The Grace (song)
Encyclopedia
The Grace is a song written by Canadian
recording artist and producer Daniel Victor
in August 2005 and appears on the Neverending White Lights
' debut album, Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
.
(of Alexisonfire
) as the featured vocalist. In a last minute attempt to lift the sound of the album, Victor came up with "The Grace" during a late night writing session, only a month before the album went into stores. After capturing Dallas Green's vocal parts in Toronto, Ontario, the song was promptly mixed and released in Canada.
Every instrument and part in the song was performed and recorded by Daniel Victor in his home studio in Windsor, Ontario
, Canada (except for the violin parts). The meaning behind The Grace as a song is that "it's named that because it's about someone's thoughts that dying could be a positive thing, a good transition to get away from the world...and the person in the song is trying to figure out where he really belongs in this world with the help of his angels..."[quoted from an e-mail reply written to a fan] Themes of life and death are the main focus of Victor's debut album, and this song is no exception. Its original title was "The Grace of a Happy Death".
in Toronto (for 2 weeks).
) in the Victorian era. It hit #1 on MuchMusic
in April 2006, and on MuchMoreMusic
for two weeks that same month. "The Grace" essentially launched Neverending White Lights into the Canadian spotlight.
The blue-tinged video starts off with glimpses of statues of angels, and a camera clicking as they are filmed. It then leads to a scene of Victor mending the wings of a fallen angel in his home. As he sews the feathers in, a long and painful process, tears roll down the angel's cheeks. Victor wipes them off gently with a feather. Over the next few days as he finishes his work, plays music to her and shows her the film of the statues he'd taken earlier, it is evident he falls in love with her. Each day the angel puts on a white pendant with the figure of a woman on it, and Victor shows her a good time. But at last, Victor's work is done, and the grateful angel, with her new wings, touches his face gingerly before disappearing. She leaves the pendant behind. Heartbroken, Victor commits suicide, and the angel reappears then and stays by his side, grieving as the song ends with one final piano note.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
recording artist and producer Daniel Victor
Daniel Victor
Daniel Victor is a Canadian recording artist and producer who is most famous for his work in the collaboration of Neverending White Lights.-Early life:...
in August 2005 and appears on the Neverending White Lights
Neverending White Lights
Neverending White Lights is a Canadian music collaboration project fronted by Daniel Victor from Windsor, Ontario, and featuring several artists mainly from Canada and the United States. Daniel Victor performs all musical instruments, with most of his songs featuring guest singers...
' debut album, Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies is a 2005 multi-artist collaborative album by Neverending White Lights. Conceived by Daniel Victor, it features lead vocal performances by members of different bands, including several well known Canadian acts, such as Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven,...
.
Background
The song was written with the intent of using Canadian singer/performer Dallas GreenDallas Green (musician)
Dallas Green is a Canadian musician who releases music as City and Colour. He is also known for his work as the former vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire.-Name:...
(of Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
) as the featured vocalist. In a last minute attempt to lift the sound of the album, Victor came up with "The Grace" during a late night writing session, only a month before the album went into stores. After capturing Dallas Green's vocal parts in Toronto, Ontario, the song was promptly mixed and released in Canada.
Every instrument and part in the song was performed and recorded by Daniel Victor in his home studio in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada (except for the violin parts). The meaning behind The Grace as a song is that "it's named that because it's about someone's thoughts that dying could be a positive thing, a good transition to get away from the world...and the person in the song is trying to figure out where he really belongs in this world with the help of his angels..."[quoted from an e-mail reply written to a fan] Themes of life and death are the main focus of Victor's debut album, and this song is no exception. Its original title was "The Grace of a Happy Death".
Chart performance
As the first single from the album, it received extensive radio play across the country, eventually charting #3 on Rock Radio and #1 the Rock Audience Chart. It also reached #1 on many popular radio station countdowns including Edge 102CFNY-FM
CFNY-FM, promoted under the branding 102.1 The Edge, is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 102.1 FM. The station rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s due to its freestyle DJing format and unique choice to play alternative music...
in Toronto (for 2 weeks).
Music video
The music video is a cinematic blue-tinged love story between a man (played by Victor) and a fallen angel (played by musician Emm GrynerEmm Gryner
Emm Gryner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and occasional actress.-Biography:Gryner's childhood was spent in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. Her father was of half Irish heritage and her mother was Filipina....
) in the Victorian era. It hit #1 on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
in April 2006, and on MuchMoreMusic
MuchMoreMusic
MuchMore is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media, based at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario....
for two weeks that same month. "The Grace" essentially launched Neverending White Lights into the Canadian spotlight.
The blue-tinged video starts off with glimpses of statues of angels, and a camera clicking as they are filmed. It then leads to a scene of Victor mending the wings of a fallen angel in his home. As he sews the feathers in, a long and painful process, tears roll down the angel's cheeks. Victor wipes them off gently with a feather. Over the next few days as he finishes his work, plays music to her and shows her the film of the statues he'd taken earlier, it is evident he falls in love with her. Each day the angel puts on a white pendant with the figure of a woman on it, and Victor shows her a good time. But at last, Victor's work is done, and the grateful angel, with her new wings, touches his face gingerly before disappearing. She leaves the pendant behind. Heartbroken, Victor commits suicide, and the angel reappears then and stays by his side, grieving as the song ends with one final piano note.