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.".

Leaving Los Feliz
Mark Ronson Lyrics

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I'm on the guest list down at Paul's Baby Grand
That hipster doorman he don't know who I am
But my studied aloofness is proof I belong so I pass

Some girls are pieced like Krylon bombs on the walls
Some cut the line to cut the lines in the stalls
On the floor is the border between paradise and the fall

I'm leaving Los Feliz
Day after tomorrow
I'm over the scenesters
I'm leaving Los Feliz
Day after tomorrow
I'm leaving Los Feliz

I cruise the room without attracting a glance
My Ksubi jeans are more like armor than pants
But I don't want to go just yet so I suppose I should dance

The music wobbles between rapture and dread
Like a divine name that can never be said
And I shoot a pretend documentary inside my head

I'm leaving Los Feliz
Day after tomorrow
I'm over the scenesters
I'm leaving Los Feliz
Day after tomorrow
I'm leaving Los Feliz

I'm young enough to know I'm too young to quit
I'm old enough to want to get over it
But the yearning is timeless and mine is as deep as the pit

I'm leaving Los Feliz
Day after tomorrow
I'm over the scenesters
I'm leaving Los Feliz

Day after tomorrow
I'm leaving Los Feliz

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mark Ronson's song "Leaving Los Feliz" describe the singer's dissatisfaction with the pretentiousness and superficiality of the Los Feliz scene. The singer seems to be at a trendy bar or nightclub, where he's trying to pass as a savvy regular, despite the fact that even the doorman doesn't recognize him. In his observations of the fellow party-goers, he sees two extremes of girls: some are aggressively attention-seeking and provocative with their appearance, while others are casually doing drugs in the bathroom. He suggests that the party is almost like being in the Garden of Eden, with the possibility of either pure enjoyment or imminent downfall. However, despite his critical acumen, the singer is still drawn to the allure of the music and the atmosphere, and he can't leave without dancing.

The bridge of the tune contains the statement "I'm young enough to know I'm too young to quit, I'm old enough to want to get over it, but the yearning is timeless and mine is as deep as the pit." This line speaks to an internal conflict that many people feel - the desire to leave behind the trappings of youth but also to cling to the feelings of possibility and adventure that come with it. The singer knows that he needs to move beyond the self-absorption and narcissism of the Los Feliz scene, but he's also aware that he'll miss the sense of excitement and vitality that it carries.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm on the guest list down at Paul's Baby Grand
I have made the guest list for Paul's Baby Grand, a popular venue

That hipster doorman he don't know who I am
I am not recognized by the hipster doorman, but I am still allowed in

But my studied aloofness is proof I belong so I pass
I exude a sense of detachment, which convinces others that I fit in with the crowd at the venue

Some girls are pieced like Krylon bombs on the walls
Some women at the venue have tattoos and piercings that resemble graffiti art

Some cut the line to cut the lines in the stalls
Some women skip the line to use the restroom stalls

On the floor is the border between paradise and the fall
The dance floor represents the line between enjoyment and danger

I'm leaving Los Feliz Day after tomorrow I'm over the scenesters I'm leaving Los Feliz Day after tomorrow I'm leaving Los Feliz
I am leaving the Los Feliz area soon because I am tired of the superficial people and culture there

I cruise the room without attracting a glance
I move around the venue without people paying attention to me

My Ksubi jeans are more like armor than pants
My designer jeans make me feel protected and confident

But I don't want to go just yet so I suppose I should dance
Although I am considering leaving the venue, I decide to stay and dance a little longer

The music wobbles between rapture and dread
The music creates a range of emotions, from ecstasy to anxiety

Like a divine name that can never be said
The music is so intense that it feels almost holy, beyond words

And I shoot a pretend documentary inside my head
I imagine myself filming a documentary about the scene, even though it is all in my head

I'm young enough to know I'm too young to quit
I am aware that I am still young, and have a lot of life ahead of me to experience new things

I'm old enough to want to get over it
At the same time, I feel like I am ready to move on from this particular phase of my life

But the yearning is timeless and mine is as deep as the pit
Despite my desire to move on, I know that the feeling of wanting something else will never truly go away

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kevin Parker, Mark Ronson, Mark Chabon, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Chris Vatalero

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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