I. In the summer of 1999 Leonardo Silva and Peter Hollens met in a University of Oregon writing class. Their common passion for singing inspired them to start a vocal group. That winter, Pete and Leo gathered a small and talented group of 6 music lovers for their very first rehearsal. On the Rocks was born.
Known as the first official collegiate a cappella group in Oregon, On The Rocks began a tradition of excellence in a genre that was previously unheard of in the Northwest. Since 1999, several other groups, including University of Oregon’s Divisi and Oregon State’s Outspoken have followed their lead and joined the fast-growing A cappella community.
OtR has established itself as one of the top a cappella groups in the nation. Their current repertoire ranges from contemporary pop to doo-wop classics to holiday standards and the occasional original piece. OtR is comprised of mostly undergraduate students and usually consisting of 9 – 12 members. Every fall and spring, an extensive audition process is held to find quality replacements for graduating members in 4 different vocal categories-, tenor, baritone, bass and vocal percussion. Auditioning students are evaluated on tonal memory, solo talent, blending ability and, of course, personality. Once the new members are chosen, OTR can be heard singing every Friday @ the EMU amphitheater and around campus at various events throughout the year. Aside from hosting quarterly concerts, they have toured the West Coast and have visited the east coast often, and Canada. They have performed with the professional quartet the Coats and at various a cappella festivals all over the west coast.
In 2002 OtR placed 3rd at the International Competition of Collegiate a cappella and returned the next year in 2003 to place 2nd out of hundreds of groups. During the competitions they took in more than a dozen awards including, Best Soloist, Best Vocal Percussion, Best Arrangement and Best Hair. They have appeared live on the NBC Today show, along with other various semi-national news stations such as WB news @ 10 on “Toni Time”.
Every year in the winter since their inception OtR has been invited to sing the National Anthem at the UO Basketball Games in Mac Court. Their performance has been broadcast on UO radio to several thousand listeners and was received with uproaring praise from the appreciative 7,000 fans and radio commentators alike.
OTR has also reached viral status with their YouTube videos of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," and is probably best known for their version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," which reached 7.5 million views on YouTube. OTR has toured all over the US and Canada. The group travels to Berkeley, CA for the West Coast A Cappella Showcase every year. OTR has toured San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, New Haven, and Boston, and hope to tour more in the future. In 2010, OTR was featured on the second season of the hit NBC show "The Sing-Off".
Since it’s inception, On the Rocks has released two albums:The self titled OTR – 2002 and Backgammon Sessions – 2003. They are finishing up their latest CD, soon to be released in fall of 2005. Awards for their recordings include a selection on the 2004 BOCA compilation album (Best of Collegiate A Cappella). The selected track was Yellow off the Backgammon Sessions album and it was also chosen as the runner-up best male song of the year by CARA (Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards) Their most recent CD, Full Coverage includes tracks from such artists as Mr. Mister, Justin Timberlake, Rufus Wainwritght, and more. On the Rocks A cappella can be contacted via email at uoontherocks@hotmail.com.
II. On The Rocks
Colorado rock has a distinctive sound, identified by a blending of acoustic and electric guitars and an emphasis on tight vocal harmonies. No band around present this as powerfully as 'On the Rocks'. Add to the mix, dynamic rhythms and emotional originals, and you have the recipe for a band on the rise. Frontman Shawn Wright's gravely voice and passionate performances move audiences to frenzied levels, then gently brings the house down with love songs, such as 'til the end' or a power ballad like 'something more than this'. His sense of humor shines through with songs such as 'nailed your best friend'. Nn lead guitar is Ohio born Mike Princehorn. He cut his rock and roll teeth in the northern Colorado area. His versatile styles keep up with the bands ever-changing moods through each set. His strong vocals are heard on front as well as in harmonies. He's no shrinking violet, evident when harmonizing with Shawn's powerhouse vocals. Also a song writer, original material seems limitless. Arriving all the way from Detroit is bassist Sonny Lentz. He brings a streetwise edge and Motown influences to the music. Combining blues, rock, soul, country and reggae, his rhythms keep the songs, and the audience, moving. He contributes original material that is provocative and somewhat unpredictable. Rounding out the quartet is Colorado's own Norris Jones on drums. Norris has played with northern Colorado favorites 'canebrake run', Walt Jenkins, Liz Barnez, and 'harmony road'. His jazz and infusion roots add a cool and diverse bottom to the passionate original material. He is dynamite on the rockin' tunes as well. As word spreads, the band's calender is filling up. They are playing regularly up and down the front range, and extending into Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana.
Collectors Choice Music: On The Rocks - Intoxicated
Collectors Choice Music: On The Rocks
Discogs: On The Rocks - Mamonama
Change In My Life
On the Rocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Oh my, oh
Oh my, oh
I was on the block right, wasn't in my right mind
Just a young nigga, hustlin', tryna get mines
Movin' with the 9 double M
Yeah, young teenager, 'fatuated with paper
Yeah, I had to get it, 'cause mama, she wasn't able
Black and white TV set, no cable
40's in the fridge, chicken noodles on the table
I wasn't born with a silver spoon
Child of the ghetto, raised off a different tune
Watchin' Bob Barker in my living room
If "The Price Was Right", I could get you a whole living room
Yeah, them was my gutter ways
Back in the gutter days, no education, but the gutter pays
Through it all, came a long way
From sellin' the yay', fist fights to gunplay
In the ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
G-ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
I comes from the bottom but now I'm on top
Ain't no one stop me, yo
I comes from the ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Where all of my niggas, where all of my niggas
And all of my niggas will roll up in the spot
And get ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Yeah, times is hard as it is
That's why I got guns, and my guns got kids
That's why I be goin' so tough on them hoes
I play my own hand, I don't shuffle or fold
Fuck with a nigga, let's go fuck with some hoes
Hear them bitches screamin' like they stuck in a hole
I am not a demon, but was once a lost soul
'Til I found myself a block away from the crossroad
I have, outgrown the fishbowl
And now I'm on my feet like a fuckin' insole
Yeah, it may hurt like a fuckin' lymph node
But it's "fuck the world" like a fuckin' nympho
And we spend dough 'cause we make more
And I make sure when I say so
It's Jay Rock and Wheezy, need I say more?
Clothesline the beat, Ted DiBiase flow
In the ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
G-ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
I comes from the bottom but now I'm on top
Ain't no one stop me, yo
I comes from the ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Where all of my niggas, where all of my niggas
And all of my niggas will roll up in the spot
And get ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Jay Rock, still that same OG
I ain't tryna see the grave or the penitentiary
Everyday living, tryna stay on my feet
Even though a nigga paid but my heart in the streets
To my dogs, I'm a beast, go hard on these beats
So my family can eat, I'll be damned if I see no income
Here come Jay Rock, they know
Crack music, drug kingpin flow, oh
Kingpin, ho (yeah), need I say more? (Yeah)
Your family could die when I say go (go)
Green light, green light, what ya green like?
Before you sign me up, get the scene right
And I just hop in the Phantom when I'm feelin' nice
'Cause drivin' slow in the Lamb', it doesn't seem right
Yeah, and I remember them long nights
Livin' the wrong life, but I made that wrong right, Wheezy
All the struggling
All it does is keep my hustling
Oh my, my
In the ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
G-ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
I comes from the bottom but now I'm on top
Ain't no one stop me, yo
I comes from the ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Where all of my niggas, where all of my niggas
And all of my niggas will roll up in the spot
And get ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
Get ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
G-ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto
I comes from the bottom but now I'm on top
Ain't nothin' gon' stop me, yo
All the struggling
All it does is keep my hustling
Oh my, oh
Oh my
The lyrics of On the Rocks' song Change In My Life speak of a newfound joy that the singer has discovered by finding someone they connect with deeply. The song is about the joy of being in love and the hope that it brings into one's life. The singer feels that they have finally found someone who truly needs them, someone who they have needed for a long time. They feel unafraid to go where life leads them because they have the strength that comes from the love they have found.
The lyrics also speak of the power of love to make dreams come true. The singer says that they can now touch the things that their heart used to dream of before they even knew what it meant to have someone warm like their partner in their life. They are grateful for this and acknowledge that this love has made their dreams come true. The chorus speaks of a sense of possessiveness and security that the singer feels towards their love. They declare that they have found someone who needs them and that as long as they have love, they can weather any storm.
Overall, Change In My Life is a celebratory ode to love and its power to transform one's life. It speaks of the freedom and strength that comes from finding someone who truly needs and loves you.
Line by Line Meaning
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
I finally have someone who truly cares for me, which is new and exciting.
Someone I've needed so long
This person has been missing in my life for a long time, but now they are here and I am grateful.
For once unafraid I can go where life leads me and somehow I know I'll be strong
Having this person by my side makes me feel fearless and able to tackle whatever the future holds.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of, long before I knew someone warm like you
My deepest desires and aspirations are finally within reach now that I have this special person in my life.
Who have my dreams come true
This person has made all of my dreams a reality, and I am forever grateful for their presence.
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me, not like it's hurt me before
I am no longer weighed down by past pain and sadness, because this person brings me so much joy and love.
For once I have someone I know won't desert me, I'm not alone anymore
I finally have a companion who I can count on, which brings immense comfort and a sense of security.
For once I can say, 'This is mine, you can't take it'
I have something precious that cannot be taken away, and that is the love and companionship of this person.
As long as I know I have love I can make it
Love gives me strength and resilience, which helps me to overcome any obstacle.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
To have someone who needs and loves me unconditionally is a new and wonderful experience that I never want to lose.
As long as I know I have love we can make it
Together, our love is strong enough to conquer any challenge that comes our way.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Having someone who truly needs and cares for me is an incredible feeling that I cherish every day.
Lyrics © SOAR MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre Christopher Lyon, Marcello Valenzano, Curtis Mayfield, William Adams, Johnny McKinzie, Dwayne Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind