Paynter began playing instruments from a young age, playing the piano at the age of seven, and learning guitar and drums by the time he was 15. At the age of 16, he began playing in touring bands across the Australia. Regarding music, Paynter says that it "was always something I was going to do, because it fires up my soul like nothing else". He studied law for a year, but returned to music. Although Paynter liked law school and intends to return, he says the choice was either "tour the country and play guitar or study books", and the decision "was a no-brainer". Paynter says that playing drums makes him a better guitarist, playing guitar makes him a better keyboardist, and playing all three makes him a better singer.
Michael has travelled the globe four times in as many years, and written with the finest in his field, from Guy Chambers [Robbie Williams] and Adam Argyle [Newton Faulkner] in the UK, to Toby Gad [Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas] and David Ryan Harris [John Mayer] in the US.
Michael knuckled down in the US with famed producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More Maroon 5, Bic Runga) at Sound City Studios, where Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Johnny Cash and Tom Petty cut their classic records.
Michael’s hard work paid off when his song Superheroes was chosen as the sounded for the hit television series Heroes.
After releasing two acclaimed singles, Michael explains, “I set about touring, travelling and assessing what kind of artist I wanted to be. I spent a lot of time recording, writing, learning and listening to a range of musicians from Muddy Waters, Son House, Eva Cassidy, Sam Cooke and Robert Johnson. In the last two years I set about developing every set of skills I could. I played guitar for hours and hours a day, and I performed hundreds of gigs – it’s just been the best time of growth for me.”
Apart from winning coveted support slots for Newton Faulkner, Vanessa Amorosi, and soul legend Seal, Michael’s personal highlight over the last couple of years have saw him performing at the emotional Bushfire Memorial Service with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a 500 member choir.
Although much has been said about this multi instrumentalist and his 'big' voice, it seems to be the songs, his fine band and his honest and entertaining live shows that are ringing the 'loudest' bells this time around.
Michael has also embraced social media and the digital world with gusto, engaging with his army of followers on twitter regularly, and often uploading exclusive bonus content to his youtube and myspace accounts.
Michael is invigorated by living, breathing and immersing himself in music, and his new EP, released on July 9, features the songs Are You Alive, as heard on Channel Seven’s promo for the final series of Lost, and Love The Fall, which features back up vocals from Michael’s good mates Lisa and Jess Origliasso.
Michael explains, “I met Lisa and Jess when I performed at the ARIA #1’s in 2008. We caught up after the show and that day I made two of the most intensely loyal - albeit miniscule - friends for life. We ran into each other at various awards shows, and soon enough we were hanging out in LA when I was over there to write or record. They are the most genuine and musically gifted girls. We share such a musical affinity and definitely see the world the same way, so it is completely my honour to share my tune with them. They really bought it to life.”
Love The Fall, whose spectacular video was shot in the Northern Californian forest was unleashed on June 14th.
Love the Fall was the most added song to Australian radio in the first week of July, above all releases, including international.
With shows scheduled in both Melbourne and Sydney in September, an unprecedented demand for interviews, TV performances and in-store performances, and a film clip that last week emerged in the top 100 YouTube favourites in 15 countries – 46th most viewed music video on YouTube worldwide – it’s an exciting time for this Melbourne singer/songwriter and his incredible young band, all of whom feature on the track.
The Love the Fall 5-track EP will be released online July 9 and in stores July 16.
Roxanne
Michael Paynter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
I loved you since I knew you
I wouldn't talk down to you
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your makeup
Told you once I won't tell you again
It's a bad way
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light
put on the red light
put on the red light
I loved you since I knew you
I wouldn't talk down to you
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your makeup
Told you once I won't tell you again
It's a bad way
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
put on the red light
put on the red light
put on the red light
put on the red light
Roxanne
Roxanne
Roxanne
Roxanne
The lyrics to Michael Paynter's song Roxanne are about a man who is in love with a woman named Roxanne who is a prostitute. He begs her to stop selling her body and to stop dressing up as a prostitute because he loves her for who she is, and he wants her to know that she doesn't have to sell her body to make money. The song is about the desperation of a man who is in love with a woman who is trapped in a life of prostitution.
The chorus of the song, "Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light," is a reference to the red light district where prostitutes advertise their services by putting on a red light in their windows. The singer of the song is trying to convince Roxanne to leave that behind and to be with him.
Overall, the song is about the power of love to redeem and transform even the most broken and desperate of lives. It's a story of redemption and hope, and a reminder that even in the darkest of situations, there's always a chance for love to conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
Roxanne
Michael Paynter is addressing Roxanne.
You don't have to put on the red light
Michael is telling Roxanne that she doesn't need to become a prostitute to earn money anymore as the times have changed.
Those days are over
Michael is acknowledging that things aren't like they used to be for Roxanne.
You don't have to sell your body to the night
The line is reiterating Michael's sentiment that Roxanne doesn't need to engage in prostitution cause things have changed.
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Michael is also warning Roxanne not to dress provocatively while engaging in the profession.
Walk the streets for money
Michael is specifically telling Roxanne not to walk the streets anymore, referring to the act of being a prostitute.
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
Michael is possibly saying that Roxanne doesn't see the act of becoming a prostitute as a morally wrong decision.
I've loved you since I knew you
Michael is confessing his deep emotional feelings for Roxanne.
I wouldn't talk down to you
He's assuring Roxanne that he won't belittle her for her choices or situation.
I have to tell you just how I feel
Michael feels it is essential to express his true feelings to Roxanne about her profession.
I won't share you with another boy
Michael is possibly saying that he won't share Roxanne with any other man, particularly her clients.
I know my mind is made up
Michael is stating that he has made up his mind about his feelings for Roxanne and won't change easily.
So put away your makeup
In context, Michael is telling Roxanne to stop being a prostitute and to live a life free of make-up (and the profession's exploitation).
Told you once I won't tell you again
Michael is implying he has communicated his emotions to Roxanne in the past and doesn't want to speak to it again.
It's a bad way
The line is a reference to the harms and difficulties associated with the profession of prostitution.
Put on the red light
Michael is referring to the classic traffic signal indicating 'stop' as a metaphor concerning the profession of prostitution- something that may have been acceptable in the past but not anymore.
You don't have to put on the red light
Michael reiterates that Roxanne has a choice not to control her life via the red light of prostitution anymore (putting it metaphorically).
Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.