A lot of people have been asking us to post up our song lyrics for the album, and I’m a bit hesitant to do this because I’d rather save everything for the album. Then again, the album sleeve will just have the words and not the story behind the song right?
The Process.
The general favourite from the album right now is “We Should Be Together”, and I love that song too. The selling point I guess is the fact that it’s a duet between Bani and I, even though we’re not in love (Wan might get jealous), plus the string quartet just makes people wanna cry. I’ve always wanted to write a song that has Bani and I singing an octave apart on the whole song and eventually progress into him doing a screamo thing while I just sing, and WSBT kinda started off as that, then I don’t know how but I think I got a little sappy (and a tad sleepy) and it suddenly started becoming a love song. That’s when I decided that this song needed an extra bit of oomph, so I got the amazing Bang Wenfu to arrange the string parts for us, and Artsylum String Quartet awesome-ly (is that even a term?) agreed to play for us.
We actually did a whole bunch of demo recordings at Alvin’s place before we even did the concert at the Esplanade, and if you listen to the version we recorded it sounds kinda different.
*click here to listen to demo version*
Firstly cause it’s just 2 of me singing the parts (this was when Bani was still learning the song), secondly it’s a whole key down. I was supposed to sing all the higher parts and Bani the lower parts, but because our vocal ranges were rather weird at certain parts of the songs, we decided to swap around here and there. That led to the YouTube video of us in the jamming studio singing WSBT, we spent a good 90mins trying to rearrange the song. I think it was the only song that made all four of us really sit down, tear it apart and put it back together, I think that’s why I love it even more. And I’m sure Alvin wishes he had his camera on him when we rehearsed it for the first time with Artsylum, cause I started crying like an idiot when they joined in just before the first chorus.
The Meaning.
I guess this song applies to anyone in any type of situation where the love between two people is “forbidden” for whatever reason, and you can’t seem to get past it. My personal account of this song is quite a sensitive one, and I hope that I will not be judged for saying what I’m about to say. My boyfriend is the most amazing person I have ever been with, and I’ve never been happier. Yet, we may not be able to be together because he’s Muslim, I’m Christian. Trust me, I’ve been through this over and over in my head a million times – “what’re we going to do?” We’re all Singaporean (well mostly), so I don’t really need to go into details about why this is an issue. I’ve even had someone send me a Facebook message asking for advice because she’s in the same situation, and I didn’t really reply not cause I was trying to be rude, but I really had no idea what to tell her. So basically, WSBT is my outlet to say that even though we’re having our own personal struggles with this, everyone else’s opinions don’t really help and we shouldn’t let them get to us. At the end of the day, Athif and I have an amazing connection going on between us, and it just really sucks that something like religion is standing between us. What is even worse is that religion is very important for the both of us, so in the words of Russel Peters, “WE GOT STUCK.”
I know the lyrics are cheesy, but I’m cheesy (HAHA), and they’re supposed to be like a conversation between Bani and I. Some people get confused by the lead in to the chorus, cause they think that “but if everyone says hold on we should be together” is a whole phrase, but it’s not. It’s like I’m saying “but if everyone says…” and I get cut off with “hold on, we should be together”. It’s just my way of playing with phrasing and confusing people so that the meaning isn’t so in-your-face clear cut.
Well, hope all that makes you understand the song a little better and hear it with different ears the next time you play it on your computer.
“WE SHOULD BE TOGETHER” by 53A.
I don’t ever want to let you go
I don’t ever want you hurt
I don’t ever want another guy
Baby don’t even try
Maybe if I stay
Why would you wanna leave
Will we ever agree?
Will we ever agree.
But if everyone says
Hold on we should be together
If that’s wrong I don’t wanna be right
If you love me then stay on
Just tell me to be strong
Cause no one else
Will understand
Why I have a smile when you’re around
Y’know it’s hard to see that
Lately I have been in a daze
Baby everything stays
Maybe if I stay
Why would you wanna leave
Will we ever agree?
Will we ever agree.
But if everyone says
Hold on we should be together
If that’s wrong I don’t wanna be right
If you love me then stay on
Just tell me to be strong
Cause no one else
Will understand
That we’re in love
That we’re in love.
peace.
saleeloo.
SETTLE THE KETTLE 