Kelli's first independent album, a collection of dark modern dream folk songs, was "Rocking Horse" (Nov '08, DIY & One Little Indian). It was produced by Max Richter (composer of "The Blue Notebooks" & "Memoryhouse" / producer of Vashti Bunyan's "Memoryhouse") & has received critical acclaim.
In 2009, Kelli recorded and produced her Butterfly album with her partner Metso.
Butterfly is an acoustic album which came about through Kelli's desire to capture the songs from her Rocking Horse album in their metamorphosis as she and her band reworked the songs for the live stage show. This is Kelli's second independent release which is sold through her website and online.
Her earlier solo albums, Tigermouth and Psychic Cat saw Kelli move from the trip-hop influences of her first successful band Sneaker Pimps, to a more dreampop electronic sound.
The Tigermouth album includes songs such as “Sunlight in the Rain” and “Kids,” which featured ex-Doors drummer John Densmore. Kelli toured with Garbage in 2003 and released her follow-up album, Psychic Cat, in mid-2004.
Psychic Cat saw a return to Kelli’s electro/rock and roll roots, and featured musician turned author Tony O’Neill on keyboards and Andrew Innes of Primal Scream on the song 'Ideal'.
Kelli's collaborations include her co-writing The Paul Oakenfold (featuring Brittany Murphy) Hit song 'Faster Kill Pussycat', Satoshi Tomiie's 'Up in Flames' and 'Love in Traffic' and Bootsy Collins' 'Play With Bootsy' lead single track from his album 'Play with Bootsy', on which Kelli wrote and sang lead vocals.
After leaving London in 2005 to go traveling around Mexico and California, Kelli began learning to play the acoustic guitar and writing songs for what would become her Rocking Horse album. Inspired by the beauty of nature and her travels, Kelli wrote songs such as 'One Day at a Time' and 'Urique'. Her new vocal approach and sparse arrangements creating the dream folk sound of Rocking Horse.
Kelli returned to the UK and began recording the Rocking Horse album with Max Richter in Scotland in Spring 2008.
Marc Pilley played the guitars on the record and Max Richter played the B3 organ and piano, with a quartet playing the string parts and Ruth Morley on flute.
In her live set, Kelli and her band combine cello, flute and acoustic guitar with Kelli's ethereal vocals to interpret the songs from her Rocking Horse album and an original cover of Willows Song from the cult classic Wicker Man film soundtrack.
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Graffiti Boy
Kelli Ali Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you shake my heart up like a spray can
and when they ask me, I say no man
I ain't affected at all
'cos baby, I gotta play it coola
you know I ain't nobody's fool na
you know I ain't a fool at all
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
I love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy, my graffiti boy
my graffiti boy yeah
I'm a loser
but I got my dancin' boots on
and if you feel like havin' some fun
well I'm ready when you are
'cos sometimes, I need a little bit of sunshine
I think, I think it would be so fine
you write my name up on the wall
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
I love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy, my graffiti boy
my graffiti boy yeah
out on the street, everything's sweet, ah my love will go high and higher
where are you now? under my feet
yeah and I'm gonna walk through fire
swear on my heart, I know where you've been but I'm still comin' out to get you
I knew from the start, that you were the man
from the very first day I met you
lover rock
don't stop
lover rock
don't stop
lover rock
don't stop
lover rock
don't stop
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
I love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy, my graffiti boy
my graffiti boy yeah...
In Kelli Ali's song "Graffiti Boy," the lyrics are about a person being crazy in love with their graffiti artist lover. The song begins with the singer saying that their lover "shakes [their] heart up like a spray can." Even though others may inquire about the effect their lover has on them, the singer insists that they are not affected. The singer then goes on to say that they have to play it cool and that they are nobody's fool. They claim to love their graffiti boy and repeat these sentiment-filled lines multiple times throughout the song.
The singer then admits that they are a loser but have their dancing boots on and are ready for some fun. They crave a little bit of sunshine and think that their lover writing their name on a wall would be fine. The chorus repeats, emphasizing how much the singer loves their graffiti boy. The song then takes an interesting turn as the singer says their lover is under their feet, and they will walk through fire for them. The singer acknowledges that they know where the lover has been but is still determined to get them. The song ends with the repetition of "lover rock, don't stop" and the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
hey there
The singer is addressing someone, acknowledging their presence.
you shake my heart up like a spray can
The person being addressed is so captivating that they have a similarly electrifying effect as shaking a spray can.
and when they ask me, I say no man
I ain't affected at all
The singer denies to outsiders that they are being affected by the person they are addressing.
'cos baby, I gotta play it coola
you know I ain't nobody's fool na
you know I ain't a fool at all
The artist's claim to not be affected is for self-preservation, to not appear foolish or fall victim to the other person's power.
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
I love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy, my graffiti boy
my graffiti boy yeah
The artist is besotted with the person they are addressing, 'my graffiti boy,' who leaves an indelible mark on their heart and life.
I'm a loser
but I got my dancin' boots on
and if you feel like havin' some fun
well I'm ready when you are
Though the singer sees themselves as a loser, they are still up for any challenge and eager to have fun with the person they admire.
'cos sometimes, I need a little bit of sunshine
I think, I think it would be so fine
you write my name up on the wall
The singer craves attention and affection from the person they admire, wanting them to publicly proclaim their love.
out on the street, everything's sweet, ah my love will go high and higher
where are you now? under my feet
yeah and I'm gonna walk through fire
The artist speaks of the ecstasy they feel when with the person they love, but also acknowledges the pain they are willing to go through to be with them.
swear on my heart, I know where you've been but I'm still comin' out to get you
I knew from the start, that you were the man
from the very first day I met you
The artist is aware of the other person's past, but still wants to pursue them, having been drawn to them from the first moment they met.
lover rock
don't stop
lover rock
don't stop
lover rock
don't stop
lover rock
don't stop
The artist's love for the person they admire is represented in the form of rock music.
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
I love, love, love my graffiti boy yeah
love, love, love my graffiti boy, my graffiti boy
my graffiti boy yeah...
The song ends with the singer continuously expressing their love and admiration for the person they call their 'graffiti boy'.
Contributed by Jeremiah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.