A brand new and exciting chapter has begun recently for Orange Grove with the release of their second studio album "Fingerprint". Since their first studio sessions together two years ago, the band had grown in sound and skill and this became very obvious in the studio. They decided to go with Oscar Bor as the producer and engineer for the album and it surely paid dividends! The name of the record came from the idea to allow a number of their devoted fans the chance to send in their scanned fingerprints, which were then incorporated into the album's artwork. They released it in the Watt (Rotterdam, Holland) in June of 2009 and again (just like their debut album release in 2007) it was a packed floor and a very memorable night! They even let the whole audience take home a free copy. They also streamed the concert live to venues on St Maarten, Curacao and Aruba, islands where OG members originate from and where the band also has devoted followings.
Since its release, Fingerprint has gotten a ton of great reviews in many national publications. In 2009 the band played twice on the popular dutch talk show DWDD (De Wereld Draait Door) as well as doing many interviews on various radio stations in the country, some of their songs are being used in surf dvd's and already some college radio dj's in the US are spinning their latest! Most importantly, the reactions from their fans have been genuinely amazing!
Michael Maidwell, lead-singer and founder of the group, has this to say about the album: "Fingerprint is feeling like the album we had been dreaming of for a long time. It feels like we have put down a true OG fingerprint with this one. The songs on the album have added a great deal to the live show as well and it has become obvious that we have taken a huge step in the right direction with this record."
With Fingerprint, the band has stepped over into more mainstream waters. The reggae elements, as well as some other Caribbean styles, are still very present in the music but the band has taken on more of a rock-pop approach as compared to their first studio album. Michael adds: "It just came naturally. Everybody in the band has different musical preferences but is still very open-minded. The songs on Fingerprint came from many different corners in OG and no two songs on the album are alike". Radio stations around the globe have been playing their songs for years and by doing so have helped spread their sound to places on earth where no band-member has set foot before. "Our goal is to eventually have been able to play shows in all the places around the globe we are seeing listeners pop up! That would be sweet. Imagine..we'd be playing in Egypt as well as Thailand and New York and LA and Jamaica...wouldn't that be wonderful.."
OG has managed to achieve quite a bit as an independent band. They have already performed in just about every major venue in Holland as well as having played in Belgium, the USA (Atlanta and Yale), Barbados, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Cuaracao and Statia. No other band has played at the world-famous Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta as much as OG, having already performed at the international festival four times. They have opened for legendary reggae bands like Damian Marley, the Wailers and Steel Pulse. What's more interesting though: their songs have been downloaded over a million times on the internet to people who have never even witnessed their live show in person while OG's live show is one of the band's strongest qualities.
Being independent in this industry is not an easy road and like other independent groups, OG has had many hurdles to clear along the way, but they have managed thus far and if they can continue in their progress we should see some very nice things from Orange Grove in the years to come!
These Days
Orange Grove Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many years have passed, still don't know who I'm
gonna be
Ooh yeah, I looked around, but where's the love they
say I've found? Is it you girl? The reason I'm still
standin strong
Where is my woman now? Somebody tell me quick oh where
has she gone?
Cause outside it's stormin, and inside it's the same
And I aint gettin up outta bed to face that pourin
rain
That sun aint shinin no more, the rain keeps fallin
Ooh darlin, said listen woman, can't you hear me
callin
Come on woman, baby can't you see
I need your lovin said I need you close to me
Oh listen woman, what am I to do
When 'm so lonely said I'm o lonely without you
I know 'm not always right but you cant just run away
every time we fight girl
Right now there aint nothin I wouldn't do, to spend
this cold lonely night with you yeah
Come on and put a stop to this hurtin, feel my
emptiness left behind
Time will pass but how will I last without you by my
side
Cause outside it's stormin, and inside it's the same
and I aint gettin up outta bed to face that pourin
rain yeh yeh
That sun aint shinin no more, the rain keeps fallin
Oh come on woman, listen woman, can't you hear me
callin?
Come on woman, baby can't you see
I need your lovin said I need you close to me
Oh listen woman, what am I to do
When 'm so lonely said I'm o lonely without you
The lyrics of Orange Grove's song "These Days" speak to the experience of feeling lost and alone, despite having lived through many years. The first verse reflects a sense of aimlessness and frustration, as the singer acknowledges that they still don't know who they are going to be. The chorus then brings up the theme of love lost, with the singer wondering where their woman has gone and asking if she is the reason they are still able to stand strong. However, the love that once provided strength is now gone, leaving the singer feeling stuck and unable to face the stormy weather outside.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's feelings of sadness and loneliness. They share their desperation for love and ask for their partner to hear their call, emphasizing their need for closeness and reassurance. The final lines of the song express the singer's desire for their partner to come back and end their sense of emptiness, reflecting the idea that love can sometimes be the key to finding one's purpose and place in the world.
Overall, the lyrics of "These Days" touch on universal themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. The song conveys a sense of vulnerability and emotional depth, inviting listeners to identify with the singer's experience of loneliness and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
These days just keep crawlin up on me
I feel like time is moving too slowly and I am overwhelmed by my current situation.
So many years have passed, still don't know who I'm gonna be
I have lived for many years, yet I do not have a clear sense of my identity or purpose.
Ooh yeah, I looked around, but where's the love they say I've found?
I have searched for love that people have told me exists, but I have not been able to find it anywhere.
Is it you girl? The reason I'm still standin strong
I wonder if the love I'm searching for is the love of a particular woman who is keeping me going.
Where is my woman now? Somebody tell me quick oh where has she gone?
I am desperately searching for the woman who I believe could bring me the love and comfort that I need right now.
Cause outside it's stormin, and inside it's the same
The world around me is chaotic and unsettled, and I am feeling just as lost and confused inside.
And I aint gettin up outta bed to face that pourin rain
I am so overwhelmed by everything that's happening that I can't even bring myself to get out of bed.
That sun aint shinin no more, the rain keeps fallin
I can't see anything positive in my life right now, and it feels like everything is going wrong.
Ooh darlin, said listen woman, can't you hear me callin
I am reaching out to the woman I love, begging her to listen to me and help me through this.
Come on woman, baby can't you see
I am pleading with my lover to understand my pain and come to my side to comfort me.
I need your lovin said I need you close to me
I am telling my lover that I need her love and physical presence to make me feel whole again.
Oh listen woman, what am I to do
I am lost and don't know where to turn, and I am asking my lover for guidance and support.
When 'm so lonely said I'm o lonely without you
I am expressing the depth of my loneliness and despair without my lover by my side.
I know 'm not always right but you cant just run away every time we fight girl
I acknowledge that I've made mistakes in our relationship, but I am asking my lover not to abandon me every time we have an argument.
Right now there aint nothin I wouldn't do, to spend this cold lonely night with you yeah
I am willing to do anything to be with my lover right now, as I can't bear to be alone anymore.
Come on and put a stop to this hurtin, feel my emptiness left behind
I am asking my lover to help me heal from my pain and loneliness, which has left me feeling empty and hollow inside.
Time will pass but how will I last without you by my side
I am afraid of how I will be able to cope in the future without the love and support of my partner.
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
susysxm
Can't wait till you guys get famous enough to make videos for all your great songs! Excuses 'n Lies will be HUGE!
Orange Grove Music
hope you all enjoy it! we had a great time making it!! p.s. we realise the colors are a bit darker on youtube...but yeah..the clip was made for tv and not to be compressed like this really. anyway..we'll be busy trying to get it on dutch tv stations as well. stay irie, one love, OG
susysxm
We want more OG! The WORLD needs to know you guys rock!
Leander Baas
great great great debut clip for any band!! love it. makes me smile.
malinao08
Sounds great you guys! Really nice video!
Alan Smith
Great gig in the WATT last week guys, keep em coming!
W Neunaber
Keep the good Vibes... Love it ..
Stijn Giliam
Oldschool vibes but WITH a clip.....!! Great guys, congrats.....
Nora Garcia
i love them!! i knew about them since i was like 10
Joe Cook
Great video, great song id love to see more.