After Graduation
Surprisingly, however, Michelle didn't initially intend to pursue a career in music. As an art history major and anthropology minor at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania, she found herself managing the Walt Disney-Tishman Collection of African Art after graduation[1] in a somewhat frustrating role:
It was heartbreaking in some ways for me because...I had come from the Guggenheim where if somebody sneezed in the general vicinity of a painting...a conservator was there with a little Q-tip...and I was now working for a corporation...that because it wasn't necessarily making them any money, they were a little bit more trepidations in spending money on the collection...it was frustrating mostly at times to work for them because of that reason.
Music As A Career
Fortunately for her fans, after about 18-months at Disney's Imagineering arm, Michelle decided that "corporate America" wasn't for her and made the decision to reconnect with her musical roots while working as a waitress in Southern California. Indeed, it was during one of her waitressing jobs that she just happened to play a few songs on the piano while the scheduled performers were on a break, that the audience's reaction was so overwhelmingly positive that she realized that music was something that she needed to seriously pursue.
It was the most bizarre experience...everybody sat down and was quiet...I played three songs and people were asking me where my album was...
Success
Her songs have garnered attention in both film and television over the past few years. One of her songs "Stay" has been featured on "Alias" for ABC, "Wonderfalls" for Fox and the WB's "One Tree Hill" as well as in several independent film projects with Group 101. Another song, "Over You", was featured on "Smallville" for the WB network and the newly recorded "I'm There Too" played on the premier episode of Aaron Spelling's new drama "Summerland". "Summerland" also used "I Will Be Fine" later in the season and "All That I Want" featured in the premier episode of NBC's "Las Vegas". A recent showcase of the Sundance film festival introduced Michelle to many independent feature film makes some of who are using her music for upcoming projects this summer.
This past year, Michelle has been working on various other music projects in Los Angeles and the UK. "Project PI" by Al West features Michelle singing her song "Please". The album will be release in Europe by the end of this year.
Michelle is an active participant in the singer/songwriter community of Southern California, and has performed at clubs as diverse as the Whiskey A Go Go, the Hotel Cafe, Ghengis Cohen, the Joint and the Temple Bar, to name a few.
She recently recorded a select few songs with producer Evan Biegel of Seasound Studios in North Hollywood and is collaborating on an electronica album, due out early next year. New acoustic recordings are an on going project and a compilation of some of them will be released over the next few months.
How Can You
Michelle Featherstone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I picked you up and set you free
I was fading
and you breathed the life back into me
Can I be sure this is what I've been looking for
'Cause I'm dying to meet you
And I'm trying to reach you
But I'm here waiting always for you
You were trembling
And I held your hand so close to me
And I was crying
And you whispered that you'd rescued me
I planned a day when I see you come my way
'Cause I'm dying to meet you
And I'm trying to reach you
As of yet we've not met
But I'm here waiting always for you
I can't wait to sleep
so I can always see your face
And I hate to wake up
'Cause you're gone without a trace
Can I be sure this is what I've been looking for
'Cause I'm dying to meet you
And I'm trying to reach you
As of yet we've not met
But I'm here waiting always
Yeah I'm dying to meet you
And I'm trying to reach you
As of yet we've not met
But I'm here waiting always for you
Michelle Featherstone's song "How Can You" is a poignant and emotional ballad about the overwhelming longing to meet someone and the hope that they will rescue and restore you. The lyrics reveal the desperation to find this person who can bring happiness and fulfill a deep desire for connection.
The song opens with the words, "You were drowning and I picked you up and set you free. I was fading and you breathed the life back into me." This imagery creates a strong sense of symbiosis between two people who are struggling with their own issues but can find solace in each other's support. The singer is waiting for this person they haven't met yet, with the hope that their mutual connection will be as powerful as they imagine.
The second verse talks about holding each other's hand, comforting one another, and making concrete plans to see each other. The chorus repeats the theme of waiting patiently and dying to meet this person they have been searching for.
In summary, the song encapsulates the feelings of yearning, desire, and hope. It celebrates the idea of finding someone who will make life better, even if they're not here yet. The song's heartrending lyrics, combined with Featherstone's soulful voice, make it a universal anthem for all those seeking love and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
You were drowning
You were in a difficult situation and I came to your rescue
And I picked you up and set you free
I took you out of that difficult situation and gave you the freedom to move forward
I was fading
I was losing hope or strength
and you breathed the life back into me
You gave me the motivation and energy I needed to keep going
Can I be sure this is what I've been looking for
Can I trust that this relationship is what I truly want and need
'Cause I'm dying to meet you
I'm very eager to finally meet you
And I'm trying to reach you
I'm doing everything I can to connect with you
As of yet we've not met
We haven't had the chance to meet in person yet
But I'm here waiting always for you
I'm patiently waiting for you to come into my life
You were trembling
You were afraid or nervous
And I held your hand so close to me
I comforted and supported you through your fear or nervousness
And I was crying
I was emotional or upset about something
And you whispered that you'd rescued me
You let me know that you appreciate me and what I have done for you
I planned a day when I see you come my way
I have been looking forward to the day when we finally meet and can start a relationship
I can't wait to sleep
I am so excited about the possibility of being with you that I can't wait to dream about it
so I can always see your face
I want to feel connected to you even when we're apart
And I hate to wake up
I am disappointed when I have to face the reality that you're not with me
'Cause you're gone without a trace
I miss you when you're not around and can't even feel your presence
Yeah I'm dying to meet you
I'm really looking forward to meeting you
And I'm trying to reach you
I am doing everything I can to get closer to you
As of yet we've not met
We haven't had the chance to meet in person yet
But I'm here waiting always for you
I am patiently waiting for our time to come
Writer(s): Michelle Featherstone
Contributed by Kaelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.