Family Favorites takes the listener on a semi-autobiographical sonic tour of Shmitt’s woeful observations as he and those closest to him stumble, kick, scream, falter and embrace life at its toughest and poignant best. The moods range from manic to somber, passionate to disenchanted… all with an under-pinning of humor and hope. It is this light amidst the darkness that makes Shmitt’s songs infinitely listenable. The sensitivity of Shmitt’s viewfinder on the world gives his words, music and rich vocals a tender, hard hitting and universal appeal. His songs resonate deeper with each listen.
On his third release, Other People’s Stuff (Realistic Records), Shmitt delivers an upbeat and thoroughly enjoyable musical journey of fourteen cover tunes, expertly spanning decades and genres. Shmitt’s interpretation of these songs is a departure from his previous two self-penned releases, Dog Steal The Moon and Nothing Is Real (Realistic Records). His understanding and respect for the songwriting process is clear, shining through in his production, musical arrangements, mixes and vocal performances.
Shmitt’s supporting cast of players on Other People’s Stuff is outstanding and includes special appearances by celebrities and legends such as David Johansen (NY Dolls, Buster Pointdexter, The Harry Smiths), Levon Helm (The Band), Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes), Jayotis Washington (The Persuasions), Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), and Stockard Channing (The West Wing, Grease).
Through his production choices on Other People’s Stuff, Shmitt pays tribute to the original songwriters and performers of the tunes, while at the same time putting his personal thumbprint on the work, making it fresh and undeniably his own. His lush vocals and top-notch guitar playing make the CD timeless and infinitely listenable. The CD possess the warmth of the past, and manages to be thoroughly modern.
On Dog Steal The Moon, Shmitt followed up the critical success of his debut release, Nothing Is Real, by delivering a new collection of original songs; Shmitt’s trademark ballads are made even more poignant, on Dog Steal The Moon, by their juxtaposition to a set of uptempo rockers that prove Shmitt’s ability to crank it up. Written, performed, arranged and produced by Shmitt, he demonstrates his audio-fluency, and capacity to conceptualize a cohesive project. His confessional style of writing possesses a familiarity and a uniqueness. “A singular voice whose songs get as much power from the words as from the music... lyrically poetic,” wrote New York Post rock reviewer Dan Aquilante.
Shmitt’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. Radio personality Vin Scelsa (NYC) sang praises, “artist Stuffy Shmitt... his tunes knock me out” and called Nothing Is Real “a mesmerizing piece of work.” And radio host Peter Bochan (NYC) named the debut CD “one of the best indie releases this year.” Shmitt has two songs featured in the independent feature “Thirty Days” (An Araca Group/Arielle Tepper Production). He composed and produced the soundtrack for the documentary, “Abandoned,” (Crowing Rooster Arts, Inc.) which premiered at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City and won the Dupont/Columbia University Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. Other film music credits include “The Heavenly Kid” (Orion Pictures) and the award-winning educational children’s film “Whatever Happened To The Dinosaurs?” (Blackwatch Productions). Shmitt also co-wrote the theme song for the Ace Award winning MTV show “Turn It Up.” His music can be heard in the film "Happy Tears" starring Rip Torn and Demi Moore and in the Showtime series "Californication". He has performed his own material in venues coast to coast.
Stuffy Shmitt’s albums Family Favorites, Other People’s Stuff, Dog Steal The Moon and Nothing Is Real are available at CDBaby.com and iTunes. www.stuffyshmitt.com
I Get Ideas
Stuffy Shmitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get ideas, I get ideas
I want to hold you so much closer than I dare to
I want to scold you 'cause I care more than I care to
And when you touch me and there's fire in every finger
I get ideas, I get ideas
And after we have kissed goodnight and still you linger
Your eyes are always saying the things you're never saying
I only hope they're saying that you could love me too
For that's the whole idea it's true,
The lovely idea that I'm falling in love with you
Stuffy Shmitt's song "I Get Ideas" is about the emotions that arise in the singer when he's close to his dancing partner. The song begins with the lines "When we are dancing and you're dangerously near me, I get ideas..." The singer portrays himself as someone who's overwhelmed by his emotions and doesn't know what to do with them. He wants to hold his partner closer than he dares to, but at the same time, he wants to scold her for making him feel so much.
The second verse of the song talks about the physical sensations that the singer experiences when his partner touches him. He says that he gets ideas when she touches him and there's fire in every finger. The last verse of the song talks about the singer's hope that his partner loves him too, even though she never says it. He says that he's falling in love with her, and that's the whole idea that's true.
Overall, the song expresses a sense of longing and desire that is common when two people are close but unable to express their feelings for each other. The singer is overwhelmed by his emotions and is hoping that his partner feels the same way about him.
Line by Line Meaning
When we are dancing and you're dangerously near me
As we dance and you come close to me, it sets off an emotional longing inside me.
I get ideas, I get ideas
These longings in me become urges and I start getting ideas of what I want to do with you.
I want to hold you so much closer than I dare to
My urge is to hold you very close, but I'm afraid to do so.
I want to scold you 'cause I care more than I care to
My love for you makes me want to scold you at times, but I'm not sure if I should express it.
And when you touch me and there's fire in every finger
Your touch on me sets off a spark of desire that spreads throughout my body.
I get ideas, I get ideas
These desires then turn into all kinds of ideas that I can't shake off my mind.
And after we have kissed goodnight and still you linger
Even after we part with goodnight kisses, I can sense that you want more and you keep hanging around.
I kinda think you get ideas too
I suspect that your lingering presence means you also have desires and ideas like me.
Your eyes are always saying the things you're never saying
Your eyes give away emotions and thoughts that you never express with words.
I only hope they're saying that you could love me too
I hope what your eyes say means that you might love me as well.
For that's the whole idea it's true,
The entire concept of my feelings and ideas is that I'm falling in love with you.
The lovely idea that I'm falling in love with you
My main idea is that I am falling deeply in love with you, and it's a wonderful feeling.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DORCAS COCHRAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind