A page torn from the dictionary can’t begin to define the spirit of rock and roll exuded by Toronto native Suzie McNeil and her sophomore solo effort, the fittingly titled Rock-n-Roller. Loaded with eleven tracks that run the gamut from the insatiably catchy first single "Let’s Go" to the chugging, break-up ball-buster "Free," Rock-n-Roller is the product of Suzie’s fierce attitude, independent spirit and furious determination to have the voice of a strong woman heard.
"Usually, a woman singing rock has to have an element of strength or balls to her. Are people scared of that? It’s hard to say," Suzie says. "I think a lot of times men especially want women to be soft and gentle, and not all of my songs are like that. But I couldn’t do it any other way."
Co-writing the entire album with long-time musical cohort Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe), Suzie harnessed the true power behind her voice. Suzie found herself melting through the shyness and vulnerability she had once felt as a songwriter. The result is Rock-n-Roller, an album packed with songs that reveal Suzie to her core as a lover, a fighter and a rocker.
Suzie was the last woman standing on the pressure-filled Rock Star: INXS and has gained a wealth of experience singing back-ups for P!nk, a duet with Clay Aiken, being a featured vocalist on Buckcherry's new release, starring in the Toronto production of We Will Rock You, entertaining the troops in Afghanistan, and being a featured judge on YTV's talent search series: The Next Star.
Suzie’s song Believe has been featured on many network TV series including The Biggest Loser, Beauty & The Geek, The Hills, Oprah Winfrey’s The Big Give, and So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Believe has also been featured in Toronto’s theatre, as well as having been chosen by Bell Canada to be the official 2010 Olympic Inspired song and video. www.bell.ca/believe. Suzie was nominated for a 2008 Canadian Radio Music Award, a 2008 Best New Artist JUNO award, was a featured performer at this year’s Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Awards, and was just awarded The Canadian Independent Music award’s Favorite Pop Artist/Group of the Year. Suzie attended Lorne Park Secondary School in Mississauga which gave her the foundation to achieve all that she has done.
"I think rock and roll has always remained a pretty genuine, real style of music," she insists. "It’s something that’s been around for years and years and has stood the test of time. You can’t fake rock ‘n’ roll. You can try. But you can’t."
Poison
Suzie McNeil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've thought about it everyday since you're gone
And I hate what they gave to you
But a little bit of poison still makes you strong
And you're a little bit more than they ever did see
Now you're bigger than life but you've never been free
There's a noise in your head and it gets in your face
But some how they can't take you down
[Chorus]
Too many questions
Nobody answers
And I need some truth here tonight
And all that you run from
Somehow it finds you
And a little bit of poison still make you strong
Now your secrets been safe with me
You've been keep it to yourself for too long
And the world is still waiting to see, all the beautiful crazy things you've become
And you're a little bit more then they ever did see
Now you're bigger than life and a little bit free
You know what you want when you get what you need
That's something you said to me
[Chorus]
You want to deny all of the lights
But don't try to hide them from me
You want to fight but you left behind
But I need to make you see
You better run to me
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Poison by Suzie McNeil tell the story of someone who has turned to using a little bit of poison to feel strong after experiencing some hurtful words from others. The opening lines "there was something they said to you, I've thought about it every day since you're gone" suggest that the person was hurt deeply by these words, and they have been struggling to move on. However, they have found a way to cope with the pain by using a little bit of poison, which makes them feel strong. This poison could be interpreted in many ways - it could be a literal substance that they are using to numb the pain, or it could be a metaphor for something else that is giving them strength.
The chorus of the song speaks to the sense of confusion and frustration that the person feels as they try to navigate their way through this difficult situation. They are looking for answers that nobody seems willing or able to provide, and they are struggling to reconcile the conflicting emotions that they are feeling. Despite this, they are determined to keep going and to continue to grow and evolve as a person.
Overall, this song is a powerful exploration of the ways in which people cope with difficult experiences and emotions. It speaks to the universal human desire to feel strong and capable, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
There was something they said to you
Someone said something to the person that has been on their mind since they left.
I've thought about it everyday since you're gone
The person has been thinking about what was said to them every day since the other person left.
And I hate what they gave to you
The singer hates what was given to the other person due to what was said.
But a little bit of poison still makes you strong
Even though the other person was given something they don't like, it has still made them stronger in some capacity.
And you're a little bit more than they ever did see
Other people did not fully comprehend the true extent of the other person's abilities and character.
Now you're bigger than life but you've never been free
The other person has accomplished great things, yet they have never felt true freedom.
There's a noise in your head and it gets in your face
The other person has intrusive thoughts and feelings that disrupt their life.
But some how they can't take you down
Regardless of the struggles the other person faces, they remain resilient.
Too many questions
The artist has many unanswered questions.
Nobody answers
No one has provided satisfactory answers to the artist's questions.
And I need some truth here tonight
The singer desires the truth in the present moment.
And all that you run from
The other person avoids certain things.
Somehow it finds you
Despite the other person's efforts to avoid certain things, they inevitably encounter them.
And a little bit of poison still make you strong
Even though the other person tries to avoid certain things, these experiences make them stronger.
Now your secrets been safe with me
The other person has entrusted the singer with their secrets.
You've been keep it to yourself for too long
The other person has kept their secrets to themselves for a long time.
And the world is still waiting to see, all the beautiful crazy things you've become
The world has yet to witness all of the amazing things the other person has accomplished.
You know what you want when you get what you need
The other person is self-aware and knows what they want when they obtain what they need.
That's something you said to me
The other person previously expressed this sentiment to the singer.
You want to deny all of the lights
The other person tries to deny certain aspects of their life.
But don't try to hide them from me
Regardless of the other person's attempts to conceal things, the artist can still see them.
You want to fight but you left behind
The other person desires a fight or confrontation, yet they have left it behind them.
But I need to make you see
The singer needs the other person to understand something.
You better run to me
The artist wants the other person to come to them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARTIN H. FREDERIKSEN, SUZIE MCNEIL, JOHN T RZEZNIK, GREGG STEVEN WATTENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff Henthorne
She has a great voice. I like this song a lot. People in the States need to start requesting her songs to the radio stations.
Van Gable
This should have been a single off this fine album. As far as I know they never gave this great song a decent shot.