Mabey composed the song “Glorious,” which is included in the film Meet the Mormons and sung by David Archuleta. It is from her Wake Up Dreaming album. The song was first heard on the final season of "Jersey Shore." She had not intended the song to have religious undertones but added “What matters to me is that people can take something from what I write. What that is doesn’t matter, and it can mean something different to everyone who hears it,” says Mabey. “David has a beautiful voice, and his delivery of the song is gorgeous.”[1]
She has since collaborated with Archuleta on other songs. In January 2015, she created a music video “’Til You Say So.” Her quirky single, “Zombie Song,” which she wrote for her brothers, went viral. Her lyric video on YouTube has over 7.5 million views. Her EP "I Still Taste Fire" was released in September 2016. Her song "Rise and Shine" on the "Overwatch" animated short got over 5 million views its first day.
She has been voted one of the top 15 artists in the West by Billboard Magazine in the Independent Music World Series. She's played many national venues including the House of Blues (Hollywood) & the Bitter End (New York). Her music has been featured by Nokia, AOL, and on the soundtrack for the independent film remake of "Pride and Prejudice" (by Excel Entertainment). Most of Mabey’s music ends up accompanying other media. “A lot of what I do has been based on TV and film placements or more in an online space,” she says.
The Next Level
Stephanie Mabey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life is a game and I came to play it
I run through a world full of obstacles
Just waiting for me to come slay them
My my, I love the noise with
Ching ching, collect the gold coins
I'm on fire, I aspire to beat that score of a million points
I'm pushing all the buttons
If it's in the way, I annihilate it
I know I will bury
The stuff ahead that scares me
Cause I can take a challenge and decimate it
I don't quit and I don't settle
I get to the next level
I leave my opponents in pieces
The difficulty increases
The music gets all evil
Creepy, could this be dun-dun-dun
The theme song for the boss
Oh, it's time to step it up
Well, I'm know to do the best damage
When my life looks ominous
I'm pushing all the buttons
Acting like it's nothing
If it's in the way, I annihilate it
I know I will bury
The stuff ahead that scares me
Cause I can take a challenge and decimate it
I don't quit and I don't settle
I get to the next level
Don't slow down, you know that the world will own you if you let it
You already figured out your objective
Go and get it,
Barriers will explode
When you live as though there is no game over
I'm pushing all the buttons
Acting like it's nothing
If it's in the way, I annihilate it
I know I will bury
The stuff ahead that scares me
Cause I can take a challenge and decimate it
I don't quit and I don't settle
I get to the next level
I don't quit and I don't settle
I get to the next level
Stephanie Mabey's song "The Next Level" appears to talk about life as a game of obstacles, where the singer is determined to break records and rise to the highest levels. She wakes up "pixelated" and ready to take on the world, full of energy and drive. The song speaks to the determination needed to succeed and the importance of persevering through difficulties. The lyrics capture the excitement and adrenaline rush that comes with playing a game, and use gaming references to drive home the message of the song. The chorus emphasizes the importance of constantly pushing forward and refusing to settle for anything less than reaching the next level. It's an empowering song that encourages listeners to take risks and keep striving for their goals, no matter what challenges come their way.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally commissioned as part of a promotional campaign for Samsung's Galaxy Note II phone. The company wanted a song that embodied the message "Next is Now," and approached Stephanie Mabey to write and record it. Another interesting fact is that the music video for the song was created using a combination of stop-motion animation and live action footage. It features a young girl navigating various obstacles in a whimsical, fantastical world. The song has also been featured in various TV shows and commercials, including the season finale of MTV's "Catfish" and a promo for the popular video game "Uncharted 4."
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up and I'm pixelated
I wake up feeling like I'm in a video game
Life is a game and I came to play it
I believe that life is like a game, and I'm here to win
I run through a world full of obstacles
I face challenges in life and keep moving forward
Just waiting for me to come slay them
I see challenges as opportunities to conquer them
My my, I love the noise with
I enjoy the excitement of playing video games
Ching ching, collect the gold coins
I enjoy collecting rewards and achieving success
I'm on fire, I aspire to beat that score of a million points
I set high goals for myself and work to achieve them
I'm pushing all the buttons
I take action without hesitation
Acting like it's nothing
I approach challenges with confidence
If it's in the way, I annihilate it
I overcome obstacles with determination
I know I will bury
I am confident that I will succeed
The stuff ahead that scares me
The challenges I face may be intimidating
Cause I can take a challenge and decimate it
I am able to handle and overcome any challenge
I don't quit and I don't settle
I refuse to give up or accept less than what I deserve
I get to the next level
I continue to improve and succeed in life
The difficulty increases
The challenges I face become harder as I progress
The music gets all evil
The atmosphere around me becomes more intense
Creepy, could this be dun-dun-dun
I feel a sense of suspense or anticipation
The theme song for the boss
I am facing a particularly difficult challenge
Oh, it's time to step it up
I need to focus and work harder to overcome this challenge
Well, I'm known to do the best damage
I have a reputation for being successful and effective
When my life looks ominous
When things seem bleak or challenging in my life
Don't slow down, you know that the world will own you if you let it
I need to keep pushing forward and not let life's challenges overcome me
You already figured out your objective
I have a clear sense of what I'm working towards in life
Go and get it
I need to take action and work towards achieving my goals
Barriers will explode
Obstacles will be overcome and cleared
When you live as though there is no game over
When I approach life with a mindset of perseverance and determination
I don't quit and I don't settle
I refuse to give up or accept less than what I deserve
I get to the next level
I continue to improve and succeed in life
Contributed by Kylie V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wolfsong
on The Zombie Song (Nightcore Version)
If I were a Zombie I'd never eat your brain I'd just want your heart ya I'd want your heart cause I want ya