"Los Angeles is such a big part of what our music is, not unlike the Chili Peppers or Ozomatli," says singer-Fredalba visionary Eric Balfour. "There are so many influences here, from punk to Latin to rock to electro, that shapes who we are as musicians. This city shapes our style in every way. I wanted our sound to be L.A."
Uptown Music for Downtown Kids, Fredalba's Piller Records debut, could not be the product of any other landscape. Fredalba has pulled off the unique feat of sounding like something as abstract as a city with convincing clarity. The sextet's seamless merging of sounds and cultures into one coherent and focused style is the product of a longstanding vision held dear to Balfour's heart from a very young age. "I grew up in an environment where the artist was held at the highest pinnacle," remembers Balfour. "To create art and create music that was one of the most respected things you could do. That shaped a lot of how I view the world and had a lot to do with me wanting to become a singer."
Fredalba grew out of that vision. Assembled over time through friends of friends, the band converged through a common love of music, culture, and energy. That recipe has birthed Uptown Music, a sonic companion to Possibility Through Positivity the band's credo. "This band is about raw energy," says Balfour. "And bringing it to you when you see us live so it inspires you and it motivates you to get up, move, and do something."
Rough and tumble rock tracks ("Storm"), urban hymns ("Uptown Music"), and soaring anthems ("Shine") insure that Uptown Music flows freely through Fredalba's world of hip-hop, rock, and Latin rhythms, but it¹s the flute crisscrossing this beautiful union that truly sets the band apart. "Eric was interested in what it would sound like," says flautist Charmian Callon. "We had no idea if it would sound good, but it sounded really great. I think it opens a lot of people's eyes and ears to a new vibe. Of course, anybody in the jazz and classical world is familiar with the flute, but the majority of the population is not. A lot of times when they see it in a rock band, they are skeptical. But they are always pleasantly surprised."
As will all those that enter Fredalba's world: An eclectic mix of sonic art and culture corralled into a funky, energetic burst of uplifting might. Just likeŠchicken? "For me, chicken is chicken," says Balfour. "It just depends on what you put on it. Ours is definitely a sweet, tangy barbeque sauce that's a little bit spicy and has a really good after taste."
Headed by actor Eric Balfour, this band has now changed their name to Born As Ghosts.
Leaders Of The Wasteland
Fredalba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the rules are made for breaking
If you go and ask bill clinton
What is sexual relation
Like a dancer on the stage
Who's ass was made for shakin'
She'll leave ya high and dry
And say ya must have been mistakin'
Who's never rode a horse
Is it wrong to be a dealer
Who's never met his source
Is it wrong to go out hunting while your riding on a date
Is it wrong go out fishing with my rod for jail bait
We are the leaders of the wasteland
Here we go
Descendants of a mad man
Here we go
We got ourselves a new plan
Here we go
Its time to get out of hand
Here we go
Play that beat
Is it wrong to exercise while sittin' on the sofa
Is it wrong I gotta a quarter in my penny loafer
Is it wrong to date your cousin if you grew up in kentucky
Is it wrong to go down south if you know the box is funky
Is it wrong to eat a hoho if you do not know the ho
Is it wrong to use rogaine, you know that shit won't grow
Is it wrong to hug a friend who's name you can't remember
Is it wrong to join a club if they only got one member
We are the leaders of the wasteland
Here we go
Descendants of a mad man
Here we go
We got ourselves a new plan
Here we go
'Cause I'm a get out of hand
Here we go
Is it wrong to kill a man, who's killed a man before
Is it wrong to kill a baby in three months or is it four
Is it wrong to get by
Is it wrong to get high
Is it wrong that they die
Is it wrong to ask why
We are the leaders of the wasteland
Here we go
Descendants of a mad man
Here we go
We got ourselves a new plan
Here we go
'Cause I'm a get out of hand
Here we go
The lyrics of Fredalba's song Leaders Of The Wasteland deal with the idea of questioning the traditional beliefs and values that are imposed by society. The main idea behind the song is that sometimes the rules that are created to govern society may not be right or suitable for everyone. The lyrics suggest that questioning or breaking these rules can be a way to free oneself from the constraints and limitations that they impose. The lyrics mention various scenarios that challenge societal norms, such as dating while hunting, fishing for "jail bait," or dating a cousin. The song leaves the listener to decide whether these actions are morally right or wrong.
The chorus of the song, "We are the leaders of the wasteland, descendants of a madman, we got ourselves a new plan, it's time to get out of hand," suggests that the individuals who question societal norms are the ones who can bring about change and create a new path. The song encourages the idea of letting go of the traditional values and making one's path rather than blindly following the norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it wrong to break the rules
Questioning the morality of going against established norms
When the rules are made for breaking
Challenging the notion that some rules should not be broken
If you go and ask bill clinton
Referencing the scandal involving Bill Clinton to make a point about sexual relations and deception
What is sexual relation
Asking a rhetorical question about the nature of sexual relations and the blurred lines surrounding them
Like a dancer on the stage
Drawing a comparison to a performer in order to illustrate a point
Who's ass was made for shakin'
Describing a performer's abilities and attributes
She'll leave ya high and dry
Warning of the potential consequences of getting wrapped up in the wrong thing
And say ya must have been mistakin'
Suggesting that those who are naive or misguided might fall victim to deception or misunderstandings
We are the leaders of the wasteland
Claiming a position of power and authority over a desolate environment
Descendants of a mad man
Alluding to a common ancestor who may have been unstable
We got ourselves a new plan
Indicating a desire for change and progress
Its time to get out of hand
Implying that the current situation is too restrictive
Is it wrong to exercise while sittin' on the sofa
Asking a ridiculous question to emphasize the arbitrary nature of some rules
Is it wrong I gotta a quarter in my penny loafer
Posing another absurd question to underscore the idea that people should not be judged for minor transgressions
Is it wrong to date your cousin if you grew up in kentucky
Drawing attention to regional and cultural norms that may be viewed as strange or taboo in other places
Is it wrong to go down south if you know the box is funky
Eliciting a double entendre to inject humor into a serious topic
Is it wrong to eat a hoho if you do not know the ho
Making light of the ridiculousness of moral judgment and societal norms
Is it wrong to use rogaine, you know that shit won't grow
Referencing a product that is commonly marketed to men but may not always be effective
Is it wrong to hug a friend who's name you can't remember
Questioning the acceptability of physical touch in certain circumstances
Is it wrong to join a club if they only got one member
Suggesting that people should not be discouraged from pursuing their interests just because it may seem strange to others
Is it wrong to kill a man, who's killed a man before
Bringing up a complex moral dilemma and questioning what is morally justifiable
Is it wrong to kill a baby in three months or is it four
Continuing to explore the controversy surrounding certain life and death decisions
Is it wrong to get by
Raising a rhetorical question about the ethics of surviving
Is it wrong to get high
Touching on the contentious issue of drug use and its moral implications
Is it wrong that they die
Pondering the morality of death
Is it wrong to ask why
Encouraging open-minded inquiry and curiosity in the face of complex and difficult questions
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BLUES SARACENO, ERIC BALFOUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind