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.
Night Drive
Norman Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ba wo wa qi lai
Tu ge tong kuai
Kan bu guan peng you you nan
Shui hai leng leng de wei guan
Wo de shou xin wei ni wo qi lai
(Ken Chu)
Fan le bu yao jian wai
Pei ni fu dang
(Vanness Wu)
Xu bei ka fei de wen nuan
Yi zhi nuan dao ni xiang kai
Ni xin qing de ken dong rang wo lai tian mang
(Ken Chu)
Zuo tian hui bu jin tian ming tian lai qu dai
Dong xin de gan qing bu hui tao tai
Guan xin chang zai
(F4)
Jiu suan ni wo zai re nao xuan hua zhong zhou shang
You qing hui di yi shi jian gan lai
Rang tiao ruan de xin pin tang xia lai
Cong xing de hu xi jian dang
Shen shen de man man de
Peng you zhi yao ni bei gu dang ya de jiao bu chu lai
Wo di yi shi jian song chu guan huai
Re re de yan shen pei ni kan kai
Zhao hui na pian da zhi rang
Wei zhe ni bao jin ni xiang xin ni
(Ken Chu)
Wo que ding
(Vic Zhou)
Lei le bu yao jian wai
Ba wo wa qi lai
Tu ge tong kuai
Kan bu guan peng you you nan
Shui hai leng leng de wei guan
Wo de shou xin wei ni wo qi lai
(Ken Chu)
Fan le bu yao jian wai
Ba wo zhao chu lai
Pei ni fu dang
Xu bei ka fei de wen nuan
Yi zhi nuan dao ni xiang kai
Ni xin qing de ken dong rang wo lai tian mang
(Vanness Wu)
Zuo tian hui bu jin tian ming tian lai qu dai
Dong xin de gan qing bu hui tao tai
Guan xin chang zai
(F4)
Jiu suan ni wo zai re nao xuan hua zhong zhou shang
You qing hui di yi shi jian gan lai
Rang tiao ruan de xin pin tang xia lai
Cong xing de hu xi jian dang
Shen shen de man man de
Peng you zhi yao ni bei gu dang ya de jiao bu chu lai
Wo di yi shi jian song chu guan huai
Re re de yan shen pei ni kan kai
Zhao hui na pian da zhi rang
Wei zhe ni bao jin ni xiang xin ni
(Vanness Wu)
Wo que ding
The lyrics to Norman Brown's song Night Drive are not in English but in Mandarin Chinese. The song speaks of going for a night drive with friends and enjoying the company of one another. The first verse talks about how the singer's friends are not worried about anything and are carefree. They are willing to go along with anything and everything, and the singer's heart is beating for them. The second verse speaks about the warmth of a cup of coffee and how it can bring warmth to the soul. The singer is willing to follow their love interest anywhere they want to go because they make the singer feel alive.
The chorus repeats the verse with a small variation. The singer again talks about not wanting to leave the company of their friends and the warmth they feel inside when they are with their love interest. The bridge speaks about how even in the hustle and bustle of life, when everything seems chaotic, spending time with loved ones is what makes life worth living. The song ends with the echoed confirmation of the singer's commitment to remain with their friends and love interest.
Line by Line Meaning
Lei le bu yao jian wai
Don't go out feeling sad
Ba wo wa qi lai
Lift me up
Tu ge tong kuai
Drive quickly
Kan bu guan peng you you nan
Not paying attention to the difficulty of my friends
Shui hai leng leng de wei guan
The water is cold and lonely
Wo de shou xin wei ni wo qi lai
I'm motivated by you to get up
(Ken Chu)
Fan le bu yao jian wai
Don't go out feeling tired
Ba wo zhao chu lai
Help me find my way
Pei ni fu dang
Accompany you all the way
(Vanness Wu)
Xu bei ka fei de wen nuan
Desiring a warm cup of coffee
Yi zhi nuan dao ni xiang kai
Until you feel warm enough to open up
Ni xin qing de ken dong rang wo lai tian mang
The passion in your heart is motivating me
(Ken Chu)
Zuo tian hui bu jin tian ming tian lai qu dai
Yesterday can't catch up with tomorrow
Dong xin de gan qing bu hui tao tai
Deep emotions won't fade away
Guan xin chang zai
Always caring
(F4)
Jiu suan ni wo zai re nao xuan hua zhong zhou shang
Even if we are amidst a noisy crowd
You qing hui di yi shi jian gan lai
The first feeling is love
Rang tiao ruan de xin pin tang xia lai
Softening the heart and making it tender
Cong xing de hu xi jian dang
Seeing the stars as we breathe
Shen shen de man man de
Deeply and slowly
Peng you zhi yao ni bei gu dang ya de jiao bu chu lai
As long as you hold on, you can have the dance you want
Wo di yi shi jian song chu guan huai
I'm giving away my worries for the first time
Re re de yan shen pei ni kan kai
My hot eyes accompany you to look forward
Zhao hui na pian da zhi rang
Finding that big record
Wei zhe ni bao jin ni xiang xin ni
I'm holding on to you and believing in you
(Ken Chu)
Wo que ding
I'm sure
Writer(s): Paul Raymond Brown, Phillip N.Davis Jr, Norman C. Brown
Contributed by Liam K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@genettalacey2627
The brother is off the chain. Soulful music for a awesome Saturday afternoon, just chilling making the most of it. Peace.
@MrShady181
Norman brown is the real deal
@cassandragreene3348
A Night Drive with music like this........the best!!!!❤
@tommaniece6782
God has blessed me to be in this realm of music love land
@edisonmosleyii1300
...This puts me in the mood of seeing and adoring my 'Queen" and other Queens that walked this earth... Simply beautiful melodies to one's ears and a beautiful woman to a man's eyes... I can dig it!
@kendallcrenshaw7450
A Lovely Vibe 🙌🏾🙏🏾
@evelynmere2150
Simply great music!
@lisamichele2211
Now this is real music
@craighammond5908
His best work yet!!
@keithmoore9988
,son playin that 🎸 ya heard