Glen's is not a household name, but his impact on the music world is considerable. He co-wrote the number one hit "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" with Patty Smyth, and also wrote "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man," a number one country hit performed by Randy Travis.
Glen might also be recognized through his work in advertising. As one example, his song "The Man Inside" was used in the UK Phillishave advert back in the 90s.
Many fans outside of the New Jersey area discovered Glen through his two short stints with the rock band Styx. He first joined the band in the early 90s as a replacement for singer / guitarist Tommy Shaw, and later returned in the late 90s / early 2000s as a replacement for bassist Chuck Panozzo.
Glen has now returned to a solo career but remains active in the music world. Along with teaching music and performing solo shows, he is also an occasional member of a Beatles tribute band or two.
Check out Glen's website:
http://www.glenburtnik.com
Crank It Up
Glen Burtnick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dig me - dancing with a broken heart
There are no demons in my mind tonight
I'm a rebel with a reason
Everybody knows I can crank it up
Breathe in, midnight in the promised land
I may never feel this way again
I'm a walking constellation and this moment is mine
Crank it up
Keep a light on me
Crank it up
Keep your eye on me
Who said "justice is a dreamer's word"?
It's their world, yeah, but I got me a piece of it
They can do nothing to me now
Yeah 'cause maybe tomorrow, they'll own me again
But tonight I'm the king, I'm a self made man
Crank it up
Keep a light on me
Crank it up
Keep your eye on me
Crank it up
Keep a light on me
Yeah
This night belongs to me
This ain't no waste of time
I ain't no nickle dime
Tonight I walk the mile
Tonight I burn my file
There is no question in my heart tonight
I'm a serious contender
Yeah, and I wanna wake this city
I wanna shake this world
Crank it up
Keep a light on me
Crank it up
Keep your eye on me
Yeah
Crank it up
Keep a light on me
Crank it up
Keep your eye on me
Baby
Crank it up
Keep a light on me just keep a light on me
Yeah yeah yeah
Crank it up
Keep your eye on me
Keep it on me...
In Glen Burtnick's song Crank It Up, the lyrics talk about being alone and heartbroken, but finding solace in music and becoming a rebel with a reason. The singer is on the boulevard and feels lonely, but with music and dance, the pain seems to fade away. In the chorus, the singer asks for a light to be kept on them and for someone to keep an eye on them. This can be interpreted as a need for affirmation and support in a vulnerable moment in their life. The lyrics also touch on the concept of justice being a "dreamer's word" and how the world may take control of their life again tomorrow, but tonight they are in control and are a self-made person. The overall tone of the song is empowering and hopeful, despite the previous heartbreak and loneliness.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 1983 and was a part of Burtnick's debut studio album, Heroes and Zeros. The album was produced by Todd Rundgren, a well-respected producer and musician in the industry. Another interesting fact is that the song was also covered by the American rock band Bon Jovi during their tour in 1984. Jon Bon Jovi was a big supporter of Burtnick's music and even introduced him on stage during a concert.
The song was also featured in the movie Heavy Metal Parking Lot, which was a documentary about heavy metal culture in the 1980s. The film showcased fans of heavy metal music and highlighted their fashion, attitudes, and love for the music. Crank It Up was used as the opening track for the documentary and has since become a cult classic.
Interestingly, despite receiving heavy airplay on MTV when it was first released, the song never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. However, it did reach #15 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1983.
Chords: Unfortunately, we were unable to locate the chords for Glen Burtnick's song Crank It Up.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, it gets lonely on the boulevard
Being on the boulevard can be lonely.
Dig me - dancing with a broken heart
I'm dancing despite my broken heart.
There are no demons in my mind tonight
Tonight my mind is clear, and I have no negative thoughts.
I'm a rebel with a reason
I'm a rebel, but I have a good reason for it.
Everybody knows I can crank it up
Everyone knows I can perform well.
Breathe in, midnight in the promised land
I'm breathing in the night in the land of opportunity.
I may never feel this way again
I may not have another chance to experience this moment.
I've got a drummer in my heart right now
I feel alive and energized in this moment.
I'm a walking constellation and this moment is mine
I'm unique and special, and this moment belongs to me.
Who said "justice is a dreamer's word"?
Who believes that justice only exists in dreams?
It's their world, yeah, but I got me a piece of it
The world belongs to others, but I have my own place in it.
They can do nothing to me now
No one can hurt me in this moment.
Yeah 'cause maybe tomorrow, they'll own me again
Tomorrow, life may not be as good. They may have power over me again.
But tonight I'm the king, I'm a self made man
Tonight, I'm in charge. I've worked hard to get where I am.
This night belongs to me
This night is mine to enjoy.
This ain't no waste of time
This is not a pointless activity.
I ain't no nickle dime
I'm not worthless. I have value.
Tonight I walk the mile
Tonight, I'm on top and in control.
Tonight I burn my file
Tonight, I'm starting fresh and leaving the past behind.
There is no question in my heart tonight
I have complete confidence in myself tonight.
I'm a serious contender
I'm a worthy competitor.
Yeah, and I wanna wake this city
I want to stir things up and make an impact on this city.
I wanna shake this world
I want to make a big impact on the world.
Baby
Keep a light on me just keep a light on me
Please don't forget about me.
Keep your eye on me
Pay attention to what I'm doing.
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.