Half Japanese and half New Zealander, de Clive-Lowe was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. He grew up playing piano from age 4 and an active musical interest throughout his childhood and teenage years. Since 1996, de Clive-Lowe has been a regular touring fixture primarily in the US, UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Multiple world tours have included performances at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Amsterdam Drum Rhythm Festival, London Jazz Festival, SildaJazz, Jazz A Vienne and more.
Having recorded two locally released solo albums for New Zealand independent Tap Records in the late 1990s (plus an album as a member of the group Jazz In The Present Sense), his third album Six Degrees was released worldwide in 2000 (Universal Jazz/emarcy). The following release "Melodious Beats vol.1" was a compilation album of his remixes and collaborations released on his own imprint Antipodean Records. De Clive-Lowe released his next full length album Tide's Arising 22 March 2005 on ABB Soul/Antipodean and Columbia in Japan. The album features Pino Palladino. Tide's Arising was considered to be one of the most groundbreaking new jazz albums from the UK in 2005.
Mark de Clive-Lowe's next solo album, Renegades, was released 14 November 2011 on Tru Thoughts. The album features Omar, Sheila E., Nia Andrews, Tawiah, Ovasoul7 and Sandra Nkake. The Why featuring Nia Andrews was released as the first single in early October 2011. His latest album is a collaboration with the Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra big band 'Take the Space Trane' (Tru Thoughts Records) recorded live at De Doelen, Rotterdam Netherlands. He has also produced all tracks on the studio album for US singer Sy Smith, 'Fast and Curious' released in March 2012, and all tracks on the studio album for US singer Sandra St. Victor of The Family Stand, 'Oya's Daughter' released September 2013.
In October, 2013, the musician announced his 11th studio album, CHURCH, which is to be funded as a crowd-funded project on Kickstarter. The album is named after the music event Mark has presented in New York and Los Angeles since 2000. It is expected to be released in May 2014.
Selected remixes: Omar, Jody Watley, Shirley Horn, Chico Hamilton, Shirley Bassey, ÇeU, Jerry Goldsmith
Selected productions: Sandra St. Victor, Sy Smith, Lady Alma, Rasiyah, The Politik, Freesoul Sessions
Selected collaborators: Nia Andrews, Bembe Segue, Phil Asher/restless soul, DJ Spinna, Kenny Dope/Masters At Work, Leon Ware, Pino Palladino, Julie Dexter, Sammy Figueroa, Dave Angel, Sci-Clone/Metalheadz, Joe Clausell, Francois K
Prayer
Mark de Clive-Lowe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've all met your kind
I've seen you standing in lines
You really just make me laugh
You got you credit cards
You're mommy's perfect eyes
You drive your daddy's escalade
And you got problems of a first world kind
But your so brave
As you endlessly tell us you're a slave
You're a fearless warrior
By the way
That selfie you took at the parade
Really showed that you care
So woke and aware
Sending thoughts and prayers
You've done your good deed for the day
But wait
Another turn of events
A tragedy on display
Grab your phone
Type away
We want to know what you say
Cuz you're so brave
As you endlessly tell us you're a slave
You're a fearless warrior
By the way
That selfie you took at the parade
Really showed that you care
So woke and aware
Sending thoughts and prayers
Preach your ideals from your trust fund pulpit
Bleed you entitled rapport
So easy to don you tie dyed victim costume
So easy to feed us your virtues from your silver spoon
You really just make me laugh
Like thus
Haha
You got your credit cards
You're mommy's perfect eyes
You drive your daddy's escalade
Two hours each way to the earth day parade
Cuz you're so brave
As you breathlessly tell us you're a slave
You've a fearless warrior
By the way
That selfie you took at the parade
Really showed that you care
You're so woke and aware
Sending thoughts and prayers
Thots and prayers y'all
In Mark de Clive-Lowe's song "Prayer," the lyrics satirically critique the performative activism and self-righteousness that can be prevalent in modern society. The song starts off by mocking a particular type of individual who is seen as shallow and materialistic. This person is portrayed as taking pride in their possessions, such as credit cards and their parents' fancy car, while simultaneously claiming to have first-world problems.
The chorus sarcastically praises the person for their perceived bravery as they continuously assert their victimhood and flaunt their supposed sacrifice. The mention of taking a selfie at a parade highlights the superficiality of their activism, suggesting that their actions are merely for show and don't have any meaningful impact. The lyrics emphasize the ironic contrast between their self-proclaimed social awareness and the shallow nature of their involvement.
The second verse extends the criticism to a broader context, revealing how these individuals respond to tragedies or crises. Once again, their immediate reaction is to grab their phone and share their thoughts and prayers, seemingly more interested in gaining attention and approval for their gesture rather than genuinely engaging in meaningful support.
The final section delves into the idea that these individuals preach their ideals and opinions from a position of entitlement and privilege. Their privileged upbringing is highlighted through references to trust funds and silver spoons. The lyrics imply that it's easy for them to wear the facade of a victim and virtue signal, as they haven't experienced the true challenges that many others face.
In summary, "Prayer" by Mark de Clive-Lowe serves as a satirical commentary on performative activism, highlighting the hypocrisy and shallowness that can exist in individuals' attempts at social awareness and engagement.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh yes
Expressing agreement and acknowledgement
We've all met your kind
Referring to encountering individuals like the addressed person
I've seen you standing in lines
Observing the addressed person waiting in queues
You really just make me laugh
Finding humor in the addressed person's actions or behavior
You got your credit cards
Referring to the addressed person possessing credit cards
You're mommy's perfect eyes
Describing the addressed person being seen as flawless by their mother
You drive your daddy's escalade
Noting that the addressed person drives their father's luxurious car
And you got problems of a first world kind
Highlighting the addressed person's trivial concerns compared to more pressing issues
But your so brave
Ironically acknowledging the addressed person's self-perceived bravery
As you endlessly tell us you're a slave
Commenting on the addressed person proclaiming themselves to be oppressed
You're a fearless warrior
Sarcastically referring to the addressed person as a courageous fighter
By the way
Introducing a new point or observation
That selfie you took at the parade
Referring to the addressed person's self-portrait captured during a public event
Really showed that you care
Implying that the addressed person's concern is superficial
So woke and aware
Mocking the addressed person's perceived enlightenment and consciousness
Sending thoughts and prayers
Sarcastically referencing the addressed person's insincere expressions of support
You've done your good deed for the day
Suggesting that the addressed person believes they have fulfilled their positive action quota
But wait
Pausing to introduce a contrary situation
Another turn of events
Referring to the occurrence of a different unexpected incident
A tragedy on display
Describing a visible and unfortunate event
Grab your phone
Encouraging the addressed person to retrieve their mobile device
Type away
Instructing the addressed person to begin typing a message
We want to know what you say
Expressing the desire to be informed about the addressed person's response
Preach your ideals from your trust fund pulpit
Critiquing the addressed person for espousing their beliefs while benefiting from inherited wealth
Bleed your entitled rapport
Criticizing the addressed person for displaying an entitled attitude
So easy to don your tie-dyed victim costume
Mocking the addressed person for effortlessly assuming the role of a perceived victim
So easy to feed us your virtues from your silver spoon
Satirizing the addressed person for flaunting their supposed moral qualities inherited through privilege
Like thus
Expressing amusement in a similar way to 'haha'
Haha
Symbolizing laughter
Two hours each way to the earth day parade
Highlighting the addressed person's extensive effort to travel to an event associated with environmental awareness
Cuz you're so brave
Reiterating the addressed person's claimed courage sarcastically
As you breathlessly tell us you're a slave
Mocking the addressed person for continuously declaring themselves as oppressed
You've a fearless warrior
Sardonically referring to the addressed person as a brave fighter
Thots and prayers y'all
A play on words to sarcastically reference the addressed person's insincere thoughts and prayers
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Sean Lowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kitty Love
That bass line though