A year ago, Pharrell's auspicious blessing was only a dream for D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey, both 21-year old Harvard seniors at the time. But when their demo found its way to Kanye West last December, Chester French quickly became one of the most hotly pursued new artists of the decade, attracting offers from Kanye, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell and Jimmy Iovine. That same demo has become the basis for what will surely be the most talked about debut record of 2008.
Tentatively titled Love the Future, the album was written, arranged, produced and engineered entirely by D.A. and Max in their dorm's basement. Full of intricately imagined pop songs that fuse lush string arrangements with modern beats, it is the product of lifetimes of music making and listening.
D.A. was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has been a performer for as long as he can remember. His interests have shifted over time from magic to politics, comedy and drumming -- and finally to singing, songwriting and producing. Max is the product of Boston, Massachusetts and a strong musical upbringing, beginning classical piano lessons at three, studying jazz guitar, jazz and classical composition through high school, picking up further instrumental skills, and finally settling on pop music in college. While D.A. sings lead vocals and Max scores and plays the majority of instruments for Chester French, they work collaboratively on every detail from the first note to the final mix.
The two first met in their freshman year dining hall at Harvard. Along with three friends they formed the first incarnation of Chester French and the quintet quickly cut its teeth playing shows around campus and at Boston bars. At the end of the year, they won a local battle of the bands and, with only two days and $300 to spend, cut a five song EP aptly titled Chester French's First Love.
When school let out, D.A. and Max stayed in Cambridge for the summer, selling copies of the EP on the street by day and writing new songs by night. In their free time, they became engineers at the on-campus recording studio and became fascinated by record production. As they began to master the intricacies of recording, their energies solidified around a common goal: to try to create a classic album in the studio.
As a duo, Chester French worked for three years on Love the Future, making money on the side by engineering recording sessions for Boston area instrumentalists, rappers, and other bands. Finally, in May of 2007, D.A. and Max completed their recording and their degrees, in African American Studies and Social Anthropology, respectively.
Now based out of L.A., Chester French is putting the finishing touches on its epic first offering. Get ready to Love the Future.
Black Girls
Chester French Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I reject your deconstruction of my taste
But ignoramus always look in my direction
They′re so frustrated I don't keep it in the race
Like they've never seen this before
Like it′s 1954
But the whole world′s turning brown and who cares
I've got a thing for black girls
Yeah, my mom says
I′ve got a thing for black girls
La, la la la la, la la, la la la la la
You know I got some love for black girls
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Well I have tried to taste the rainbow in my life
I've sampled many different flavors I enjoy
It′s not to say I wouldn't settle down with Sally
Dilly dally with her heart like it′s my toy
I've been to England a few times
And it's common over there
Plus the whole world′s turning brown and who cares
(And I need to know, where′s all the love for black girls)
(No the girl don't need no tan)
(I keep on ballin′ hard for black girls)
The lyrics to Chester French's song Black Girls are a commentary on race, love, and attraction. The singer in the song is proclaiming his genuine love and attraction for black girls. He rejects the notion that this attraction is a fetish or that he is objectifying anyone. The singer also challenges those who criticize his choice, stating that their ignorance is preventing them from seeing the beauty in diversity. He acknowledges that this preference is not common but also suggests that it shouldn't matter because the world is turning brown, and love should not be limited by race or ethnicity.
The lyrics are provocative because they challenge societal norms and expectations regarding race and attraction. The song could be seen as a message of empowerment for black women who are often underrepresented and undervalued in media, music, and culture. It also highlights the importance of being true to oneself and not conforming to societal standards of beauty and attraction.
In the chorus, the singer's mother appears to support his preference for black girls, suggesting that this is not just a fleeting attraction but something that is part of his identity. The song acknowledges that the world is changing, and the singer encourages others to embrace diversity and love without limits.
Overall, Chester French's song Black Girls is a celebration of love in all its forms and a call to reject societal expectations and embrace diversity.
Line by Line Meaning
This ain't no fetish, ain't objectifying no one
I am not sexually fixated on black women and do not view them as objects for my pleasure
I reject your deconstruction of my taste
I do not agree with those who criticize my preference for black women
But ignoramus always look in my direction
Uninformed individuals often stare at me because they do not understand my attraction to black women
They're so frustrated I don't keep it in the race
Some people are upset that I do not limit my dating choices to my own race
Like they've never seen this before, Like it's 1954
Some people act as if interracial relationships are a thing of the past and are surprised to see them now
But the whole world's turning brown and who cares
The world's population is becoming more diverse and it should not matter who someone chooses to date based on race
I've got a thing for black girls
I am attracted to black women
Yeah, my mom says, I've got a thing for black girls
Even my mother acknowledges my preference for black women
You know I got some love for black girls
I have affection towards black women
Well I have tried to taste the rainbow in my life
I have dated people of many different races
I've sampled many different flavors I enjoy
I have found qualities in people of all races that I find attractive
It's not to say I wouldn't settle down with Sally
I am not ruling out the possibility of falling in love with someone of a different race
Dilly dally with her heart like it's my toy
I would not play with someone's emotions
I've been to England a few times
I have traveled to England where interracial relationships are more accepted
And it's common over there
Interracial relationships are more prevalent in England
(And I need to know, where's all the love for black girls)
I am curious why there is not more acceptance and appreciation for black women
(No the girl don't need no tan)
Black women do not need to alter their appearance to be attractive
(I keep on ballin' hard for black girls)
I will continue to pursue black women and show them love and affection
Writer(s): Travis Barker, Max Drummey, David Wallach
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.