On Sunshine, his first album for Krankit Records, Smith comes on fun, funky and strong. The record was co-produced by Smith and label head and veteran hit maker James Stroud, with Bobby Terry lending additional production assistance on singles and long-plays. Featuring all Smith original compositions save one, Sunshine glows with a bright, fiery intensity worthy of its name.
"I'm just being me," beams the singer-songwriter, who approaches life with the same hold-nothing-back passion that fills his music. "I have never tried to sound like anyone else. I have always wanted to be me, musically. I'm doing the kind of music I love in the only way I know how."
ANTHONY SMITH
Anthony Smith charges through country music like a bull in a china shop—shaking and rattling the music with bold bravura. Tall and broad-shouldered, the long-haired country boy from East Tennessee breaks rules and ignores the usual polite Nashville conventions.
On Sunshine, his first album for Krankit Records, Smith comes on fun, funky and strong. The record was co-produced by Smith and label head and veteran hit maker James Stroud, with Bobby Terry lending additional production assistance on singles and long-plays. Featuring all Smith original compositions save one, Sunshine glows with a bright, fiery intensity worthy of its name.
"I'm just being me," beams the singer-songwriter, who approaches life with the same hold-nothing-back passion that fills his music. "I have never tried to sound like anyone else. I have always wanted to be me, musically. I'm doing the kind of music I love in the only way I know how."
The distinctive music Smith makes injects a rock 'n' roll swagger and funky, fresh rhythms into a style of music that is undeniably contemporary—and undeniably country. "I like getting a reaction," he says. "My music isn't the kind you sit and passively listen to. It's going to make you move, and it's going to make you react and feel something. I want an emotional response—whether it's good or bad or romantic."
Smith knows about creating hit songs, as he's had a long string of them as a songwriter—and each of them draws the kind of unfiltered response from listeners as Smith's new recordings. His songs have been recorded by a virtual "Who's Who" list of Nashville's superstars, including; George Strait, Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Trisha Yearwood, Van Zant, Lori Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Josh Gracin, Trick Pony, Kenny Rogers, Shooter Jennings, and others. Some of his hits include: George Strait's huge hit, "Run" and crowd favorite, "Cowboys Like Us," Trace Adkins' two out-of-the-gate smashes, "Chrome" and "I'm Tryin'," Tim McGraw's "Kill Myself" and recent release "Kristofferson," Rascal Flatts' "My Worst Fear" and Montgomery Gentry's recent top five hit "Whattaya Think About That?"
ANTHONY SMITH
Anthony Smith charges through country music like a bull in a china shop—shaking and rattling the music with bold bravura. Tall and broad-shouldered, the long-haired country boy from East Tennessee breaks rules and ignores the usual polite Nashville conventions.
On Sunshine, his first album for Krankit Records, Smith comes on fun, funky and strong. The record was co-produced by Smith and label head and veteran hit maker James Stroud, with Bobby Terry lending additional production assistance on singles and long-plays. Featuring all Smith original compositions save one, Sunshine glows with a bright, fiery intensity worthy of its name.
"I'm just being me," beams the singer-songwriter, who approaches life with the same hold-nothing-back passion that fills his music. "I have never tried to sound like anyone else. I have always wanted to be me, musically. I'm doing the kind of music I love in the only way I know how."
The distinctive music Smith makes injects a rock 'n' roll swagger and funky, fresh rhythms into a style of music that is undeniably contemporary—and undeniably country. "I like getting a reaction," he says. "My music isn't the kind you sit and passively listen to. It's going to make you move, and it's going to make you react and feel something. I want an emotional response—whether it's good or bad or romantic."
Smith knows about creating hit songs, as he's had a long string of them as a songwriter—and each of them draws the kind of unfiltered response from listeners as Smith's new recordings. His songs have been recorded by a virtual "Who's Who" list of Nashville's superstars, including; George Strait, Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Trisha Yearwood, Van Zant, Lori Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Josh Gracin, Trick Pony, Kenny Rogers, Shooter Jennings, and others. Some of his hits include: George Strait's huge hit, "Run" and crowd favorite, "Cowboys Like Us," Trace Adkins' two out-of-the-gate smashes, "Chrome" and "I'm Tryin'," Tim McGraw's "Kill Myself" and recent release "Kristofferson," Rascal Flatts' "My Worst Fear" and Montgomery Gentry's recent top five hit "Whattaya Think About That?"
Although an accomplished writer, Smith has always been a performer first. "I've never written a song for another artist to cut," he says. "I always wrote songs for myself, for me to do on stage and to record. Publishers and other artists heard them and wanted to cut them or get them cut, and that's tremendously flattering to me. But my intent was always to be on stage singing what I write."
Sunshine blazes with the same catchy power and creativity that drew other artists to make hits out of Smith's work. The album not only shows off the guitar-driven, soulful strut of Smith's muscular country rock, but also the unique forcefulness of his voice and the sweeping range of his musical and production capabilities.
"Bringin' Back the Sunshine" is a classic summer hit that works equally well on country and rock radio. It is part Alan Jackson, part Manfred Mann's Earth Band as it emerges happiness and enjoying what can be simplicity of life—powered by catchy guitar riffs, naturally. "Dandelion" celebrates a country boy's relation with nature and the opposite sex. Its playful suggestiveness and funky guitar hooks and operatic "nah, nah, nah" melodies make it a unique radio hit. Smith's vocals, sly and sassy and slurring, fill the song with a lusty, good-time energy.
Meanwhile, songs like "Almost Sacred" and "Love Is Love Is Love" offer grown-up views on making one's way through life and finding out what matters most. Both songs allow Smith to show off what an expressive singer and clever lyricist he can be, while allowing Smith to show that even songs on deep topics can still rock with fresh accessibility.
Venus
Anthony Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With neither one willing to travel that far
But I've never bought into psychological stuff
And never claimed to be a bonafied genius
But if men are from Mars and women are from Venus
I'm goin' to Venus
Well, strap me in, ship me out, beam me up Scotty
Stay here if you want to but just between us
If men are from Mars and women are from Venus
I'm goin' to Venus
Women want a man who ain't afraid to commit
And take 'em out to dinner that's candle lit
So I'm givin' in to the battle of the sexes
And callin' up ahead to make reservations
'Cause if men are from Mars and women are from Venus
I'm goin' to Venus
If you come by the house and I'm not in
You can call me long, long, long distance
Got better things to do than sit around and talk
'Cause I'm blastin' off of this big red rock
Well, strap me in, ship me out, beam me up Scotty
Take me to the land of those heavenly bodies
Stay here if you want to but just between us
If men are from Mars and women are from Venus
I'm goin' to Venus
The song "Venus" by Anthony Smith is a humorous take on the age-old battle of the sexes. Smith begins by referencing the common belief that men and women are vastly different and unwilling to compromise. However, he declares that he doesn't buy into "psychological stuff" and isn't a genius. Smith then uses the popular metaphor of men being from Mars and women being from Venus to further emphasize the perceived differences between the genders. But instead of staying on Earth and trying to navigate these differences, Smith boldly proclaims that he's going to Venus.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "strap me in, ship me out, beam me up Scotty" which references the popular phrase from Star Trek. Smith humorously suggests that he needs to be sent to Venus because he's tired of the battle of the sexes on Earth. He imagines Venus as a place where the genders can coexist happily without all the misunderstandings and conflicts that occur on Earth.
The second verse of the song reinforces these ideas by mentioning what women want in a man - commitment and romance. Smith humorously admits to giving in to the "battle of the sexes" by making dinner reservations. He then goes on to say that if anyone is looking for him, they should call him long distance because he's "blastin' off of this big red rock" - a nod to the common perception of Mars as a "red planet" and the idea of leaving Earth for a new world where gender differences won't be an issue.
Overall, Anthony Smith's "Venus" is a light-hearted take on the perceived differences between men and women and the difficulties that arise from those differences. The song uses humor and popular culture references to convey the idea that maybe leaving Earth for a new world - whether it be Venus or somewhere else - is the only way to escape the battle of the sexes.
Line by Line Meaning
They say men and women are worlds apart
It is a widely accepted belief that men and women are completely different species altogether.
With neither one willing to travel that far
Both men and women tend to stay within their respective spheres of existence and are mostly unwilling to venture outside of them.
But I've never bought into psychological stuff
The singer is not convinced by psychological explanations of human behavior and differences between the sexes.
And never claimed to be a bonafied genius
The artist recognizes that they are not an expert in human psychology, sociology, or any related field of study.
But if men are from Mars and women are from Venus
However, if the popular theory that men and women are essentially different species holds true,
I'm goin' to Venus
then the singer states that they would prefer to identify with women and embrace their supposed qualities and characteristics than with men.
Well, strap me in, ship me out, beam me up Scotty
The singer is expressing eagerness to leave Earth and travel to Venus, as if boarding a spaceship and leaving the planet.
Take me to the land of those heavenly bodies
The artist is romanticizing the idea of Venus as a utopia-like environment with perfect, desirable individuals.
Stay here if you want to but just between us
The artist is telling others to stay on Earth if they want, but they are secretly determined to explore Venus and leave Earth behind.
Women want a man who ain't afraid to commit
The artist acknowledges the societal expectation that men should be confident, decisive, and willing to commit to romantic relationships with women.
And take 'em out to dinner that's candle lit
One of the main ways in which men can demonstrate their romantic interest in women is by taking them on fancy dates.
So I'm givin' in to the battle of the sexes
The artist is accepting the notion that men and women are antagonistic and constantly in conflict with each other.
And callin' up ahead to make reservations
The singer is eager to follow the established script of dating and romance, by calling ahead to make romantic dinner reservations.
'Cause if men are from Mars and women are from Venus
The singer restates the central premise of the song that men and women are fundamentally different.
I'm goin' to Venus
The singer reiterates that they would rather be associated with the qualities stereotypically attributed to women than those attributed to men.
If you come by the house and I'm not in
The artist is warning others that they may not be present at their current abode on Earth.
You can call me long, long, long distance
If someone wants to reach out to the artist, they would need to call them from a far-off location, possibly even from outer space.
Got better things to do than sit around and talk
The singer is not interested in idle chatter or small talk; they have more important things to accomplish and explore.
'Cause I'm blastin' off of this big red rock
The singer is metaphorically saying that they are leaving Earth behind and traveling to Venus, which is often associated with the color blue or green rather than red.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BELK, GEDGE, LOCKEY, SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind