Under the Rex Orange County moniker, O'Connor has released one mixtape, bcos u will never b free, and three studio albums: Apricot Princess, Pony, and Who Cares?. Both Pony and Who Cares? made the top 5 in the UK and US, and the latter topped the UK Albums Chart. O'Connor also released a live album, entitled Live at Radio City Music Hall, in 2020.
Alexander James O'Connor was born on 4 May 1998, to Nina and Phil O'Connor, a professional sports photographer. He grew up in the village of Grayshott, Hampshire near Haslemere. O'Connor's interest in music began at a young age. At age 5, O'Connor joined the choir at the school where his mother worked. He became a drummer and later taught himself piano. The name Rex Orange County is based on a teacher-given nickname, "The OC", after his surname O'Connor.
At age 16, O'Connor began playing the guitar and started to produce his own music using Apple's Logic software. At this age, he also began attending the BRIT School where he studied drumming and was one of four percussionists in his year; the relative rareness of his primary instrument provided him with wide exposure to various projects of others in his school which he credits with exposing him to new music.
On 4 September 2015, O'Connor self-released his debut album bcos u will never b free on SoundCloud and Bandcamp. Upon listening to the album, fellow English musician and producer Two Inch Punch got in touch with him, providing him with a management team. The two have continued to collaborate throughout O'Connor's career in the form of the tracks "UNO", "Best Friend", and "Untitled". The album also caught the attention of American rapper Tyler, the Creator, who sent him an email describing his enjoyment of the project. This led to him flying O'Connor out the following year to Los Angeles to collaborate on his album Flower Boy, with him co-writing and contributing vocals to the songs "Boredom" and "Foreword". On 17 November 2016, O'Connor released the single "UNO", a song Clash magazine described by writing, "The buoyant keyboard riff underpins a hypnotic half-spoken vocal, one that veers from topic to topic in a hazy burst of creative mania." On 25 January 2017, he released the single “Best Friend” (premiering on Apple Music's Beats 1 station), followed later in the year by the release of his second album Apricot Princess. His work was compared by Aimee Cliff of The Fader in 2017 to "other artsy, post-genre teen artists, such as Kevin Abstract or Steve Lacy".
O'Connor's first release following the success of Apricot Princess and Flower Boy was on 11 October 2017 with the single "Loving Is Easy", created in collaboration with the Dutch artist Benny Sings. On 16 April 2018, he performed the song in his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On 31 May 2018, he released a cover of "You've Got a Friend in Me" in collaboration with Randy Newman, the creator of the song. He was also featured in Spotify's Rise Program.
On 9 October 2018, O'Connor was scheduled to appear on the French television program Quotidien, but refused to perform because it featured a sketch by comedian Alison Wheeler parodying the Ku Klux Klan, which he called "tasteless".
On 14 February 2019, O'Connor released the single "New House". Later that year on 12 September, he released "10/10"; the lead single from his third album Pony. Released on 25 October 2019, Pony was his first major-label album released through RCA Records.
On 30 September 2020, O'Connor released an EP with recordings from his performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City during his Pony tour titled Live at Radio City Music Hall alongside a documentary released on YouTube. This documentary showed the events leading up to this performance as well as the early conclusion of the Pony tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2020, O'Connor confirmed that he was in the process of recording a fourth studio album titled Who Cares? In January 2021, he liked a Tweet seemingly confirming that it would be released at some point later that year. However, this did not materialize. On 13 January 2022, he began officially teasing the album, sending out postcards containing a phone number that when called, a snippet of the song would play. The album was released on 11 March 2022, and was his first to top the UK Albums Chart, entering ahead of Impera by Ghost.
Growing up, O'Connor listened to Queen, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, and American alternative artists like Weezer and Green Day. He cites these artists and others as core inspirations for his own music.
Green Eyes Pt. II
Rex Orange County Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His brown eyes
He was looking deeper into me than I would've liked
Nah I don't have any change on me man, I'm sorry
Could've made a contribution
And I can still see the eyes
Her green eyes
She was busy with her friends
Yo, how are you?
Yeah nah, I've never been more content
Could've told her the truth
And I can still see the eyes
The red eyes of those around me
They like doing it
And wish to grow into the shoes of their idols
What nah nah it's cool man
It's really, it's not me but
Thanks anyway
Could've had a fun night
And I can still see the eyes
His brown eyes
He was looking deeper into me than I would've liked
And I don't have any change on me man, I'm sorry
But I should've given him the coins in my pockets
Could've stopped and opened my wallet
Should've done what's right because he wants it
But who doesn't want it
See money is the only motive
But money is a sin and I loath it
The reason we're waiting for something
The only reason why people are hungry, child
People are hungry now
Money, the reason that we can't make money
The reason why a prick is running the country
No matter when you hear this note
There's always gonna be a prick running this country
But you better get your votes in
(Let's get your votes in)
Best get your votes in
Because
They know best
Rex Orange County's song "Green Eyes Pt. II" is a poignant and emotional reflection on missed opportunities and the regrets that come with them. The song explores the idea that we often fail to act on our gut instincts or honest desires, and that this can lead to feelings of discontent and dissatisfaction.
The song is structured around a series of vignettes, each one describing a different encounter with someone whose eyes leave a lasting impression on the singer. In the first verse, the singer encounters a person in need but fails to offer assistance, feeling guilty afterwards. In the second verse, the singer sees a girl he is attracted to but fails to initiate a conversation, again feeling regret. The third verse takes a darker turn, as the singer observes people engaging in destructive behavior and fails to act out of fear.
The song's chorus ties these themes together, emphasizing the importance of taking action and doing what's right in the face of societal pressures and personal fears. The final lines encourage listeners to exercise their right to vote, suggesting that change is possible on a larger scale if enough people take action.
Overall, "Green Eyes Pt. II" is a powerful and poignant exploration of the human experience, filled with insights and resonant reflections on the challenges we face in navigating our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
And I can still see the eyes
The singer can still recall the memory of a particular gaze.
His brown eyes
The specific gaze was from a person with brown eyes.
He was looking deeper into me than I would've liked
The gaze made the singer feel uncomfortable or vulnerable.
Nah I don't have any change on me man, I'm sorry
The artist responds to a request for money with an apology for not having any.
Could've made a contribution
The artist reflects that they could have given some money, but didn't.
And I can still see the eyes
The singer recalls another gaze from memory.
Her green eyes
The second gaze was from someone with green eyes.
She was busy with her friends
The second gaze was from someone who was preoccupied with their own activities.
But I wanted her to notice me, like
The artist had a desire for attention from the person with the green eyes.
Yo, how are you?
The artist suggests a possible approach they could have taken to get attention.
Yeah nah, I've never been more content
The singer is currently feeling happy and fulfilled.
Could've told her the truth
The artist reflects on missing an opportunity to be honest with the person with the green eyes.
And I can still see the eyes
The singer remembers yet another gaze from memory.
The red eyes of those around me
The third gaze was from a group of people with red or bloodshot eyes.
They like doing it
The people with the red eyes enjoy something that is not specified.
And wish to grow into the shoes of their idols
The people with the red eyes aspire to be like their heroes or role models.
What nah nah it's cool man
The artist responds dismissively to something someone else has said.
It's really, it's not me but
The singer clarifies that they are not responsible for a situation that has been mentioned.
Thanks anyway
The singer uses this phrase to end the conversation or interaction politely.
Could've had a fun night
The artist feels regret for not participating in an activity that could have been enjoyable.
And I can still see the eyes
The artist recalls the first gaze again.
His brown eyes
The artist repeats the description of the first gaze from earlier in the song.
He was looking deeper into me than I would've liked
The unpleasant feeling from the first gaze is reiterated.
And I don't have any change on me man, I'm sorry
The artist repeats their response to a request for money.
But I should've given him the coins in my pockets
The singer expresses regret for not giving money to someone who asked earlier in the song.
Could've stopped and opened my wallet
The singer reflects on a specific action they could have taken to help someone else.
Should've done what's right because he wants it
The singer acknowledges the importance of doing the right thing, regardless of personal inconvenience or discomfort.
But who doesn't want it
The artist suggests that everyone wants the help and support that they need, even if they are hesitant to ask for it.
See money is the only motive
The artist comments that money is often the primary motivation for actions, sometimes to the exclusion of other factors.
But money is a sin and I loath it
The singer expresses a negative attitude towards money, seeing it as corrupt or sinful.
The reason we're waiting for something
The singer suggests that people are often waiting for external factors to change or improve their lives.
The only reason why people are hungry, child
The artist suggest that the root cause of hunger and poverty is lack of access to resources or opportunities.
People are hungry now
The artist reminds listeners that the problem of hunger and poverty is ongoing and urgent.
Money, the reason that we can't make money
The artist suggests that a reliance on money can actually prevent people from being successful ot achieving their goals.
The reason why a prick is running the country
The singer suggests that political power is often wielded by people who prioritize personal gain over the common good.
No matter when you hear this note
The artist suggests that the message of the song is timeless, and relevant whenever it is heard.
There's always gonna be a prick running this country
The singer suggests that corrupt or self-interested leaders will always be a challenge to overcome.
But you better get your votes in
The singer suggests that voting is a way to influence politics and create change.
(Let's get your votes in)
This phrase emphasizes the importance of voting as a means to create positive change.
Best get your votes in
The artist repeats their call to action, encouraging people to participate in the democratic process.
They know best
This phrase is ironic, suggesting that people in power often claim to know what is best for the public, but are not always acting in good faith.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander James O'Connor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mosquito243
[Verse 1]
And I can still see the eyes
His brown eyes
He was looking deeper into me than I would've liked
Nah I don't have any change on me man, I'm sorry
Could've made a contribution
And I can still see the eyes
Her green eyes
She was busy with her friends
But I wanted her to notice me, like
Yo, how are you?
Yeah nah, I've never been more content
Could've told her the truth
And I can still see the eyes
The red eyes of those around me
They like doing it
And wish to grow into the shoes of their idols
What nah nah it's cool man
It's really, it's not me but
Thanks anyway
Could've had a fun night
And I can still see the eyes
His brown eyes
He was looking deeper into me than I would've liked
And I don't have any change on me man, I'm sorry
[Verse 2]
But I should've given him the coins in my pockets
Could've stopped and opened my wallet
Could've done what's right because he wants it
But who doesn't want it
See money is the only motive
But money is a sin and I loath it
The reason we're waiting for something
The only reason why people are hungry, child
People are hungry now
Money, the reason that we can't make money
The reason why a prick is running the country
No matter when you hear this note
There's always gonna be a prick running this country
But you better get your votes in
(Let's get your votes in)
Best get your votes in
Because-
They know best
[Instrumental Breakdown]
@aurelia8436
I just love his accent
@bryanguillen9167
Move to the South of England, everyone has that accent.
@simeondermaats
@@bryanguillen9167 Haslemere in Surrey, specifically
@cov2053
this is one of rex's best and most underated songs on buwnbf imo
@ani-ld9bz
this song gives me anxiety in the best way
@svmiie
ani i understand completely omg
@jackiefuentes3964
Literally me😞 I can’t listen to it anymore lmao
@ani-ld9bz
@@jackiefuentes3964 ikrrrr sets me off
@brentenquinns5184
The instruments are godly
@owaowa3581
what is going?? i love it but why are these songs being re-released from like 4 or 5 yrs ago lmaoo