Era is a
New Age musicNew Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
project by French composer
Eric LéviEric Lévi , born 1955 in Paris, France, is a musician.In 1975 Eric Lévi founded the hard rock band Shakin' Street with Fabienne Shine, which would release the two albums Vampire Rock and Solid as a Rock. Shakin' Street briefly toured with AC/DC and the Blue Öyster Cult before disbanding in 1981...
. The band has sold more than 12 million albums. They use lyrics (by Guy Protheroe) which although similar to Greek or Latin are in fact deliberately devoid of any exact meaning.
Style
Era mixes
Gregorian chantGregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
s and occasionally
world musicWorld music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
with contemporary
electronicElectronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
arrangements. It is reminiscent of
New Age musicNew Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
projects such as
EnigmaEnigma is an electronic musical project founded in Germany by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. The Romanian-born Cretu conceived the Enigma project while working in Germany, but has based his recording studio A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, Spain, since the early 1990s until May...
,
GregorianGregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
, and
Deep ForestDeep Forest is a musical group consisting of two French musicians, Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet. They compose a style of world music, sometimes called ethnic electronica, mixing ethnic with electronic sounds and dance beats or chillout beats...
. Lyrics are written in
Pseudo-LatinDog Latin, Cod Latin, macaronic Latin, or mock Latin refers to the creation of a phrase or jargon in imitation of Latin, often by directly translating English words into Latin without conjugation or declension...
and English, and some are based on beliefs of the 13th century French Christian sect, the Cathars.
Era's live shows and music videos often feature artists dressed in
medievalThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
or traditional clothes and armour. Usually, actors Pierre Bouisierie and Irene Bustamante perform at Era shows.
"As a rule, I try to avoid copying musical styles which are imposed by epochs and cultures; I am always on the lookout for strong emotions; the sort that accompany an epic film. In fact, I am writing music for a film which has not yet been made!" says Eric Levi.
Language
Most Era songs are in Pseudo-Latin and some in Latin or Arabic.
They also have some songs in English such as "Mother" and "Looking For Something".
Use of Era music
- Eric Levi composed the soundtrack for the French
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
comedy film Les VisiteursLes Visiteurs is a French film directed by Jean-Marie Poiré and released in 1993. In this comedy, a 12th-century knight and his servant travel in time to the end of the 20th century and find themselves adrift in modern society....
(1993) and Les Visiteurs II (1998). The film score would later become part of Era albums.
- "Mother" was used in Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
's sports drama DrivenDriven is a 2001 film directed by Renny Harlin and starring Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote and produced. It centers on a young racing driver's effort to win the ChampCar World Series...
.
- Era is famous among mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fans due to "Enae Volare Mezzo" being the theme song of Fedor EmelianenkoFedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the Pride 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo...
. "Ameno" is used by Fedor's younger brother, Aleksander EmelianenkoAlexander Vladimirovich Emelianenko , more commonly known as Alexander Emelianenko or Aleksander Emelianenko, is a Russian mixed martial artist. He is a three-times Russian national Sambo champion and three-time world Sambo champion in the absolute division...
.
Discography
- Era
Era is the eponymous debut album by Eric Lévi's New Age music project Era, first released in 1996 and re-released in 1998. Some editions include bonus track "After Time".-Use of Era music:* A remix of Ameno was made by DJ Quicksilver in 2000....
(1998)
- Era 2
Era 2 is the second studio album by French New Age music project Era.Videos were shot for "Divano" and "Infanati"; featuring actors Pierre Bouisierie and Irene Bustamante.-Track listing:# "Omen Score" – 4:39# "Divano" – 3:53# "Devore Amante" – 4:14...
(2000)
- The Mass
- Certifications :- Charts :...
(2003)
- The Very Best of Era
The Very Best of Era is a collection from songs in previous albums and remixes by Era.-Track listing:# "Ameno" – 3:49# "Don't Go Away" – 4:24# "The Mass" – 3:42# "Mother" – 4:11# "Misere Mani" – 4:06# "Avemano Orchestral" – 4:21...
(2005)
- Reborn
Reborn is an album by Eric Lévi's New Age project Era, released in 2008 .Videos were shot for "Reborn" and "Prayers"; featuring actors Pierre Bouisierie and Irene Bustamante.-Track listing:# "Reborn" – 5:32# "Prayers" – 4:20...
(2008)
- Classics
Classics is an album by Eric Lévi's New Age project Era, released in 2009 .- Track listing :# "Caccini + Redemption + Ave Maria" – 4:53# "Vivaldi + Sunset Drive + Spring / Four Seasons" – 3:40...
(2009)
- The Essential
The Essential is an album by Eric Lévi's New Age project Era, released in 2010 .-Track listing:# "Ameno-2010 remix" – 4:01# "Reborn" – 5:27# "Hymne" – 4:52# "Prayers" – 4:17# "The Mass" – 3:37# "Devore Amante" – 4:12...
(2010)
- Classics Vol 02
Classics 2 is an album by Eric Lévi's New Age project Era, released in 2010 .-Track listing:# "Ave Paternum Deo" – 4:03# "Madeus" – 4:13# "Abbey Road Blues" – 4:36# "A Brand New Day" – 4:33# "Voxifera" – 3:48# "Prelude" – 3:25...
(2010)
External links