Released via her Fairy Snuff imprint, Beccy's first full-length recording 'The Sweetest of Tales from the Bitterest Edge' was brought before the world in the opening months of 2002. A skeletal work of ornate beauty, this piano-based showcase of dark, heartfelt songwriting, was assembled on a shoestring budget that peaked just shy of £300; astonishing in light of its figures of 3,000 sales and rising - principally through the internet and at gigs.
The song 'Monkey' became a regular fixture on the playlists of BBC Radio 2 after Beccy shared session time alongside Elvis Costello (who is, by all accounts, a fan) for the Janice Long Show. It was a performance that quadrupled her national fan-base overnight, and left producers agape, excitedly declaring they'd never had such a response for an unsigned artist in the show's history. All this served to intimate a growing confidence and a rare, dynamic beauty tentatively beginning to bloom.
In 2004 'The Singer Kicks' was unleashed upon a public and press, greedy and impatient to have and hold new material from the rising talent. Inspired by the melodic treasure that nests between the grooves of a well-worn copy of the Beach Boys seminal work 'Pet Sounds', it is a bravely ambitious sophomore offering, incorporating the talents of over forty-guest musicians and lush, scrumptious, cloud scraping orchestral arrangements. Providing fresh stratums to an already richly textured body of work, 'The Singer Kicks' demonstrates Owen's gift for winning over the listener via a heady mix of the vernacular and the literary.
With the melancholic piano and lapping vocals continuing as mainstay, the record embraces a variety of idioms, journeying through intricately articulate swoon pop and jazz arrangements, intensely fraught rock, and stunning, barefoot balladeering. However, it's that distinctive, soaring, twisting, heart-wrapping voice that ensures Owen's music retains both its urgency and warmth, culminating in a recording that has a sophistication and intensity that befits recent comparisons in the press to Kate Bush (BBC online), Carole King (NME) and Beccy's beloved Nina Simone (Music Week), whilst at the same time bringing a devoutly special new voice to proceedings."
This description was taken from www.beccyowen.com Beccy is in the process of making a new album and will perform next at The Sage, Gateshead on 6 October 2007; this is a family concert entitled "Beccy Owen's Extreme Earth".
See also: www.myspace.com/beccyowen
Monkey
Beccy Owen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're hanging out the window.
Breeze swirling through and it's not too late for us.
The weather could change
Hanging onto a speak no evil monkey
She says where is your evidence of life beyond this.
Doubt swirling through and it's not too late for faith.
In a neady way we ache for affection
To be kissed or kiss.
In a knee deep way we wait for impact
To be hit or hit.
At least we move.
Hanging onto a hear no evil monkey
She's whispering softly "be free"
Ease swirling through and it's not too late for us.
The weather could change
The song "Monkey" by Beccy Owen explores themes of doubt, faith, and the pursuit of happiness. The lyrics describe a sense of uncertainty and apprehension about life, but also an unwillingness to give up hope. The imagery of holding onto the three monkeys, see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil, suggests a sense of confusion and feeling lost. In the first verse, hanging out of a window with the breeze swirling through, represents a sense of being on the edge of something new and exciting, yet being apprehensive of what is to come.
The second verse describes holding onto the monkey who speaks no evil, and wondering if there is any evidence of life beyond this existence. This represents questioning one's faith or beliefs and searching for answers. The line "and it's not too late for faith" suggests that it is never too late to believe in something, to have faith and hope for a better future. The verse ends with the line "the weather could change," which could represent that things can change in an instant, for better or worse, and it is important to hold onto hope and faith during difficult times.
The chorus describes a deep-seated longing for connection and the desire to be loved. The lines "In a needy way we ache for affection, to be kissed or kiss," describe the search for intimacy and compassion. The lines "In a knee-deep way we wait for impact, to be hit or hit," suggests that despite the fear and uncertainty, it is better to take action and risk being hurt than to live in perpetual stagnation.
Overall, the song "Monkey" by Beccy Owen is a poignant exploration of human emotions and the desire to find meaning and purpose in life. It encourages us to hold onto hope and faith, to pursue our desires even in the face of fear and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding onto the see no evil monkey
We are holding onto a figurine of a monkey who covers its eyes, as if not seeing something will make it disappear.
We're hanging out the window.
We are taking risks, perhaps being reckless, which is represented by us hanging out of a window.
Breeze swirling through and it's not too late for us.
There is still hope for us, despite the uncertainty and turmoil we are currently experiencing. We are in the midst of a transitional phase, as indicated by the swirling breeze.
Hanging onto a speak no evil monkey
We are now holding onto a figurine of a monkey who covers its mouth, as if to prevent itself from saying something that could be harmful.
She says where is your evidence of life beyond this.
There is a sense of doubt and skepticism, which is conveyed by questioning whether there is anything more to life.
Doubt swirling through and it's not too late for faith.
Despite the uncertainty and doubt, there is still a chance to have faith and belief in something greater.
The weather could change.
There is a sense of uncertainty, as represented by the constantly changing weather.
In a neady way we ache for affection
We all yearn for love and connection with others.
To be kissed or kiss.
This physical affection can take many forms, such as kissing or being kissed.
In a knee deep way we wait for impact
We are waiting for something impactful to happen in our lives.
To be hit or hit.
This impact could be positive or negative, but regardless, it will change us in some way.
At least we move.
We may not be sure where we are going or what we are doing, but at least we are taking action and not staying stagnant.
Hanging onto a hear no evil monkey
Lastly, we are holding onto a figurine of a monkey who covers its ears, as if to block out anything that could be negative or harmful.
She's whispering softly 'be free'
Despite the hardships and trials we may face, there is still a message of hope and encouragement to be free and live freely.
Ease swirling through and it's not too late for us.
There is a sense of calmness and ease that is present, signaling that there is still time for us to find peace and happiness in our lives.
The weather could change.
As with all things in life, there is still an element of uncertainty and unpredictability, represented by the changing weather.
Contributed by Henry B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.