Categories
Female Lead India

This Song Stands As A Positive Force In A Time Great Darkness Across The World, Unheard Chennai, India Music

Alaye by Jak Sundar, JKA Shalini

Jak Sundar is a producer from Chennai, India. He is a huge fan of Machael Jackson’s music and it is with this inspiration that Jak has set out to make pop music. In his song, Alaye, Jak enlisted the help of singer JKA Shalini. Shalini is also from Chennai, India where she lives with her husband and kids. Jak Sundar has 1 monthly Spotify listener, and JKA Shalini has 608 monthly Spotify listeners making them a perfect duo for this week’s artists spotlight

Alaye is a song that has popular electronic music themes infused throughout the track like Shalini’s haunting voice, synthesizers galore, and an epic beat. It’s a song that belongs on the radio, and I hope it will take off in the United States soon. Since I am only a (sub-par) master of one language I reached out to JKA Shalini and she was kind enough to give me the lyrics of the song, which were then translated by a wonderful user of Reddit. But first, enjoy Alaye by Jak Sundar & JKA Shalini. Lyrics and Analysis below.

https://youtu.be/nwRUybTzjl8




Lyrics (in Tamil)Lyrics (English Characters)Lyrics (translated by ashokramach of reddit)
வானம் பொழிகின்ற மழைநீரே வா
சாலை நனையட்டும் நீ செல்ல
தூரம் கடக்கின்ற கடல்மீனே வா
வேகம் குறையாமல் நீ செல்லு

இங்கு தேடல் ஆயிரம் உன் இடம்தேடி வா
ஒரு பாடல் பாடவே உன் கதை சொல்லு

நில்லாமல் முன்னேறிச் செல்லு…
எதிரிகளை உன் பின்னே தள்ளு…
விழுந்தாலும் எழுவேனென்று சொல்லு…
நீ தொடுவானம் தொடும்தூரம் செல்லு…

அலையே உன் ஆற்றல் தாராயோ
அடியேன் இவன் நடைபோட
நிலவே உன் ஒளிதனை தாராயோ
நிலத்தில் இவன் கரைசேர…

நில்லாமல் முன்னேறிச்செல்லு…
எதிரிகளை உன் பின்னே தள்ளு…
விழுந்தாலும் எழுவேனென்று சொல்லு…
நீ தொடுவானம் தொடும்தூரம் செல்லு…

அலையே அலையே அலையே அலையே
அலையே அலையே உன் ஆற்றலை தர வா
நிலவே நிலவே நிலவே நிலவே
நிலவே நிலவே உன் ஒளிதனை தர வா

அலையே உன் ஆற்றல் தாராயோ
அடியேன் இவன் நடைபோட
நிலவே உன் ஒளிதனை தாராயோ
நிலத்தில் இவன் கரைகள் தான் சேர…

அலையே அலையே அலையே அலையே
அலையே அலையே உன் ஆற்றலை தர வா
நிலவே நிலவே நிலவே நிலவே
நிலவே நிலவே உன் ஒளிதனை தர வா
Vaanam pozhiginra mazhai neerea vaa
Saalai nanayattum nee sella
Dhooram kadakinra kadal meenea vaa
Vegam kurayaamal nee sellu



Ingu thedal aayiram un idam thedi vaa
Oru paadal paadave un kadhai sollu

Nillamal munneri sellu
Edhirigalai un pinne thallu
Vizhundhaalum ezhuvenendru sollu
Nee thodu vaanam thodum dhooram sellu



Alaye un aatral tharayo
Adiyen ivan nadai poda
Nilave un olithanai tharayo
Nilathil ivan karai sera



Nillamal munneri sellu
Edhirigalai un pinne thallu
Vizhundhaalum ezhuvenendru sollu
Nee thodu vaanam thodum dhooram sellu



Alaye alaye alaye alaye
Alaye alaye un aatralai tharava
Nilave nilave nilave nilave
Nilave nilave un olithanai thara vaa



Alaye un aatral tharayo
Adiyen ivan nadai poda
Nilave un olithanai tharayo
Nilathil ivan karaigal than sera….



Alaye alaye alaye alaye
Alaye alaye un aatralai tharava
Nilave nilave nilave nilave
Nilave nilave un olithanai thara vaa
Welcome the rain that comes down from the sky
Let the road get wet for you to go
Welcome the sea fish that swims far
You go without slowing down



Among a thousand searches find your place
Sing a song and tell your story


Go forward without stopping
Push the opponents behind you
Say that you will get up even if you fall
Go as far as you can touch the skyline



Let the waves give the energy
For him to walk
Let the moon give the light
For him to reach the shore



Go forward without stopping
Push the opponents behind you
Say that you will get up even if you fall
Go as far as you can touch the skyline



Oh wave after wave after wave after wave
Come wave after wave to give the energy
Oh moon oh moon oh moon oh moon
Oh moon oh moon come to give the light

Let the waves give the energy
For him to walk
Let the moon give the light
For him to reach the shore




Wave after wave after wave after wave
Come wave after wave to give the energy
Oh moon oh moon oh moon oh moon
Oh moon oh moon come to give the light

Meaning (from the Artist)

“This song portrays the struggles of a young boy who is bullied and harmed by people
around him, which in turns makes the boy stronger and equips himself to face his struggles with the help of his affectionate brother… This song is dedicated to all the young children to grow up in life stronger and face all the hurdles in life.” ~ From the Youtube Description

Commentary

This song stands as a positive force in a time great darkness across the world. The human race is being bullied by its own members and the forces of nature. This song can serve as motivation that despite being knocked down we can always get up, learn from our mistakes, and face the issues at hand.

Let us therefore face the day with new strength. May you bring courage into your heart. May you fight for justice. May you be a force of peace in your home, neighborhood, and city. And finally, may you end this day knowing the world is at least a tiny bit better because of your actions.

If you’re interested in more music by JKA Shalini you can follow her on Facebook, Spotify, Instagram, or Youtube. JKA Shalini, herself, requests you take a listen to one of her newest songs, Alaathi.

You can follow Jak Sundar on Facebook, Spotify, Instagram, Youtube. You can buy Alaye on Amazon by following this link.

Huge thank you to ashokramach, who took the time to translate this song from Tamil to English.

Categories
California Female Lead

Doing Better Than My Best

Wasted by Chelsea Williams

Chelsea Williams grabbed my attention in college when my girlfriend at the time introduced me to I Stole Your Boots, a song that quickly found its way into my iTunes cart and recently played playlist. In search for my next post I thought about that song from many years ago and was very pleased to find the Chelsea William had released a new album just last month. Chelsea Williams is by far the most acclaimed artist we have featured and currently sits at 5,523 monthly listeners on Spotify making her a great candidate for our Artist Spotlight.

After listening through her new album, Beautiful and Strange, I found myself really enjoying her upbeat, pop country sound. Her vocals are well done, the lyrics are interesting, and the unusual instruments sprinkled throughout the record give the music a fun flair. She describers her music as, “Americana with a bit of modern pop, topped off by a healthy dose of reckless abandon…” Agreed.

Red Flag, Skin and Bones, & Beautiful and Strange are all good song from her new Album, but I present to you Wasted. Lyrics and Commentary Below. Enjoy

Lyrics

Stepped on one too many cracks
Did I break your back
I don’t want to tell the truth anymore
Tired of pinning down the facts
You can paint them black
And I’m feeling kind of cruel keeping score

AhhhHHHhhh x4

Change my name and my address
Can’t get further west
Still there’s something tugging at my sleeve
Doing better than my best
To outrun this mess
But somedays you just got to scream

AhhhHHHhhh x4

Well I don’t want to be a fool for you hunny
But right now you’ve got me wasted
I don’t want to be a fool for a you hunny
But right now you’ve got me wasted

Writing letters, writing hits
But nothing fits
You got one foot hanging out the door
So role the credits call it quits
We’re on the fritz
I can’t keep waking up on the floor

AhhhHHHhhh x4

Well I don’t want to be a fool for you hunny
But right now you’ve got me wasted
I don’t want to be a fool for a you hunny
But right now you’ve got me wasted

AhhhHHHhhh
right now you’ve got me wasted
AhhhHHHhhh
right now you’ve got me wasted

Commentary

Lucky for us Chelsea Williams shared her thought on this song via her website, so we do not have to guess at the meaning. The song Wasted is “about a destructive relationship that needs to have its plug pulled…”

Despite the subject matter the song has a cheery disposition and is even quirky at some moments. This is a reflection of what Chelsea Williams sees when she looks at the chaos in the world. “The overarching theme of Beautiful and Strange is that regardless of all the lies flying around and clashes in ideology, I still think that there is an exquisite charm and beauty to all of the chaos,” explains Chelsea Williams.

One of my favorite things about this song are the rhymes. I know I’m an old soul, but it feels like current music has gotten away from this and it’s nice to hear a song lean so heavily on rhyming. I also really love, what I can only guess is, the tuba. The song is already fairly fun, but the Tuba gives it a little quirk. I like quirk.

Let’s follow Chelsea’s lead and introduce a little more whimsy into our lives. Take a break from the news, dive into some new music, and enjoy a love song like I stole Your Boots by Chelsea Williams.

Connect With Chelsea Williams of Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube

Please share her with friends and family, and if you’re feeling extra generous please share theunheard.org as well.

Sources
http://www.chelseawilliams.com/about/

Categories
Texas

Exposing The Love Lives of Delicious Royalty

Quality Time By Bipolar Bears

The Bipolar Bears released their first and only full length album in 2012, toured for a few years, and have since disappeared. Their last Facebook post was February of 2017, the last twitter post was November 6th of 2013, and saddest of all their website is 404ed. The Bipolar Bears have 42 monthly listeners at the time of this post making them a perfect candidate for our spotlight.

The disbanding of The Bipolar Bears is unfortunate because I really dig several songs this quartet from Austin, Texas put down on their self named album. In an interview with Austin After Dark writer Caleb Holland said, “most everything I write is conceptual… I try to write the songs as stand alone songs.” As a result each track each track in the album does offer some depth in the lyrics and I love being able to dig into a song. These guys also know how to rock. I love the guitar parts of Theme and the composition of Half Cigarette, but my favorite song on the whole album is Quality Time.

Quality Time is a narrative based song exposing the love lives of delicious royalty: Queen Frostine, King Kandy, Lord Licorice, & Princess Lolly. And no, I was not aware that these were characters from the board game Candy Land until I was writing this. The song combines snarky lyrics with a catchy tune and a fun spirit. Lyrics and a quick interpretation of the song are written below. I hope you enjoy.

LYRICS

OOooOO, Lord Licorice
Your castle don’t mean your rich
Cuz, OOooOO you’re out of touch
And those don’t raise your status much
You left footprint right up the door
Stiletto print molasses on your kitchen floor
You’ve got Princess Lolly’s love, but you throw it away
Cuz girls can only be your love by day
But we all know what you’re using them for.

OOooOO my queen Frostine
How could you be so mean
Your new umbrella dress
Has put your King in a bit of distress
You left footprints right up to his door
Peppermint and snowflakes on his new carpet floor
You’ve got King Kandy’s love, but you throw it away
Cuz men can only be your love by day,
But we all know what you’re using them for.

Trying to be as good as i can
I hope Lilly will understand

oooo, when the rocks have eyes
oooo, they’ll tell all your lies
oooo, when the rocks have eyes
oooo, they’ll tell all your lies
oooo, when the rocks have eyes
oooo, they’ll tell all your lies
oooo, when the rocks have eyes
oooo, they’ll tell all your lies

AN INTERPRETATION

As a I sit and ponder about the lyrics of this song there are questions that come to mind. Like Who is Lilly? What is it exactly that we all know they’re using them for? However, my favorite thing to think about is the prophecy they give regarding when all their secrets will be revealed – “when the rocks have eyes they’ll tell all your lies.” We know all their lies; we were told by the song. Therefore, Rock(n-roll), in the form of The Bipolar Bears, is making known to the world the scandalous nature of the Candy Land royalty, just as the songs said it would. I think that is just a neat thought.

A CONFESSION

I’m so glad you have made it this far down into the post. I have something on my chest that I need to bring into the light. You may already know this, but the lead singer of The Bipolar Bears doesn’t have a great voice. I know. I hear it. You’ll hear it too if you listen to the whole ablum. But I still like their music, I can’t help myself. To me they make it all work and I think you might can grow to love their music too if you gibe it a chance.

I hope you enjoyed this new discovery and if you do please purchase one of their songs wherever you get your music. I would love to hear from you. What do you think of this song? Is there an artist you would like people to discover? Let me know in the comments below.

SOURCES

https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2012-04-20/the-bipolar-bears/
https://www.facebook.com/bipolarbearsband/
https://twitter.com/bipolarbearsatx?lang=en
https://youtu.be/XEh5zD9tk5M