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
Precious Love
On the Rocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was my own worst enemy.
How was I to know that I needed help.
Then you came along and saw the state I was in.
You pick me up when I was down.
And showed me how to live again.
I say thank you for pulling me through.
I'm a lucky man.
I understand.
This is precious love oh precious love.
No I can't let it go.
This is precious love and it's teaching me everything I need to know.
This is precious love oh precious love.
No I can't get enough.
Oh I'm down on my knees and begging you please,
Give me some more of that stuff.
Oh it's love love love love love precious love
Oh it's love love love love love precious love
Oh I get so distracted by people all around.
Whispering sweet nothing, filling my head with doubt.
I give up, didn't take long for me to see.
The one thing I was missing, was standing in front of me.
I took you for granted.
Thought the grass was greener on the other side.
I was wrong and it took me so long for me to finally realize.
This is precious love oh precious love.
No I can't let it go.
This is precious love and it's teaching me everything I need to know.
This is precious love oh precious love.
No I can't get enough.
Oh I'm down on my knees and begging you please,
Give me some more of that stuff.
I _________ anything new.
Now my heart will always be true.
Life won't be the same without you.
So I say thank you, I'm a lucky man.
I didn't know what life was but now I
Now I understand, understand, understand
Whoa-oh
This is love love love love love precious love
This is precious love and it's teaching me to be a better man.
This is precious love oh precious love
No I can't get enough.
Oh I'm down on my knees ________
You must be from heaven above
Oh it's love love love love love precious love
Yes it's love love love love love precious love
Oh it's love love love give you love give me love
Oh it's love love love love oh precious love
The lyrics of On The Rocks' song Precious Love represent a classic tale of personal growth and redemption through the power of love. The persona starts off as someone who was lost and had no idea what to do with themselves, and gradually finds their way thanks to the love and support of another person. They admit that they were their own worst enemy and didn't realize they needed help until it was too late. The arrival of the significant other was a turning point in their life, as they helped them rediscover the joy of living and showed them that life was worth living again.
The chorus is an ode to the transformative power of love, as the persona realizes that they can't let go of the precious love they have found. They are grateful to their partner for pulling them out of their predicament, and acknowledge that they are a lucky person for having found such a love. They also declare that they are still learning a lot of things about life through this relationship, and that they can't get enough of the love they are receiving. The lyrics also highlight the fact that the persona was easily distracted by other people's opinions, and that they took their partner for granted and thought the grass was greener on the other side. In the end, they realized the error of their ways and declare their undying love and commitment to their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I was so lost, didn't know what to do with myself.
I was lost and confused.
I was my own worst enemy.
I was causing harm to myself.
How was I to know that I needed help.
I didn't realize I needed help.
Then you came along and saw the state I was in.
You noticed how I was struggling.
You pick me up when I was down.
You helped me when I was feeling low.
And showed me how to live again.
You taught me how to enjoy life once more.
I say thank you for pulling me through.
I am grateful for your support.
I'm a lucky man.
I feel fortunate.
I didn't know what life was but now I
I understand.
Now I understand what life truly is.
This is precious love oh precious love.
This love is incredibly valuable.
No I can't let it go.
I can't lose this love.
This is precious love and it's teaching me everything I need to know.
This love is helping me learn important lessons.
No I can't get enough.
I need more of this love.
Oh I'm down on my knees and begging you please, Give me some more of that stuff.
I am desperate for more of this love.
Oh it's love love love love love precious love
This love is everything.
Oh I get so distracted by people all around.
I get sidetracked easily.
Whispering sweet nothing, filling my head with doubt.
People's false promises make me uncertain.
I give up, didn't take long for me to see.
I lost hope and realized the truth quickly.
The one thing I was missing, was standing in front of me.
I didn't realize that what I needed was right in front of me.
I took you for granted.
I didn't appreciate you enough.
Thought the grass was greener on the other side.
I thought something else would be better.
I was wrong and it took me so long for me to finally realize.
Finally, I realized I was mistaken.
This is precious love and it's teaching me to be a better man.
This love is making me a better person.
Oh I'm down on my knees ________
I am pleading with you.
You must be from heaven above
You are an angel.
Oh it's love love love love love precious love
This love is so precious.
Yes it's love love love love love precious love
Yes, this love is everything.
Oh it's love love love give you love give me love
This love is mutual.
Oh it's love love love love oh precious love
This love is extremely valuable.
Writer(s): James Morrison, John Shanks
Contributed by Anthony V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.