Kravitz plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and sitar. He often plays these instruments on each recorded track, but frequently collaborates with other musicians as well when recording.
His 1989 debut album Let Love Rule was a moderate success. In 1991 he released his second album, Mama Said, which reached the top 40 of the Billboard album charts. In 1993, the album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and Kravitz earned a Brit Award for best international male artist in 1994. He released the Circus album in 1995, which reached number 10 on the Billboard chart on the back of his past achievement. With 5 (1999), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as Pro Tools and samplers for the first time. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999.
His cover version of The Guess Who's hit "American Woman" won him another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000. Kravitz released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2000. It proved to be his most successful album. The single "Again" would earn him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001. Kravitz released his sixth album Lenny in October 2001. He won his fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 2002. Kravitz's seventh album Baptism was released in May 2004. His album, It Is Time For A Love Revolution was released in 2008. He has always edited his albums on Virgin Records America. The lead single from Kravitz’s ninth album, Black and White America, "Stand" was released on June 3, 2011. (Stand Songfacts).
He is the son of Ukrainian-Jewish American NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz, and Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker, best known as her character Helen Willis on the hit 1970s television sitcom The Jeffersons. Black and White America's title track is an autobiographical look back at his upbringing in New York. (Black and White America Songfacts).
Artist website: www.lennykravitz.com
B-Side Blues
Lenny Kravitz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wooh !
I'm so tired and I'm all burn down
Say I'm so tired
And I'm all burn down
They say I got to write some new songs
Waouh!
They gimme six days to rise myself
Hmm ahah
And I can't get no sleep
Six days to rise myself
And I can't get no sleep
My complains of my ass
I can't get no release
Hey hey yeah haahaha Yeah !
Sell
I was born, long ago
That sells right
I'm the choosen, I'm the one, Hey hey
Sing the song, sell those records
Repeat yourself do it again one more time
Yeah!
I don't ever do nothing twice
And I feel just fine, ahah
Take this song and shut up your ass
Yeah ! ahahahah Talk fully
Yeah! Mother records give me that star
Hey! ahahahah!
Gonna be a big famous Rock & Roll star
Gonna buy a new car
Yeah! Hey! Yeah!
The song "B-Side Blues" by Lenny Kravitz is filled with his signature guitar riffs, bluesy undertones and introspective lyrics. The lyrics to this song talk about the exhaustion and burnout that comes with being a musician. Kravitz talks about being all burnt out and tired from writing new songs, but he's also under pressure to rise and write something new in just six days. He is frustrated and cannot get any release from the complaints of his ass, which is a metaphor for the weight of expectation and pressure to produce new hits.
Kravitz basically sums up the pressure of the music industry – the pressure to produce hits, to reinvent yourself and write new songs, to always be on top of the game. The line "Take this song and shut up your ass" could be Kravitz rejecting the notion that he needs to please anyone, but rather just create for the love of music. The repetitive phrase "sell those records" could be him commenting on the commercialization of the music industry, how everything is solely for profit, not for the love of music.
Overall, "B-Side Blues" is a powerful commentary on the expectations and pressure that comes with being a musician. It is a song that is both introspective and rebellious at the same time, showcasing Kravitz's unique style.
Line by Line Meaning
Wooh !
Expression of excitement or surprise.
I'm so tired and I'm all burn down
The singer is exhausted and feels drained.
Say I'm so tired
Reiteration of the previous line for emphasis.
And I'm all burn down
The artist feels spent and burnt out.
They say I got to write some new songs
The artist is receiving pressure to create new music.
But I'm all time down
The singer is feeling uninspired or unmotivated.
Waouh!
Expression of surprise or enthusiasm.
They gimme six days to rise myself
The artist has a deadline to create new music.
Hmm ahah
Expression of amusement or satisfaction.
And I can't get no sleep
The artist is having trouble sleeping.
My complains of my ass
The singer is frustrated and annoyed.
I can't get no release
The artist can't find any relief or respite.
Hey hey yeah haahaha Yeah !
Expression of energy or excitement.
Sell
A command or call to sell music.
I was born, long ago
The singer is nostalgic about their past and origins.
That sells right
The artist's past is marketable and valuable.
I'm the choosen, I'm the one, Hey hey
The artist believes they are special and selected for success.
Sing the song, sell those records
A call to create music with the goal of selling it.
Repeat yourself do it again one more time
The singer is asked to repeat previous success or formula.
Yeah!
Expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
I don't ever do nothing twice
The artist is an innovator and wants to create new things.
And I feel just fine, ahah
The artist is satisfied with their creative process.
Take this song and shut up your ass
A brash and confrontational statement.
Talk fully
A command to talk with authority or confidence.
Mother records give me that star
A call for recognition and success from the record label.
Hey! ahahahah!
Expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
Gonna be a big famous Rock & Roll star
The singer believes they will achieve great success.
Gonna buy a new car
The artist will have financial success and security.
Yeah! Hey! Yeah!
Expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paela Peterson
on American Woman
There's you some GUITAR!