*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.
Better Man
Venus in Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A highway of melody
Making the pieces fit
Learning to set them free
I'm trying to clear my mind
Tuning what's out of key
I'm the godforsaken kind
So please don't break me
Please don't leave
You still got to make a better man out of me,
make a better man out of me
It's never good enough
There's always more to come
You know it never stops
It's a labyrinth of song
So please don't break me
Please don't leave
You still got to make a better man out of me,
make a better man out off me
So please don't break me
Please don't leave
You still got to make a better man out of me,
make a better man out of me
The lyrics in Venus in Flames' song Better Man appear to be about a person who is on a journey to self-discovery, trying to find peace and clarity within themselves. The metaphorical reference to a "highway of melody" suggests that the person is navigating through life, trying to piece together personal experiences and emotions in order to make sense of them. The line "Learning to set them free" suggests that the person is trying to let go of any emotional baggage they may be carrying with them.
The chorus "Please don't break me, Please don't leave. You still got to make a better man out of me" indicates that the person is vulnerable and is seeking support and guidance from someone else. They acknowledge that they have flaws and are not yet the best version of themselves, but they are hoping that this individual can help them grow and become a better person. The lines "It's never good enough, there's always more to come" and "It's a labyrinth of song" suggest that the journey to self-improvement is a continuous one and there will always be something to learn, discover and overcome.
Overall, the song Better Man by Venus in Flames is a reflective piece of music, encouraging listeners to be patient with themselves and to seek help and support in their journey to becoming a better version of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on a lonely trip
I am currently traveling alone.
A highway of melody
My journey is characterized by music.
Making the pieces fit
I am trying to fit the various aspects of my life together.
Learning to set them free
I am learning to let go of my problems.
I'm trying to clear my mind
I am attempting to eliminate negative thoughts.
Tuning what's out of key
I am trying to improve and correct my mistakes.
I'm the godforsaken kind
I am an outcast, disregarded by others.
Thinking only of me
I am consumed by self-centered thoughts.
So please don't break me
I am vulnerable and need support.
Please don't leave
I need someone to stand by my side.
You still got to make a better man out of me,
I am aware of my flaws and need someone to help me improve.
make a better man out of me
I am asking for help to become a better person.
It's never good enough
I am never satisfied with my achievements.
There's always more to come
There are always new challenges and opportunities.
You know it never stops
Life is a never-ending journey.
It's a labyrinth of song
Life is complex and confusing.
make a better man out of me
I am asking for help to become a better person.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.