Kina started playing shows at the age of four in front of her stuffed animals. Read Full BioKina Kasuya Grannis (born August 4, 1985, of Japanese, English, Irish, French, and German descent) is a Japanese-American guitarist and singer-songwriter from Orange County, CA. She started performing in 2001 after getting over her shyness. Kina independently released her first full-length album, Stairwells, on February 23, 2010. Her music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope.
Kina started playing shows at the age of four in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people, though it wasn’t the quickest transition for the admittedly shy songstress. While attending college at USC, Kina often retreated to the secluded stairwells around campus where she could write and sing without being heard. Protected by their quiet confines, she found a safe haven and a creative outlet for her music. Armed with a guitar and a cup of tea, Kina wrote in every stairwell she came across. And it was within these stairwells that she developed her confidence as a songwriter and her poise as a performer.
In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video for “Message From Your Heart” aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers (or 194 million eyeballs, depending on how you’re keeping track) and she walked away with a record deal. Since then, Kina has regularly posted her songs on YouTube, amassing many millions of views, and toured throughout North America. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as ABC’s General Hospital and MTV’s College Life.
Chandelier
Kina Grannis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Can't feel anything, when will I learn?
I push it down, I push it down
I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ringin' my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
Throw 'em back 'til I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
It doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, I won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
Throw 'em back 'til I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, the chandelier
The song "Chandelier" by Kina Grannis portrays the life of a party girl who uses alcohol to numb her emotions and escape from reality. The first verse talks about how party girls don't get hurt, mainly because they can't feel anything. Despite this, the protagonist still feels the love that comes with partying. The chorus emphasizes her desire to live life to the fullest and swing from the chandelier, representing the extravagant lifestyle she leads. However, she also admits to holding on for dear life, fearing the harsh reality that will come once the party is over. The second verse highlights her shame and regret the morning after but quickly returns to drinking to forget about her problems.
The repetition of the phrase "1, 2, 3, drink" represents the protagonist's addiction to alcohol, and how she uses it as a crutch. The chandelier symbolizes her desire for excess and extravagance, while the line "won't look down, won't open my eyes" suggests her reluctance to see her life as it really is. The underlying message of the song is how easy it is to get lost in the overindulgent and destructive lifestyle of partying.
Line by Line Meaning
Party girls don't get hurt
Women who party hard do not experience emotional pain
Can't feel anything, when will I learn?
I am unable to feel any emotional attachment and I wonder when I will ever learn
I push it down, I push it down
I repress my emotions and avoid dealing with them
I'm the one "for a good time call"
I am seen as someone who is only good for a good time and not for anything serious
Phone's blowin' up, ringin' my doorbell
My phone and doorbell keep ringing with invitations to party
I feel the love, feel the love
I feel the temporary love and excitement of partying
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
I count my drinks as I consume them
Throw 'em back 'til I lose count
I keep drinking until I am unable to keep track of how much I have had
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, the chandelier
I will use partying to escape from my emotions and swing from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
I will party as if there is no tomorrow
It doesn't exist
In reality, tomorrow does exist, however, I am ignoring this fact
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I will let loose and enjoy myself, even while my tears of sadness dry
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
I am holding on to this temporary escape from my emotions and refuse to acknowledge the reality of my situation
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
I will continue to party until morning because I am holding on to this temporary escape, just for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, I won't open my eyes
I plea for help because I am holding onto my temporary escape from my emotions, refusing to look down and open my eyes to the reality of my situation
On for tonight, on for tonight
This temporary escape is only for tonight and will not last forever
Sun is up, I'm a mess
The morning has come and gone, and I am a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
I must leave now and run from this reality
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
The realization of my reality and the shame that comes with it sets in
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, drink
I count my drinks once again
Throw 'em back 'til I lose count
I start drinking again until I am unable to keep track of how much I have had
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, the chandelier
I will go back to using partying as a temporary escape from reality and swing from the chandelier
Contributed by Sydney O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Melanie
Kina, get ready for a lot of hate from others....
People don't seem to understand the meaning of COVER. When you cover you make it your own. I applaud you for doing this, because it would be boring to see everyone hit the same notes and do it the same way. All your covers are amazing, and I appreciate you for going outside of the box. Many people don't realize that you can be creative with covers, and re-arrange the pitch, and change the words, and make it your own. You don't have to do it exactly the same as the song.
Many people also don't understand how much planning and learning it takes to do a song like this for the public eye. And yet, no one seems to care. They are so quick to judge and that's not fair to you, and all the hard work you put in it. Coming from a cover person my self, I know how it is.
So, keep your head up high, and this cover was amazing, and just ignore the haters, cause they clearly don't know what real music is. I loved your harmonies, and I love your voice. The emotion in your voice was clear, and I loved the effects you added ^_^ You are amazing, and I adore your music so so much! Keep doing what your doing! Many hugs from Canada :D
~Melanie
denim v
I absolutely love this. Many people are talking about the lack of emotion with this cover compared to the original. It's more disenchantment to me. Sia sings this song in the midst of chaos, with all the armor of being that good time girl. This is the girl the next morning. This is the aftermath when you're ashamed of the night before but knowing you'll do it again. It's simply stunning!!
Hrishi Rao
I'm so glad I read this comment. Thank you. you're absolutely right.
Shuaib Mahsud
Nice
deanomitee
I loved the rendition. You really captured the beauty of the song in its simplicity yet fragile state. Bravo.
Daniella
The original is powerful through the strength and intensity of the vocals. Kina's cover is just as powerful in its nuanced harmonies and the delicate nature of her performance. A song doesn't have to be loud and have a beat drop to make you feel something.
paintedteeth
all of the chandelier covers i've heard have different moods, and yours has, by far, my favorite. most artists out there forget to sing the song according to the lyrics, which are actually pretty sad, and they ruin the song by being too dramatic or too upbeat or whatever. but you are so different. your harmonies and your gentle voice suited the song up to each syllable, so just know how much people like me appreciate your cover and how much i admire you. (: love all of your work
Kaalyn
Soooo confused by all the semi-negative commentary. I have been GRAVELY disappointed by all but one cover of this song so far. The chorus kills me EVERY time because everyone is trying something they can't do; or edits it because they know they can't, and picks a couple notes different and it sounds wretched. I LOVE this. I love the consistency throughout. I like the different take on it. I can't imagine singing every night on tour and then trying to do the hardest range song ever -- but even if she wasn't on tour, this is perfectly Kina. It reminds me of her Am I Wrong cover. The slowness was lovely...made you listen. I love how soothing this is. Others saying this is lazy don't know much about just how much time composing something THAT drastically different is. It's like writing a new song with only the slightest template to work from. I would rather someone do it masterfully like this and do it WELL, than try to do a crazy vocal that they can't achieve and hurt everyone's ears in the process. A good musician and vocalist knows their limits and sings/plays accordingly. While not on tour, Kina's soprano voice likely could've pulled off a Sia cover no problem. But I'm glad she conserved her voice AND gave us something different. I was SO excited when this hit my box and I am JUST as in love with this as the other cover that I enjoyed. They're so different I can't compare them -- but I'm thinking I may even prefer this. The harmonies throughout were mesmerizing and smooth and buttery and gah.... I just love it so much. I don't understand so much of the negative commentary; but I know every opinion is valid. I just don't find myself in agreement at all. I LOVE this, Kina. It's beautiful and feels honest. :)
George williams
@a. asrx I can't hit those notes, so I don't try
Derek G
I certainly think one should appreciate the kind of talent Kina has.
asrx _
well, critics are like eunuchs: Although they know how to do it in principle, but cannot do it itself...