you fearless
I am your dream and your worst nightmare
I am both the desired and dreaded outcome of your thoughts
I am the white noise in your head
I am the constant, distracting sound in your mind
I am an angel praying for a taste of blood
I am the seemingly innocent force that desires destruction and pain
Your blood
I desire to harm, and ultimately destroy, you
Do you care for me
Do you have compassion for me despite my malevolent intentions
Because I care for you
My twisted love and devotion to you does not negate the harm I intend to cause
I am yours
I possess you and can manipulate you to my will
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
lihmi Oihytov
Innen in kamp zo nicht in zuchten ten lichte lever innen