9/21/10

Great Lyrics: "Firework" - Katy Perry

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FIREWORK
(Album: Teenage Dream)
Music & Lyrics: Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, Katy Perry, Sandy Wilhelm & Ester Dean

[I really enjoy these lyrics because along with the song, it shows that Pop music can have an uplifting message and still be mainstream friendly. The entire album is really one of the year's best when it comes to Pop/Rock, and Katy should be commended for an excellent studio project. Follow her on Twitter @KatyPerry. ]


VERSE:

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting throught the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that tehre's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July


CHORUS:

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own


VERSE:

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July


CHORUS:

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own


BRIDGE:

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through


CHORUS:

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em goin "Oh, oh, oh!"


END:

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

9/19/10

Up All Night w/no foresight

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Today was a day about the things that matter for me: music, family, and love. I went to go see my Uncle, who is recovering from a recent fall in a New Jersey physical rehab center. He has lost the ability to move his legs and will most likely remain in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Keep in mind that he is a Catholic Priest who is one of the country's foremost scholars on Christology and the Liturgy according to the Holy See. He has been an inspiring figure for myself and many of my family, as well as presided over countless weddings, baptisms, confirmations, Communions, and funerals for my family & friends. It's going to be a long road of healing for him, but I was glad to be with him and lift his spirits.

On the way home, I listened to some of my favorite music and held good conversation with my father & sister, not to mention baby-talk and smiley-faces with my little niece. I'm realizing now more than ever that in consonance with my art & its creation, this is what life is really about. These are reasons why I can't submit myself to the will of Corporate Music. Not in the way it would have some of us submit. There's too much love & good songs at stake to make choices based on exponential financial profit. There's too many amazing things to be had from the gifts God has given me to pervert or distort them for a 6-figure check.

Does this mean I'm abandoning the music business? Well, I know the haters would love that; sadly, haters, no, I'm not giving it up - I'm simply doing good business with good music and good people. On my own terms. If I can't do it that way & see success the way I want to see it, then there is nothing left for me in this industry, and I will most certainly move on.

When I returned home this evening, I was hit with several pieces of media pertaining to 1.) the coming changing of the Universal guard (i.e. the shifting of the Ages which is happening in our World), and 2.) how MONEY, in all it's corrosive and deadly power, has driven us so very far away from what's really important in our lives: Love. While so many of us who claim religion or some form of divine worship would whole-heartedly deny that we have made the pursuit of wealth a demi-god (at the very least), the truth is even though it may not be entirely our fault, it is what it is. While brooding over these thoughts, I couldn't help but be smacked in the brain with a line from Drake's song, "Up All Night." The line was thus:

"Niggas with no money act like money isn't everything..."

When re-read and absorbed, Aubrey "Drake" Graham couldn't be more right. When you aren't focusing precious energy on the "Hustle," you can come to realize how insignificant it really is. My father used to always say, "It's just paper;" somewhere down the line I took that to heart, and in more recent years this creed has manifested itself fully in my gut. With continued research on the history of paper money, I now understand how true it really is. I guess at this point I have to point out that while artistically nuts (wink), I'm not crazy. I promise you I'm fully sane & in control of my faculties. But with the Drake song and the other things I watched & read today, I saw how Drake's verse in "Up All Night" plays into my own personal revelations, if only adversely so. Here's the full verse, with numbered bullets:
  1. Kush rolled, glass full, I prefer the better things
  2. Niggas with no money act like money isn't everything
  3. I'm having a good time, they just trying to ruin it
  4. Shout out to the fact that I'm the yougest nigga doing it
  5. Cap on, brim bent, Denzel, everytime
  6. She ain't trying to pop that shit for pimp okay well never mind,
  7. I I I tried to told you, Drizzy still ain't nothing nice
  8. Bracelet saying you should quit, cars saying fuck ya life
  9. Okay now we outta here
  10. Toodles to you bitches
  11. And if you dolled up
  12. I got the voodoo for you bitches
  13. I'm busy getting rich, I don't want trouble
  14. I made enough for two niggas boy stunt double
  15. Famous like a drug that I've taken too much
  16. I never ever trip
  17. Just peace happiness and love
  18. I got money in these jeans, so they fit me kinda snug
  19. Plus the game is in my pocket, nigga this is what I does

The numbers are there to help me break this down in a simple & clean way. And I'm not pointing Drake out, which is why I've used all of us as an example. Follow me on this one:
  1. The better things won't ever be found in weed or alcohol. With weed, some enlightenment, maybe, but that depends on how you toke it.
  2. As I've said, money isn't everything, and my experience has shown me that those folks in the industry who have gross amounts of it have amassed as many problems as dollar bills. The question then stands to reason: is it worth it?
  3. People with great wealth always feel that those on the lower end of the totem pole are trying to grasp at their piece of the proverbial pie: they're right. When one has taken nearly half the pie without asking, spit on the rest, and shit on the serving knife, some folks are going to feel salty. Not me, I'm just saying.
  4. Age does not directly equate with skill, maturity, or experience.
  5. [N/A]
  6. [N/A]
  7. [N/A]
  8. It is implied here that our possessions now speak for us, which means we've put material wealth before many other things. I'm not really sure how I'd feel about that.
  9. [N/A]
  10. [N/A]
  11. [N/A]
  12. [N/A]
  13. There is no way possible that the quest for great wealth, especially if successful, is not going to destroy someone else's life in some fashion, so to say we don't want any trouble holds little weight, since we may have facilitated it by default.
  14. [N/A]
  15. [N/A]
  16. [N/A]
  17. The peace, happiness, and love spoken of here is a fallacy. Peace can't happen in a world of violence that is fueled by greed; true happiness cannot be found in album sales or plaques (it can HELP, but it's not the end-all-be-all); and love is not the byproduct of wealth - in fact, Love in its true essence has nothing to do with money whatsoever.
  18. [N/A]
  19. Have we as humans ever really sat down and asked ourselves what it is we're doing?



Now at the end of this, please understand that I do know that what Drake does is all just entertainment. It's part of the business. That's why I reiterate that this is NOT a diss blog to Drake. Even as I type this, I know some ignoramus will think differently, and even some of my friends will probably ask, "Yo P., why did you go in on Drake like that man?"

My answer? I didn't

This was, as previously stated, a breakdown of the ethical value of the VERSE. I was literally analyzing what was said and putting it into context with my life experiences in the hopes that some of you who read this will understand where I'm coming from. Why I'm so adamant about making sure that was I do isn't tainted by the lust for wealth or that the "Grind" is truly a grind to make good music & be successful with that good music. If Drake or his network ever see this and become personally offended, I'm sorry because that's not the intent. But I doubt that someone will get upset enough to respond. That being said, I really DO hope that you, my faithful pals, will see how important it is that we put LOVE first in life. Whatever that love is, so long as it's genuine, it will carry us though.

So on that note, peace, Pals, and Love is Love.


P.

9/18/10

A Short But Powerful Quote.

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"If someone wants to be a part of your life, no matter what is going on in [theirs], they'll make an effort [to be a part of yours]. ESPECIALLY if you put forth effort to be a part of their life, [even] when it appears they're pushing you away. It's high time we all stop chasing after & begging for people & things that have shown us they really want no part of our lives."

9/9/10

Score one for the pudding

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On my cyber-travels, I've come across alot of free advice as it pertains to the music business. I think all artists should take full advantage of the fact that while many folks in the industry are online simply to promote & talk about themselves, there are a healthy handful of creators and entertainers who are more than happy to relay some nuggets of wisdom to their supporters. Sometimes, though, I wonder about the value of this advice. This curiosity stems from two places: 1.) My understanding that everyone's path to success in the arts will be decidedly different, no matter the formulas that have been set before us, and 2.) My practically uncontrollable habit of taking all advice with several grains of salt. One such nugget in question was posted by an A-List creator, which said this:

"Kiss ass before you can kick ass. Be humble."

Now if we are to really lay that statement out on the operating table, it is short enough that it can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. And while I'm 85% in agreement with its meaning, the remaining 15% is glowing a hot neon red, which is why this new blog presented itself in my brain. A few weeks before this post, I did a video blog talking about my constant struggle with my own pride, a battle which still goes on today and will probably continue up and through my death; the ego is a damn good opponent when he wants to be. In this vlog, I explained how I am striving to be a more humble, appreciative, and respectful artist. Having experienced first-hand the bitter fruits of industry shade and silent blacklisting, as well as been the facilitator of that type of reprehensible behavior, I wanted to make a public apology and try to move on to better social interactions with fellow artists. The one thing I did say, however - and I stand by it still - is that I am NOT an advocate for ass-kissing, a statement upon which I can gladly elaborate.

In previous blogs I have talked about networking being the key factor in a successful business venture. For folks who might not know, that type of socio-commercial interaction requires a huge level of respect for (cue the trumpets here) PROTOCOL. I know I did a blog last year about being professional; it all ties in. I don't care who you think you are musically or otherwise, if you can't display a proper level of respect for your superiors, you can kiss any hope of a promotion or advancement in your field goodbye. Acting as if you have no one to answer to PROFESSIONALLY is 'un idea terrible.'

HOWEVER...you knew that was coming...I also understand that in a business as malleable and ever-fluid as the music industry, it can be difficult to determine who really is your superior. The titles given to people in corporate music often times don't carry the weight that people think they do, and folks are constantly going in or out of the proverbial revolving door. So what is an up-and-comer to do? Like I've said, simply keep a high level of professionalism in all your artistic and business ventures; this way, the consensus across the musical board will be that you know how to handle your shit without dropping the ball or coming out your face.

My guess is that you're asking, "But HOW does this all tie in with the ass-kissing issue you were talking about?" I'll tell you.

I do not advocate ass-kissing (or being a sycophant, as that is the proper term), because in my opinion this type of disposition simply shows that you are desperate for the attention of your artistic elders, or looking to get a leg up without the proper boost, as opposed to being a creative individual simply seeking to increase your network. You are also showing that your good-natured behavior is selective, thereby creating a social disconnect with others who may be interested in what you have to offer artistically or business-wise. Remember, this is a society of talkers. People WILL relay to other people about their experiences with you, if only to compare mental notes. At that point, if influential person A's experience with you was not as favorable as their friend, influential person B, you could in essence have ruined your chances of working with either of them in the future, and unfortunately this type of social report card gets passed around faster than a free music download from Lady Gaga.

Ultimately, love and respect are what the world needs, so why not present a small reflection of that in how you go about creating and promoting your music? Remember, that respect that you give to your peers or superiors should be the same respect you give yourself. If you're in this to win it, you have to treat yourself as the professional personnel you aspire to be. This idea links in with your creativity. It is the experienced opinion of this creator that the only two factions that need proof of your talent or skills are God and yourself. As I've tweeted, YES, the music industry is a show-and-prove game, but that really just pertains to whether or not you can hang business-wise; skills, talent, or chops only factor in once the foot is in the door, and that foot will have a better chance of keeping the door open if you do it with a smile & a handshake. You can certainly bust it open with a Glock, but there are alot of repercussions, sacrifice, and heartache that come with forcibly earning your place in a business such as this. For me, those sacrifices, artistic and otherwise, are not worth making. I love my music too much.

Hope yall marinate on that. Love is love...


P.