After 'RENT', Vincent was off to London after being cast in a cutting-edge film of 'Jesus Christ Superstar;. Vincent later returned to New York to appear in the Broadway revival of "Superstar". As the lead role of Judas Iscariot. After a successful broadway run, Vincent started development work for a new record spending considerable time collaborating with other writer-producers in Los Angeles, New York, Woodstock, Sweden, and London.
While taking time to write in London, Vincent was invited to audition for Brian May, Roger Taylor and Ben Elton. Vincent was cast as the lead role of Galileo Gigaro in the notorious rock band, Queen's world premiere production of 'WE WILL ROCK YOU'. Vincent spent two years with the show playing to sold-out audiences at nearly every performance. Once 'WE WILL ROCK YOU' became a solid hit in London, producers invited Vincent to open the first American company in a new permanent theater at the Paris, Las Vegas Resort.
Later, in 2010, Vincent joined Broadway once again in the Tony Award Winning musical production of American Idiot. Based on the highly successful Grammy award winning album 'American Idiot' by Green Day. His performance of 'St. Jimmy', the drug addicted alter ego of 'Johnny/Jesus of Suburbia' got him nominated for the Drama League Award of 'Distinguished Performance' and 'Favourite Performance by a Featured Actor in a Broadway Musical' by Broadway.com Audience Award. Vincent left the performance briefly from September 27, 2010 to October 3, 2010. Then completely leaving the production in January 2011.
Now in 2012, Vincent is staring on the hit show, 'The Voice'. A show much like 'American Idol' but focusing completely on the singer's voice instead of looks as well. During the 'Blind auditions' (the judges were to turn around while the singer performed), Vincent chose 'We Are the Champions. And was chosen to be worked with by the extremely talented artist Cee Lo Green who is famous for his song 'Forget You (F*** You)' and 'Crazy'. The show is currently still in production.
Be A Man
Tony Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
real men don't cry
the whole world sold him this pack of lies
real men don't cry
so his tender heart turns colder
as the days turn into years
he's crossing all the traces of his tears
he wants to be strong
but it's hard to know excatly what to do
'cause he can't be the man
he's meant to be
till he can be a man
who finds himself in you
He's building walls and their ten feet high
real men don't cry
as deep within him his spirit dies
real men don't cry
oh, embrace him man of sorrows
show him what a man can be
till theres nothing left to prove and he is free
He wants to be a man
he wants to be strong
but it's hard to know excatly what to do
cause he can't be the man
he's meant to be
till he can be a man
who finds himself in you.
From the album...'Tony Vincent'.
The lyrics of Tony Vincent's song Be A Man speak of the burden that society places on men to be strong and unemotional. The opening lines recount how the singer was taught by his father at a young age that "real men don't cry", and how this message permeates throughout his life, causing him to suppress his emotions and build up walls around him. The lyrics express a longing to break free from this expectation and become a man who is able to feel and express his emotions without fear of judgement.
The chorus of the song reinforces this desire, as the singer yearns to become a man who is strong and true to himself. He acknowledges that he doesn't know exactly what to do to achieve this, but he understands that he needs to find an example of a man who is comfortable in his own skin and is able to show vulnerability. This man, who he hopes to find in someone else, will be the key to his own self-discovery and the path to true manhood.
Overall, the song is a powerful critique of societal norms that force men to suppress their emotions and how this expectation can be incredibly damaging. It encourages men to recognize the value of showing vulnerability and finding role models who embody this quality.
Line by Line Meaning
His daddy told him when he was five
At five years old, his father taught him what a 'real man' should be.
real men don't cry
Men should not show their emotions or vulnerability.
the whole world sold him this pack of lies
The societal expectations of masculinity are misleading.
so his tender heart turns colder
Following strict masculine ideals has hardened his compassionate nature.
as the days turn into years
Throughout his life, he has been influenced by harmful societal standards of masculinity.
he's crossing all the traces of his tears
He has repressed his emotions to avoid being seen as weak or unmanly.
He wants to be a man
He desires to fit into the societal definition of what a man should be.
he wants to be strong
Strength is seen as an essential characteristic of manliness.
but it's hard to know exactly what to do
Society provides mixed messages on how he should act in accordance with masculine ideals.
'cause he can't be the man
He struggles to fit in with societal expectations of masculinity.
he's meant to be
He knows what he wants to be, but it goes against societal norms.
till he can be a man
He seeks to find his own definition of what a man should be.
who finds himself in you
He looks up to someone who has qualities he admires, and seeks to emulate them.
He's building walls and their ten feet high
He is isolating himself from others and emotional vulnerability.
as deep within him his spirit dies
His adherence to societal ideals of masculinity lead to his inner self deteriorating.
oh, embrace him man of sorrows
He seeks guidance from someone who has gone through similar mental anguish.
show him what a man can be
He wants to learn what a compassionate and emotionally intelligent man looks like.
till theres nothing left to prove and he is free
He aspires to defy the societal expectations of masculinity and be his authentic self, without feeling the need to prove himself to others.
Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.