Many artists have been declared “before their time” however with the album title After My Time, Noel pays homage to the soul stars of generations past that have paved the way for him to express himself through the “most relevant music” in his life. While he’d fit perfectly in the old-school soul genre, he has crafted an album that also proves him to be a unique new-generation artist with undeniable staying power.
As a kid growing up just outside of Boston in Brockton, Massachusetts, the 26-year-old musician soaked up the sounds of his father’s music collection, which consisted of plenty of old soul favorites like Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Tyrone Davis and Teddy Pendergrass. Noel realized his true passion for making music in high school and set out on the beaten path to a professional career by writing and producing songs and performing at clubs and showcases in and around the Boston area. During this time, he partnered with Larry “Lucky” Fernandes, a music executive also from the Boston area and head of Stalin Entertainment. Having grown up with Noel, Fernandes watched him develop into a promising musician and when he felt the time was right, he introduced the aspiring singer to fellow producer/artist Tommy Olivera and songwriter Balewa Muhammad of the Trakaddix production team.
Olivera had a wide range of industry contacts, among them former Naughty By Nature DJ / producer Kay-Gee, best known for his production work for Jaheim, Zhané and Next. Declaring him the “new-age Sam Cooke,” Kay-Gee brought Noel into the studio to record “Family Reunion” for the soundtrack to the 2004 film The Cookout. A number of industry players bore witness to the formation of Noel’s career, as he also found himself in the studio with hit-making producers such as Mike City and Dr. Dre along the way. After taking meetings with various labels, Noel’s camp ultimately settled at Epic and set to work on presenting to the world who they already knew to be R&B’s next superstar.
With his father’s two-hour Maxell soul tapes as their soundtrack, each year, Noel and his family made the long car trips to his grandparents’ home just outside Biloxi, Mississippi. There, he spent his summers soaking up the environment that would serve not only as a rural refuge, but the foundation for his manhood. It was here that the city boy learned of a world outside of Boston. He lived and breathed the stories of his predecessors’ struggles through the civil rights movement and the oppression synonymous with the South. The memories of Sunday mornings at church, fish fries and backseat make-out sessions were created and each summer, Noel nourished his existence with the growth and renewal he gained there, much like that offered through the time-honored Southern tradition of river baptisms.
It’s no wonder that Noel is already winning music fans over with his debut single, aptly titled “The River.” Kay-Gee produced the feel-good track in the tradition of an old-soul ballad, which harks back to the all-encompassing elements of love, family and summers in Mississippi. Noel recalls of writing the song, “My grandfather had just died and I was thinking about him, and in the Deep South, the river represents something spiritual.” He attributes the song’s popularity to its applicable theme. “I think there’s something in the record a lot of people can hold and grasp and relate to. It seems like people from 15 on up to 50 years old can grab something from this record.”
Along with his production team Trakaddix, Noel Gourdin co-wrote much of the album, which also boasts a formidable list of collaborators, including Raphael Saadiq, Vidal & Dre, The Black Beatles and Eddie F. Grown-and-sexy but edgy enough to appeal to the younger crowd, the disc offers up the melodic sounds reminiscent of pioneering soul imprints like Motown, Stax and Philly International, while incorporating the beat-driven hip-hop rhythms that are a constant on today’s music charts.
Some of these gems include “Reach,” on which Noel flexes his falsetto muscles while addressing the notion of giving a 100 percent to a relationship. “Sorry I Led You On,” is about the harsh realities of a man growing out of love. Noel lets his lover down easy on the track produced by Soundz (Usher). Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse) works his magic on “Open.” Borrowing from the late B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” the tastefully seductive track hears Noel give praise to that special woman who arouses his sensual side. The typical male-female roles are switched on “One Love,” a groove-driven track on which Noel looks to take a relationship to the next level. The downside of love is represented on tracks like “Too Late,” where he campaigns to save a union he fears is already doomed; And Trakaddix’s own “Hurts Like Hell” hears the artist brokenhearted but bitter and resigned to move on. Hip-hop is infused again on the latter track, nodding to A Tribe Called Quest’s “Lyrics to Go.”
In summing up himself as “city to the heart but southern to the soul,” Noel also sums up his music. “It’s emotional and vulnerable, but still strong and secure.” He is certainly among those rare artists who can walk the fine line between being “what’s hot” and a favorite among more mature listeners. His music can be played at the young people’s party or the family barbeque, much like contemporaries John Legend, D’Angelo and Robin Thicke before him. However, artistically in a class by himself Noel declares, “More than anything, I wanted to make music that was real, relatable and timeless.” And with this first offering destined to become a classic, Noel Gourdin has certainly done just that.
P.Y.T.
Noel Gourdin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I see you naked I feel like I'm at a show
You touch all the right things to make it grow
When another shorty call, I quickly tell 'em no
Whenever you call I got to be there
Your the beset I confess I don't wanna share
Your my precious young thing
Your my lovely P.Y.T.
[Chorus]
Your my P.Y.T.
Girl your my precious young thing
Don't you know that you deserve me girl
Your my only precious young thing
Now lucky could a young fellow be
To matchbox with some one as fine as she
You can bet that them other cats were lying
So glad god picked the number that was mine
But I'ma do everything that rights,
Except making love in strange places and parks at night
Your my precious young thing
[Chorus]
Sometimes when I leave you baby no
I think about how I wanna get back home and see you
How I cherish, I cherish your love
And how you give it to me
[Chorus]
Your my P.Y.T. [Repeat: x3]
You make me wanna tell my friends that your my
Precious young thing
I could not afford to leave you
Girl your my precious young thing
I swear ill tell the world about you
Build my world around you precious young thing
I swear ill tell the world about you
Build my world around you precious young thing
[Chorus]
In Noel Gourdin's song P.Y.T., he affectionately refers to his significant other as his precious young thing (P.Y.T.) and makes it clear that she is the only one for him. The lyrics express his admiration and infatuation with her, stating that when she is naked it is like he is at a show, and that she touches all the right things to make it grow. He emphasizes that whenever she calls, he has to be there, and he doesn't want to share her with anyone else. He references the luck he feels to be with someone as fine as her and that he will do everything right except for making love in strange places and parks at night.
The chorus of the song simply reinforces the idea that she is his P.Y.T. and that she is his only and precious young thing. He cherishes her love and cannot afford to leave her. The song ends with a vow to tell the world about her and to build his world around her.
Line by Line Meaning
You see, your the one precious young thing that I know
You are the most precious and valuable person in my life and I am extremely lucky to have you.
When I see you naked I feel like I'm at a show
Your beauty and elegance are a sight to behold and I am constantly in awe of you, even in the most intimate moments.
You touch all the right things to make it grow
You know just what to do to make our love and intimacy grow and thrive. Your touch is magical and intoxicating to me.
When another shorty call, I quickly tell 'em no
I am committed to you and have no interest in anyone else. I will turn down any advances from other people because my heart belongs to you.
Whenever you call I got to be there
I prioritize you above all else and will always be there for you when you need me. Your happiness and well-being are my top priorities.
Your the beset I confess I don't wanna share
You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am not willing to share you with anyone else. You are mine and I cherish you deeply.
Your my precious young thing
You are my most precious treasure and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, happy, and loved.
Your my lovely P.Y.T.
You are my lovely and beautiful precious young thing, and I am grateful to have you in my life.
Girl your my precious young thing
Don't you know that you deserve me girl
Your my only precious young thing
You are the only person who deserves my love and devotion, and I am honored to be yours. You are the only precious young thing for me.
Now lucky could a young fellow be
To matchbox with some one as fine as she
You can bet that them other cats were lying
So glad god picked the number that was mine
But I'ma do everything that rights,
Except making love in strange places and parks at night
Your my precious young thing
I am incredibly lucky to be with someone as beautiful and amazing as you. Other people are jealous and deceitful, but I am grateful that fate brought us together. I will do everything in my power to treat you right, except for engaging in risky or potentially dangerous behavior. You are my most precious young thing.
Sometimes when I leave you baby no
I think about how I wanna get back home and see you
How I cherish, I cherish your love
And how you give it to me
When I am away from you, I miss you dearly and can't wait to be back in your arms. I treasure your love and the way you express it, and I am grateful to be the recipient of your affection.
You make me wanna tell my friends that your my
Precious young thing
I could not afford to leave you
Girl your my precious young thing
I swear ill tell the world about you
Build my world around you precious young thing
You make me so happy and proud to be with you that I want to shout it from the rooftops. I would never want to lose you because you are my most precious young thing, and I promise to share my love for you with the world and build my life around you.
Your my P.Y.T. [Repeat: x3]
You are my precious young thing, the one who makes me feel complete and loved. I will always treasure you and keep you close to my heart.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NOEL GOURDIN, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, ROBERT C. JR. OZUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind