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
Get On Your Feet
On the Rocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you really feel that's right
There's something out there might be dangerous
But if we fight it see the light
I know the feeling that I get when I move
So hard to explain
When i do it constantly
I feel the way, the way to move
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do what we like yeah
Clap your hands if you like what we do
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do
I need to find another another feeling here
Cuz i am lost when all is gone
We used to live in peace and harmony
But now its chaos and then we fight
I wanna put a smile upon your face
I wanna do my dance for you
I kinda like like my coffee bittersweet
So get on up and move your feet
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do what we like yeah
Clap your hands if you like what we do
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do
Big chunks, tree trunks, P-funk, come out to play
We got the M-Rock and Gonzo del Reys
And we flow like the river, like everyday
In a world so ignorant you need funk to enlight your mind- yeah
It will put more bounce in your booty more wiggle in your waistline - yeah
It will tickle your senses, leave you defenceless everytime
And if you hate on that, you can crawl back up your ass crack where the sun don't shine
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do what we like yeah
Clap your hands if you like what we do
Stomp your feet If you hear what we'd like to do
We funky band we funky band we funky band
Celebration
The lyrics of "Get On Your Feet" by On the Rocks encapsulate a call to action for listeners to let loose and embrace the joy of dancing and celebrating. The opening lines set the tone for a night of boogieing down and embracing the energy of the moment. The mention of something potentially dangerous alludes to the idea of facing challenges head-on and finding the light within them, emphasizing the power of resilience and perseverance.
The repeated phrases like "Stomp your feet" and "Clap your hands" serve as a directive for the audience to actively participate in the music and engage with the infectious rhythm. The lyrics convey a sense of unity and shared enjoyment, encouraging everyone to join in the fun. The reference to a lost feeling and a desire to bring back peace and harmony suggests a longing for simpler times and a wish to spread happiness through music and dance.
The verse about finding another feeling and putting a smile on someone's face reflects a desire to uplift and bring positivity into the world. The mention of bittersweet coffee alludes to life's complexities, embracing the mix of bitter and sweet experiences. The call to "get on up and move your feet" is an invitation to let go of worries and embrace the moment with enthusiasm and movement.
The final verse introduces elements of funk music and references to musical influences, emphasizing the band's unique style and sound. The lyrics speak to the transformative power of music, with funk being described as a force that can enlighten, energize, and uplift. The defiance towards negativity and the bold declaration of celebrating with a funky band highlights the unapologetic joy and vibrancy that music can bring into our lives. Overall, the song's lyrics convey a message of unity, joy, and the transformative power of music and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
You know that we can boogie down tonight
We are ready to dance and have a great time this evening
And if you really feel that's right
If you truly believe it is the right thing to do
There's something out there might be dangerous
There may be something risky out there
But if we fight it see the light
But if we confront it, we'll find a way out
I know the feeling that I get when I move
I understand the sensation I experience when I dance
So hard to explain
It's difficult to put into words
When i do it constantly
When I do it all the time
I feel the way, the way to move
I feel the rhythm and know how to groove
Stomp your feet, If you hear what we'd like to do
Show your excitement by stomping your feet if you agree with our plans
I need to find another another feeling here
I need to discover a different emotion in this situation
Cuz i am lost when all is gone
Because I feel disoriented when everything falls apart
We used to live in peace and harmony
There was once tranquility and agreement in our lives
But now its chaos and then we fight
But now it's disorder and conflicts arise
I wanna put a smile upon your face
I want to make you happy
I wanna do my dance for you
I want to perform a dance for you
I kinda like my coffee bittersweet
I enjoy my coffee with a slightly bitter taste
So get on up and move your feet
So stand up and start dancing
Big chunks, tree trunks, P-funk, come out to play
Various elements and funky music are ready to be enjoyed
We got the M-Rock and Gonzo del Reys
We have musicians with unique styles
And we flow like the river, like everyday
We move smoothly like a river each day
In a world so ignorant you need funk to enlight your mind- yeah
In a world lacking in understanding, funk music can enlighten you
It will put more bounce in your booty more wiggle in your waistline - yeah
It will add energy to your movements and make you want to dance
It will tickle your senses, leave you defenceless everytime
It will excite your senses and make you feel vulnerable in a good way
And if you hate on that, you can crawl back up your ass crack where the sun don't shine
And if you dislike it, you can go back to where you came from
We funky band we funky band we funky band
We are a funky band and we are proud of it
Celebration
Let's celebrate and have a good time
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Chris Meijer, Emrik Larsson, Johan Björk, Marc Eastmond, Wefunky Band
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind