John McLaughlin (b. 1942), also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an … Read Full Bio ↴John McLaughlin (b. 1942), also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English jazz- and jazz-fusion guitarist and composer.

Born on 4th January 1942 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, he played with Tony Williams Lifetime and then with Miles Davis on his landmark electric jazz-fusion albums In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. His 1970s electric band, The Mahavishnu Orchestra performed a technically virtuosic and complex style of music that fused eclectic jazz and rock with eastern and Indian influences. His guitar playing involves a range of styles and genres, including jazz, Indian classical music, fusion, and Western classical music, and has influenced many other guitarists. He has also incorporated flamenco music in some of his acoustic recordings.

http://www.johnmclaughlin.com/

One of fusion's most virtuosic guitar soloists, John McLaughlin placed his blazing speed in the service of a searching spiritual passion that has kept his music evolving and open to new influences. Whether shredding on electric or simmering quietly on acoustic, McLaughlin's intensity and underappreciated versatility have nearly always kept his playing vital, and his best moments -- whether as a solo artist or bandmember -- represent some of fusion's greatest recordings.

McLaughlin was born January 4, 1942, in Yorkshire, England, and began playing guitar at age 11. Initially attracted to blues and swing, he worked with British artists like Georgie Fame, Graham Bond, Brian Auger, and Ginger Baker. McLaughlin formed his own band in 1968, and recorded the excellent debut Extrapolation in early 1969. Later that year he moved to New York to join Tony Williams' groundbreaking fusion band Lifetime, and appeared on the classic Emergency! Through Williams, McLaughlin was invited to join Miles Davis' band, and became an important part of fusion landmarks like In a Silent Way, B**ches Brew, and A Tribute to Jack Johnson. In 1970, wanting to explore acoustic and Eastern music, McLaughlin recorded the classic My Goal's Beyond; he soon left Davis, and after one further solo album, Devotion, McLaughlin spent some time woodshedding.

He re-emerged in 1971 as leader of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, a seminal band that did much to define and popularize early jazz-rock fusion, as evidenced by the albums The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire, and Visions of the Emerald Beyond. Pausing to record Love Devotion Surrender with Carlos Santana in 1972, McLaughlin led Mahavishnu until 1975. Returning to spiritual preoccupations on My Goal's Beyond, he then formed Shakti, which fused acoustic jazz with Indian music over the course of three albums. McLaughlin returned to his solo career in the late '70s, forming a backing outfit called the One Truth Band, and also recording the guitar trio albums Friday Night in San Francisco and Passion, Grace & Fire with fellow fusion burner Al di Meola and flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia. As the '80s went along, McLaughlin experimented with classical-jazz hybrid composing; there was also a short-lived Mahavishnu reunion in the mid-'80s.

In the 1990s McLaughlin continued to record steadily in both electric and acoustic groups. He signed to Verve, where he would remain for 13 years. Some of the more notable albums from that period include the acoustic Time Remembered: John McLaughlin Plays Bill Evans in 1993; After the Rain with Elvin Jones and Joey DeFrancesco in 1995; and 1996's The Promise, which featured the guitarist in a number of settings, including a reunion with his acoustic trio partners di Meola and de Lucia, and a trio with DeFrancesco and drummer Dennis Chambers. The drummer was also a part of McLaughlin's final album of the decade, Heart of Things, a furious bout of electric jazz.

The 21st century found McLaughlin in another nostalgic mood, releasing Remember Shakti: The Believer, a live set featuring the guitarist (playing electric guitar) with electric mandolinist U. Shrinivas, kanjira and ghatam player V. Selvaganesh, and legendary tabla player Zakir Hussain. While it wasn't a Shakti album proper, it nonetheless echoed that group's intricate and amazing rhythmic and harmonic breakthroughs. The group toured and released Saturday Night in Bombay a year later. McLaughlin's Euro-classical-leaning Thieves and Poets appeared in 2003. In 2004, WEA in Germany issued the massive 17-CD box set of McLaughlin's Montreux Concerts, which featured performances recorded between 1974 and 1996. Industrial Zen, released in 2006, was a mixed-bag recording where the guitarist's ambitions ran wild. It was his final album for Verve.

In 2008 McLaughlin issued Floating Point, an extension of many of the concepts on Industrial Zen, on the Abstract Logix imprint. The final track on that album was entitled "Five Peace Band"; it served as the name for a supergroup assembled by McLaughlin and Chick Corea for a one-off world tour. The other members were saxophonist Kenny Garrett, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and bassist Christian McBride; an album of the same name was released in 2009 on Concord. To the One, a studio album with his 4th Dimension band, was released on Abstract Logix in the spring of 2010. McLaughlin resurfaced two years later with Now Here This, featuring new 4th Dimension drummer, Ranjit Barot. ~ Steve Huey & Thom Jurek, Rovi

Guardian Angel
John McLaughlin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

bahagianya ku punyamu
berharganya bersamamu
selalu kan ku jaga semuanya ini
semoga kan abadi
reff:
akhirnya ku temukan
you’re my guardian angel
ku mohon selamanya

seindah ini
akhirnya ku miliki
you’re my guardian angel
terjawab segalanya
kau yang ku nanti
baby i love you
(baby i love you)
love you
bahagianya ada kamu
berharganya cinta kamu
selalu kan ku jaga semuanya ini
semoga kan abadi
repeat reff

you’re my angel
repeat reff

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John McLaughlin's song "Guardian Angel" are a beautiful expression of love and devotion. The singer is expressing his happiness and gratitude for having his loved one in his life. He believes that he has found his guardian angel, someone who is valuable and precious to him. The singer vows to protect and cherish this person forever, hoping that their love will remain eternal.

The chorus reaffirms his belief that this person is his guardian angel, and that their love has answered all of his prayers. The singer ends by declaring his love for his partner. It's a simple yet powerful ballad about the joy of love and the importance of cherishing the people who are important to us.

Overall, "Guardian Angel" is a beautiful testament to the power of love and the comfort it brings. The lyrics are simple yet meaningful, and the melody is both soothing and uplifting. It's a song that touches the heart and reminds us of the beauty of life.

Line by Line Meaning

bahagianya ku punyamu
I am happy to have you in my life

berharganya bersamamu
Being with you is invaluable to me

selalu kan ku jaga semuanya ini
I will always protect everything we have

semoga kan abadi
I hope it lasts forever

akhirnya ku temukan
Finally, I found

you’re my guardian angel
You are the one who protects me

ku mohon selamanya seindah ini
I pray it will always be as beautiful as this

akhirnya ku miliki
Finally, I own

terjawab segalanya
Everything is finally answered

kau yang ku nanti
You are the one I am waiting for

baby i love you (baby i love you) love you
My dear, I love you (I love you)