Val Emmich. He's the Jesse guy from Ugly Betty, right? No wait, he's the du… Read Full Bio ↴Val Emmich. He's the Jesse guy from Ugly Betty, right? No wait, he's the dude who dated Tina Fey in 30 Rock--the "Gay for Jamie" dude. And didn't I see him on a Macys commercial recently with P Diddy and Jennifer Lopez?

Yes to all of the above. His recent exposure as an actor may obscure the fact that when it comes to music, New Jersey native Val Emmich is a lifer. He told Page Six, "The acting thing snuck up on me." Emmich's main focus has always been his music, as evidenced by his prolific output.

His latest album, LOOKING FOR A FEELING YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED, marks his seventh full-length solo effort in nearly a decade. People Magazine called him "the real deal." Entertainment Weekly labeled him a "breakout singer." The New York Times said he's "a rocker who rocks to his own beat."

Emmich (pronounced Em-ik) recorded LOOKING FOR A FEELING in Long Branch, NJ with the production team Near Records. The result is a kaleidoscope of sounds and textures including kinetic dance numbers ("Sidekick"), airy soundscapes ("Come Clean") and straight-up rockers ("Don't Wanna Go Home"). Lurking just beneath the surface are poignant stories of people trying to find their place in the world: there's the west coast transplant 3,000 miles from her family in "E.S.T.", the restless soul seeking a new beginning in "Change of Scenery" and the man returning to the place he once called home in "Gone." Emmich embodies all of them and somehow--despite some dark moments--supplies a beam of light that pulls the listener through to the slow decay of the album's final note.

If there's one thing that ties together the many facets of Emmich's art, it's passion. It's easy to write that word in a bio, but another thing to show it. At live shows, you'll find a man often unhinged, shirt soaked-through and guitar smashed to pieces; he's toured with artists ranging from Gavin DeGraw and Butch Walker to the Gym Class Heroes and Dashboard Confessional. And his life in front of the camera isn't limited to acting. He was the first unsigned artist featured on MTV's "TRL" and he's produced dozens of music and promo videos that show his lighter side while maintaining his acute attention to detail; check out the video for "The Only One Lonely" which won him an Independent Music Award. Oh, and he's also written a novel that he's currently pitching.

So who is this guy? He's hard to pin down, and while that isn't the quickest sell in our sound bite culture, it's probably that which will give Emmich longevity. He's been called a Renaissance man. When asked about the musician role originally meant for John Mayer, an "Ugly Betty" producer told the New York Times: "There was just this quiet storm to Val." That probably says it all right there.

Careful
Val Emmich Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You walked in and hit me
With a stun gun to the chest
I hope I can move pretty soon
Cuz you're giving me that look
Like "What's wrong?"
What's wrong?

I'm trying to hold back just enough

Invite you in but then keep you waiting
Til I can sort out just what to say
Careful not to give it away

You're waiting for my next move
If you only knew that I don't have one
Cuz it's give and take
It's a game
And I think it's your turn
Or is it mine?
Is it mine?

I'm trying to hold back just enough
Invite you in but then keep you waiting
Til I get a clue that I'm doing okay
Careful not to scare you

I'm a little nervous
I don't want to ruin this
I'm a little nervous
I don't want to ruin this
I'm a little nervous
I don't wanna ruin this
I'm a little nervous
I don't wanna ruin this
I'm a little nervous
But it's not such a bad thing

I'm trying to hold back just enough
Invite you in but then hesitate
I wish I could say just what I mean
But I'm careful not to scare you
I'm trying to but it's not really working
Trying to hold back

Careful not to scare you
Careful not to give it away

Overall Meaning

Val Emmich's song Careful portrays someone who is nervous about opening up to their loved one. The opening line "You walked in and hit me with a stun gun to the chest" paints a picture of someone who is taken aback by their partner's appearance. The singer is smitten with their loved one but is anxious that divulging too much too soon could ruin the relationship. They want to be cautious in revealing their emotions, and hence, they are "trying to hold back just enough, invite you in but then keep you waiting."

The chorus adds to the theme of uncertainty, with the singer wondering whether it's their turn to make a move or their partner's. They don't want to come across as being too keen or pushy, which is why they're carefully trying to navigate the budding relationship. They're aware that it's a "game" and that one wrong move could spoil everything.

The second verse keeps the tone of the song consistent, with the singer still trying to hold back and "keep you waiting". Their nervousness is evident in the lyrics "I'm a little nervous, I don't wanna ruin this" and "I'm trying to but it's not really working, trying to hold back careful not to scare you, careful not to give it away."

In conclusion, Careful is a song about someone trying to navigate a new relationship and wanting to be careful not to come on too strong. The lyrics hint at the singer being infatuated with their partner but are nervous about making the wrong move.

Line by Line Meaning

You walked in and hit me
You entered my life and surprised me

With a stun gun to the chest
You had an intense effect on me

I hope I can move pretty soon
I hope I can figure out what to do next

Cuz you're giving me that look
Your expression is making me uncertain

Like "What's wrong?"
Asking if everything is okay

I'm trying to hold back just enough
I'm trying to be cautious

Invite you in but then keep you waiting
I want you to be a part of my life, but I'm not sure

Til I can sort out just what to say
I need time to think about my feelings

Careful not to give it away
Because I don't want to show my vulnerability

You're waiting for my next move
You're waiting for me to make a move

If you only knew that I don't have one
If you knew how unsure I am right now