The theme and title of the album all relate to the past and this song was actually written in about 20-minutes on hearing that legendary DJ John Peel had unexpectedly died. When I gave up Hip-Hop in the 90s and went back to guitar music I swore an oath that I would never strum, so all my compositions since then involve some more intricate picked and plucked rhythms from the right hand. But this song was one exception. I allowed this song to be short (2 mins 40 secs) simple and punky as a tribute to the some of the amazing music that John Peel brought through and made possible. It is unashamedly 'basic pop' and even features a 'mop-toppy' falsetto "OOOOOH!!".
And when I say "unashamed" that's very important to me, as I find, through music, I am able to negotiate and go beyond obstacles to cool, taste etc. that other artistic activities still seem to prohibit. I use music partly to go beyond my current inhibitions or sense of shame or embarrassment, and that allows me to explore myself as a person and as an artist in the most comprehensive way - beyond cool, beyond who and what I 'am' at any particular point in my growth and development. When it came to record this for the album Bada Song came up trumps with her magnetic chorus refrain, and Marcus Cormack's interpretation of the belligerent beat became quite thunderous. Marcus encouraged me to layer-up and turn-up the distorted guitar and to throw the vocal a little more enthusiastically. I hope you can listen to this loud and stooopidly. I guess I was aiming for The Undertones here, I know I didn't quite reach that, but I got somewhere, and somewhere I hadn't been before!
lyrics
Because Of You
Stars all shine more brightly
Like they’ve all been made anew
Because of You
My friends say
I’ve even changed my ways
And started to
Do as you do
It’s all because
It’s all because
It’s all because of you
Because of you
Whatever happens here today
I won’t worry too much anyway
Because you’re here to stay
Oooh oooh hoo
I won’t wait or hesitate to state
That you’re the one
The one I was looking for
And It’s all because
It’s all because
It’s all because of you
Because of, Because of you
Because of you
Because of you
Because of you.
from When The Stars Were Kind,
track released June 20, 2020
Produced by Marcus Cormack & Paul O’Kane
Recorded & Mixed by Marcus Cormack at Tyro Studios, London
This track and this album burst with gratitude for all who generously & conscientiously contributed their skill, time, energy, spirit & inspiration to their making.
Paul O’Kane - vocals, harmony vocals, guitar, bass, piano, additional guitars & keyboards
Bada Song - additional vocals
Marcus Cormack - drums, percussion, additional guitars & keyboards
Design & typography - Barnaby Lambert
Image ‘Window Light Gold’ (2017) by Eric Michel
Seasoned singer-songwriter with a history of working in in pop, indie, soul, hip-hop and alternative
musics
Four albums and three singles available as CDs and/or via steams.
Previous albums:
Our Story-Songs by Paul O’Kane (2007) www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kg02VGD7ag5UehkJPRNHD85EeHFK366-8
New Emotions (2010),
Come What May (2013), When The Stars Were Kind (2020)...more
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