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 Kravitzโs 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
Rock'n Roll Is Dead
Lenny Kravitz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you know it's really over
Runnin' round with diamond rings
And coke spoons that are overflowin'
Rock an Roll is dead
But all the money in the world
Can't buy you from the place you're going to
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
You can't even sing or play an instrument
So you just scream instead
You're living for an image
So you got five hundred women in your bed
Rock an Roll is dead
But it's real hard to be yourself
When you're living with those demons
In your head
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
In the song "Rock And Roll Is Dead," Lenny Kravitz reflects on the state of music in the late 90s, and how the genre had lost its authenticity and originality. The opening lines, "You think you're on top of the world/But you know it's really over," suggest that many artists had become too consumed with their fame and fortune, and were no longer making music for the right reasons. Kravitz also criticizes the excessive, drug-fueled lifestyles of some musicians, with lyrics like "Runnin' round with diamond rings/And coke spoons that are overflowin'."
The chorus of the song, "Rock an Roll is dead/But all the money in the world/Can't buy you from the place you're going to," reinforces the idea that true success in music isn't about money or fame, but rather about creating something meaningful and authentic. Kravitz also comments on the lack of musical talent in some popular artists, saying "You can't even sing or play an instrument/So you just scream instead" and highlighting the focus on image over substance with the line "You're living for an image/So you got five hundred women in your bed."
Overall, "Rock And Roll Is Dead" is a commentary on the state of the music industry at the time, and a call for artists to return to the roots of rock music and focus on creating genuine, original music.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you're on top of the world
You believe you have achieved everything you've ever wanted in life.
But you know it's really over
However, deep down inside, you're aware that your success is fleeting.
Runnin' round with diamond rings
You flaunt your wealth with extravagant items like diamond rings.
And coke spoons that are overflowin'
You indulge in drugs like cocaine to try to maintain your status as a rockstar.
Rock an Roll is dead
The era of rock and roll music is over.
But all the money in the world
No amount of money can change this fact.
Can't buy you from the place you're going to
You cannot escape your inevitable downfall.
You can't even sing or play an instrument
You lack musical talent but still try to make it big in the music industry.
So you just scream instead
You resort to shouting and screaming in your songs to cover up your lack of musical ability.
You're living for an image
Your persona as a rockstar is more important to you than the actual music you produce.
So you got five hundred women in your bed
You engage in promiscuous behavior to maintain the image of a typical rockstar.
But it's real hard to be yourself
It's difficult to stay true to yourself and your beliefs in the face of societal expectations.
When you're living with those demons
Your inner demons and struggles make it even harder to be authentic.
In your head
These demons are a constant presence in your mind.
Rock an Roll is dead
The chorus is repeated to reinforce the idea that rock and roll music is truly gone.
Rock an Roll is dead
Rock an Roll is dead
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: LENNY KRAVITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@saidoterodiseno
This is like the perfect paradox, singing Rock'n Roll is dead while playing a beast rock riff.
@ericgelders
Haha, thought of sth similar: Rocking out while declaring it dead!
@Balitoc
That opening riff, Living Loving Maid comes to mind.... homage or a borrow from Zeppelin?
@melinalinson8812
Well it definitely is dead now.
@melinalinson8812
@@Balitoc Led Zeppelin stole from plenty of others.
@paj81
@@melinalinson8812 Mainly from contemporary blues musician.
@schneckenwerk4567
Great drums, great guitars, great bass, great vocals.
@CNVRSKDAJW
Lenny Kravitz ... this is the Most Underrated and Under Appreciated Absolute Cut of his Entire Career!
(I Lose My Mind when I Turn this Up)
@literallyunderrated
Literally underrated
@msperry1719
Facts