The album may be the follow-up to Matt's 2007 Geffen debut Best Days, but it's truly a formal introduction to the singer-songwriter. Writing and helping to compose the production on every song himself, he decided to go back to his piano roots for It's the Good Crazy, and the results are nothing short of spectacular. "This is really my first record," he declares. "Best Days was essentially chasing a time, and I experimented with a lot of nuances, like playing the guitar on half the record. But, playing the piano has always been my one true love. My parents constantly took me to concerts including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John, and it was those outings that gave me the itch to start playing the piano. This time, about 80 percent of It's The Good Crazy is done on piano."
Breaking away from modern trends, Matt recorded the entire album on analog tape, allowing any and all happy accidents to stay in the songs. "It was really special to record on analog tape because all of the albums I love were done that way. Tape sounds better, and it's always going to sound better. There's a depth in the sound wave that you can't capture digitally. There were no computers, no Pro Tools and no room for error. If I screwed up, it's on there," he laughs.
"I was dropped from Geffen in the winter of 2009 when I was on tour in Canada. It was a devastating experience for me. So I was depressed for a month, then realized that my happiness was in the music." Matt immediately began composing songs for what would become It's The Good Crazy. In order to capture that edgy tone, he retreated to a church in Woodstock, NY to record with producers David Baron and Henry Hirsch [Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger].
While in Woodstock, Henry pushed Matt to capture music in the moment, preserving the integrity of each song from its inception. "We were in that church, and Henry really got in my head and helped me evolve," explains Matt. "He said, 'If you can deliver on a performance level, something happens when you play a song live and it's recorded onto a tangible piece of equipment. There's nothing like it'."
Working on the same board that Led Zeppelin II was recorded on and tracking to what might be one of the last 3M tape machines left in existence, Matt stirred up a sound that's evocative of Elton John at times but with a wiseass wittiness. Hence tracks like the bombastic "Therapy."
"Yes, I've gone to therapy," he exclaims. "I'm a New York City kid; people go to therapy! Everyone in their late '20s is trying to get married, and there's this mass hysteria over it in Manhattan. That song is talking to your therapist about that fear of being single. My mom wanted to set me up with my neighbor's daughter after she graduated from college in May. Those things happened, and they're in the songs!"
Meanwhile, during "And The Beat Goes On," Matt chronicles the trials and tribulations of dating in the big city—with a smirk of course. "If you're dating a girl in New York, you're going to be spending a lot of money. I'm a musician, not a banker. I'm happy with chicken fingers. I don't need fancy food."
Midway through recording, Matt teamed up with Ryko for the release of It's The Good Crazy, and he couldn't be happier with this new partnership. He comments, "Everyone at the label genuinely loves music. They’ve been extremely nurturing and supportive on every level. I’m free to be me and not put into a box. I was going to put out this album come hell or high-water, but I sat down with Ruby Marchand (Head of A&R) and we talked about music and the business and she and Ryko felt like the perfect partner."
Since debuting in 2007, Matt's music has been featured in numerous films, TV shows and commercials including What Happens In Vegas, Shrek The Third, McDonald's, The Hills, Brothers and Sisters and One Tree Hill. In addition, his "Songs Of Freedom" became the theme for Gap's "Vote For" campaign, airing on a special electoral episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Best Days also hit #4 on Billboard's New Artist chart and received acclaim from RollingStone and Details. Selling 400,000 digital downloads, he's cultivated a diehard fan base that turns out anytime he hits the stage.
The stage is exactly where he's most charming. Touring and performing alongside everyone from B.B. King and Sheryl Crow to John Mayer and Counting Crows, he's got charisma that brings audiences back for more. Donning flamboyant stage attire and pounding the keys, Matt never fails to deliver a show.
"I play piano with my feet, I play it backwards and I hit it with my elbows and fists. It's a theatrical performance,” says Matt. “That's really what I always wanted to do as a kid.”
The world received its first taste of Crazy when Facebook premiered demos from the album as their music player's very first artist feature. Fan response to the tracks was overwhelming and it proved the perfect platform for the release of "Falling In Love (With My Best Friend)." The single goes to radio this summer, and you'll be humming along to it as soon as you hear it.
Matt grew up immersed in music. His grandmother was the first female orchestra leader in the country, while his great grandfather was responsible for giving Frank Sinatra his first violin.
Matt smiles, "My great grandfather started the Hertz School of Music. He used to give out instruments for free, and it turned out that he gave Sinatra his first violin. My whole childhood was musical. While everybody was watching sports growing up, I was studying the drum sounds of John Bonham from the 1973 live record."
His innate obsession with music is what makes the new album so insanely fun. "I'm the son of a psychiatrist," he goes on. "I connect with the Larry Davids of the world. I love the Annie Hall approach. I like things that are not perfect. I like art made from instinct. I'm definitely crazy. I'm up until six in the morning obsessing over everything, but I think I'm the good crazy."
Colorblind
Matt White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dry your eyes
I know you’re feeling lonely
It’s the perfect time
Try to stay grounded
You’re never in line
I’m leaving you tomorrow in the early light
I don’t want to lose this way again
We just failed to far behind
I’ve always known you’re colorblind
Let me try and change your mind
I am colorblind
Say goodbye I would die
I won’t compromise
Let me try and change your mind are you colorblind
When you look
At me that way
Behind those eyes is what I crave
I feel no weakness hear no lie
I see you reflection in a strangers eyes
I don’t wanna lose this way again
A second chance to make a stand
We just fell too far behind
I’ve always known I’m colorblind
Let me try and change your mind
To be colorblind
Say goodbye I would die
Are you colorblind?
We may never say never
Love is on its way
It’s a dream we share together
To look at you this way and smile
Let me try to change your mind
We are colorblind
Say goodbye I would die
We are colorblind
Let me try to change your mind
We are colorblind
We are colorblind
In Matt White's song "Colorblind," the singer is addressing someone who is feeling lonely and trying to help them through it. He encourages this person to stay grounded and not get lost in their emotions. He also admits that he will be leaving soon but wants to make the most of the time they have together.
The phrase "colorblind" is used throughout the song and can be interpreted in multiple ways. The most literal interpretation is that the person has a vision impairment and cannot see colors. However, it can also represent a metaphorical blindness to certain things or people in their life. The singer seems to be trying to change their perspective and help them see things in a new light.
The chorus features the lines "I've always known you're colorblind/Let me try and change your mind." The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the importance of this idea in the song. The singer believes that if he can help this person see the world in a different way, they can overcome their loneliness and find happiness.
Overall, "Colorblind" is a song about empathy and understanding. The singer is trying to help someone who is struggling and encouraging them to see things differently. The use of the phrase "colorblind" adds an extra layer of meaning and creates a powerful message about perception and perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Come to me
The singer is inviting someone to come to them.
Dry your eyes
The singer acknowledges that the other person is crying and is trying to comfort them.
I know you’re feeling lonely
The singer is aware of the other person's feelings of loneliness.
It’s the perfect time
The artist believes that the timing is right for something.
Try to stay grounded
The artist is advising the other person to stay focused.
You’re never in line
The singer believes that the other person is not conforming to expectations or rules.
I’m leaving you tomorrow in the early light
The singer is informing the other person that they will be leaving soon.
I don’t want to lose this way again
The artist is expressing a desire to avoid repeating a past mistake.
A second chance to make a stand
The artist believes that there is an opportunity to make a difference.
We just failed to far behind
The artist believes that they have not kept up with something or someone.
I’ve always known you’re colorblind
The singer believes that the other person has been unable to see or understand something properly.
Let me try and change your mind
The artist wants to convince the other person to think differently about something.
I am colorblind
The singer is admitting that they also struggle to see or understand something clearly.
Say goodbye I would die
The singer is expressing how important the other person is to them.
I won’t compromise
The singer is unwilling to give in or negotiate.
When you look
The artist is describing a particular moment or feeling.
At me that way
The artist is referring to a certain expression that the other person has when looking at them.
Behind those eyes is what I crave
The singer desires to know what the other person is thinking or feeling.
I feel no weakness hear no lie
The singer believes that the other person is being truthful and honest with them.
I see you reflection in a strangers eyes
The artist is acknowledging that they see similarities between the other person and a stranger.
To be colorblind
The artist is suggesting that it may be better to see things without bias or preconceptions.
We may never say never
The artist is acknowledging that it is difficult to predict the future.
Love is on its way
The singer is expressing optimism about finding love or happiness in the future.
It’s a dream we share together
The artist and the other person have a common goal or desire.
Let me try to change your mind
The singer continues to express a desire to influence the other person's thinking.
We are colorblind
The singer believes that they and the other person are both lacking clarity in their perspective.
Contributed by Jackson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ahen236
This is my favorite song you've ever done. I cannot stop listening to it on the CD! :-)
@scaddrrt
Love the song, love the duet with your sister, the violin makes the song so rich! xo, Stacie
@shannonroberts5951
I heard this song being played over the speakers while shopping today. It stopped me in my tracks to listen... and I googled the lyrics to find it. This is an amazing song!
@YourMsRightHere
<3 Yay for family talent and love!!!
@wicikowna
i like this music:) ...and i like this voice:)
@justjulie122789
OMG i love this song!!! please record it!! i want this on my ipod!!
@fkeopfkeop
this is a good song
@JulianneOliveira
I know that you'll never read this, but you are amazing! I really mean it. Here's some love from Brazil (:
@Ssmiley612
r u matt white or r wat cuz u rock keep singing 4ever dont ever let go of ur dreams
@MystiKalLimitz02
You need to release this song. I first heard it today on G105 and went to get it from iTunes and it's not there!! :-(