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
Paradise
On the Rocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To fill in this hole in my heart
I've tried everything I could find
Nothing could set me apart
I've been searching for all my life
I know there is no one like you
Looking back over the years
All of the heartbreak and tears I've cried
Lead me to this place in time
I've been searching for all my life
I know there is no one like you
I'm walking in paradise
My heart is in heaven as long I'm with you in paradise
I'm walking in heaven with you
Forever my heart will be true
Surrendering all that I am
I know that you're faithful and true
Taking me so far beyond my dreams
Anything I ever know
I've been searching for all my life
I know there is no one like you
I'm walking in paradise
My heart is in heaven as long as I'm near you in paradise
You're all I believe in forever we'll stay here in paradise
I'm walking in heaven as long as I'm with you, paradise,
Forever in heaven with you
Always my heart will be true
Paradise
I'm walking in heaven as long as I'm with you, paradise,
I'm walking in heaven with you
Forever my heart will be true
Forever I'll share life with you
Always devoted to you
The lyrics to "Paradise" by On the Rocks are a love song that speak to the idea of finding the one person who fulfills and completes you. The singer has been searching for someone to fill the "hole in [their] heart" for a long time, and has tried everything but nothing has worked until they find their significant other. The lyrics reflect on the "heartbreak and tears" that the singer had experienced leading up to this moment. Now that they have found their person, they are ecstatic and feel as though they are "walking in paradise" and "in heaven" as long as they are with them. The singer is elated to have found the one they've been searching for and knows that there is no one like their significant other.
The tone of this song is full of love and happiness, and the lyrics are very straightforward in expressing the idea of finding the one you love. The lyrics are simple, but communicate a powerful sentiment that many people can relate to. The idea of finding someone who completes you and fills the void in your heart is universally appealing, and the song does a great job delivering that message.
Line by Line Meaning
Searching for someone so long
I've been looking for a long time to fill the empty space in my heart with someone.
To fill in this hole in my heart
Trying to fill the void in my life with meaningful companionship.
I've tried everything I could find
I've used all the resources I could find to try and fill the gap in my life.
Nothing could set me apart
Although I found things that made me happy, none of them differentiated themselves from the other things I tried.
I've been searching for all my life
Throughout all of my life, I've been looking for something or someone that would fulfill me.
I know there is no one like you
I am convinced that no other person can replace the companion I have found.
Looking back over the years
Reflecting on the past and all the time I wasted trying to find what I wanted.
Wasting so much precious time
I regret how much time I spent pursuing things that weren't right for me.
All of the heartbreak and tears I've cried
I had to endure a lot of pain and heartache before finding the right person.
Lead me to this place in time
However, now I find myself in a happy place, and all past struggles appear to have led me to this moment.
I'm walking in paradise
I am experiencing pure joy and happiness now that I have found the right companion.
My heart is in heaven as long I'm with you in paradise
I feel as if my heart is in heaven, and I only experience joy and happiness when I am with this person.
I'm walking in heaven with you
I am filled with bliss and delight when I am with this person.
Forever my heart will be true
I will always stay loyal, faithful, and devoted to my partner.
Surrendering all that I am
I am dropping my defenses and beating all my worries by giving my all to my companion.
I know that you're faithful and true
I am confident that this person will be by my side and stay true to me for eternity.
Taking me so far beyond my dreams
This person has surpassed all my expectations and made my dreams come true.
Anything I ever know
My expectations didn't come close to meeting the reality of the happiness that's presently in my life.
Forever we'll stay here in paradise
My companion and I will remain together in this paradise-like relationship forever.
Always my heart will be true
I will always remain committed and authentic from the depths of my heart.
Forever I'll share life with you
I would like to share the rest of my life with this person and live happily ever after.
Always devoted to you
I will remain faithful and loyal to this person from the bottom of my heart forever.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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