"I’ve been singing and playing piano since I was three," says Karina. "My babysitter had a piano, and she started teaching me how to play. It wasn’t until a year later that I began getting professional lessons." While some have been quick to compare Karina Pasian to other performers including Aaliyah, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey, one listen to her self-assured debut disc is evidence enough that she is destined for success.
Karina remembers the first time she sang in front of an audience. "I sang Céline Dion’s ’My Heart Will Go On’ at a talent show. I was kind of nervous, but the audience loved it."
From that point, there was no denying that music would be her life. A few years later, after using the Prince-penned ballad "How Come U Don’t Call" for an audition, Karina Pasian was cast on a revamped version of Star Search. "That was such a wonderful experience," says Karina, who won the first round of the competition with a rousing version of the Jackson Five classic "I’ll Be There."
Working with an array of songwriters, producers and artists that include The Dream, Tricky Stewart, Gordon Chambers, Chris Brown, Carlos McKinnney, Lil Mama and others, Karina proves to be a breath of fresh soul. "I’ve recorded over 70 songs in the last two years," Karina says. "It was a period of real growth for me as I learned to focus and stay consistent."
Karina Pasian’s godfather, famed producer and businessman Quincy Jones, has also been a guardian angel for the young singer. In addition to giving her advice, the maestro included her in the "We Are the Future" charity concert in 2006. Considering the talents Jones has worked with, from Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan to Michael Jackson and Tamia, she is in good company. "I know I’m blessed to have someone like Quincy in my corner," she says.
A fan who embraces all forms of music, from the stylish pop of Brandy to old school jazz greats, Karina performed the standard "Misty" when she was at the White House last year. "Emilio Estefan, who has been a friend of my family for years, helped to put the show together, and invited me to be a part of it," says Karina. "Later, my brother told me that I was the first Dominican to play at the White House, and that made me very proud." Studying music and voice at High School for the Professional Performing Arts, the Washington Heights native was more than prepared for any challenges that arose in the studio. "I was blessed to have some pretty amazing teachers who prepared me well," she says sweetly. Refusing to fall into any cliché, Karina Pasian has recorded an album that is a reflection of her age and independent point of view.
Karina Pasian’s song "Sixteen" is a song of independence and admiration. "Ain’t no daddy’s where I’m from, its just mad mothers…why am I disrespected by someone I should call brother," she sings in a pristine voice. "I wanted to do a song about what teenager girls go through in urban areas. It’s not cool that boys think they’re being cute when they say nasty stuff to us on the street." Written and produced by The Dream and Tricky Stewart, best known for their work with Rihanna’s "Umbrella" and Madonna’s "Me Against the Music," the song "Sixteen" reminds one of vintage Brill Building girls like the Crystals or Little Eva with an electro-groove.
Another Tricky Stewart and The Dream track that will leave fans breathless is "Baby Baby," an uptempo song that is destined to be a dancefloor scorcher. "Though this is a fun song, it’s not just a party song," says Karina "It’s about guys who simply see young women as sex objects, but I refuse to be that girl." Indeed, like Aretha Franklin, she simply wants some respect. Sharing the mic with rapper Lil Mama ("Lip Gloss" & "Shawty Get Loose"), the two young stars connected in the studio. "Lil Mama was so cool, but it was her confidence in the booth that was really exciting."
Produced and written by Carlos McKinney, the sing-songy "Can’t Find the Words" embraces elements of jazz and pop while simultaneously creating a whimsical track that sounds like nothing else of the radio. Additionally, Karina’s favorite song "Winner," which highlights her elegant piano (her light touch on the keyboard reminds one of Erroll Garner) playing, is laidback and uplifting.
A beautiful young woman with more musical moxy than most sixteen year olds, Karina Pasian has constructed one of the finest debut discs in years. Melancholic and truthful, funky and real, blissful and bold, Karina’s album is the sound of a better tomorrow.
16 @ War
Karina Pasian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's just mad mothers.
And eyes that still seem,
They can't look past color.
Why am I disrespected by
Someone I should call brother?
And why girls feel unpretty
And constantly hate each other?
Bad air in my lungs,
Man I can't breathe.
My eyes burnin' from all the dirt and the debris.
And it's third degree.
Emotionless on the scene.
It's like a disease
The way y'all killin' me.
I'm 16 and I shouldn't have to feel like this.
I'm 16, every young boy out here wanna kiss.
I'm 16, and me and my mama goin' through it.
16 on the block
16 on the block
16, at war
16, at war
16, at war
16, at war
16, at war
16 on the block
16 on the block
Around here cool is another word for fool
If he smoke then she smoke,
I gotta smoke too.
Now what would I do if I didn't have a clue?
I'm 16 Y.O.
Asking God oh Why, OH
If my clothes ain't tight,
Then he ain't gone like me.
Eyes on the prize,
So the next girl dress just like me.
I'm so full of promise,
But why promise if I'm gonna just be rewarded
By bad actions.
To him I'm just a transaction.
I'm 16 and I shouldn't have to feel like this.
I'm 16, every young boy out here wanna kiss.
I'm 16, and me and my mama goin' through it.
16 on the block
16 on the block
I want you to love my mind,
My smile, my style
I want you to know the best of me
I want to belong without being treated
Like property
Why does this seem like a fantasy?
I'm 16 and I shouldn't have to feel like this.
I'm 16, every young boy out here wanna kiss.
I'm 16, and me and my mama goin' through it.
16 on the block
16 on the block
In “16 @ War” Karina Pasian, a 16-year-old herself at the time, sings about the challenges she faces as a young black girl growing up in a harsh inner-city environment. The song touches on the lack of fathers in the community, the way the girls degrade and compete with each other, and the peer pressure to join in behaviors that are unhealthy. Karina describes herself as feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by the bad air, dirt, and debris around her, and also the emotional toll of feeling unloved and unsupported. She laments the fact that she has to strive to look good and dress nicely to be noticed by boys, rather than for who she is as a person. She wants to belong, but not be treated like property or a transaction. Ultimately, she expresses hope that she will be able to rise above her circumstances and find a way to truly be herself.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no daddy's where I'm from,
Growing up there were no fathers around, just mothers who were stressed and overworked.
It's just mad mothers.
The mothers in my community were struggling and angry, and understandably so.
And eyes that still seem,
Despite progress in society, people still see things through the lens of race and judge people accordingly.
They can't look past color.
People are so prejudiced that they judge each other based on their skin color.
Why am I disrespected by
It's hurtful when someone who is supposed to be like a brother disrespects me for no reason.
Someone I should call brother?
Why does this person act like they are against me when we are supposed to be brothers?
And why girls feel unpretty
It's hard to understand why girls constantly put each other down and feel bad about their appearance.
And constantly hate each other?
Why can't girls support and uplift each other instead of constantly spreading hate?
Bad air in my lungs,
Growing up in this type of environment, the air is often polluted and harmful to breathe.
Man I can't breathe.
It can be hard to catch your breath when you are surrounded by so much negativity and toxic behavior.
My eyes burnin' from all the dirt and the debris.
The things I see and experience around me make my eyes burn and feel sore.
And it's third degree.
Sometimes it feels like it's so bad that it's like a third degree burn.
Emotionless on the scene.
People seem to be numb and emotionless to the pain and suffering around them.
It's like a disease
The way people are hurting and killing each other seems to be spreading like a disease.
The way y'all killin' me.
All of this negativity and violence is literally killing my spirit.
I'm 16 and I shouldn't have to feel like this.
I'm young and shouldn't have to deal with all of this negativity and pain.
I'm 16, every young boy out here wanna kiss.
Despite all of this, I am still a teenager with normal desires and feelings.
I'm 16, and me and my mama goin' through it.
My mother and I are going through a tough time right now.
16 on the block
Just another kid out here trying to survive and make it through each day.
Around here cool is another word for fool
In this community, people see acting tough and foolish as cool.
If he smoke then she smoke,
Peer pressure is everywhere, with people trying to get others to join in on harmful behaviors.
I gotta smoke too.
I feel like I have to fit in and be like everyone else to be accepted.
Now what would I do if I didn't have a clue?
I often wonder what my life would be like if I didn't have to conform to fit in.
I'm 16 Y.O.
I'm only 16 years old and still figuring out who I am.
Asking God oh Why, OH
I often ask God why things are the way they are and if there is a way out of this cycle of pain.
If my clothes ain't tight,
I feel like I have to dress a certain way to be accepted.
Then he ain't gone like me.
If I don't dress a certain way, the guy I like won't be interested in me.
Eyes on the prize,
I'm trying to focus on my goals and what's important in life.
So the next girl dress just like me.
I hope that other girls can see that they don't have to dress a certain way to be accepted.
I'm so full of promise,
I have so much potential and promise for the future.
But why promise if I'm gonna just be rewarded
It feels pointless to work hard and have promise if all I'll be rewarded with is negative outcomes.
By bad actions.
There are too many people around me engaging in harmful behaviors and it's discouraging.
To him I'm just a transaction.
The guy I like treats me like an object instead of a person.
I want you to love my mind,
I wish people would value me for who I am on the inside and not just based on appearance.
My smile, my style
I hope people can appreciate my personality and sense of style.
I want you to know the best of me
I hope people can see the best in me and appreciate me for who I am.
I want to belong without being treated
I want to be accepted and belong, but not at the expense of being treated poorly.
Like property
I don't want to be treated like an object that can be owned and controlled by someone else.
Why does this seem like a fantasy?
It feels like this kind of acceptance and love is almost impossible to find in my current environment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marouaboulila633
Karina Pasian
16 AT WAR LYRICS
Ain't no daddy's where I'm from
It's just mad mothers
And eyes that still seem
They can't look past color
Why am I disrespected by
Someone I should call brother?
And why girls feel unpretty
And constantly hate each other?
Bad air in my lungs
Man I can't breathe
My eyes burnin' from all the dirt and the debris
And it's third degree
Emotionless on the scene
It's like a disease
The way y'all killin' me
[Hook]
I'm 16 and I shouldn't have to feel like this
I'm 16, every young boy out here wanna kiss
I'm 16, and me and my mama goin' through it
16 on the block
16 on the block
16, At war [6x]
16 on the block
16 on the block
Around here cool is another word for fool
If he smoke then she smoke
I gotta smoke too
Now what would I do if I didn't have a clue?
I'm 16 Y.O
Asking God oh Why, OH
If my clothes ain't tight
Then he ain't gone like me
Eyes on the prize
So the next girl dress just like me
I'm so full of promise
But why promise if I'm gonna just be rewarded
By bad actions
To him I'm just a transaction
[Hook]
I want you to love my mind
My smile, my style
I want you to know the best of me
I want to belong without being treated
Like property
Why does this seem like a fantasy?
@CrystalArkia
This was a good song for young girls back then. Very real and had a positive message!
@BigPapeLexski
LifeAsKia for young girls period
@preciousgamer7286
Alexus Clark true I agree
@paulamatias5812
I'm 34 and was one of the first to hear this song back than... As an adult. It's still a great song. I just heard it again and cried, I'm going to s'en it to my little niece who is also almost 16. I feel. They have enev more pressure than I had 20 years ago die to social media. Liles have become their oxigen :(
@PrettyOmnificent333
Exactly i loved listening to this song back than and im listening to it again ☺and it takes me back.
@ACT1O1
She didn't write it though.
@taniyahricks501
This is a song that needs to be played today in our society ❗😭
@Sunshine134chick
Facts
@lanijawatson894
Agree
@TaraSumpter
Facts about that all these fasted ass girl need to here this song and maybe they we’ll wake up cuz we been through this when we was young I remember this when I was 16 now I’m 30 year old @taniyahrick501