1.) Tinashe Fazakerley (b… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1.) Tinashe Fazakerley (born April 4, 1984), now professionally known as Rationale is a Zimbabwe-born British singer-songwriter, formerly known as Tinashé. He is known for his soulful R&B and indie pop style with electric influences. His alias Tinashé, was known for his synthpop sound and his African influences.
Fazakerley was born in the Harare township of Highfield. At the age of 9, he and his three siblings moved to the United Kingdom in the Camberwell district of London, where his single mother was working as a nurse. Later, at the age of 11, he moved to the London borough of Hackney and music began to play a more significant role in his life as he learned to play the guitar. His influences were varying, ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Pat Metheny, Donnie Hathaway and Al Green, to Tupac Shakur, A Tribe Called Quest and the Notorious B.I.G.
In 2010, after releasing two EPs and three singles, Fazakerley released the album Saved under the stage name Tinashé, but it had limited success.He took a break from singing and went on to become a songwriter and producer, working with producer Mark Crew, while writing songs for blues artist Rag'n'Bone Man, among others. He also wrote songs for the Swiss version of The Voice talent show.
In 2015, he relaunched his career as Rationale, releasing songs such as "Fast Lane" and "Something for Nothing" on Soundcloud and Spotify. It was on these streaming platforms that he gained notable recognition, with a mention by Pharrell Williams on his Apple Music Beats1 radio show, OTHERtone, calling him someone who had "found the beauty in their voice". This elevated Fast Lane to No. 2 within its first week on the Spotify Global Viral Chart, reached No. 1 on Hype Machine, and amassed more than 1.3 million views on Soundcloud. Rationale also received praise from Justin Timberlake and Elton John. He became one of the first artists to be signed to Dan Smith of Bastille's new record label, Best Laid Plans. His debut self-titled album is due for release in 2017, under exclusive license to Warner Music UK.
2.) Chicago pop-punk allies Dan Lambton (vocals, Real Friends), Joe Taylor and Ryan Rumchaks (guitar/vocals and drums, respectively, of Knuckle Puck) have aligned for rationale. They released their debut ep, "confines" on December 9, 2015.
Hangnail
Rationale Lyrics
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then pan to a shot of me questioning everything.
get out if it means you'll be happy.
it's a brand you burnt into my back,
a blistered reminder of why I'm where I am.
twist my arms as much as you're twisting my words.
or a person to have faith in,
i just filled in the dotted line.
now I'll hide behind the paint.
get out if it means you'll be happy.
it's a brand you burnt into my back,
a blistered reminder of why I'm where I am.
twist my arms as much as you're twisting my words.
there's no way i could make anyone happy.
i'm callous from how this has rubbed off me.
it's not as hard as you'd think, being made out of stone.
i wish i had this poetic poise, an articulate finesse.
i'm too clumsy and the words escape me.
i'm hazy and any passing thought can displace me.
it's a brand you burnt into my back,
a blistered reminder of why I'm where I am.
twist my arms as much as you're twisting my words.
The lyrics to Rationale’s song “Hangnail” explore the feelings of insecurity, pressure, and frustration that come with public scrutiny and criticism. The opening lines describe a world where people are constantly scrutinizing and criticizing others through a sea of screens. The song then turns inward, as Rationale questions his own worth and abilities in the face of this constant judgment. He suggests that if leaving this situation, this brand on his back, means that he can be happy, then he should do it, although it may not be easy.
The lyrics are powerful and emotive, touching on themes of anxiety, alienation, and the pressure to succeed. The line, “I wish I had this poetic poise, an articulate finesse,” highlights the pressure that artists feel to be eloquent and articulate, while also acknowledging the difficulty in finding the right words. The imagery of being made of stone and callous from the constant criticism is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the way that public scrutiny can wear down a person’s sense of self and leave them feeling emotionally numb.
Overall, “Hangnail” is a thought-provoking and deeply emotional song that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of judgment and criticism.
Line by Line Meaning
imagine a sea of screens watching, judging, hating anything they see,
Picture an ocean of computer screens glaring at everything that catches their attention, only to criticize and despise it right after.
then pan to a shot of me questioning everything.
Switch the camera view to me, as I question just about everything in the world.
get out if it means you'll be happy.
If leaving will make you happy, then please go, even if it means I'll be left alone.
it's a brand you burnt into my back,
It's a mark you left on my back that serves as a painful reminder of the reason why I am in this situation.
a blistered reminder of why I'm where I am.
That mark on my back is a raw reminder of why I ended up in my current situation.
twist my arms as much as you're twisting my words.
You're putting pressure on me, both physically and verbally, trying to manipulate me into doing something I may not want to do.
i don't think i'm the horse you want to bet on
I'm not confident that I'm the best candidate for you to rely on and trust.
or a person to have faith in,
I don't believe I'm worthy of someone's trust and faith, as I may let them down at some point.
i just filled in the dotted line.
I simply signed the contract, without much thought or consideration.
now I'll hide behind the paint.
I will now hide behind the facade I've created or the persona I've presented to others, avoiding my true self.
there's no way i could make anyone happy.
I don't think I'm capable of bringing happiness to someone else's life, as I still struggle to find joy in mine.
i'm callous from how this has rubbed off me.
I've become hardened and indifferent due to the way my experiences have affected me.
it's not as hard as you'd think, being made out of stone.
It's not that challenging to appear unfeeling and emotionless when you've become desensitized to everything around you.
i wish i had this poetic poise, an articulate finesse.
I wish I possessed the ability to express myself eloquently, with a graceful and skillful language.
i'm too clumsy and the words escape me.
Unfortunately, I'm too awkward and uncoordinated to convey my thoughts accurately, and my words often fail me.
i'm hazy and any passing thought can displace me.
I feel unclear and unfocused, and any trivial idea can distract me from my original goal or train of thought.
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.