Krikorian is a singer/songwriter, whose songs have been recorded by Charlie Sexton, Bette Midler, Peter Case, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Vanessa Williams, Bonnie Raitt and others. He is most commonly regarded as a Christian artist, and has released several albums of Christian songs starting with Romeo Unchained (1986); prior to that, he was decidedly a secular artist.
Krikorian and Alan Shapazian (rhythm guitar) formed a band called The Raik's Progress which recorded one single for Liberty Records, released in 1967. In 1973, he appeared as a member of the former Buddy Holly backing band the Crickets on their album "Remnants".
By 1978, Krikorian went solo, adopting the name of Tonio K, possibly a reference to the Thomas Mann novel Tonio Kröger, with Life In The Foodchain.
Krikorian is featured as lead vocalist on the song "Don't Fade Away." from the Crickets & Their Buddies album, released in the summer of 2004.
True Confessions
Tonio K. Lyrics
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Used to be a garden
But the times got rough
And now all those innocent hears have hardened
You've got Cain and Abel
You've got Jack and Jill
They're out looking for love
On a Saturday night in a coup de ville
But love got twisted
And the streets got mean
Now everybody's got their secret
As the night comes down like a guillotine
True confessions
In a twisted world
Its just you and me baby
In the danger zone
We're out looking for permanent love
In the middle of a city full of broken homes
Where all the boys want to use you
And all the girls want to cry
And nothing works like it used to
And you can't remember your lines
I heard about a housewife sleeping in the wrong bed
Head a rumor that Elvis has risen from the dead
I've seen a lot of lovers been programmed to lose
Seen a civilization proclaiming the blues
The song True Confessions by Tonio K. has a rather bleak outlook on the world, particularly when it comes to love and relationships. The opening lyrics suggest that the world used to be a gentler, more innocent place ("Used to be a garden"), but somewhere along the line, things got rough and people's hearts were hardened. The names Cain and Abel, as well as Jack and Jill, are references to some of the earliest and most famous stories of betrayal and violence, indicating that these themes have been present throughout human history. The image of people "looking for love / On a Saturday night in a coup de ville," while evocative and romantic-sounding, is also a little sad and desperate, suggesting that people are seeking connection and validation in a world that doesn't offer much of either.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that the world Tonio K. is describing is one that is full of pain, confusion, and danger. Love, which is supposed to be a source of comfort and joy, has become "twisted," and the streets are "mean." Everyone has their secrets and the night feels like a "guillotine," which is a chilling metaphor that suggests the danger is both real and imminent. In the chorus, the singer addresses his or her partner directly, acknowledging that they are both in this dangerous world together, searching for a love that will last. However, even their love is threatened by the broken homes and broken hearts around them, and the pervasive sense of hopelessness that seems to surround everything.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a jungle out there
The society has become more like a jungle
Used to be a garden
The society used to be peaceful and serene
But the times got rough
But the society became difficult to live in
And now all those innocent hears have hardened
And now people have become tough due to their bitter experiences
You've got Cain and Abel
There are people who are ready to do anything for their own selfish interests
You've got Jack and Jill
There are people looking for love but they are not finding it
They're out looking for love
People are searching for love
On a Saturday night in a coup de ville
On a Saturday night in a fancy car
But love got twisted
But love has become corrupt and bad
And the streets got mean
And the streets have become ruthless and dangerous
Now everybody's got their secret
Now everyone has something to hide
As the night comes down like a guillotine
As the night descends like a sharp blade, bringing misfortune
True confessions
Real and honest admissions
In a twisted world
In a world that has become messed up
Its just you and me baby
It's only the two of us
In the danger zone
In the zone of risk and danger
We're out looking for permanent love
We are searching for true and lasting love
In the middle of a city full of broken homes
In a city where many homes are dysfunctional
Where all the boys want to use you
Where men only want to take advantage of women
And all the girls want to cry
And women are constantly sad and emotional
And nothing works like it used to
And life has changed for the worse
And you can't remember your lines
And things are so bad that even simple things become difficult to remember
I heard about a housewife sleeping in the wrong bed
I heard stories of infidelity
Head a rumor that Elvis has risen from the dead
Heard gossip about improbable happenings
I've seen a lot of lovers been programmed to lose
I have seen many relationships fail despite the effort
Seen a civilization proclaiming the blues
Witnessed a community wallowing in sadness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL BECKER, PAUL REVELLI, GENE STASHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind