Starting a review of the acoustic version
of “Wake Up” presents a conundrum. Should the review of the track from C. SHIROCK
launch into praise for the purity of the vocals and the power of the
inflections in conveying the commitment to the song’s message? Or is the better
approach to start with an appreciation for the instruments?
It’s a decision in which the selection of
either option is easily defended. The use of strings in short, quick strokes (for
example, starting at 1:06) is similar to the style in “Eleanor Rigby,” the band's only
song in which The Beatles did not play any of the instruments. This staccato
delivery supports the main melody, but stays slightly detached and provides a
fuller, more textured sound. Still, it is the piano that instrumentally drives “Wake
Up.” Perhaps the most effective section starts at 2:30, when the other
instruments perform a mini-crescendo that leads to a classical piano solo.
Staying
with comparisons, the early vocals in “Wake Up” bear similarities to the more
relaxed portions of Queensrÿche tracks (admittedly, we often find ourselves
alone on an island when we make assertions regarding vocal similarities). The voice
carries a pain. Pauses and voice inflections only enhance the emotive atmosphere.
C. SHIROCK is the project of Chuck Shirock,
who is based in Nashville, Tennessee. According to the website of the project,
the contributors to “Wake Up” are Chuck Shirock (vocals, keyboards, guitar),
Scott Shirock (percussion, programming), Kevin Whitsett (bass), and Justin Saunders
(cello).
Chuck Shirock’s description of the song is
insightful:
The release of the “Wake Up” singles marks the end
of the ‘11’ EP - this project has been one filled with many ups and downs, new
beginnings and moments embracing endings. It wasn’t planned (I’m learning the
best things often aren’t), but the final song was “Wake Up,” and what a fitting
way to wrap the project.
-
“Wake Up” is a constant reminder to me to stay awake - to
stay present. I have a tendency to shut down, to get lost in the pursuit of
something, and to lose sight of the all of the beauty in the process. I don’t
want to live like that. I hope you don’t live like that.
-
A favorite thinker, Alan Watts, said about life, “...we missed
the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing and you were supposed to
dance while the music was being played.”
"Wake Up (Acoustic)"
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cshirock
Website: http://www.cshirock.com/
Lyrics of "Wake Up" by C. SHIROCK
You said be stronger than tomorrow
You said be stronger than the days
And, how can I be stronger than tomorrow?
How can I be stronger than the pain?
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
You take this heart of gold
You walk it on your sideline
You take this heart of steel
You teach it how to break, how to heal
Take it all away
My love, oh my love
Where have you gone, away
My Lord, oh My Lord
Oh, oh, oh, oh [Repeat 3x]
You take this heart of stone
Walking through a desert show me home
You take this heart, no rhythm
Give me rhythm of my own
You take it all and wake up
Wake up [Repeat 2x]
You take it all and wake up
Broken heart will love again
You wake up
Under rubble hope begins
You wake up
In stillness you find peace again
You wake up, wake up
Take it all and wake up
Broken spirit dream again
You wake up
Tired feet will dance again
You wake up
All will be made new again
Wake up, wake up
Take it all and wake up
"Wake Up" - with electric support
No comments:
Post a Comment