As a 17 year old out of high school, Keaton started thinking about college. He decided on The Evergreen State College, located in Olympia, Washington. The area, which has become known as a fertile breeding ground for music and art, proved perfect to set in motion his initiation into the immense world of music. It was there that Keaton started writing songs. He dove in headfirst, taking on courses ranging from 20th century classical composition to Indonesian gamelan music to jazz and quite a lot in between. Keaton's years at Evergreen not only introduced him to diverse global music but also taught him to incorporate everything into his own sensibilities. Major record labels have accused Keaton of being too diverse to contain.
After an early graduation, it was back to Los Angeles, playing music with old friends like Tre Hardson (of The Pharcyde) and new ones like singer N'Dea Davenport (of the Brand New Heavies), Kim Hill (of the Black Eyed Peas), underground hip-hop legend Medusa and appearing on Jay Leno's TONIGHT SHOW with hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg.
Before Keaton was 21 years old he was asked to compose music for the motion picture Mercy Streets. Labels began to investigate and eventually he landed a deal with Maverick Records. Keaton released a five-song EP with Maverick entitled "Currently". The EP displays a taste of bluesy, rootsy, guitar-driven songs & ballads, with stylish arrangements that showcase his rich, often spooky melodies. Indeed, the disc's delicate, down-home title track is in rotation at radio stations around America. Recently reaching ..1 on the charts of Tucson, AZ's KWMT 92.9 The Mountain.
One of the first to play Keaton's music was influential LA public radio station KCRW, which afforded him the opportunity in early 2005 to play the Universal Amphitheatre supporting Coldplay. Keaton's music has also been featured on LA's ..1 mid-day radio show, KLSX 97.1, "Heidi, Frosty and Frank". Here is where leaks have started of some of the tracks on Keaton's album that were produced by well known producing team, The Matrix. The timing for Keaton's meeting (through a mutual friend) with the Matrix really worked for both. Keaton's songs were thought of as being too alternatively structured to be radio friendly, though many agreed there was something there. The Matrix, just off Avril Lavigne's COMPLICATED, were seeking something to ground them, and reveal the soul in their pop music. The team loved every second of working together, and ended up with an album that was completed just in time for the record label to conclude changes that made releasing such a "big album" impossible. Hence, a move to the beautiful freedom and diversity of CD Baby.
Keaton participated in the 2005 Sundance Film Festival as a part of BMI's annual showcase. Sharing the bill with Vanessa Carlton, Minnie Driver, Joe Firstman and Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service). Keaton is no stranger to the world of film and television. It's kind of the family business. Keaton's little stepsister, Emma Roberts, costars with JoJo in the just completed AQUAMARINE. Emma has an album coming out, featuring songs from her television series UNFABULOUS. Keaton's sister, Morgan Simons, is a culinary artist who tries to feed actresses healthfully enough such that they will not need to name their babies after food!
Keaton's grandfather, Don Garrett, has been publicist to such world renowned sensations as everything from The Supremes to "The Flintstones". Another of Keaton's grandfathers, screenwriter David Rayfiel, wrote such loved films as "Three Days of the Condor" & "Round Midnight", to name a few. Keaton's grandmother, Lila Garrett (whom Keaton immortalized in the song "Joseph" on which Keaton took the opportunity to play all the instruments including drums, bass, piano, guitar and vocals) has credits and Emmy awards as writer/ producer/ director on pretty much every situation comedy from the 1960s to the 2000s. Keaton and his father, Jimmy Simons, had a chance recently to work together when Keaton appeared on Fox Televisions' MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, which Jimmy produces and sometimes directs. Keaton was cast by his episode's director, Bryan Cranston, who also plays "Hal" on the series. Keaton's mother, Eliza Roberts, has made a name for herself as a Hollywood Jane of all trades. From actress to casting director, manager to writer. In her early 20s she became producer of the pre-MTV phenomenon "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert". With baby Keaton in tow, Eliza's show hosted live performances from such acts as Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Brothers Johnson, Donna Summers, Abba, Natalie Cole, and featured early comedy by David Letterman, Andy Kaufman, Michael Keaton and almost Robin Williams - but no one could quite figure out what his act was.
Beyond MALCOLM, like many musicians today, Keaton has crossed over into the world of acting, having performed a heart-stopping rendition of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" on NBC's acclaimed "American Dreams". Keaton will also be seen starring in Henry Jaglom's upcoming feature film, "Hollywood Dreams" (Lots of "dreams" needed to sort through some of the harsh realities of our world these days, it would seem). Keaton's earliest work features his mother, Eliza (Garrett), three months pregnant with him, when she appeared as "Brunella, at the desk" in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE.
Changes
Keaton Simons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To need you
I know
Incompletely
So sweetly
You go
No change
In sight
Uptight
Don't close your eyes
On me
So, uniquely
Concretely
Secure
Pressed against me
So tensely
Assured
No change
In sight
You're still
Uptight
Don't close your eyes
On me
Love is going out of style
Please stop wasting time
Forgotten for a while
My heart stops on a dime
What a crime
Boo Hoo
Still no change
In sight
You're still
Uptight
Don't close your eyes
On me
In Keaton Simons's song "Changes," the lyrics express the struggles of a relationship that is failing to progress. The opening lines, "Now, you want me. To need you. I know. Incompletely," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer acknowledges that his partner wants him to need them, but he cannot fulfill that desire completely. The phrase "So sweetly, you go" implies that his partner may choose to leave him in search of someone who can fulfill their needs.
The chorus of the song, "No change in sight, you're still uptight, don't close your eyes on me," further amplifies the stagnation of the relationship. The singer is urging his partner not to give up on the relationship by closing off completely. He wants her to open herself up to the possibility that things can get better.
As the song progresses, the singer highlights the sense of security he feels when he is with his partner, but even that is not enough to overcome the issues that they're facing. The line "Love is going out of style" suggests that the relationship is doomed to fail unless they are both willing to put in the work to make it last. He pleads with his partner to "stop wasting time" so they can refocus their efforts on the relationship.
In conclusion, the song "Changes" by Keaton Simons offers a powerful message about the struggles of relationships. It highlights the importance of open communication, and how even the most secure relationships can falter without constant effort.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, you want me
The singer acknowledges that their partner now desires them.
To need you
The singer feels pressured to reciprocate the desire of their partner, but is uncertain if they can truly fulfill this expectation.
I know
The singer has some level of understanding or insight into their own feelings and thoughts regarding the relationship.
Incompletely
The artist admits that they only have a partial grasp on their own emotions and desires.
So sweetly
The artist conveys that their partner's actions or behavior are pleasing, but not necessarily enough to sway their uncertainty or reservations.
You go
The singer urges their partner to continue with their current behavior or actions in the relationship.
No change
There has been no progress or development in the relationship, or in the singer's own feelings.
In sight
The artist doesn't foresee any major changes happening in the near future.
You're still
The artist is addressing their partner directly, acknowledging their continued behavior or actions in the relationship.
Uptight
The artist describes their partner as anxious or tense in the relationship, possibly due to their expectations or desires not being met.
Don't close your eyes
The singer doesn't want their partner to ignore or brush aside the current state of the relationship.
On me
This emphasizes that the artist wants their partner to remain aware of their presence in the relationship, and to not fall into complacency or a passive role.
Love is going out of style
The singer laments the current state of love, possibly due to a lack of genuine emotion or connection, or perhaps due to societal trends or attitudes influencing relationships.
Please stop wasting time
The singer is urging their partner to be honest about their true desires or intentions in the relationship, and to not prolong it unnecessarily.
Forgotten for a while
The singer acknowledges that the relationship has been neglected or overlooked for some time.
My heart stops on a dime
The artist's heart or emotions are fragile and easily swayed, possibly indicating a fear of getting hurt or a lack of confidence.
What a crime
The artist expresses disappointment, frustration, or despair at the current state of the relationship.
Boo Hoo
The singer mocks or belittles their own emotions or situation, perhaps due to a fear of appearing vulnerable or weak.
Still no change
The singer reiterates their earlier assessment that nothing has changed in the relationship or in their own feelings.
In sight
The artist doesn't expect any significant developments or improvements in the near future.
You're still
The artist continues to address their partner, acknowledging their continued actions or behavior in the relationship.
Uptight
The artist emphasizes their partner's anxious or tense demeanor in the relationship.
Don't close your eyes
The singer urges their partner to not ignore or overlook the current state of the relationship.
On me
The artist emphasizes that their partner needs to remain aware of their presence and involvement in the relationship.
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.