And that's precisely what Perrone's music is. It's his life -- his worst days, his hopes, and the fears and loves that have come with experience and insight. For Perrone, songwriting is a way of sorting through the thoughts in his mind, capturing a moment or an emotion, and setting that to melody. The result is the sound of a singer-songwriter completely opening himself to whatever may come.
"When I write, it's no holds barred. I don't censor myself," Perrone says. "So many of the songs are just me, picking myself apart."
Perrone has spent more than eight years earning the reputation of an artist who brings audience emotions right to the surface, establishing himself as a noted voice in the Boston music scene. Through residencies at intimate local hideaways and nights before sold-out crowds at Boston's famed Paradise Rock Club and Avalon, Perrone has fused bonds with audiences, honed his craft -- and picked up a 2005 Boston Music Award nomination for Best Local Male Vocal along the way.
But his approach to musicianship is one that begins away from any stage. Perrone is more songwriter-singer than the other way around, seeking the honesty and clarity in music that can otherwise seem difficult to find.
"Writing a song is all the best parts of music," Perrone says. "You catch onto something and it's new, it's fresh, it's exciting. And when you're able to piece a song together, play it from start to finish for the first time, it's amazing. I want to run out and grab someone, get them to listen."
A collection of 13 songs came together in a recording studio last year to form "Used To Dream," Perrone's debut solo effort. A collaboration with musician Steve Belleville, musician/producer Dennis Carroll (6Media Group) and guest appearances from 10 local music talents, the songs flourished in an organic recording process focused more on the feeling of a take than glossy production.
"Glen Phillips, Ray LaMontagne, Griffin House, Joseph Arthur, Ryan Adams, Damien Rice -- when you listen to their songs, they just feel completely honest," he says. "I'm not listening to the technical details, the recording process. I get lost in the feeling of the song. I feel a connection to it. There's something alive about it."
Perrone discovered that the imperfections that arise in the recording process can actually feel perfect for a song, capturing the emotion and intent he imagined when he first set the words to paper.
With that in mind, Perrone was free to explore the possibilities inherent in each song."Used To Dream" features both a return to the basics -- including Perrone's return to the percussion skills he first learned as a youth -- and the ability for seasoned musicians to introduce new elements -- mandolin, banjo and slide guitar, among them -- into songs.
A songwriter brought up on and well-versed in pop rock, Perrone stretched "A Soundtrack (For the Happier Times)" into a languid torch song that drips with the blues and soul as it examines jealousy and circumstance.
The haunting harmonies that soar through "What Comes Up Through the Floor" proves to defy conventional song structure entirely. It's a song without a chorus, but a deceptive one -- lush and menacingly dark.
"I like the fact that it's a dark and creepy song. It's one of the most different songs I've written," Perrone says, "but one that completely summed up what I wanted it to say."
Perrone balances the dark introspection with a charm listeners have long come to know -- saucy, sweet and self-conscious all at the same time. In "Somewhere Beside Me," he sings of a love that lingers through snapshots from his past, noting with a hint of pop-backed self-deprecation that "you're more than a picture I still try to flirt with."
"Lie," likewise, highlights the backwards glance one casts at the end of a relationship, one that needs to end with deception in order to spare both parties involved. The frustrated lyrics, however, are cast against bright instrumentation -- demonstrating Perrone's ability to create multi-layered listening experiences.
At album's close, he brings it back to the basics -- guitar, voice, thoughts -- for "Like Riding a Bike," his most personal, vulnerable song to date.
"I don't want to be here in ten years, living off handouts and hand-me-down dreams," he quietly sings. "If I left for California tomorrow, could you say that I left you with anything, honestly?"
Somewhere along the way, an album of songs that needed to come out became the album to mark a new stage of Perrone's career.
Audiences in live settings throughout the Northeast are already feeling the connection, demonstrated through strong word-of-mouth support and an avid on-line community dedicated to sharing the music. The fans that approach the musician to share their thoughts and appreciation serve as a testament to his musical longevity -- they are new listeners and those who have been there since Perrone's first concert in March 1998.
Perrone describes the response as "an amazing, wonderful thing" for someone who, as a young boy, was often found belting out songs to imaginary crowds in his living room.
"That's the thing that amazes me," he says. "Back then, that was such a dream of mine. And there are time it's just such a surreal experience, I almost think I'm going to realize I'm still dreaming."
OK
Chad Perrone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to have you sit there in disbelief
Now are you waiting for something more than this?
Are you needing something I can't give?
Ok, I′m the worst thing that you know
Ok, this would be better left alone
Ok, we should give in and just get out
And admit what we've become now
I think our egos get in the way
And mold all of the things that we shouldn't say
Now we′re trying for something we can′t have
Now we're trying for something we′ll never have
Maybe there's just too much weight on me now
Maybe there′s just too much that we don't talk about
Tell me when we turn this whole damn thing around
Because I′m wanting out
I'm needing out
The opening lines of the song convey the idea of an individual changing themselves in order to impress someone else, constantly seeking their approval but to no avail. The second line "Just to have you sit there in disbelief" shows that even after changing themselves, the individual's efforts go unnoticed or are not enough to impress the other person. The following lines express the other person's dissatisfaction with the relationship and their need for something more. The chorus of the song emphasizes the frustration both individuals feel in the relationship. It suggests that they should give up, let go of their egos and accept the reality of their situation.
The second verse touches on the power dynamics of the relationship, where the egos of both individuals are in play, leading them to say things they shouldn't. They are constantly striving for something more, something they can never attain. The singer reflects on the challenges they are facing, questioning whether they are too heavy for them to carry. They are looking for a way out of the relationship, but they have yet to find one.
Overall, the song is about a relationship that is falling apart because both individuals cannot meet each other's expectations. They attempt to change themselves in ways that are not authentic, leading to disappointment and frustration. The chorus captures the sense of despair and confusion that both individuals feel. The song encourages acceptance and self-reflection as a way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve changed every little part of me
I altered myself completely to impress you, but you’re still not satisfied.
Just to have you sit there in disbelief
I’ve gone to great lengths to try and convince you, but I can see you still don’t believe me.
Now are you waiting for something more than this?
You’re expecting more from me than I can give and I don’t know what else to do.
Are you needing something I can’t give?
You want something from me that I’m incapable of providing and it’s tearing us apart.
Ok, I’m the worst thing that you know
I understand that I’m not what you want and it’s causing you pain.
Ok, this would be better left alone
Maybe it’s best if we just leave things as they are and move on.
Ok, we should give in and just get out
Let’s surrender and walk away to avoid any further anguish.
We should give up and fall to doubt
It’s time to give up and accept that things are just not meant to be.
And admit what we've become now
Let’s face the truth and acknowledge that we’re not the same people we once were.
I think our egos get in the way
Our pride is preventing us from resolving our issues and moving forward.
And mold all of the things that we shouldn't say
Our arrogance is dictating what we do and say, even though it’s not helpful.
Now we're trying for something we can't have
We’re aspiring for something that’s impractical and unachievable.
Now we're trying for something we'll never have
We’re attempting to attain something that’s beyond our reach and it’s pointless.
Maybe there's just too much weight on me now
I feel overburdened by the situation and don’t know how to deal with it.
Maybe there’s just too much that we don't talk about
Perhaps there are things we’re avoiding discussing that need to be addressed for us to move forward.
Tell me when we turn this whole damn thing around
Let me know if there’s a chance for us to fix this and move towards a better direction.
Because I’m wanting out
I’m desperate to escape this situation and seek a better life for myself.
I'm needing out
I can’t tolerate the emotional pain anymore and need to leave to preserve my sanity.
Contributed by Evelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.