Now, with the release of West Coast Coolin', Norman Brown consolidates his reputation as a premier recording and performing artist with a collection of ten tracks -- written and co-written by the artist - that take the sonic adventure of Just Chillin' into breathtaking new spheres. It's an innovation due in large part to Brown's exceptional skills as a distinctive urban vocalist, with the specially selected tracks of West Coast Coolin' providing the perfect vehicle for this dazzling new facet of his career. As a result, Norman Brown joins a very select list of versatile urban artists gifted as both instrumentalists and vocalists.
All which should come as no surprise to savvy music fans. Over the course of five landmark releases and a virtually constant itinerary of international touring, this gifted and gloriously versatile guitarist and vocalist has established himself as one of a handful of preeminent instrumentalists and composers in contemporary musical realms, setting a standard for virtuosity that has placed the Shreveport, La. native in a category of one.
It's a love affair with music that began at the tender age of eight, after the family had relocated to Kansas City. It was there that Brown first heard the mind-blowing brilliance of Jimi Hendrix and determined to make the guitar his life. The obligatory garage rock apprenticeship followed, but it was Brown's steelworker father who eventually introduced his son to the equally life-changing influence of Wes Montgomery and turned his talents toward jazz.
After graduating high school, Brown headed west to study at the renowned Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, eventually landing a teaching job at the school even as he put together his first jazz combo and began playing on the city's thriving club scene. Adding George Benson to his list of seminal influences, Brown had already garnered a small but fanatical following when he landed his first recording contract with Motown Records. Over the course of the next four years he released three critically acclaimed albums, Just Between Us (1992), the gold-selling After The Storm (1994) and Better Days Ahead (1996). The decade drew to a close with a new label, Warner Bros. Records, and one of his most accomplished and assured offerings, the above mentioned Celebration, which marked the beginning of his fruitful collaboration with ace producer Paul Brown.
Celebration was followed, two years later, by the Grammy winning Just Chillin', spotlighting an altogether more laid back sound and an A-list of supporting vocalists that included Michael McDonald, Chante Moore, Miki Howard and others.
Just Between Us
Norman Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Globe Of Frogs
The Shapes Between Us Turn To Animals
Desires muck and algae were the shadows on the wall
glasses shatter ornaments on to the ground they fall
our hair like anemone's that wave beneath the seas
our fingers are like the fingers of baboons up in the trees
and the shapes between us turn into animals
The lion is your anger as it smashes up the chair
the zebra is my answers as your pounding up the stairs
that's black and white and yes and no and can't make up it's mind
when you gonna see that love is dumb as well as blind
oh the shapes between us turn into animals
the shapes between us
when the night is over and the dawn comes shining through
everything is smashed to bits including me and you
the animals are snoring open-mouthed inside the cage
waiting for the wine to turn and ache into a rage
'cause the shapes between us turn into animals
the shapes between us
The lyrics of Norman Brown's "Just Between Us" convey a sense of tumultuous emotions, struggle, and conflict within a relationship. The opening lines, โHitchcock Robin, / Globe Of Frogs, / The Shapes Between Us Turn to Animalsโ, set the scene of a strange and surreal environment where the shapes between the two characters transform into animals. This transformation is a metaphor for how their emotions and desires become unpredictable and uncontrollable shades of whom they really are.
As the song progresses, the lyrics explore how the two individuals within the relationship experience and deal with the animal-like emotions between them. The lines โThe lion is your anger as it smashes up the chair, / The zebra is my answers as your pounding up the stairsโ demonstrate the tension and differences that lead to conflict in the relationship. The lines further continue to emphasize the contrasts and differences between the two people, leaving them unable to connect or reach a common ground.
In the last verse, the lyrics depict how the dawn comes after a long and tumultuous night, and all that is left of the relationship are shattered remnants. The imagery of โthe animals snoring open-mouthed inside the cage, waiting for the wine to turn and ache into a rageโ portrays the aftermath and repercussions. Despite their mutual desire for each other, the conflicts between them have turned their love into something destructive.
Line by Line Meaning
Hitchcock Robyn
The artist and album name of the song
Globe Of Frogs
Title of the album the song is featured on
The Shapes Between Us Turn To Animals
The relationship between the singer and their partner has become animalistic and violent
Desires muck and algae were the shadows on the wall
The artist's hidden desires are present but covered up like dirt and algae on a wall
glasses shatter ornaments on to the ground they fall
Objects symbolizing their relationship are breaking and falling apart
our hair like anemone's that wave beneath the seas
The singer and their partner's hair is like the waved tentacles of a sea anemone, which move unpredictably with the current
our fingers are like the fingers of baboons up in the trees
The hands of the singer and their partner are compared to the grasping, agile hands of baboons
and the shapes between us turn into animals
The artist and their partner's relationship has deteriorated into something wild and animalistic
the lion is your anger as it smashes up the chair
The partner's anger is compared to the destructive force of a lion and how it destroys objects in its path
the zebra is my answers as your pounding up the stairs
The artist's answers are compared to a striped zebra, and they feel like their responses are not being heard or understood
that's black and white and yes and no and can't make up it's mind
The partner is indecisive and unsure about their relationship
when you gonna see that love is dumb as well as blind
The artist questions when their partner will realize that love can be foolish and irrational
oh the shapes between us turn into animals
The chorus repeats the message that the relationship has become violent and animalistic
when the night is over and the dawn comes shining through
A new day is coming, and the consequences of their actions will be revealed
everything is smashed to bits including me and you
The relationship and everything associated with it is broken and destroyed
the animals are snoring open-mouthed inside the cage
The violent tendencies and animalistic behavior of the couple have caused them to be trapped and imprisoned in their own relationship
waiting for the wine to turn and ache into a rage
The couple is waiting for something else to come along and trigger their angry and violent behavior
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@GoldenHoopsProduction
Smooth, smooth, SMOOTH!!!
@SEMBRISO
I am a fan of golden hoops๐๐๐
@bareleelegal2
Definitely
@nubiannativex7559
Can we take a minute to just appreciate how the song even BEGINS?! A timeless song indeed #2023
@willardlockejr2965
Still feeling this jazzy groove by Mr. Brown in 2024.
@stacyfields9205
I donโt recall this playing as a normal play in my childhood or ever. I feel I heard it once and it stuck. I looked for it without name or title like looking for needle in a haystack to no avail๐ข All I had was the tune in my head and in my heart. I started thinking maybe I made this dope music up on my ownโฆ.. Until today when my aunt played it on one of her stories on Facebook โค๐ฎโคMy heart is content.
@gorrilablackjack2813
Listening to this song makes me forget what a problem is.
@Lerf8
Smooth jazz really changes the mode :)
@piscessmith4785
@@Lerf8 yes
@cherylbarlow7520
You are so right