The “retro” tag is added to almost any contemporary work that sounds like it was originally recorded between 1966 and 1974, and Hawthorne, among the newest contributors to the genre, is aware of how trends come and go. After being introduced to Stones Throw Records label head Peanut Butter Wolf by mutual friend Noelle Scaggs of the Rebirth, even his current boss was skeptical. “He showed me two songs and I didn’t understand what I was listening to,” Wolf recalls. “I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of – I couldn’t believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments.”
And after meeting in person, it was even harder for Wolf to believe that Hawthorne was also the lead vocalist. Few expect such heartfelt sentiment to come from a 29-year-old white kid from Ann Arbor, but he has caught the ear of his family at Stones Throw, as well as BBC Radio 1 host Gilles Peterson and producer/DJ Mark Ronson. Expectations are high for the admitted vinyl junkie who never planned on taking his crooning public. Hawthorne’s hanging-by-a-string falsetto and breakbeat production on his first recorded effort, the tender “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” are simultaneously Smokey and J Dilla – equal parts “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Fall in Love.” “It’s soul,” he explains, “But it’s new.”
Hawthorne has produced and played instruments for much of his life, but never intended to become a singer. He isn’t formally trained, and never sang in a choir or in any of the bands he was in before founding the County (formerly the County Commissioners). But here he is, new school soul sensation, who has taken the Motown assembly-line production model and eliminated nearly every element but himself and a few hired hands. “I think Mayer is the only artist in the history of the label that I’ve signed after hearing only two songs,” says Peanut Butter Wolf. “Sometimes, you just know it’s the right thing to do.”
And for those willing to believe anything is possible, be grateful to have Mayer Hawthorne on the scene. It’s not just throwback music anymore – this revival is all about progression.
Shiny & New
Mayer Hawthorne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold your body close to mine
Leave behind all of the worries on your mind
I can see it in your eyes
We've been waiting for this moment to arrive
And you make me feel
Like I'll never be blue again
And all magic feelings never fades
I want to spend the rest of my days, with you
Love me in that special way
Let your lips say what no words can ever say
Lets not waste another day
Lock the door and then we'll throw the key away
And you make me feel
Feel so shine and new
Like I'll never be blue again
And all magic moment feel so right
I want to spend the rest of my life, with you
Oh girl, only you make me feel brand new
Oh girl, you make me feel brand new
The lyrics of Mayer Hawthorne's "Shiny & New” paint a picture of a man who is truly in love with his partner. He urges her to hold her body close to his and to forget about all of the worries that might be bothering her. He notes that he sees the anxiety in her eyes and acknowledges that they’ve been waiting for this moment - this moment to get away from the noise of the world and to feel the depths of their feelings for each other.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the effect that the woman has on the man. She makes him feel like he's “shine and new” and like he's forgetting about all of the blues in his life. He expresses that the beautiful moments with her will never fade and that he wants to spend the rest of his days with her. He loves her in that “special way” that only two people in love could truly understand.
The song's message is one that is poetic and familiar - the magic that we often feel with someone at the beginning of a relationship. It’s a feeling of overwhelming love, a feeling that is very difficult to put into words. The message of the song is conveyed beautifully through slow, soft, and sweet tunes that create a sense of comfort and closeness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh girl, oh girl
Addressing the girl with affection and emphasizing her significance.
Hold your body close to mine
Asking the girl to get close to him and have physical contact.
Leave behind all of the worries on your mind
Encouraging the girl to forget about her problems and enjoy the moment.
I can see it in your eyes
Noticing the girl's excitement for being with him.
We've been waiting for this moment to arrive
Implying that it's been a long time coming for the two of them to be together.
And you make me feel
Expressing how the girl's presence affects him.
Feel so shine and new
Feeling that being with her is rejuvenating and exciting.
Like I'll never be blue again
Feeling like everything is perfect and he won't have any sadness.
And all magic feelings never fades
Believing that the happiness he feels with her will never disappear.
I want to spend the rest of my days, with you
Expressing a desire for a long-term commitment with her.
Love me in that special way
Requesting her to show him her unique form of affection.
Let your lips say what no words can ever say
Using a romantic cliche to encourage the girl to express her feelings for him physically.
Lets not waste another day
Advocating for spending as much time as possible together.
Lock the door and then we'll throw the key away
Symbolically suggesting that they're committing to each other and are willing to close themselves off to the outside world.
Oh girl, only you make me feel brand new
Repeating and emphasizing how much he admires and appreciates her effect on him.
Oh girl, you make me feel brand new
Reiterating the central message of the song in a catchy and memorable way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW M COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind