How That NANYANA Song Got Written... SOMETHING ABOUT YOU From # 94 to # 15, "in 5 days!" (of 1100) LIMBO -- #100 of 575 (now in the Top 40!) Debuted on the POP ROCK Chart! Webmaster Ed posted some of our material on MP3.com and SoundClick.com and we've seen some amazing results! Now, mind you, the material is in streaming format, so we aren't making any money from it, but it's nice to see some unbiased recognition. It's a refining time for the band NanyaNa right now. We have many, many ideas for new music, but we are taking this time to try and make our existing catalog of songs as excellent as possible. Currently, we are in the process of adding tons of background vocals to the mix. At the helm are NanyaNa and Elvis, working together to try and come up with parts that are musical, familiar and singable. I've been listening to the "Beatles" a lot lately, especially John Lennon. I'm such a fool sometimes. Some of the classic music of all time, I've bypassed listening to, as I was growing up. For some reason, in my rebellious nature, I didn't want to conform to listening to everything that was popular and widely accepted. So, it's at this point in my musical life that I now get to discover things that others have been raving about for decades. One is the "Beatles", two is "Journey." Who knows, maybe I'll even get into Led Zeppelin at some point (Laughs). Most of you reading this are probably yelling a collective, "DUH!!!" at me! Okay, so I'm slow at certain things, but at least I finally got there. I'm just in awe at John Lennon in particular. His melodies and background vocal parts are just timeless. I thought I'd take this time to give you all a copy of some of my lyrics for the songs, and possibly explain what I was thinking and where I was coming from at those points in my life. Music: Jason Reichert Lyrics: Todd Damian This is a song that Jason wrote the music to and I came up with the lyrics. I wanted a kind of Chili-pepper-esque type of rap/vocal thing. This story follows people around town, almost like a candid camera, scoping and illustrating the lives of many different types of individuals, from different economic and racial backgrounds. The moral is, of course, without God all this is futile and will end up a big mess. Sort of my "Ode to Solomon" from the book of Ecclesiastes. Verse 1:: Fancy car, talking on the cellular phone ( This passage is my take on people, particularly the high powered business type) Just to buy the latest Mercedes A "Mini-Me" statue of chrome ( Nanyana, was sitting there with me, when I came up with this part, inspired by "Mini-Me" from Austin Powers..LOL, I thought it was clever and we got a good laugh out of it. The statue of chrome is the Mercedes symbol or Lexus or whatever-- fill in the blank.) |
To retire fine, when your stocks done split, done split, Not realizing that tomorrow's not promised to you, You boast of this deal, that trip, carrying on your own business, But you don't even know what's going to happen, in the next minute, ( This part is inspired by the book of James, about boasting about tomorrow, when you don't even get to dictate whether or not you're going to be alive.) You're trying to play God, Oh now honey you know that's fiction And just 'case you haven't heard, Pop Culture Liberation, no Salvation ( This is my take on the whole "self-help" revolution. The Anthony Robbins, God is in your finger nail, do whatever you want to do but "YOU BETTER BE POSITIVE ABOUT IT" philosophies. People of the world will never truly change their spirits and characters without first a standard in which to model themselves after and a code of conduct that they have conviction about. You cannot "WILL" things to happen. God is in control of the foreground, but a lot more times he's making things happen in the background, which we don't always see.) Chasin' your tail, round and round, ( Inspired by my talks with Todd "Speech" Thomas. We both have the tendency to think ourselves into a circle.) Everybody's spinning, everybody's spinning, Futile path you're traveling on, Everybody's losing, everybody's losing, You can't catch up, the Sun is setting now, Ms. Party Girl, looking like you should be at a beach in Acapulco, ( We've all seen this girl, scantily clad in a public place) 'Round town sipping Margaritas, should be at your dorm room or at home ( Perhaps a college girl that is more focused on partying than getting her degree.) Doing things that ought not be done, Thinkin' there's no consequence, ( All of our actions have consequences. The problem is, at a younger age, we don't seem to have a grasp of our own mortality. I've been in some pretty precarious situations in my time, and I'm grateful that the outcome was one that left me alive and breathing, here to tell this story.) But I've been where you are sugar-baby, And the truth is, it don't make no sense, ( Bad grammar on purpose people. It was done for effect, and I know that "Ain't", isn't a word. Laughs!) Single Mom's blowin' off some steam, ( This is the girl that may have had her baby out of wedlock when she was 16.) Taking it out on her kid's dreams, ( Sometimes people say; "Stupid people shouldn't breed." I don't want to be too gruff. I'd rather say; Fully functional adults are the only ones that should breed. Of course, then one might have to define what "fully functional means." Oh brother!) Don't know who the Daddy is, Or how she's going to pay the rent, She doesn't realize this will affect them in their future, Waitin' on some "Romeo", it ain't s'pose to be this way, ( Everyone is looking for the fantasy mate. Do they even exist?) |
M O R E Well, I wanted to do this on a regular basis, 'cause many people write lyrics, and it tells a story, but I'm left, a lot of times saying; "What are they saying?" So, in an effort to not be one of those bands, I'll continue to break down our lyrics to show that there is a specific message and a specific story that is being told. I think, upon further evaluation, you'll find some very cool ideas, thoughts and concepts in a lot of our material. NanyaNa's song; "U Loving Me" has some more of the wisdoms of Solomon. Music: Jason Reichert Lyrics: Todd Damian Weekends are never, long enough for me to relax, And quiet times are never sufficient, to give me peace that lasts Days, aren't long enough, but my work hours drag on and on, There's never a time, to finish a thing, there's never any time at all, Why am I here, And why do we exist , Why am I living in fear, Of all the things in my life I can't resist, Most songs written, with canned theme, Love lost, love found, can I stick around, This life born trouble, can I get one more, try Stocked full, locked down Bills are coming! (Heave) Checks are going! (Ho) I've got no money, (Heave) Time's Running Out... "Life is busy! Hello! Life is crazy. It's like you get this time, we call it the weekend, a time to supposedly relax and collect yourself. But you end up spending this time, in an effort to catch up on all the little things you couldn't do in your week. Days don't seem long enough, however it seems like forever until you get off work. Then the existential question, the eternal question for all the non-believers of the earth; "Why am I here, and Why do we exist?" Then skip over to what most songs are about. What are they about? Love. Lost Love. Can we do this? But, the book of Job teaches us that; Job 5:6-8 "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Unfortunately, there is no getting around this. Bills are coming! (Heave, as in Heave-Ho, get it? I hope so.) Checks are going. All my money is ear-marked before I even cash that check... and all the while time is on my back, the perpetual monkey that won't get off. Those of you that can't relate...please see me after class. (Laughs!) " Well thanks for spending time with me and listening to my ramblings. damian@nanyana.com  |