Rik Emmett has his fair share of gold and platinum hanging on the wall after surviving three decades in the music business, after first surfacing as the lead guitarist, singer/songwriter of the rock trio Triumph. Awards like Best Guitarist at the 1981 Canadian Juno Awards, induction into the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame in ‘93, and Best Smooth Jazz Guitarist in 2005 highlight an ever- evolving career. There’s a true singer/songwriter at the heart of it all – a multi-dimensional artist, with nothing to prove except the dignity and maturity of his continuing commitment to great music.
“I played everything - from Jazz festivals to soft-seater concerts to giant outdoor electric rock band shows to orchestra gigs to folk clubs as an acoustic duo last year,” says Emmett, “and I love the challenging range of it all.”
Audiences marvel at the versatility of the tenor singer/songwriter as he continues his prolific run of solo indie CDs, from classical to jazz to acoustic pop & folk vocal stylings. While this wide catalogue of original songs garners radio airplay on easy-listening, smooth jazz, and CBC formats (while the heritage Classic Rock stuff keeps on rolling right along), his dozen years as a writer for Guitar Player Magazine and his continuing over 25 year sponsorship by Yamaha have kept his international reputation as a musician alive and well. A former VP of the Songwriter’s Association of Canada, Rik teaches a Career Development course in the Humber College Music program, and is the Artistic Director of the Humber Songwriting Workshop.
History and Background:
Rik Emmett was a relatively unknown singer/songwriter/guitarist on the local Toronto scene in September of ‘75 when he joined a newly-formed hard rock trio called Triumph. By ‘79 three albums had gone gold and platinum in Canada - two of these charted in the States, receiving serious radio airplay. By ‘81, they were firmly established as one of the premier touring rock acts in North America, with generous FM radio airplay support and heavy rotation on the fledgling MTV cable channel. In the next seven years, the band released ten albums, all of which went gold, with four turning platinum in Canada. In the U.S., two went gold. Emmett's name frequently appeared in guitar magazine polls and he won several prestigious awards, including Best Lead Guitarist nationally in 1981. He left the band to begin his solo career in ’88, but was inducted into the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame in ’93 as one of the band’s original members.
Rik's solo career spawned three releases for Duke Street/MCA Records in the early ‘90’s. The first, Absolutely, went gold in 1990, yielding the hits "Saved by Love" and "Big Lie", two songs that provided a transition from arena rock while maintaining continuity at FM radio. Perhaps a bit more of a surprise was the searing ballad "When a Heart Breaks", which crossed a rock guitar hero over into Adult Contemporary radio formats and revealed a more sensitive singer/songwriter persona. "World of Wonder" also received substantial airplay and showcased an expanding lyrical and stylistic range.
Rik's Ipso Facto CD followed in 1992, offering up the hits "Out of The Blue" (a jazzy-bluesy tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Wes Montgomery) and "Bang On", a rocking return to one of Rik's recurring themes of positive motivation and inspiration. Ipso Facto was a tour-de-force of stylistic versatility, but it was no surprise to devoted fans who have become familiar with his diverse merge of Classical, Jazz, and Blues fills between his harder rock anthems and progressive flourishes of his past recordings.
A strong singer/songwriter album called Spiral Notebook was released in 1995, which earned notice through the airplay of its two sensitive balladeer singles "Let Me Be The One" and "The Longing", with the former becoming popular for weddings.
In 1996, Rik Emmett began testing his musical convictions by releasing work on his own independent record label, which he called Rockit Sounds. Following those instincts paid off both artistically and financially. The first release was Ten Invitations from the Mistress of Mr. E, which featured beautifully arranged original instrumentals of Classical nylon-string guitar with a standout Latin Flamenco tracked entitled "El Cuento del Gadjo". Critics and fans were quickly reminded that this 'rock guitar god' was not a one-trick pony, when he followed up with Part Two of his guitar trilogy, Swing Shift, which featured a completely different musical direction: Jazz, Swing and Fusion, with a credited influence to George Benson. The CD was well received and piqued the interest of brand-new fans in growing musical circles. Perhaps more importantly, the spirits of die hard supporters were elevated by witnessing an artistic transformation that defied mainstream classification. Raw Quartet, the final CD in the trilogy, was released in early 1999, and displayed Rik's passion and natural affinity for the Blues.
1999's Live At Berklee (highlights from sold out shows at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston) was followed by a traditional Spirit of Christmas album, recorded in collaboration with Glass Tiger keyboardist Sam Reid. 2002 brought the release of a compilation 20th Century Masters which was labeled as the “Best of Rik Emmett Collection” through Universal, followed by another widely-acclaimed instrumental Smooth Jazz masterpiece CD, Handiwork. In the late summer of 2003, the acoustic singer/songwriter re-emerged with the Good Faith CD, and another new chapter was written in an already storied career.
In 2005, Rik was honored as Guitarist of the Year at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, and in the summer of 2006, the wide range of Emmett’s abilities went on display - from a smooth jazz festival in Canada to a heavy metal festivals in Sweden: from Artistic Directing a songwriting workshop to hanging and jamming with Alex Lifeson of Rush at the Guitar Workshop Plus: and from five classic rock outdoor shows, to an idyllic afternoon acoustic duo gig at the Chateau-des-Charmes winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
A guitar magazine once wrote that Rik Emmett is "his own worst enemy. He's one of the only guitarists out there who may be too talented for his own damn good". Partly true, in our celebrity/tabloid/sound bite world: but the comment also recognizes the artist as unique, and offers insight on a twenty-year plus solo career, still vibrant and strong, based on a true devotion to his talents and musical diversity instead of a slave to superficial fashion and celebrity, with its excess baggage.
An active member of World music sensation P.R.O., which features Pavlo, Rik, and Oscar Lopez, the Strung-Out Troubadours, and Airtime, Rik has been extremely busy with his live performances and recordings. He has held true to his dreams and convictions, which he shares with every audience, of every stripe, every night that he performs.
In 2007, Emmett joined former Triumph bandmates Gil Moore and Mike Levine for their induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. On Sunday April 6, 2008 at The 2008 JUNO Awards, Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).
As a result of positive audience response to their dual guitar work in live shows, Emmett and guitarist Dave Dunlop formed the duo Strung-Out Troubadours. In 2007, they won 'Album of the Year' and 'Group/Duo of the Year' at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, where they were the most heavily nominated act. Both were also nominated for 'Best Guitarist'.
Emmett's 2018 tour with Dunlop may prove to be his last, citing an interest in retirement, or at least an extended break.
As of January 2019, Emmett is on hiatus from touring.
Rik Emmett will be releasing a “greatest hits” compilation titled Diamonds – The Best of The Hard Rock Years 1990-1995 on March 1, 2024.
Straight Up
Rik Emmett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rage beyond reason deep down to the bone
gotta hunger in my heart that just won't quit, but there's a Method in the Madness and I follow it.
Do ya do it for money, do ya do it for love?
Do ya do it cuz you got the fever burnin' in your blood?
Straight up and over the top
Full speed ahead and I'm never gonna stop
Only way to fly as a matter of fact, straight up
Straight up
Ready or not, you know tomorrow's gonna come
Maybe you and I'll be the lucky ones
If you're headed straight up, you can ride with me & maybe we'll defy the laws of gravity, gravity, gravity
You can or you can't, you will or you won't
Yer damned if you do, yer double damned if you don't
Straight up and over the top
Full speed ahead and I'm never gonna stop
Straight up and never look back
Only way to fly as a matter of fact, straight up
Straight up
Check it out
Gimee a shot, straight up, make it a double, straight up.
Hey, that feelin' kinda good, can't you come again?
Now gimme four on the floor, kick it just a little more, cuz this ain't no dress rehearsal, it's the real thing for sure
Hey, and it goes something like this...
Come out, come out to play wherever you are,
gonna wipe the slate clean on this here slide guitar, look out, here comes the windup...
Kick it home
Straight up and over the top
Full speed ahead and I'm never gonna stop
Straight up and never look back
Only way to fly as a matter of fact, straight up
Straight up
The song "Straight Up" by Rik Emmett is an optimistic and multi-faceted song that motivates the listener to fuel their passion and follow their dreams without looking back. The opening lines "Big Stick Rhythm won't leave me alone, Rage beyond reason deep down to the bone" depicts a strong inner urge that drives the musician to create music that is honest and genuine. The lyrics "gotta hunger in my heart that just won't quit, but there's a Method in the Madness and I follow it" suggests that the singer is driven by both passion and a structured approach to create music.
The chorus "Straight up and over the top, Full speed ahead and I'm never gonna stop, Straight up and never look back, Only way to fly as a matter of fact, straight up" encapsulates the main message of the song, urging the listener to keep pushing forward with determination and intensity. The lines "Do ya do it for money, do ya do it for love? Do ya do it cuz you got the fever burnin' in your blood?" suggest that the singer is questioning their motives for pursuing music, and concludes by stating that it's the "fever" and passion that drive them.
The song has a positive upbeat tone, allowing the listener to feel motivated and energized. It encourages the listeners to overcome their fears and pursue their dreams with absolute dedication. Overall, Straight Up by Rik Emmet is a song that focuses on the importance of continuing to work hard and remain dedicated to one's creative passions.
Line by Line Meaning
Big Stick Rhythm won't leave me alone
The driving force behind his music is ever-present and unyielding, never backing down.
Rage beyond reason deep down to the bone
The passion he feels for music is so profound that it runs to the very core of his being.
gotta hunger in my heart that just won't quit, but there's a Method in the Madness and I follow it.
Although he possesses a fierce desire to succeed, he channels that energy through careful planning and execution.
Do ya do it for money, do ya do it for love?
Is your motivation financial or are you driven by your intrinsic love for music?
Do ya do it cuz you got the fever burnin' in your blood?
Are you pursuing music because you have an unquenchable desire for it in your soul?
Straight up and over the top
He is taking a direct and honest approach to music, pushing the limits and exceeding expectations.
Full speed ahead and I'm never gonna stop
He is relentlessly pursuing music, never slowing down or giving up.
Straight up and never look back
He is forging ahead without hesitation or regret, confident in his pursuits and his art.
Only way to fly as a matter of fact, straight up
To achieve his goals in the music industry, he must take an honest, direct approach without fear or hesitation.
Ready or not, you know tomorrow's gonna come
Regardless of whether or not he is prepared, time moves forward and the future is always uncertain.
Maybe you and I'll be the lucky ones
Despite the inherent uncertainty of the future, he remains optimistic and hopeful.
If you're headed straight up, you can ride with me & maybe we'll defy the laws of gravity, gravity, gravity
If you share his direct approach to music, he welcomes you to join him, and together they may achieve something truly remarkable.
You can or you can't, you will or you won't
You have a choice in how you approach your music career, but only you can ultimately determine your own success.
Yer damned if you do, yer double damned if you don't
No matter which path you choose, there may be negative consequences, so it's essential to choose a path that resonates with your heart and soul.
Gimee a shot, straight up, make it a double, straight up.
He's ready and willing to take on whatever challenges music presents him, without any hesitation or reservations.
Hey, that feelin' kinda good, can't you come again?
He is experiencing an intense sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from pursuing his musical passions, and he wants more of that feeling.
Now gimme four on the floor, kick it just a little more, cuz this ain't no dress rehearsal, it's the real thing for sure
He wants to push his music to the limit, giving it everything he's got, because he knows it's the real deal and there are no second chances.
Come out, come out to play wherever you are,
gonna wipe the slate clean on this here slide guitar, look out, here comes the windup...
He's excited and ready to perform, wiping the slate clean and approaching his music with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
Kick it home
It's time to put all of his hard work and dedication into action, giving it his all and putting on an unforgettable performance.
Contributed by Keira R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wesgregg6451
First time I heard this one. Nice - it's got a vibe that reminds me of Aldo Nova's Blood on the Bricks album.
@Erling.W
Thanks for the nice tip on Aldo Nova, never heard them before. Right up the Damn Yankees alley 👍👍
@starexplorers1202
Wow!! Great catch. I agree. 💯