"if the prospect of a pillar-to-post ride through the post-modern gamut deosn't give you a nosebleed, then you and ROC deserve each other" (uncut).
ROC are:
Patrick Nicholson - keys, guitar, production
Fred Braunen - voice, guitar, keys
Karen Sheridan - voice, guitar, keys
The group released their third album "Night Fold Around Me" in June 2006. It's the overdue follow-up to "Virgin" (Virgin Records 1997) and their debut "ROC" (Setanta Records 1996), both widely acclaimed by press and musicians including Orbital and Radiohead.
The new album (on fast-rising London-Brooklyn label 12 Apostles) has been warmly received by UK press:
"ROC are an intriguing concern and this third album sees that continuing" 3/5 (Q)
"Their most accessible album...a terrific collection of lush, intelligent electro pop full of beauty, tempered optimism and gallows wit" 4/5 The Scotsman
2 singles have preceeded the album. "Princess" was BBC 6music's Evening Sequence Single of the Week. "Journey to the Centre of Brixton" had plays on Radio 1 and 6music and made Playlouder.com's readers poll Top 50 singles of 2005 (despite only being released in December). A further single from the album "Sink A Bite Into Life" is planned, meanwhile a 12" remix of the track by Aussie electrobrat Dsico is currently topping UK club dj charts.
From their early singles such as "God Willing" and "Girl With A Crooked Eye" (Little Star Recordings), the group was labelled 'perverse' and 'uncategorisable' for their refusal to stick to a pre-ordained genre, instead viewing the whole of pop music as fair game for their ideas. While some viewed this as mere mischief, others realised ROC were attempting something more complex:
"be young, be British, parade some sickly indie variant of pop around the shop, watch your so-called career rise in times of chest-beating patriotism and then dip sharply when people come to their senses; alternatively take the ROC route and visit a Britain that is a more paranoid place that the Albion of their Britpop peers. ROC examine the true youth stories of our time: the long-term effects of hedonism, atomised, uncertain urban lives, boredom." (nme)
"their references are as broad as the Severn Bridge, from Velvet Underground to Phil Spector, DJ Shadow to Kraftwerk, kitsch rock to Europop, but that doesn't matter because ROC still make it sound like they're treading through virgin territory." (Melody Maker).
The early singles displayed a tendecy to black humour (still evident on the latest album). "Girl With A Crooked Eye" is a story of domestic violence on the Costa Del Sol, and "X-ine" contains the line "I hope you both get Aids". But with their first album "ROC" the group revealed a more personal side. Fred Browning and Karen Sheridan delivered forlorn breakup songs, screaming rants and self-loathing. But they still weren't beyond upbeat pop songs ("Hey You Chick!"), dreamy instrumentals and spoken word. They also let loose with all manner of sound effects, real answerphone messages from friends and lovers, taped conversations, fragments of tv and radio. "Excised" starts with a secret recording of a friend's wedding.
The "Virgin" album features "Dada", a techno-riot based around Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's infectious laugh, and "Said What I Said" which predated both Goldfrapp's electro-glam stomps and the UK's appetite for Jerry Springer-type TV shows. But these are again interposed with raw emotional material such as the closer "Ocean & England". Q magazine said: "it ends with a love song - now that is unsettling."
Although branded as pranksters, ROC's story is one of committed perseverance. They gained a 'difficult' reputation when their label wrote an open letter to the industry warning people against working with them; and while critics were celebrating their 'fuck-the-formula' approach, ROC were beyond the wit of marketing departments: two lead singers; too dance for rock/too rock for dance. The band never claimed to be original, noting that artists from the Beatles to Pink Floyd to Prince had used multiple musical styles for their palette. But by mid-90s Britain the lines were drawn: post-rave superclubs versus Britpop's real rock revival. Not much room for people undoing the rules and occasionally coming up with something slightly unusual...
Despite rave reviews for their second album, Virgin dropped ROC during an executive purge in 1999. ROC seemed finished. But the albums reached open ears around the globe, and their reputation has grown. The group continued with three single releases, including "2000Mann" on ex-NME writer Ben Willmott's Spiky label, and toured the UK with Sneaker Pimps. Encouragement from fans and friends led to Karen, Fred and Patrick re-convening in 2003, joining forces with fast-growing Brooklyn label 12 Apostles. In 2004 they were back in the studio, with long-standing collaborators Danton Supple (producer of Coldplay's "X&Y") and Gareth Huw Davies at the desk. "Night Fold Around Me" was completed in Summer 2005.
Finally released this June, "Night Fold Around Me" is a sumptuous concoction of dreamy soundscapes, driving beats, rock'n'roll, trashed ballads, and down-the-centre pop; you'll find less of the Idi/Jerry stuff (though the Baader Meinhof gang made it in), leaving the stage open for Fred and Karen's raging, poignant sentiments.
"not for everyone, but oddly life-affirming." The Scotsman June 2006
Website
http://www.rocmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/rocuk
Intro
ROC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stayed low now I'm going up
Blessings still showing up
TikTok now I'm blowing up
He has a plan for me
Laid out some land for
I look back and see God always had His hands on me
Laid out some bands for me
So I can't complain at all
Naw
To be honest with you
I mean looking back I was broke
We were broke as a family
I mean we didn't have much I didn't know it back then
But now that I look back I see that I had everything that I needed
And that is because I had Jesus
The lyrics to ROC's song "Intro" convey a powerful message of gratitude and faith. The first lines, "Didn't have much growing up, Stayed low now I'm going up," speaks about the artist's humble beginnings and how he is now rising and achieving success. He acknowledges the blessings that continue to manifest in his life, as he sings, "Blessings still showing up, TikTok now I'm blowing up." This line also references the power of social media platforms like TikTok in amplifying his music and gaining popularity.
The next lines, "He has a plan for me, Laid out some land for, I look back and see God always had His hands me," highlight the artist's belief in a higher power and divine intervention in his journey. He recognizes that God has always been guiding and protecting him, providing him with the necessary resources and opportunities. The mention of "bands" and "grands" refers to financial success, but the artist humbly states that he can't complain because of the abundance he has received.
The final lines of the song emphasize the artist's gratitude and acknowledgment of the true source of his fulfillment. He reflects on his past, stating that he may have been unaware of their financial limitations at the time, but recognizes that he had everything he needed because he had Jesus. This line signifies the artist's deep faith and belief in a higher purpose, indicating that his spiritual connection outweighs material possessions.
Overall, "Intro" by ROC is a song that expresses gratitude, highlights the artist's faith, and reminds listeners of the importance of recognizing blessings in all forms.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't have much growing up
I didn't have a lot of material possessions or wealth during my childhood
Stayed low now I'm going up
Despite my humble beginnings, I am now experiencing success and upward mobility
Blessings still showing up
I continue to receive and experience blessings in my life
TikTok now I'm blowing up
With the help of TikTok, my popularity and influence have skyrocketed
He has a plan for me
God has a specific and purposeful plan for my life
Laid out some land for
God has provided me with opportunities and resources
I look back and see God always had His hands on me
In retrospect, I realize that God has constantly been guiding and protecting me
Laid out some bands for me
God has blessed me with financial abundance and wealth
I'm talking grands homie
I'm referring to significant amounts of money
So I can't complain at all
Considering the blessings and provisions I've received, I have no reason to complain
Naw
No, I do not have any complaints
To be honest with you
To tell you the truth
I mean looking back I was broke
Reflecting on the past, I realize that I was financially struggling
We were broke as a family
My entire family didn't have much money or resources
I mean we didn't have much I didn't know it back then
At that time, I wasn't aware of how limited our resources were
But now that I look back I see that I had everything that I needed
In hindsight, I understand that I had all the necessary things for a fulfilling life
And that is because I had Jesus
The reason for my contentment and satisfaction is my relationship with Jesus
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Joshua McCain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam B. Smith
“ROC” a show that really should have lasted longer than 3 seasons.
Wilner Olivier
@kendall rivers Flex Alexander from One on One was on Homeboys from Outer Space!!
Charles Tucker
@kendall rivers or we call things like we see them like in this situation
kendall rivers
@Adam B. Smith oh wow you threw in Homeboys in outer space ouch! Lmao! But yeah for someone whose got all that money and his own multi million dollar studio his productions lack real production value. Cheap as hell lol
Adam B. Smith
@David Hilliard “Roc” for its second season did live shows which was I believe the first sitcom to do actual live since the 1950’s.
David Hilliard
I thought it did they performed live versions of the show such brilliant acting
iAquarius202
It’s October 2020 and I have absolutely no idea why this theme song just randomly popped in my head BUT yet all these years later this 45 second snippet still is and will forever be a BANGER!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
carl sanders
Yep! I thought it was Take 6 all this time!
Datdudesince
Same. Classic.
David Hilliard
One of my absolute favorites