In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again?
For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind
Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you
Grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me
To glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind
Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear
It's me they hear
Your/my spirit and your/my voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your/my mind
He's there
The Phantom of the Opera
Beware
The Phantom of the Opera
In all your fantasies
You always knew
That man and mystery
Were both in you
And in this labyrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your/my mind
Sing, my angel of music
He's there, the Phantom of the Opera
In dreams he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again?
For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind
Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you
Grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me
To glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind
Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear
It's me they hear
Your/my spirit and your/my voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your/my mind
He's there
The Phantom of the Opera
Beware
The Phantom of the Opera
In all your fantasies
You always knew
That man and mystery
Were both in you
And in this labyrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your/my mind
Sing, my angel of music
He's there, the Phantom of the Opera
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I'm surprised that you all find his voice so unsatisfactory. I rather enjoyed his take on this masterpiece of a song. He had a deeper, creepier sound that contrasted quite well with Tarja's beautiful, higher voice. I think Tim Rice and A.L. Webber would be quite pleased with this cover. But to each his own.
Erikskitty - you're TOTALLY right (even though I'm not a teenager but 26) and I feel the same way. The directors of that movie deserve to be SHOT for doing such injustice to such a beautiful story. However, I saw the actual broadway and whispered "This is for you, Erik" through all the applause at the end :) As for the song - I like Tarja's voice better than Sarah Brightman - (for all you people that seem to think that movie is the basis of this song - you all need to READ the original "Phantom" by Gaston Leroux!!!!) But nobody NOBODY can top Michael Crawford as the Phantom.
The original female singer for this song was Sarah Brightman.If I remember correctly,the opera (the phantom of the opera,adapted from the novel by Gaston Leroux)was written for her by her then husband,Andrew Llyoyd Webber.So I guess in a way she can be the only suitable singer for the songs in the opera.But nightwish still did a good adaptation of it into the metal genre.
And,no,the movie was a horrible adaptation,especially for the phantom's character.the character was supposed to make you be sympathetic for him but instead the movie made him sounds creepy and nothing else.Very shallow in my opinion.
Oh, and rhenna - finally, someone who has read the book! I believe the story can't really be understood without it, because it interprets the emotions behind the Phantom so deeply. And if anybody thinks the movie was the original interpretation, they're complete idiots. Seriously.
im sorry but i am very dissapointed with the male vocals in this song. phantom is my favorite brodway play, i am absolutly enamored with its beauty, and this song does not do it justice. i think they could have done a much better job. just my opinion.
Yeah, I agree, the dude sounds weird (which I guess he's supposed to, being the phantom of the opera and all) but just in the wrong way, he sounds more like how I would imagine quasimodo to sound.
I love the song, I have the soundtrack for the Phantom of the opera.
I believe that Tarja's vocals are purer, and more suited to the song than the origanal singer (don't know her name), but no one can compare to micheal crawford, he was made for that song, also, he sings it an octave higher than marco has.
I love Tarja's vocals. Her soprano voice got me singing again. (I had been very unwell) Micheal Crawford is one of my musical inspiration, I don't think any one can compare with his voice.
yeah same the guys voice ruined the song but i like the song
I'm not a big fan of Marco Hietala's voice, but on Century Child, this is, in my opinion, his second best vocal performance (the best being 'Slaying the Dreamer').