It started in 1997 with their debut single Sunrise, the first step towards producing their own tracks. Nowadays, one cannot imagine the electronic elite without BLANK & JONES. 13 of their singles made it into the German Top 50, and three into the Top 20. Each and every album hit the Top 50, including two which climbed into the Top 10. They also scored a spectacular triple whammy by occupying the Top Ten album, singles and compilation charts simultaneously with Substance, Desire and The Mix respectively.
BLANK & JONES have teamed up with a number of top international stars in their career to date. The Cure mastermind Robert Smith, Bernard Sumner (New Order), Anne Clark, Sarah McLachlan and Claudia Brücken (Propaganda) have been immortalized on BLANK & JONES tracks, giving them a certain credibility way beyond the boundaries of dance music. Further evidence of their versatility can be seen in their contributions to the Café del Mar compilation series and their own chill-out albums, Relax and Relax (Edition 2). Next up, the people behind the Buddha Bar series have also made enquiries..
The release of the A Forest single and the accompanying album Monument in the USA last year also laid the foundations for BLANK & JONES to create a solid fanbase across the Atlantic.
Seven albums, 3 mix albums (The Mix 1-3) and 15 singles later, BLANK & JONES and their longstanding production colleague Andy Kaufhold have chosen this moment to collate their finest material on one release - The Singles. Comprising the best tracks and greatest successes of BLANK & JONES plus two brand new tracks, recorded exclusively for this album. “We felt the time had come to put all our singles together on one CD, “ Piet and Jaspa explain. “We prefer to see it as one step along the way, rather than a mere retrospective. A little breather before we move on to pastures new.“
Over 20 tracks were in the reckoning for The Singles collection, most of them penned by BLANK & JONES themselves. From the first single Sunrise via chart smashes such as Desire, DJ Culture and Beyond Time all the way to entrancing collaborations with the like of Elles DeGraaf on Mind Of The Wonderful, Claudia Brücken on Unknown Treasure and Steve Kilbey (The Church) on Revealed, the album is packed with original material. One of the few covers is, of course, A Forest with Robert Smith of The Cure on vocals.
An absolute must for fans is the all new WMC Retouch version of Nightfly, direct from the Miami Winter Music Conference (WMC), where BLANK & JONES headlined in March of this year. So new, the track was hot to the touch as it made its way onto the album, having been premiered to rave reactions at the dance convention. BLANK & JONES’ Nightfly WMC Retouch was the talk of the town the following morning on various online sites and blogs.
The album also features two completely new tracks. One is Somebody and the other is Catch, the newest single, based on Kosheen’s 1998 tune. Vocals supplied once again by the fantastic Elles DeGraaf.
BLANK & JONES have taken the utmost care in getting the sound right. Tracks have been remastered but not remixed. “Our aim was to retain the flair of each original track“ Piet and Jaspa elucidate. “We wanted them to sound just as they did when we made them, but clearer, in the same way as one restores a painting. You don’t paint it from scratch, you just bring out the colours again.“ Such loving attention to detail is typical of BLANK & JONES, making them the artists they are today, ready and able to see the bigger picture.
The album is also being released in Limited Edition format, in which The Singles are complemented by an additional DVD, bringing together all BLANK & JONES videos on one disc for the first time. The BLANK & JONES clips are something worth seeing, with a artistic quality rarely seen in such a genre. BLANK & JONES’ dramatic credentials are matched by their sense of humour. Numerous famous names have featured in their videos, including Estella Warren and Til Schweiger in Beyond Time, the latter having also directed the clip.
The DVD was produced and designed by Thomas Jahn, renowned as scriptwriter and director of “Knocking On Heaven’s Door“ and also the man responsible for The Hardest Heart, Mind Of The Wonderful, Perfect Silence and Desire.
The video for the latest single, Catch, was directed by Conchita Soares and Toni Froschhammer and features the thespian talents of TV actress Nadine. The piece will not only be presented on the music channels, but will also be shown at short film festivals over the summer.
BLANK & JONES’ roots are firmly placed in DJ culture. Year after year, millions of ravers around the globe feel the heat of their sensational sets at major events like Mayday, Nature One and Love Parade as well as in clubs all over the world. BLANK & JONES mix DJ and live, making the most of today’s technology. “We do everything digitally, on the basis of Final Scratch, which allows us to use our own edits and mixes, nothing comes straight from tape. Every set we play is unique, not only sound-wise but also in terms of what we play and how we play it. Roughly 60% of our set consists of our own repertoire, as where better to present our own material than via the DJ decks.“
BLANK & JONES are global players in the best sense of the word, with a worldwide reputation to match. They are more than welcome guests at the major festivals and raves in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia. At the beginning of the year, they played to 15,000 fans in St. Petersburg! They also travel further afield on a regular basis, to Canada, Mexico, South America and Australia.
2005 saw BLANK & JONES spend a lot of time in the USA, where A Forest proved to be a big success. Electronic music is growing and growing Stateside, so BLANK & JONES will return to LA, San Diego, San Francisco and many more cities in North America this year. Overwhelmingly positive reactions to Catch on the initial installment of the BLANK & JONES tour mean that the American fans can hardly wait for The Singles to be released. This will be the third BLANK & JONES US album.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Piet and Jaspa are already preparing an exciting, new and unusual project. On May 26th, BLANK & JONES will perform together with the Robert Schumann Kammerorchester conducted by Alexander Shelly in the Tonhalle Düsseldorf. The definitive electro-classical crossover extravaganza!
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High Fly
Blank & Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Foreign rides (yes sir) outside, it's like showbiz (we in da builidin')
We stay fly, no lie, and you know this (ballin')
Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused
Ya boy gettin' paper (money), I buy big cars (foreign)
Eight fly rides just to drive in my garage (choose one)
Stay sky high (twisted), fly with the stars (twinkle, twinkle)
So we lean wit' it, pop wit' it (Bankhead)
'Vertible Jones, mean with the top missin' (flossin')
I'm sittin' clean with the bottom kitted (do it)
I hopped out saggy jeans and my rock glistenin' (ballin')
But I spent 'bout eight grand
Mami on stage doin' the rain dance (I think she like me)
She let it hit the floor, made it pop (what else?)
Got my pedal to the floor screamin', "fuck the cops!" (Do it)
We fly high, no lie, you know this (ballin')
Foreign rides outside, it's like showbiz
We stay fly, no lie, and you know this (ballin')
Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused
Slow down
Here tonight, could be gone tomorrow (one chance)
So I speed through life like it's no tomorrow (speedin')
A hundred G's worth of ice on the Audemars (flossy)
And we in the street life 'til they call the law (ballin')
I made the whip get naked (what happen?)
While I switch gears, bitch lookin' at the bracelet (got her)
Step out, show me what you all about
Flashbacks of last night of me ballin' out (Harlem)
One am, we was at the club (what happen?)
Two am, ten bottles of bub' (money ain't a thing)
And by three somethin' I was thinkin' 'bout grub
So I stumbled to the car, threw the drinks and the drugs (twisted)
We fly high, no lie, you know this (ballin')
Foreign rides outside, it's like showbiz
We stay fly, no lie, and you know this
Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused
Nigga, could you buy that?
I keep twenty in the pocket (light change)
You talkin' buck-eighty if the Bentley is the topic (that Grey Poupon)
But of course got a fly the Spur (where?)
To the hood and roll dice on side the curb
Now I know G-Bent may sound absurd (get your money up)
Drive eighty up Lennox 'cause I got a urge (speedin')
The rap game like the crack game
Lifestyles, rich and famous livin' in the fast lane (ballin')
So when I bleep shorty, bleep back
Louis Vuitton belt where I'm keepin' all the heat strapped (loaded)
I beat the trial over Rucker (let's do it)
All guns loaded in the back, motherfucker (Dipset)
We fly high, no lie, you know this (ballin')
Foreign rides outside, it's like showbiz
We fly high, no lie, you know this (ballin')
Foreign rides outside, it's like showbiz (ballin')
We stay fly (stay fly), no lie (no lie), and you know this (ballin')
Hips and thighs (ayy), oh my (oh my), stay focused (oh, oh, chyeah)
You niggas need to stay focused
When you're dealin' with a motherfuckin' G
You know my name, Jones, One Eye, Capo Status
All the above motherfucker
It's Dipset Byrdgang, we born to fly
Ya'll know the rules, fall back or fall back
Somebody tell my bitch Summer I'm lookin for her
Ya dig, another day another dollar
The fast life fucker
We stay fly (Dipset), no lie, and you know this
Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused
We stay fly, no lie, and you know this
Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused
The lyrics to Blank & Jones's song High Fly are a celebration of the lavish lifestyles of successful rappers. The chorus makes it clear that the artist is living the high life, with foreign cars, a wealth of money, and a focus on staying emotionally and physically fit. The next verse goes into further detail about the lifestyle, with a reference to getting "paper," buying "big cars," and owning "eight fly rides." The artist then goes on to mention their love of flying in private planes, owning expensive jewelry, and enjoying the nightlife.
The following verse has the artist reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and their need to live it to the fullest, with a chorus that emphasizes staying focused on the things that matter. The final verse references Jones's status as a rapper, mentioning that he's got "all guns loaded in the back" and warning others to "fall back" if they can't keep up. High Fly is a song that celebrates the extravagant lifestyle of the most successful rappers, with zero apologies for wealth or opulence.
Line by Line Meaning
We fly high, no lie (you hear that?), you know this (ballin')
We're living the high life and don't need to lie about it. It's clear to everyone that we're ballin'.
Foreign rides (yes sir) outside, it's like showbiz (we in da builidin')
Our foreign cars are parked outside and it feels like a glamorous showbiz event is taking place wherever we go.
Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused
We're surrounded by attractive women, but we need to stay focused on our goals and not get distracted.
Ya boy gettin' paper (money), I buy big cars (foreign)
I'm making a lot of money and spending it on expensive foreign cars.
Eight fly rides just to drive in my garage (choose one)
I have eight expensive cars that I keep in my garage just for show and to drive around in.
Stay sky high (twisted), fly with the stars (twinkle, twinkle)
We're always high, often from drugs, and we feel like we're soaring with the stars.
G4 flights, eighty grand large (ballin')
We're able to afford expensive private jet flights that cost $80,000 or more and it's just part of our ballin' lifestyle.
So we lean wit' it, pop wit' it (Bankhead)
We're dancing and showing off our moves by leaning and popping, and referencing a popular dance from Bankhead, Atlanta.
'Ve rtible Jones, mean with the top missin' (flossin')
I'm driving a convertible, top down, and showing off my wealth and success.
I'm sittin' clean with the bottom kitted (do it)
I'm sitting in a clean, well-equipped car that shows my high status.
I hopped out saggy jeans and my rock glistenin' (ballin')
I'm dressed casually but still have expensive jewelry that sparkles and shows off my wealth.
But I spent 'bout eight grand
I spent about $8,000
Mami on stage doin' the rain dance (I think she like me)
There's a woman on stage dancing seductively and I think she's interested in me.
She let it hit the floor, made it pop (what else?)
The woman is dancing so provocatively that her body is hitting the floor and she's making her hips pop.
Got my pedal to the floor screamin', "fuck the cops!" (Do it)
I'm driving fast and recklessly and don't care about the police or any consequences.
Slow down
We need to slow down and remember that we might not have tomorrow, so we need to enjoy life while we can.
Here tonight, could be gone tomorrow (one chance)
Life is short and we only have one chance to live it to the fullest, so we need to make the most of every moment.
A hundred G's worth of ice on the Audemars (flossy)
I'm wearing a watch that cost $100,000 and it's covered in diamonds and other expensive gems.
And we in the street life 'til they call the law (ballin')
We're living a wild, reckless street life until the police intervene and shut us down.
I made the whip get naked (what happen?)
I'm driving so fast and recklessly that it feels like the car is stripping down to its bare metal and exposing its engine.
While I switch gears, bitch lookin' at the bracelet (got her)
While I'm driving, women are staring at my expensive bracelet and I know I have their attention.
Step out, show me what you all about
Get out of the car and show me what you're made of, what kind of life you're living.
Flashbacks of last night of me ballin' out (Harlem)
I'm reminiscing about the previous night when I was living extravagantly and having a great time in Harlem.
One am, we was at the club (what happen?)
At 1am, we were at a club partying and enjoying the night.
Two am, ten bottles of bub' (money ain't a thing)
By 2am, we had already drank ten bottles of champagne and didn't care about the cost.
And by three somethin' I was thinkin' 'bout grub
By around 3am, I was thinking about getting some food to eat.
So I stumbled to the car, threw the drinks and the drugs (twisted)
I was intoxicated and stumbling as I got into my car, discarding the alcohol and drugs I had been consuming.
Nigga, could you buy that?
Hey, could you afford to buy that?
I keep twenty in the pocket (light change)
I always keep $20 in my pocket because it's just small change for me.
You talkin' buck-eighty if the Bentley is the topic (that Grey Poupon)
If we're talking about a Bentley, then it's going to cost at least $180,000, and only wealthy people are able to afford it.
But of course got a fly the Spur (where?)
Of course, I have to fly in a private jet if I want to travel in style.
To the hood and roll dice on side the curb
Even though I have wealth and status, I still enjoy going to the hood and gambling with others on the street.
Now I know G-Bent may sound absurd (get your money up)
I know owning a Bentley may seem ridiculous to some, but it's a sign of success to me and others like me, so get your finances straight.
Drive eighty up Lennox 'cause I got a urge (speedin')
I'm indulging my desire to drive really fast and am going 80 miles per hour on Lennox Ave.
The rap game like the crack game
The world of rap music is similar to the drug game in terms of the risks and rewards involved.
Lifestyles, rich and famous livin' in the fast lane (ballin')
We're living a life of luxury and fame, moving so fast we barely have time to enjoy it all.
So when I bleep shorty, bleep back
When I message a woman, I expect her to message me back quickly.
Louis Vuitton belt where I'm keepin' all the heat strapped (loaded)
I have a gun tucked away in my Louis Vuitton belt for protection.
I beat the trial over Rucker (let's do it)
I won a legal battle in the Rucker Park area of Harlem and I'm ready for more challenges.
All guns loaded in the back, motherfucker (Dipset)
I have all my weapons ready in the back of my car and I'm ready to represent the Dipset crew.
You niggas need to stay focused
You need to focus on your goals and not get distracted by the luxuries of life.
When you're dealin' with a motherfuckin' G
When you're dealing with someone as tough and relentless as me.
It's Dipset Byrdgang, we born to fly
We are part of the Dipset Byrdgang crew and we were born to fly high and live life to the fullest.
Ya'll know the rules, fall back or fall back
You already know the drill - step aside or face the consequences.
Somebody tell my bitch Summer I'm lookin for her
Can someone let my girlfriend, Summer, know that I'm trying to find her?
Ya dig, another day another dollar
Do you understand what I'm saying? Another day, another dollar earned.
The fast life fucker
We're living a fast, wild and dangerous life, and we don't intend to slow down.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Zukhan Bey, Joseph Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind