Defying an easy label, Steven's music is incredibly diverse, ranging from acoustic ballads to hard rock. With three studio albums and a host of indie bands claiming him as their producer, Joel Steven is becoming a force in the world of new rock. His latest album "The Dark After Dawn" is a powerful, haunting tale of one man's struggle in the modern faltering world. Akin to great albums like Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' and Sting's 'Ten Summoner's Tales", the new rock album is raw artistic expression touching on themes of love, drug addiction, insanity, depression, and war.
Not just a songwriter, Joel is also performer, recording engineer, and multi-instrumentalist with proficiency in guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. At the age of 16, Joel hit the stage as a rock guitarist where his dynamic intensity as a live performer quickly gained him notoriety. By the age of 18, Joel was doing live shows across his home state of Michigan capturing the attention of his audiences with his electrifying stage presence and blistering yet bluesy guitar style often described as a cross between Jimmy Page and David Gilmore.
In 1986 Steven settled in Kalamazoo Michigan where he sought to hone his skills as a songwriter and lyricist by gaining a degree in creative writing. He attended Western Michigan University from 1986-1990 and graduated with a BA in English. His talent as a poet was refined, and his love of imagery began to make its way into his original songs, creating a solid foundation where words and music reinforced one another.
“People always ask me if I use my degree in the real word. I smile and reply every single day. The depth and into which I delved into the art of writing poetry and in understanding the English language formed the basis of my skills as a lyricist, and I value this education above all of my other learning”.
While attending the University, Steven continued to play live and became know as a prolific songwriter. He formed twe original bands to showcase his music. The hard rocking ‘Mana Rule’ (1990-1994 and ‘Eel pie Island’ (1994-1995) both of which became known for Joel’s unyielding stage performances and edgy improvisational guitar riffs.
Wanting always to learn and grow musically, Steven moved to California in 1995 and began to explore the realm of audio engineering. Forever fascinated by musical arrangements and how instruments and tones work together, Joel pursued a career as a live sound engineer. When he wasn’t performing live, he was mixing night club and concert sound for prominent national bands such as Charlie Daniels Band, Iron Butterfly, Dread Zeppelin and Suicidal Tendencies.
“I absolutely loved mixing live sound. It taught me extremely valuable engineering skills that I would later come to cherish as I sought my lifelong dream of becoming a recording artist in my own studio”.
Following his dream Steven did just that. In 1999 he opened a small recording studio and established the indie label Octagon Records with the intention of writing and recording independent music that he believed In. This was the start of Joel’s career as an independent recording artist. Since then he has released three albums of original music, “North Coast”, “Fathomless” and "The Dark After Dawn", as well as two albums of instrumental rock with the venerable keyboardist Paul Grove under the name “What Man Was”. Several songs form Joel’s CDs can be heard on MTV’s Real Word, Road Rules, Made, and Extreme Challenge as Well as two indie films, “Read White and you” and “Insomnia Century 21”
Misted
Joel Steven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand
I get misty, holding your hand
Walk my way
And a thousand violins begin to play
That music I hear
I get misty the moment you're near
You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you realize how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you
On my own
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I get misty, and too much in love
I'm too misty, and too much in love
The song "Misty" by Joel Stevens is a classic love song that speaks volumes about the vulnerability and helplessness that often accompanies falling in love. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is completely captivated by someone else, to the point where they feel as though they are clinging to a cloud. They can't understand why they have become so enamored with this person, and their heart races every time they hold hands. The mere presence of this person sends their head spinning, as they become lost in the moment, lost in the feeling of love.
As the song continues, the singer acknowledges that they may be getting led on by this person, but they don't care. They are hopelessly lost in love, and they are content to follow wherever this person leads them. They can't imagine wandering through life alone, not knowing their right foot from their left. They are too misty and too much in love to go it alone.
The song's lyrics are a testament to the power of love and the way it can make us feel, even when we don't fully understand it ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
I am in a vulnerable state
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
I feel helpless like a kitten stuck in a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I feel like I'm holding onto something intangible
I can't understand
I don't quite comprehend my feelings
I get misty, holding your hand
Being close to you makes me feel emotional
Walk my way
Come to me
And a thousand violins begin to play
I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness
Or it might be the sound of your hello
The sound of your voice makes me happy
That music I hear
I feel happy when I'm with you
I get misty the moment you're near
I feel emotional when I'm close to you
You can say that you're leading me on
You may be leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
I want to be led on
Don't you realize how hopelessly I'm lost
I'm lost in love with you
That's why I'm following you
I'm following my heart and my love for you
On my own
By myself
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
I would be lost without you
Never knowing my right foot from my left
I would be completely directionless
My hat from my glove
I would be unable to distinguish my belongings
I get misty, and too much in love
I feel overwhelmed with emotion and love
I'm too misty, and too much in love
My emotions are too strong
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: JOHNNY BURKE, ERROLL GARNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind