Stuart comes from South Alabama. He was raised mostly in Mobile, and grew up with family and friends along the gulf coast, and in New Orleans. He began playing piano at an early age, then began to take up new instruments.
In high school, he played trumpet in the marching band, which allowed him to march in Mardi Gras parades and travel around the South. He began playing in bands outside of school as well, and did gigs with short-lived bands as a drummer, bass player, and keyboardist.
Stuart's knack for both literature and music led to some scholarships and a period of academic pursuit at the University of Alabama. There, Stuart again marched in the marching band, this time travelling the country.
After three years at UA, Stuart was approached by an 8-piece punk/ska band called PAIN that needed a trumpet player for a national tour. Stuart then left school and toured the USA extensively in a Ford van. Stuart recorded several studio and live albums with PAIN, and he contributed accordion, piano, organ, backing vocals, ukelele, and even a little writing to PAIN's studio albums. PAIN even got some exposure through Cartoon Network and MTV2.
After the breakup of PAIN, in 2001, Stuart went back to UA to finish what would become an English degree. At school, he founded a poetry reading series and wrote many sarcastic letters to the school newspaper's editorial page. At the same time, he bagan recording his first collection of original songs. In 2002, Stuart released his first CD of original material, titled "I Can't See Over the Accordion". It contained 24 songs, and no two were alike. Some were folky, some punky...one was techno, and one was sung in Spanish. A couple of the funny songs from the CD got national airplay on some quirky specialty shows like "Dr. Demento".
Next, Stuart began Red Label Revolver, a young and fun band that would be the vehicle for his songs fo a couple of years. It was a four-piece, and recorded two CDs. The second one was recorded in Nashville by a less-than-competent producer. The chaotic and expensive recording experience, and the lack of decent product, meant the demise of RLR. It also meant that Stuart was without a band, without the products he had hoped for, and quite out of money.
This led to a period of rebuilding in which Stuart found himself in the small town of Montevallo, AL. Here, Stuart began an earnest spiritual quest that involved increased immersion in nature and meditation. He began recording a new set of songs that would become the CD "Building a Fire". "Building a Fire" was released in 2004, and received a fair amount of national airplay thanks to a radio promotions agency and some compilations that made the rounds.
That CD allowed Stuart to start meeting more people and playing at more venues around the Birmingham area and the Gulf Coast. Over time, Stuart would meet the players that would make up the Contraband, and this began would begin to make a name for itself. Stuart began recording again in 2006, in preparation for a new studio CD. Stuart released two samplers of this material in 2007. The first sampler, titled "Make Levee's, Not War", included some of Stuart's politial statemets relevant to Hurricane Katrina. Some of this music has been used by environmental groups and documentarians in the New Orleans area.
Stuart released an 18 song acoustic collection in October 2008. Recorded at Birmingham's premier Capture Music Studios, the project showcases Stuart's songs distilled and presented in their true essence.
More projects are on the way, including live and in-studio full band projects, some live bootlegs, and a spoken word project. Stay tuned!
No Emergency
Stuart McNair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and everyone agrees
so they're dropping their defenses
dropping to their knees
everyone's in love with her
she's redefining "cool"
but she'd sell you in a heartbeat
so don't be fooled
chorus :
don't you know that she's alright?
this is no emergency
she's alright
she's alright
this is no emergency
she's alright
she's sifting through her summer clothes
and the boys will think she's fine
but she can laugh back in their faces
for thinking she's that kind
she never gave permission
she's stamping her little feet
and she's asking for recognition
from everyone she meets
chorus
she's daddy's little angel
and everyone should know
to get out of her way
when she's putting on a show
but I'm standing in your spotlight
breaking all your laws
stealing all you one-lines
receiving your applause
chorus
The song "No Emergency" by Stuart McNair talks about a perfect little princess who captures everyone's heart with her beauty and charisma. People are dropping their defenses and bowing down to her. However, in reality, she is not as innocent as she appears to be. The song suggests that she can easily deceive people and sell them out in the blink of an eye. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that she is alright and there is no emergency, probably indicating that the world isn't coming to an end just because of her, despite everyone's obsession with her.
The second verse talks about the princess's interaction with boys who think she's fine, but she is not willing to give in to their expectations. She is demanding recognition from everyone, and she is not willing to compromise. The third verse talks about how she is perceived as daddy's little angel, and everyone should watch out for her when she's putting on a show. However, the singer of the song is standing in her spotlight, breaking her laws, stealing her one-liners, and receiving her applause, probably suggesting that he is not scared of her like everyone else.
Overall, the song portrays the danger of idolizing people and expecting too much from them. It suggests that people should be wary of those who appear too perfect, lest they be deceived and sold out in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a perfect little princess
She seems absolutely flawless in everyone's eyes.
And everyone agrees
Everyone sees her the same way - as a perfect princess.
So they're dropping their defenses
People let their guard down around her because she appears innocent.
Dropping to their knees
People are willing to submit or worship her without question.
Everyone's in love with her
Everyone adores her and cannot resist her charm.
She's redefining "cool"
Her actions and attitude are setting a new standard in what's considered 'cool.'
But she'd sell you in a heartbeat
Despite her innocent appearance, she can turn on you and betray you without hesitation.
So don't be fooled
Don't trust her completely, as she could turn on you at any moment.
Don't you know that she's alright?
Despite everything, she's still living and functioning normally.
This is no emergency
There's no immediate danger or cause for alarm with her behavior.
She's sifting through her summer clothes
She's going through her wardrobe, trying to find the best outfit.
And the boys will think she's fine
She knows boys will be attracted to her appearance and use it to their advantage.
But she can laugh back in their faces
She's fully aware of their intentions and can turn the tables on them with ease.
For thinking she's that kind
They assume she's a certain type of girl, but she's not what they expect.
She never gave permission
She doesn't need anyone's approval or consent to be herself.
She's stamping her little feet
She's standing up for herself and making it known that she won't be controlled.
And she's asking for recognition
She wants to be acknowledged and respected for who she is.
From everyone she meets
She wants to be accepted and appreciated by everyone, not just a select group of people.
She's daddy's little angel
She's the perfect daughter in her father's eyes.
And everyone should know
It's clear to everyone that she's the ultimate daddy's girl.
To get out of her way
Don't stand in her path when she's trying to achieve something.
When she's putting on a show
When she's in the spotlight, she can be demanding and expects everyone's full attention.
But I'm standing in your spotlight
Someone else is taking the attention away from her and stealing the spotlight.
Breaking all your laws
This person is going against her expectations and going against what's considered 'appropriate.'
Stealing all your one-lines
Taking all the clever lines or attention for themselves.
Receiving your applause
Getting the recognition and praise from the audience that she craves for herself.
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PaulaCroteau
Boy you have to be real nasty when your own attorney throws their hands up by saying to the judge what the last one stated.
@adamk9677
i like judges who arent biased and dont take disrespect.
@manuelbaut1044
Girl: I’m sorry
Judge: I know you’re sorry
Police take her away
@christiansantiago2615
I liked the judge with the girl who had the bond... He seemed so chill and sassy at the same time
@jannaj9598
Well done to that judge for sentencing that woman in the orange clothing.
@aoifeidowu2506
Man really said to the judge watch yourself
@thundersockss
"Judges being savage"
No
"Judges giving assholes what they deserve"
@realpomni27
Wow I can’t believe the people doing this!
@georgeie9506
Yea they definitely deserve it
@angelicmafia326
I respect these judges