At the age of sixteen, Esthero moved from small town Harriston, Ontario on her own to Toronto, where she began singing at open-mic nights, a journey that in 1997 led to a meeting with the president of EMI Publishing Canada, whom she charmed so well during their first meeting that without hearing her sing a single note he was moved to set up and finance recording sessions with Doc, a guitarist and studio engineer. Their debut album, Breath from Another, was released to critical acclaim in 1998 and is widely seen as one of the more accessible albums of the trip-hop genre.
Though she remained active following the moderate success of the debut album, featuring on tracks by such artists as Nelly Furtado and The Black Eyed Peas, it would take over 7 years for a proper follow-up to be released (due to a confluence of factors that included a lengthy creative process, the closure of the WORK record label and marketing delays) in the form of 2005's Wikked Lil Grrrls, an album that crossed genre boundaries with its heavy debt to jazz and hip-hop. The album was preceded in 2004 by a pair of EPs, The O.G. Bitch Remixes (with the title song reaching Number 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart) and We R In Need of a Musical Revolution, which served as a preview of the full length album.
After the release of Wikked Lil Grrrls, Esthero devoted an increasing amount of time to songwriting and production, with her work featuring on albums by Brandy and Kanye West (most prominently on West's single Love Lockdown).
2012 saw the release of Esthero's third full-length album, Everything is Expensive (Universal Music Canada), preceded by the release of Never Gonna Let You Go as the lead single and video. The album was partially funded through a campaign on PledgeMusic in which backers could choose from exclusives such as artwork by the singer. Everything is Expensive debuted on Billboard's Heatseeker chart at #13.
Official Websites
www.esthero.net
We R in Need of a Musical Revolution
Esthero Lyrics
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And MTV, they only play the same thing
No matter where I go
I see Ashanti in the video
I want some thing more
We are in need of a musical revolution
We are in need of
How can you make your way through the world today
When everybody is so angry?
And what we hear affects our hearts
There's got to be a better way to communicate
So show your love not hate
We are in need of a musical revolution
(We're so tired of the same old)
We are in need of some spiritual evolution
(We're so tired of the same old, same old)
We are in need of love
We are in need of love
I'm calling, calling, I'm calling out
Calling you
Doesn't anybody wanna do something new?
I'm calling all creators in the movement
It's time to offer a solution to the dilution of what we love
And the greats would be so disappointed
'Cause we've sold our souls for what we don't own anymore
We are in need of love
Lets start a musical revolution
(We're so tired of the same old)
We are in need of some lyrical evolution
(We're so tired of the same old, same old)
I'm so sick and tired of the shit on the radio
And MTV they only play the same thing
No matter where I go
I see Ashanti in the video
I want something
'Cause I'm sick and tired of the shit on the radio
And MTV they only play the same thing
No matter where I go
I see Britney on my video screen
I want something more
Lets start a musical revolution
I want something more
Lets start a musical revolution
Tell me why
A grown man can rape a little girl
But we still hear his shit on the radio
A grown-ass man can videotape a little girl
But we still see his mug up on our video screens?
I want something more
I want something
Esthero's song "We R in Need of a Musical Revolution" is a commentary on the state of the music industry, where mainstream radio and television play the same songs over and over again, to the point where listeners are no longer getting a diverse range of music. The lyrics express frustration with the industry's obsession with commercial success, churning out cookie-cutter songs to appeal to the masses. The singer calls for a revolution, for artists to create music that communicates love, not hate, and for listeners to demand something more from the music they consume. The song highlights the need for creative expression and the importance of music as a means of communication.
Throughout the song, Esthero questions the way the music industry operates, highlighting the prevalence of sexual abuse in the industry and the hypocrisy of continuing to play the music of abusers. She urges listeners to demand change and to create a new era of music that is conscious, thoughtful, and meaningful.
The lyrics are emotional and powerful, and they resonate with anyone who feels like they are hearing the same music over and over again. The song is a call to action, inviting listeners and creators to join in a fight for authenticity and creativity in the music world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so sick and tired of the shit on the radio
The radio plays the same boring music and it's annoying.
And MTV, they only play the same thing
Even MTV just plays the same music videos repeatedly.
No matter where I go
It's everywhere and I can't escape it.
I see Ashanti in the video
Ashanti seems to be in every music video.
I want some thing more
I need something new and exciting.
We are in need of a musical revolution
We need a big change in music.
How can you make your way through the world today
It's tough to survive in a world full of angry people.
When everybody is so angry?
People are always unhappy and mad about something.
And what we hear affects our hearts
The music we listen to can have a deep emotional impact.
There's got to be a better way to communicate
We need to find a better way to express ourselves.
So show your love not hate
We need to spread love and positivity through music.
We are in need of some spiritual evolution
Our music needs to focus more on spiritual growth.
We are in need of love
Love is what we all need.
I'm calling, calling, I'm calling out
I need help from other creators to make a change.
Calling you
I'm reaching out to anyone who wants to create something new.
Doesn't anybody wanna do something new?
I hope others feel the same way I do and want to change things.
It's time to offer a solution to the dilution of what we love
We need to find a way to preserve the music we love.
And the greats would be so disappointed
The legends of music would be upset with what's happening today.
'Cause we've sold our souls for what we don't own anymore
We've given up what makes our music unique for something generic.
Lets start a musical revolution
It's time for big changes in music.
I see Britney on my video screen
Britney Spears seems to be everywhere too.
I want something more
I need something new and exciting.
Tell me why
I need an answer to this question.
A grown man can rape a little girl
It's sad and disgusting that this happens in the world.
But we still hear his shit on the radio
The rapist's music is still being played on the radio.
A grown-ass man can videotape a little girl
Even worse, this pervert's actions are being shown on video.
But we still see his mug up on our video screens?
Why are we giving attention to such horrible people?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Deil, James Robertson, Jenny Bea Christina Englishman, Jullyann Inderia Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BIGREDDOG09
Not only am I still listening in 2022...I"m still waiting for Esthero to bless us with a little show at Lee's palace...please?
@Lilleypad11
Hands down this is one of my favorite Estero songs, I have been listening to this on repeat!
@KinseyDulcet333
Love Esthero, she's got me through some shit for sure.
@TruthISaNaturalLaw
Most unappreciated song....MESSAGE STANDS STRONG!
@omfgoreos
I was 11 when I first heard this song and 6 years later, I still love it.
@ocal1162
This song has so much meaning. Still very relevant now-a-days. All I see and hear are the same people on TV and Radio.
@dopewords
music is timeless and relevant even today. thnks for posting. love this track.
@edclevel402
This song still slams.
@Djtonystewart
Still a banger!! 🔥🔥🔥
@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357
I remember this song from my early 20s in the mid 2000s, like year 2005 or 2006 I was age 21 or 22. I still love this song today!! Thank you for posting. :)