Mark Ronson (born 4 September 1975) is a sought-after producer, who's work… Read Full Bio ↴Mark Ronson (born 4 September 1975) is a sought-after producer, who's worked with such diverse artists as Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, Bruno Mars, Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Duran Duran and comedian Jimmy Fallon.

Born in London, he is the son of writer Ann Dexter-Jones and real estate tycoon Laurence Ronson. His mother later married Mick Jones, lead guitarist of multiplatinum selling rock band Foreigner. He has two sisters: fashion designer Charlotte Ronson and DJ Samantha Ronson. He spent his childhood in a wealthy suburb of London where he lived on the same street as Paul McCartney‘s family. When his parents divorced at age 8, he moved to New York, where he made friends with John Lennon's son, Sean Lennon.

Ronson played guitar and drums from an early age, but it wasn't until moving to New York City with his mother that Ronson discovered DJ culture. At age 16, already a fan of such popular hip-hop artists as Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys, Ronson began listening to the various hip-hop mixtapes released every few months by DJs. Inspired, Ronson confiscated his father's record collection and began trying his hand at mixing.

The young DJ with the diverse taste soon caught the ears and eyes of various socialites and New York celebrities, including fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who featured Ronson along with other sons and daughters of celebrities in a 1997 fashion campaign. A year later, hip-hop mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs hired Ronson to DJ his fabled 29th birthday bash. These and other high-profile gigs boosted Ronson's "hip quotient" and helped promote his more serious-minded music career. Fusing his eclectic turntable skills with his knowledge of musical instruments and songwriting, Ronson eventually embarked on his first solo project. Featuring such diverse guest artists as dancehall rapper Sean Paul, hip-hop artist Mos Def, Jack White of the White Stripes, and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, Ronson's debut album, Here Comes the Fuzz, bowed for Elektra in 2003.

Ronson's second album, Version, adds to his eclectic style. In this sophomore album, Ronson fuses a range of musical genres from Daniel Merriweather to Ol' Dirty Bastard to Phantom Planet with an up tempo contemporary funk sound. All the songs on this album are covers of previous Billboard top-10 pop songs, with a jazzy twist.

Career

Attending Vassar College and then New York University (NYU), Ronson became a regular at downtown hip-hop spots and made his name as a DJ on the New York club scene in 1993. He was soon one of the most respected DJs and was being called on for celebrities' private parties. Ronson is known for his diverse, genre-spanning selection, influenced by both the hip-hop scene of New York and the more rock influence of the UK, amongst others.

He moved on, however, to producing music. After producing Nikka Costa's song "Everybody Got Their Something," Ronson signed a record contract with Elektra Records. His first album Here Comes the Fuzz was released in 2003 and was a critically acclaimed success that featured artists of all genres, despite initially poor sales. The most well known song from the album, " Ooh Wee" samples " Sunny" by Boney M and features Nate Dogg, Ghostface Killah, and Trife Da God. He has since produced multiple songs on the albums of singers Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, and Robbie Williams.

In 2004, he formed his own record label, Allido Records, a subsidiary of Sony BMG's J Records, along with his longtime manager Rich Kleiman. The first artist he signed to Allido was rapper Rhymefest, most well-known for winning the Grammy for co-writing Kanye West's "Jesus Walks".

In March 2006, Ronson released a cover of Radiohead's " Just" as a single. In certain areas, such as the UK, it gained major radio play. It also saw release as part of Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads, a full Radiohead covers CD, in April, later appearing on Ronson's second album, Version, which was released in the UK on 16 April 2007. It includes other covers of a diverse selection of rock & pop songs including: Kaiser Chiefs' " Oh My God" (featuring guest vocals from Lily Allen), an instrumental version of Coldplay's " God Put A Smile Upon Your Face", Britney Spears' "Toxic", Ryan Adams' "Amy", Maxïmo Park's " Apply Some Pressure", The Zutons' "Valerie" and Kasabian's "L.S.F.".

Crack in The Pearl Part II
Mark Ronson Lyrics

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But there's always a flaw in the diamond
A lightning-fork crack in the pearl
A fault in the rock of the island
And it's usually shaped like a girl, a girl

Leave us lost in the rust and the rubble
Nine exits north of Las Vegas, Vegas
Nine exits north of Las Vegas, Vegas

Nine exits north of Las Vegas

I was the first one to see her
And you were the first one to fall
Like a half-drunken downhill skier
And she was the oncoming wall
Now I get that it's all gone awry
A joke I might like to take back

Wipe a bright star from the night sky
Nothing can fill in the black

Overall Meaning

In Mark Ronson's song "Crack In the Pearl Pt. II," the lyrics depict a comparison between the flaws found within precious stones and the faults within relationships. The opening lines state that even the most perfect and valuable things in life have cracks or faults - and this is not limited to just diamonds, as the imagery is extended to pearls and islands as well. The repetition of these lyrics in the chorus drives home the message that there is always something imperfect lurking beneath the surface of seemingly ideal situations.

The second half of the song is focused more specifically on a past relationship that has gone wrong. The reference to "nine exits north of Las Vegas" suggests that the relationship may have taken place in an area removed from major cities, perhaps in a rural or isolated environment. The line "I was the first one to see her, and you were the first one to fall" presents a clear power dynamic in the relationship, with one person being the first to have the upper hand and the other person falling deeply in love. The metaphor of a downhill skier crashing into an oncoming wall illustrates the eventual destruction of the relationship, with one person hurtling towards something they cannot avoid.

The song ultimately conveys a sense of regret and melancholy, with the final lines stating that nothing can fill in the blackness left behind. The flaws and faults within our lives and relationships cannot be erased, and the scars left behind are a reminder that even the most beautiful things can be damaged.

Line by Line Meaning

But there's always a flaw in the diamond
Nothing is perfect, and everything has its flaws.

A lightning-fork crack in the pearl
Something valuable and beautiful can still have a noticeable imperfection.

A fault in the rock of the island
Even strong and sturdy things can have weaknesses or faults.

And it's usually shaped like a girl, a girl
Often, these imperfections or faults are related to relationships with women.

Leave us lost in the rust and the rubble
Once things fall apart, it can feel like everything is in chaos and ruins.

Nine exits north of Las Vegas, Vegas
The location where everything went wrong.

I was the first one to see her
The singer was the one to notice and become infatuated with the woman in question.

And you were the first one to fall
The person the artist is addressing was the first to become emotionally invested in the woman.

Like a half-drunken downhill skier
The fall was sudden and intense, like a skier tumbling down a slope.

And she was the oncoming wall
The woman was the obstacle or danger that caused the fall.

Now I get that it's all gone awry
The singer now realizes that everything has gone wrong.

A joke I might like to take back
The artist regrets their actions and words that may have led to the situation.

Wipe a bright star from the night sky
The situation is so bad that it feels like a lost shining opportunity or dream.

Nothing can fill in the black
No amount of effort or hope can fix the situation, as it feels empty and hopeless.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeffrey Bhasker, Mark Ronson, Michael Chabon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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