Machan’s reputation as an accomplished professional has earned her the respect of her musical peers, some of the most illustrious of which join her on Motion of Love. The CD features guest appearances by jazz greats John Medeski, John Scofield, and Randy Brecker, and Brazilian percussionist Portinho, as well as strong musical contributions from Government Mule’s Danny Louis (who also just happens to be Machan’s husband!) Not to be overlooked is Machan’s first-class guitar playing that sets thetable for this feast of talent.
It’s no surprise that Machan has followed a musical path. Her mother was a Japanese jazz vocalist who met Machan’s father when he booked her trio, which also featured pianist Toshiko Akioshi, into a post WWII officers club in Yokohama. Raised in the US, by the age of twelve Machan had taught herself to play the guitar, emulating her early musical heroes such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, and had begun to perform in venues around her hometown. By the age of 16, she was supporting herself as a performer. She studied jazz theory and vocal performance at William Patterson College, and soon found herself sharing the stage with artists ranging from Pink Floyd to George Benson to Sting. The lessons she learned from her experiences in the world of pop superstardom resonate for her now that she’s committing her self to her solo career: “The guys in Pink Floyd were mega rock stars yet they were down to earth and wonderful to work with. They taught me that success doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch with reality or change who you are. You decide who you want to be and what to do with that kind of power.”
A few years back, following an extensive tour with Sting, Machan finally felt the confidence to strike out on her own as a performer. “Even though I had some great experiences, working as a background singer wasn’t what I really wanted to do. When I was younger, I hadn’t found my direction or my voice as an artist, so I hid behind other artists.” Machan began to find her own way with her debut self-titled release, which reflected the singer’s myriad influences, softly weaving her inviting vocals around warm Brazilian rhythms and adult pop melodies, spiced with hints of jazz and world music. “Now I feel like I’m back on the path that I started down when I was a teenager. I’ve come back to my own main road now, and I am so happy to feel back on track.”
Motion of Love sustains the mellifluous momentum of Machan’s signature sound, enhanced by an even greater depth and meaning. “I hope that people will feel like I’ve shared more of myself with them, this time out,” she explains. “I hope that my music will touch or inspire them in some way. After all, isn’t that what everyone wants – to contribute and make a difference?”
Speak Low
Machan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our summer day withers away
Too soon, too soon.
Speak low when you speak, love,
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
We're swept apart too soon.
Speak low, darling speak low,
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
Too soon, too soon,
I feel wherever I go
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
And always too soon.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
We're late darling, we're late,
The curtain descends, ev'rything ends
Too soon, too soon,
I wait darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me,
Speak love to me and soon.
The song "Speak Low" by Machan portrays a bittersweet love story that is too fleeting and doomed to end too soon. The lyrics urge the lovers to speak softly and cherish every moment they have together because time is too short. The repetition of the phrase "too soon" reinforces the idea that in love, the good times always seem to end too quickly, leaving the feeling of wanting more.
The first two lines suggest that the summer day that embodied their love is ending, and that they must be mindful of how they speak to each other. The ships adrift metaphor in the second stanza illustrates their shared experience of being swept away by a force outside of their control, hinting at the inevitability of something beyond their world.
The third stanza’s opening has the singer asking his lover to speak love to him softly, before time's unforgiving decline ends everything abruptly. The final stanza suggests that there is nothing they can do to avoid the tragedy of the end of the relationship. The singer asks his lover to speak love to him so that at least they can be together in that moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak low when you speak, love,
Lower your voice and speak in whispers when you express love or affection.
Our summer day withers away
Our joyful and pleasant summer day is slipping away and coming to an end.
Too soon, too soon.
It's happening too quickly, and we don't have enough time to appreciate it fully.
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
Our instant of togetherness is fleeting, akin to aimlessly drifting ships in motion.
We're swept apart too soon.
We are separated speedily, against our will.
Speak low, darling speak low,
My beloved, whisper or murmur softly and tenderly.
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
Love is a momentary burst of light that can be quickly extinguished or overlooked.
Too soon, too soon,
Happening before we know it or before we are ready for it.
I feel wherever I go
Wherever I journey, I have a sense that
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
The future is always at our doorstep, and it sneaks up on us faster than we anticipate.
And always too soon.
And the future moment always comes too quickly.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Time has existed for a long time, and love is short-lived in comparison.
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
Love is a precious thing while time steals our opportunities and moments away from us.
We're late darling, we're late,
We are running out of time and opportunity, my love.
The curtain descends, ev'rything ends
The end is drawing near, and everything comes to a close.
Too soon, too soon,
Faster than we would like it to happen.
I wait darling, I wait
I'm waiting for you, my love.
Will you speak low to me,
Will you talk to me in hushed tones,
Speak love to me and soon.
And express to me feelings of love and affection without waiting too long.
Lyrics © Music Hub O/B/O GEMA, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pascaltrojman846
I love this lady, not only beautiful but what an amazing voice
@mbalimncwabe390
incredibly sensual song!