In 1996, she released her first album, Tidy. It was received very well for an indepenent artist, and received critical acclaim from some reviewers for women's magazines, such as Inga Muscio for Wig Magazine. "Kinnie is going to be a huge star. Because she is so emotionally real, vulnerable, articulate, talented, and loving--things many people fear greatly in themselves, and thus, look for in others--people are going to glorify her in an insanely unrealistic way. "
She was soon after courted by Mercury Records, and signed a deal. She proceeded to tour for two years promoting Tidy, mainly in Canada, but also in the United States and Europe, with her band, handsome boyz 3. Her shows definitely got peoples' attention. She is very spontaneous, often chatting and joking with the crowd, and encouraging them to participate. Her early shows became known after she had audience members jumping up on stage and talking about their sex lives for a free t-shirt.
She also prefers to walk around the audience when possible, instead of being on stage, having been described as a caged animal when stuck up there. "I will devise a way of playing guitar in the crowd," she once said.
During her touring, she worked in five shows for the 1997 Lilith Fair. The next year, her touring took the form of the Scrappy Bitch Tour, done with Veda Hill and Oh Susanna.
Finally, she started to work on her second album. She finished the album during a time of internal shake-ups and changes in her label. Mercury records became Island/Def Jam Records, but there was still no sign of them publishing her album. In the meantime, she opened two Canadian shows for Alanis Morissette.
In 2000, she grew tired of the situation, and asked them to let her go. They did just that, but refused her the rights to her new album, Mending, instead keeping it for themseves. She proceeded to head back to Violet Inch, and recorded a third album, Tune-Up, which released in 2000, and a fourth, Sun Again, released in 2003.
Her sound has been described as a merging of rock, hip-hop, r&b, pop, and alternative. Kinnie has given it the name "Chunkhop". The songs are full of spoken word and rhyme, with with some strong bass tracks, more so in Tune-Up than in Tidy.
She's not all that excited about being a "personality", due to people knowing her music. "The state of music is very odd to me right now because it's all about the cult of personality. I try to be casual, but that becomes a look. No matter what choice you make, it's seen as cultivated."
Rock The Boat
Kinnie Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rock the boat
Yeah, rock the boat
Rock the boat
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Everybody get up, come on, start your stuff
Shake like you're gonna give it everything you got
Just move like you're in a groove over the valley
Prove, you're someone that the world needs madly
Heat the heart of everything near you
Be who you are, shine like you do
Aboriginal, I'm speaking directly to you
Four blood quarter, third or sixteenth
Rest folks, cindy folks
Blue eyes, brown or green
Caucasian features or cheek bones or cup glass
Ignite the future joined by the past
Rise like the sun, you already have the gun
The blood boils even in the weakest of wanton
Stay strong, help each other along
Through every shade of red, I dedicate this song
Just stay song and
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
I like writing rhymes but I'm not supposed to
Writing rhymes, not what fair skin girls do
I just bounce off the sounds and the tones
The beat and the bass make the day last lonely
I dream of the lovely time
Separate sense from the voice in my mind
I get wet thinking hypothetically
Break us wet dreaming, I'm gonna get me
When on the front and back and both sides
Don't mean I don't a get a good from a man right
It's just life loving all kinds
So many beautiful hearts and bright minds
So many ways to click and shoe shine
But it's so outlawed to dig you double time
But the sky is the skin and the eyes are the stars
Live it all, it's just who we are
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Rock the boat
Rock the boat
Rock the boat
Rock the boat
Everybody just rock the boat
Here we go
Rock the boat
Rock the boat now
Go ahead, yeah, go ahead
Everybody in this place rock the boat
Kinnie Starr’s song "Rock the Boat" is a call for all people to come together and embrace their unique qualities, while encouraging them to rise up and make a difference. The lyrics "Rock the boat, don't sink, float" signify that it is essential to stand out from the crowd, but not to lose oneself in the process. The repetition of these lines indicates the importance of not straying too far from one's core values and beliefs.
Kinnie encourages Aboriginal people to be proud of their heritage, especially those who may be of mixed blood or have fair skin. She recognizes that everyone has a part to play in society, regardless of their ethnicity, and urges people to come together in unity. The line "ignite the future joined by the past" is a call to action that encourages people to reflect on their history and strive for a brighter future.
Kinnie Starr is a talented rapper and musician who uses her platform to address social issues and advocate for inclusivity. "Rock the Boat" is a celebration of diversity and unity that encourages people to embrace their unique qualities while coming together to make a difference.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock the boat
Encouragement to take a risk, break away from the norm, and disrupt the status quo
Rock, hey, rock the boat
Don't sink, float
Emphasis on the importance of taking a risk, but also being mindful to avoid catastrophic failure
Everybody get up, come on, start your stuff
Shake like you're gonna give it everything you got
Just move like you're in a groove over the valley
Prove, you're someone that the world needs madly
Motivation to act with purpose, confidence, and conviction to make a difference in the world
Heat the heart of everything near you
Be who you are, shine like you do
Aboriginal, I'm speaking directly to you
Four blood quarter, third or sixteenth
A call to action for indigenous people to embrace their heritage, culture, and identity, regardless of their blood quantum or ancestry
Rest folks, cindy folks
Blue eyes, brown or green
Caucasian features or cheek bones or cup glass
Ignite the future joined by the past
Inclusion of all races, cultures, and physical features to unite and create a better future while honoring the past
Rise like the sun, you already have the gun
The blood boils even in the weakest of wanton
Stay strong, help each other along
Through every shade of red, I dedicate this song
Just stay song and
Empowerment to rise above adversity, recognize inner strength, and support each other despite differences or challenges
I like writing rhymes but I'm not supposed to
Writing rhymes, not what fair skin girls do
I just bounce off the sounds and the tones
The beat and the bass make the day last lonely
Rejection of societal norms based on race and gender, and the desire to express oneself creatively through music
I dream of the lovely time
Separate sense from the voice in my mind
I get wet thinking hypothetically
Break us wet dreaming, I'm gonna get me
Motivation to pursue dreams, overcome self-doubt, and boldly take action
When on the front and back and both sides
Don't mean I don't a get a good from a man right
It's just life loving all kinds
So many beautiful hearts and bright minds
Celebration of the diversity of love and relationships while recognizing the beauty in each person's heart and mind
So many ways to click and shoe shine
But it's so outlawed to dig you double time
But the sky is the skin and the eyes are the stars
Live it all, it's just who we are
Acknowledgement of the societal pressure to conform to traditional norms of love and relationships, and the call to embrace individuality and love freely
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Garrett, Eric Seats, Rapture N Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind