Laurentiu Mocanu (born June 2, 1986), better known by his stage name Guess Who is a Romanian rapper. He began his career as a member of the rap group Anonim along with group members Zekko and Griffo, and later launched a successful solo career in music. He is one of the most successful artists from the new wave of Romanian hip hop and has gained considerable appreciation and mainstream attention in his native Romania following the release of his first solo album in 2009 called Probe Audio (Sound Checks). Guess Who gained popularity as a solo artist in 2007 when he leaked three tracks he had recorded for his solo album on the Internet. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and his cynical and ironic approach to writing quickly earned him a large fanbase. Even though he repeatedly delayed for over two years releasing his first album, the Romanian audience received it well and he even gained attention from high level Romanian music executives when his video for the first single Tu (You) was aired on the Romanian music channel 1Music.
His first album, Probe Audio was released and sold independently from his official website under the Okapi Sound umbrella, a collective of Romanian hip hop artists who had been working together producing music since 2007. Only promoted on the Internet, the album moved an impressive number of units, drawing attention from large Romanian labels. He eventually signed a contract with Cat Music to re-relase his album with the sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor (literally 'The Sports Newspaper' in Romanian) together with labelmate and music partner Spike, who released his sophomore effort in 2009.
Early life and career:
Guess Who was born Laurentiu Mocanu in Bucharest, Romania in 1984. As a child, he enjoyed sports and even played soccer for the Bucharest-based club Steaua. [1]As a child he became interested in hip hop music and eventually started performing with his friends creating the hip hop group Anonim in 1999. They caught the attention of Romanian hip hop group Paraziลฃii after they entered a contest organized by 20 CM Records where they recorded a demo song over an instrumental produced by Cheloo for Paraziลฃii and released on one of the group's albums as a track called 'Actiunea Instrumentalul' (The Instrumental Operation). They eventually signed a contract with 20 CM Records and released their debut album in 2005. As Paraziลฃii are one of the most proeminent hip hop acts in Romania, Anonim were heavily promoted and toured extensivly to promote their album. The group went quiet in late 2006 and Guess Who resurfaced alone in 2007 on Paraziลฃii member Ombladon's solo album singing the chorus in the lead single, 'Noapte Buna, Bucuresti' (Good Night, Bucharest). Shortly afterwards, Mocanu left 20 CM Records and started working with Agresiv, a team of producers who were already gaining notoriety for their work with various Romanian artists.
Answer
Guess Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When your hands are tied
Cause your friends found you out
When you broke down and cried
And the bright colored balls
That you held inside
Weren't the answer
No, no, no
It's no good anymore
When you know all the rules
Cause your friends pushed you out
And they all look like fools
And the stories that you sang
From the inside room
Weren't the answer
No, no, no
Not the answer
I'd like to help you but you're past that
I'd like to help you but it's too late
I'd like to look around the corner just to find what I could see
It's no good anymore
To abide by the rules
Cause you're graduating soon
From the loser's school
And the country tavern lady
In the house on the hill
Can't be the answer
No, no, no
She's not the answer
I'd like to help you but you're past that
I'd like to help you but it's too late
I'd like to look around the corner just to find what I could see
(Repeat)
Like to help you
But you're too far gone
I'd like to help you out
But it's too late now
The song "Answer" by the Guess Who talks about a person who's going through a tough time but can't find the answer to their problems. The first verse talks about how the person has lost their friends' support and how the things that used to give him joy no longer do. The second verse laments about how the person knows all the rules and stories, but they can't make sense of it all. The chorus emphasizes that whatever the answer is, it's not the things the person thought it would be.
The final verse talks about the person's graduation from the "loser's school." It means that the person is forever trapped in a negative cycle and has given up on finding answers. The person may have resorted to alcoholism or some other form of escapism to cope with their feelings of hopelessness, but even that doesn't solve anything. The last lines talk of how it's too late, and the singer regrets that they can't help anymore.
Overall, the song touches on the theme of hopelessness and how sometimes, it's hard to find a way out of a tough situation.
Line by Line Meaning
It's no good anymore
When your hands are tied
Cause your friends found you out
When you broke down and cried
And the bright colored balls
That you held inside
Weren't the answer
No, no, no
Not the answer
It's useless to pretend to be someone you're not when you are exposed by your own emotions. The faรงade that you have built for yourself is not enough to silence the turmoil within you, and no amount of pretension can fix that.
It's no good anymore
When you know all the rules
Cause your friends pushed you out
And they all look like fools
And the stories that you sang
From the inside room
Weren't the answer
No, no, no
Not the answer
Following norms is pointless when it leads to exclusion amongst people who themselves are just playing along. The tales you sing from within the confines of your own mind can only offer temporary relief, but they are not enough to provide long-term solutions.
I'd like to help you but you're past that
I'd like to help you but it's too late
I'd like to look around the corner just to find what I could see
I am sorry I cannot help you anymore, but I wish I wouldโve known better. I would love to explore the possibilities of the future, only to realize what could have been done differently.
It's no good anymore
To abide by the rules
Cause you're graduating soon
From the loser's school
And the country tavern lady
In the house on the hill
Can't be the answer
No, no, no
She's not the answer
Following the mundane rules of society is not worth it anymore, because you're about to leave behind the place where people who have failed end up. The lady who lives in the mansion nearby cannot solve your problem either, as the solution lies within your own self.
I'd like to help you but you're past that
I'd like to help you but it's too late
I'd like to look around the corner just to find what I could see
(Repeat)
Like to help you
But you're too far gone
I'd like to help you out
But it's too late now
I wish I could help you overcome this, but it seems like it's too late for that. Although I would love to gain insight into your future, it would be useless to do so now. You have already reached the point of no return, and I cannot help you anymore.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURTON CUMMINGS, RANDY BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@D10GENES
It's no good anymore
When your hands are tied
Cause your friends found you out
When you broke down and cried
And the bright colored balls
That you held inside
Weren't the answer
No, no, no
Not the answer
It's no good anymore
When you know all the rules
Cause your friends pushed you out
And they all look like fools
And the stories that you sang
From the inside room
Weren't the answer
No, no, no
Not the answer
I'd like to help you but you're past that
I'd like to help you but it's too late
I'd like to look around the corner just to find what I could see
It's no good anymore
To abide by the rules
Cause you're graduating soon
From the loser's school
And the country tavern lady
In theโฆ
@ZebMinett13
In my humble opinion, The Guess Who are one of the best rock bands that have ever graced the Earth. I was very fortunate to have been brought up on this band from a young age as my Dad owned all the albums on vinyl, and then later on CD. I'm only 23 years of age, so unfortunately missed this band's heyday by a long shot, but I can totally appreciate what they've contributed towards music, I just love 'em! And this is arguably one of their best songs too!
@stripervince1
One of the absolute most underrated groups of all time, along with Jefferson starship, supertramp and grand funk rr. All fantastic groups , burton Cummings could sing. These guys made some fantastic music. Song is a gem. Itโs no good anymore, to abide by the rules, cause youโre graduating soon from the losers school, amazing lyrics
@billconwell390
Amazing band. I was lucky enough to see these guys a few times ,including this lineup. It was between the release of the American Woman album and Share the Land.My friend Richie Brennan and I went to see them(Carbondale Illinois I think) from Scott AFB where we were stationed at. Tripping of course, since we had scored a bunch of LSD for a very low price at the Kickapoo Creek rock festival that we had been at about a week earlier. That was in Iowa and we got there early before they were regulating where people parked.I actually was able to pull my '58 MGA close enough to be able to see the stage from my car.Try getting away with that at a concert nowadays.
@DonVal86
The chords after the chorus are part of the hook, Iโve never ever heard that in a song. Amazing.
@oakwoodacademy
What a magnificent song!ย Recently came across this one as well as the entire TWTWย lp.ย This and Silver Bird, and others from the album, rankย with the very best from that era.ย It's unfortunate exposure was lacking when these gems were recorded.ย These four guys were unmatched in musicianship,ย vocals, andย of course, songwriting.ย This, sadly,ย was the end of the original lineup---but what a group it was.
@theinvincibleviolet5617
What a cool song !!!! IT's rock and jazz and everything good.. Thank you, :)
@cleciusviana7623
Mรบsica excelente do The Guess, lembrando estilo do Clรกssica IV.
@stripervince1
Wow, just fantastic music
@TheMatzker
This has the rockin' melancholy feel of Marvin Gaye , and could blend nicely into a What's Goin' On playlist.
@Sandbagger300
ZebMinett13ย Yeah same thing with me, I was brought up on Guess Who as my Dad has their Albums on cassette and LP's. Great band!