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
Hallelujah
On the Rocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that David played and it pleased the Lord,
but you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
the minor fall, the major lift.
The baffled king composing hallelujah.
hallelujah, hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof.
You saw her bathing on the roof,
her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you.
She tied you to a kitchen chair.
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
and from your lips she drew the hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah
Now maybe I've been here before
I've seen this room, I walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I saw your flag on the marble arch
love is not a victory march.
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah
There was a time you let me know
what's real and going on below,
but now you never show it to me, do you?
I remember when I moved in you,
the holy dark was moving too
and every breath we drew was hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah
Now maybe there's a God above
and all I ever learned from love
was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.
It's not a cry you can hear at night.
It's not somebody who's seen the light.
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah
The song "Hallelujah" by On the Rocks is a beautiful ballad that explores various complex themes. The opening lines of the song refer to a secret chord that David played, which pleased the Lord. This chord represents a pivotal moment in religious history and is a metaphorical representation of finding something that brings immense pleasure and fulfillment in life.
The next set of lyrics talk about a baffled king who composed a hallelujah. The song's lyrics suggest that even powerful and influential individuals can become vulnerable to the depths of emotion and feeling. The lyrics then move on to discuss the singer's relationship with a lover who overthrew him. The associated pain is evident, and the singer attempts to reconcile these feelings.
The song's themes continue to evolve, highlighting the cold and broken elements of love, with an introspective examination of the singer's life before love and after. The song ends with the contemplation of a God above, with the realization that everything learned from love relates to conflict and competing with others. Overall, "Hallelujah" by On the Rocks is a moving song that portrays the complexities of human emotion and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I've heard there was a secret chord
I have heard that there was a special and hidden melody
that David played and it pleased the Lord,
that a person named David played and God enjoyed it
but you don't really care for music, do you?
However, you are not truly interested in listening to music, are you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The notes are structured in a pattern consisting of the fourth and fifth notes
the minor fall, the major lift.
The notes then shift through both minor and major transitions
The baffled king composing hallelujah.
This boggles the mind of the king, as he creates a song of praise
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Praise is given repeatedly
Your faith was strong but you needed proof.
You possessed powerful belief but required evidence to support it.
You saw her bathing on the roof,
You caught a glimpse of her as she was bathing outside
her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you.
Her lovely appearance, combined with the moon's light, completely captivated you.
She tied you to a kitchen chair.
She bound you to a chair in the kitchen
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
She destroyed your power, by breaking your throne and cutting your hair
and from your lips she drew the hallelujah.
As a result, she inspired you to utter a hymn of praise.
Now maybe I've been here before
Perhaps I have already encountered a similar situation
I've seen this room, I walked this floor.
I recognize this space, I have moved through this place.
I used to live alone before I knew you.
Previously, I resided by myself until the moment when I became acquainted with you.
I saw your flag on the marble arch
I witnessed your standard on top of the grand monument
love is not a victory march.
These romantic feelings cannot be won like a grand military campaign.
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.
Instead, it is an emotional and imperfect act of praise.
There was a time you let me know
There was an occasion on which you confided in me
what's real and going on below,
Cluing me in on genuine feelings lying underneath the exterior facade
but now you never show it to me, do you?
However, you now conceal these true emotions and do not expose them to me anymore, do you?
I remember when I moved in you,
I recall how I became involved with you
the holy dark was moving too
That movement wasn't just physical but also had deep spiritual connotations connected to it
and every breath we drew was hallelujah.
With each inhalation, we felt grateful for this connection we shared.
Now maybe there's a God above
Perhaps a divine being exists beyond us
and all I ever learned from love
In the end, all the understanding love has provided me with
was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.
consisted of learning how to take retaliatory action against someone who has hurt you.
It's not a cry you can hear at night.
It is not audible when you let out such emotional distress in the depths of the night
It's not somebody who's seen the light.
It is not an individual who has already attained knowledge or enlightenment.
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.
Instead, it is a sorrowful and deficient expression of prayer and thanksgiving.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Veiled in emotions both divine and profane, but still offering praise to a higher power over and over again.
Contributed by Scarlett L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
No Resolve
Thank you for watching! We're honored to bring you our version of Hallelujah which pays homage to the great renditions that came before us. Thank you to my friends Jeff Gutt and Gary Pittel for the inspiration along with the great Pentatonix and Jeff Buckley! 🤘
🌟You can STREAM & DOWNLOAD our version HERE: http://lnk.to/HallelujahNoResolve
- Oscar
Joshua Hiatt
I CANNOT WAIT TO GET THIS TOMORROW ON ITUNES!!!!!!
Mariana Rodrigues
Amazing!!
Don Jean
It’s alright. I mean… I’ve heard worse. Okay so I’ve only heard worse, meaning this is the best damn version ever. Cheers and beers to you guys!
Suzanne Walton
Bow on down to you guys.....Amen
samuelsmum100
Love it 😍
Karen Merriam
My son passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30 almost 2 years ago. 3 weeks ago my husband was violently murdered in my front yard, attacked from behind so he never saw it or had a chance to defend himself. I just found your music today, somehow the sound of your voice has been the only thing that has touched my soul and brought music back into my life. Thank you for your beautiful sound and the gift you just gave me. ❤️
Ronnie Sanders
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Yvonne Van zyl
This is so very sad
Karen Merriam
@Ronnie Sanders ... thank you for your kind words