May 23, 2008
Clay Aiken’s “Something About Us”
One of the pleasures of listening to Clay’s On My Way Here is that it features a variety of sounds, from songs which are more pop to songs that have rock, r&b, or jazz influences, like “Something About Us” (Track 4).
I have to be honest. I first heard “Something About Us” when snippets from the CDs were put up on an online retailer’s site, and was a wee bit disappointed. I thought it sounded old. But once I got hold of the CD, and heard the song in its entirety, it became one of my favourite songs on there. The jazzy arrangement complements the deeply romantic lyrics perfectly. And the whole effect is rather cool (not dated at all). Plus LOVE Clay’s vocal work on this song.
My favourite line? “It’s old and new / It’s a classic tale of two / in a perfectly perfect love” . It captures perfectly what I like about this song, that it feels so timeless.
Clay mentioned that he found this track himself while wandering around songwriters’ myspace pages. And that he thinks it’s a beautiful song (Which it is). I find it interesting that this song has so much in common with “The Way” from Clay’s Measure of a Man
Interesting American Idol connection:
Regie Hamm, one of the co-writers of “Something About Us“, just won the American Idol Songwriter contest with the song “Time of My Life” (and will have his song released by David Cook).
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Lyrics: Something About Us
Stop the music
Play the song
And we’ll dance together
all night long
The spotlight glows
Somehow it knows
That there’s something about us
Something about us
People smile when they walk by
There’s too much magic to deny
A fool can see
We’re meant to be
There’s something about us
Something about us
The words on every poet’s tongue
Every love song ever sung’s
about us
It’s about us
From Romeo and Juliet
to plays they haven’t written yet
It’s old and new
It’s a classic tale of two
in a perfectly perfect love
You can see it in our way
in how we spend our nights
and days
A crazy laugh
A photograph
There’s just something about us
Something about us
The words on every poet’s tongue
Every love song ever sung’s
about us
It’s about us
From Romeo and Juliet,
to plays they haven’t written yet
It’s old and new
It’s a classic tale of two
In a perfectly perfect love
Stop the music
Play the song
And we’ll dance together
all night long
We’ll reminisce of moments
like this
‘Cause there’s something about us
Yes there’s something about us
Oh there something about us
——-
Lyrics: The Way (from Measure of a Man CD)
There’s something ’bout the way you look tonight
There’s something ’bout the way that
I can’t take my eyes off you
There’s something ’bout the way your lips invite
Maybe it’s the way that
I get nervous when you’re around
And I want you to be mine
And if you need a reason why…
CHORUS
It’s in the way that you move me
And the way that you tease me
The way that I want you tonight
It’s in the way that you hold me
And the way that you know me
And when I can’t find the right words to say
You feel it in the way
Oh, oh
You feel it in the way
There’s something ’bout how you stay on my mind
There’s something ’bout the way that
I whisper your name when I’m asleep, oh girl
Maybe it’s the look you get in your eyes
Oh, baby, it’s the way that
It makes me feel to see you smile
And the reasons, they may change
But what I’m feeling stays the same
CHORUS
Oh, oh
You feel it in the way
I can’t put my fingers on
Just what it is
That makes me love you
You know, baby
So don’t ask me to describe
I get all choked up inside
Just thinking ’bout the way
CHORUS
It’s in the way that you move me
And the way that you tease me
The way
You feel it in the way
There’s something ’bout the way you look tonight
There’s nothing more to say than
I feel it in the way
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RELATED LINKS
My thoughts on a couple of other songs on Clay’s On My Way Here CD:
Clay Aiken’s “Sacrificial Love”
Clay Aiken’s “Weight of the World”
May 22, 2008
Clay Aiken’s “Weight of the World”
From reading the boards, I notice there hasn’t been as many kudos for “Weight of the World” (Track 8 on Clay’s new CD, On My Way Here.)
Could it be that the title is about as sexy as a dull old slab of brick?
[Note: I use ‘sexy’ here in the way that advertising/marketing people do, to talk about captions that have such appeal that you just want to out and grab the product].
Well, it deserves a closer listen, in my opinion.
The song is catchy, and I particularly love the driving drum beat. I also think the set-up line “Has anybody else but me / ever felt this way before” is very clever as well, as it brings in the idea that we often think we’re the only ones experiencing suffering or trouble, when in real life there are many others with the same problems. So we get into the trap of thinking that we must be not as capable or not as smart when we can’t cope.
And I can identify with the lyrics, because it’s been something I’ve had to learn myself. It’s so hard to remember that it’s sometimes better to let go, than to continue taking on burdens that will start crushing you as time goes on.
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Lyrics: Weight of the World
Has anybody else but me
ever felt this way before
Like the world is spinning much too fast
And you’re falling through the floor
Struck by lightning
It’s so frightening
When the morning feels like war
Unbreakable, don’t you wish
you were unbreakable
CHORUS
So when you fall down down down
Don’t get down on you
don’t you know that
Everybody gets down down down
Why you tryin’ to carry the weight
of the world
Some folks say that we’ve
been blessed
And I know deep down
they’re right
But when you’re feelin’ cold,
alone and desperate
And can’t get through the night
It seems the only time
you test your wings
You’re crashin’ through the sky
Unbreakable, don’t you wish
you were unbreakable
CHORUS
Has anybody else but me ever felt this way before
CHORUS
I know it’s hard to see
From where you are right now
I know it’s hard to breathe
Just let the world go round round round
—–
Local Clay-related news:
CAS (CLAY AIKEN SINGAPORE) BASH 2008
FINALLY, just want to mention that Clay fans in Singapore got together last weekend. Really have to commend the organisers – great venue, great food, and lots of effort went into making the party a success. I found a great recap by mezzogal here.
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RELATED LINKS
My thoughts on a couple of other songs on Clay’s On My Way Here CD:
Clay Aiken’s “Sacrificial Love”
Clay Aiken’s “Something About Us”
May 21, 2008
Clay Aiken’s “Sacrificial Love”
Clay has said that his new CD, On My Way Here,
Many of themes are universal, with the songs exploring conflicts and questions we face in our daily lives. How do we deal with fear — fear of rejection, fear of failure, etc? Why must life be so hard?
Some of the songs I like best on the CD (well, this week, anyway; I may have different favourites next week) has the theme of wanting love and wanting to be loved; yet having to open ourselves to being vulnerable when we love, or are in love, like “Where I Draw The Line” (Track 6) , “Lover All Alone” (Track 12) ; and the one I find myself really drawn to, “Sacrificial Love” (Track 10).
I keep going back to the first line of the chorus in “Sacrificial Love” — Are you only / practicing until you find / the real thing — which touches me with its sense of yearning (for love and human connection) and vulnerability (when we reach out to others). I believe we’ve all felt at some time in our lives, whether we’re dealing with lovers or friends.
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LYRICS: Sacrificial Love
Sometimes I feel like
I’m chasing the shadows
in your eyes
Losing my footing and looking
for something
I recognize
You tell me you’re here forever
But act like you’re passing through
Which one’s the real you
Which one’s the real you
CHORUS
Are you only
practicing until you find
the real thing
Taking up space
until you find yourself
that perfect face
Are you looking
over my shoulder
Am I enough or just
your sacrificial love
I know when we started
that I kind of talked you into this
I was good for the moment but now
something’s missing
from your kiss
I see you lying beside me
But I feel you moving on
Which one’s the real you
Which one’s the real you
CHORUS
Do I have to spill my tears
Teach you how to say good-bye
If that’s not what I am to you
Then what am I
what am I
CHORUS
—–
RELATED LINKS
My thoughts on a couple of other songs on Clay’s On My Way Here CD:
Clay Aiken’s “Something About Us”
Clay Aiken’s “Weight of the World”
Crooked Turret 