한 인터뷰에 따르면 그는 이런 사람이라 한다. 자신의 음악과 스타일을 어떻게 설명하겠느냐 물으면 미소를 띄우며 이렇게 대답하는 유형이라고. “이해가 잘 안된다면 그냥 듣고 즐기는 편이 좋아요.” 이는 정규 앨범의 뚜껑이 열리기 이전, 2010년 5월 공개했던 EP의 제목([It's Better If You Don't Understand])이자 수록곡 ‘The Other Side’의 가사이기도 한데, 이 짧은 대답에는 확실한 명분이 있다. 그는 자신의 음악을 구체적으로 설명하는 것보다, 가사를 쓰고 곡을 만들고 노래하고 무대에 서면서 보내는 시간이 훨씬 더 긴 사람이기 때문이다.
성장: 하와이의 리틀 엘비스
본명 Peter Gene Hernandez, 활동명 브루노는 아버지가 지어준 별명이다. 1985년 하와이의 호놀룰루에서 태어났다. 브루클린 출신의 퍼커셔니스트인 아버지는 필리핀에서 하와이로 이주한 댄서와 무대에서 만나 결혼했고, 이후 평생 무대에서 살면서 항상 가족에게 음악적인 영감을 선사했다. 프로필에 따르면 브루노의 삼촌은 기타에 능하고 그의 형은 수준급 드러머라 한다. 재능으로 또 업으로 그렇게 무대이력을 쌓아온 가족으로부터 일찍 음악에 눈을 뜬 그는 곧 무대의 중앙에 서게 된다. 와이키키 해변의 한 공연장에서 꼬꼬마 시절의 그는 엘비스 프레슬리의 노래를 불렀고, 이는 곧 지역언론의 화두가 되어 몇몇 타블로이드를 통해 ‘리틀 엘비스’로 소개됐다.
그의 엘비스는 아버지의 수집품목으로부터 나왔다. 엘비스의 전성기 그리고 당대의 흑인음악들은 아버지의 정신적 자산이었고, 그의 아버지는 동시대를 살면서 당시의 노래와 노래에 깃든 이야기를 아이에게 설명하고 묘사할 수 있었던 가장 가깝고 영향력있는 선배였다. 음반과 TV와 각종 영상물을 접하면서, 엘비스로 시작해 프린스와 폴리스와 마이클 잭슨을 발견하게 되었던 자신의 어린 시절을 브루노는 이렇게 설명한다. “무대에서 노래하는 그들은 영웅 같은 존재였다. 그리고 그 이상으로 흥미로웠던 것은 관중의 열광적인 반응이다. 어린날의 나는 객석의 여성을 녹여버리는 그들의 퍼포먼스를 공부하는 일을 즐겼다.”
작곡가: LA의 히트메이커
집에서 가족과 함께 20세기 팝의 아이콘을 순회하면서, 그리고 무대에서 가족과 함께 살아있는 음악을 경험하면서 성장한 그는 슬슬 좋아하고 열광했던 음악들과 작별한다. ‘자신의 음악’을 구상하는 단계가 되었다는 이야기로, 열일곱 고교졸업 시즌 꿈을 찾기로 결심한 후 자라왔던 섬을 떠나 LA로 이동한다. 도시는 고향과 완전히 다른 환경이었다. 하와이의 무대는 그가 ‘부르는’ 노래를 높이 샀지만, 회사와 스튜디오의 관계자들이 눈여겨본 것은 그가 ‘만드는’ 노래였기 때문이다. 솔로 커리어를 쌓기 위해 그는 도시를 찾았지만, 그는 ‘가수’가 아닌 ‘스태프’로 먼저 계약하게 된다. 어쩌면 자존심 상하는 일일 수도 있는데, 결과적으로 매우 긍정적이고 발전적인 이력이 되었다고 그는 술회한다. 그가 완성한 엄청난 히트곡, 그리고 히트에 따른 그와 관계자들의 후일담이 잘 말해준다.
몇 년 지나지 않은 과거를 그는 이렇게 회상한다. “처음 아틀란틱 레코드와 계약할 때 나는 무척 어렸다. 내가 무엇을 하고 싶어하는지도 잘 모를 때였다는 얘기다. 후방에서 만드는 사람으로 일단 데뷔했는데, 이는 산업에 점진적으로 발을 들인다는 뜻이기도 했고 내가 어떤 존재이고 무엇을 할 수 있는지를 천천히 살필 수 있는 기회이기도 했다.” 그만큼 출중한 두 명의 동료(Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine)를 엮어 송라이팅 그룹이자 프로듀싱 그룹 스미징톤스(The Smeezingtons)의 골격을 완성한 스튜디오의 관계자 또한 동의하는 이야기다. “그의 최종목표는 솔로 데뷔였지만 다른 아티스트에게 곡을 쓸 준비가 이미 되어 있는 친구였다. 가수라는 꿈과 그 이전의 작곡이라는 준비가 그를 더 발전적인 싱어 송라이터로 만들어주었다.”
그렇게 작곡가로 뛰는 동안 그, 그리고 그의 프로듀싱 팀 스미징톤스는 엄청난 히트메이커로 급부상했다. 케샤가 피처로 참여한 플로 라이다의 ‘Right Round’를 시작으로, 국내에서는 2PM 출신 박재범의 버전으로도 크게 회자된 B.o.B.의 ‘Nothin’ On You’, 트래비 맥코이의 ‘Billionaire’, 씨로의 ‘Fuck You’ 등 빌보드의 정점을 우습게 알았던 이 최신 히트곡들이 모두 그들 작업의 소산이다. 가끔 우리는 노래하는 사람 이상으로 작곡하는 사람, 편곡하는 사람, 그렇게 총체적으로 곡을 완성하는 프로듀서에게 눈길을 주는 순간을 만난다. 브루노는 언제부턴가 그 관심의 중앙에 있었다. 게다가 그는 만들면서 부르는 사람이기도 했다. 어디서든 노래할 수 있는 사람이자 이미 노래를 인정받은 사람이기도 했다.
솔로: 차트의 지배자
세상이 그의 솔로 활동을 기대했다면, 송라이팅 이상으로 두드러지는 그의 ‘꿀성대’ 때문이었을 것이다. B.o.B.의 ‘Nothin’ On You’, 그리고 트래비 맥코이의 ‘Billionaire’는 랩보다 인상적인 주요 멜로디 덕에 크게 흥했던 노래들이고, 그 주요 멜로디를 맡은 자는 곡을 만든 브루노 마스다. 한 평자가 “제이슨 므라즈에서부터 마이클 잭슨까지 다 해치운다”고 평판했던 목소리, 팝에 가까우면서도 소울의 무게를 동반하는 믿음직한 목소리, 더없이 화사하고 긍정적인 선율을 전달하지만 어딘가 슬픔과 어둠을 숨긴 목소리는 그가 말하는 작곡의 원칙과도 연관이 있을지 모른다. “곡을 만든다는 건 결국 자신을 드러내는 일이다. 곡을 쓴다는 것은 내가 굳게 믿고 있던 내면의 이야기들을 끌어내는 일이고, 이는 눈속임이 있을 리 없는 일이며 따라서 내가 품어왔던 거대한 진실을 말하는 일이다. 그리고 노래한다는 것은 그 진솔한 작곡의 과정을 털어놓는 일이다.”
그 진솔한 이야기는 이미 앨범 제목에 명시되어 있다. 지난해 10월 출반해 빌보드 앨범차트 3위로 데뷔한 솔로 앨범 [Doo-Wops & Hooligans]의 이야기로, ‘두왑’은 자신이 여성을 바라보듯 사랑했고 지금까지도 흠모하는 과거의 장르이고 ‘훌리건’은 오늘의 또래 남자들과 소통할 만한 관심사라고 그는 설명한다. 앨범의 노래 배열도 ‘두왑’과 ‘훌리건’이 교차한다. 낭만과 열정이 안배된 대표곡 ‘Grenade’와 ‘Just the Way You Are’의 한편에는 ‘Runaway Baby’를 비롯해 다미언 말리가 참여한 ‘Liquor Store Blues’, 그리고 씨로와 B.o.B.를 동반한 ‘The Other Side’ 같은 힘과 열정과 유대의 노래가 있다. 데뷔 이전 여러 가수 및 여러 작곡가 동료들과 여러 작품을 구상하면서 얻게 된 다채로운 감각과 표현이 마침내 앨범에서 제대로 터진 셈이다. 그는 어느 순간 원하는 모든 것을 만들 수 있고 소화할 수 있는 괴물이 되었다.
경험을 통해 원했고 또 실현이 가능했던 모든 스타일을 그는 모조리 토해냈고, 결과는 승리로 돌아왔다. 그는 한때 조금 먼 자리에서 1위를 관전했던 인물이다. 작곡에 참여했던 플로 라이다의 ‘Right Round’, 그리고 작곡가이자 보컬리스트로 관여했던 B.o.B.의 ‘Nothin’ On You’가 거둔 빌보드 넘버원 기록의 이야기로, 이는 곧 자신의 성과로 돌변했다. 일단 그의 첫 솔로 앨범은 3위로 순조롭게 데뷔했다. 첫싱글 ‘Just the Way You Are’는 4주간 1위를 기록했다. 사실 그보다 먼저 공개했던, 그리고 ‘Just the Way You Are’의 호응에 따라 다시 터뜨린 두번째 싱글 ‘Generade’ 역시 1위로 등극했다. 남자 솔로 가수가 앨범으로 데뷔하자 마자 이렇게 연속으로 싱글 두개를 빵빵 터뜨린 경우는 13년만에 처음이라 한다. 영국에서도 사정은 다르지 않았다. 지난 10월 ‘Just the Way You Are’가 UK 차트 1위를 차지했고, 1월 17일 ‘Grenade’가 이어 1위를 찍었다. 그는 한때 스태프나 참여자로 모든 것을 이룬 인물이었지만, 이제는 온전히 자신의 노래로 영미권의 차트를 제압하는 무시무시한 독립체가 된 것이다.
여담으로 영국에서 쏟아진 호응은 꽤 흥미로운 구석이 있다. 브루노 마스의 데뷔 앨범 [Doo-Wops & Hooligans]는 아직 영국에서 뚜껑을 열지 않은 작품이기 때문이다. 즉 지난 10월 미국에서만 발매된 앨범이고, 국내에서 이제야 라이선스를 결정한 것처럼 영국을 비롯한 세계 각지에서도 비슷한 시기에 풀기로 계획된 앨범이다. 여기엔 상업적인 계산이 따른다. 한 내부자의 이야기에 따르면, 그는 작곡가이자 피처 시절부터 성공의 싹이 보인 인물이고, 당연히 솔로활동에 대한 확실한 수요가 따를 만한 가수이며, 그리하여 활동의 롱런을 예상해볼 수 있는 블루칩이다. 2010년 가을 미국에서 우선 앨범을 공개하는 것으로 기반을 잡은 후, 이듬해 한해동안 세계 각국으로 그의 노래를 확산할 장기적인 플랜을 가지고, 그의 레이블이 앨범의 세계 발매 시기를 2011년으로 굳힌 것이다. .... ....
beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby they might say hi and i might say hey but you shouldn't worry about what they say cos they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby i know you feel where i'm coming from regardless of the things in my past that i've done most of it really was for the hell of the fun on the carousel so around i spun with no directions just tryna get some tryna chase skirts living in the summer sun this is how i lost more than i had ever won and honestly i ended up with none there's no much nonsense it's on my conscience i'm thinking baby i should get it out and i don't wanna sound redundant but i was wondering if there was something that you wanna know but never mind that we should let it go cos we don't wanna be a tv episode and all the bad thoughts just let them go beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby they might say hi and i might say hey but you shouldn't worry about what they say cos they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby hands down there will never be another one i been around and i never seen another one look at your style they ain't really got nothing on and you out and you ain't got nothing on baby you the whole package plus you pay your taxes and you keep it real while them other stay plastic you're my wonder women call me mr fantastic stop now think about it i've been to london i've been to paris even went out there to tokyo back home down in georgia to new orleans but you always steal the show and just like that girl you got me froze like a nintendo 64 if you never knew well now you know beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby they might say hi and i might say hey but you shouldn't worry about what they say cos they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby everywhere i go i'm always hearing your name and no matter where i'm at girl you make me wanna sing whether a bus or a plane or a car or a train no other girls on my brain and you the one to blame beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby they might say hi and i might say hey but you shouldn't worry about what they say cos they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby yeah and that's just how we do it and i'ma let this ride B O B and bruno mars
beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby they might say hi and i might say hey but you shouldn't worry about what they say cos they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby i know you feel where i'm coming from regardless of the things in my past that i've done most of it really was for the hell of the fun on the carousel so around i spun spun with no directions just tryna get some some tryna chase skirts living in the summer sun sun this is how i lost more than i had ever won and honestly i ended up with none there's no much nonsense it's on my conscience i'm thinking baby i should get it out and i don't wanna sound redundant but i was wondering if there was something that you wanna know that you wanna know but never mind that we should let it go we should let it go cos we don't wanna be a tv episode tv episode and all the bad thoughts just let them go go go go go beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on you baby they might say hi and i might say hey but you shouldn't worry about what they say cos they got nothing on you baby not nothing on you baby hands down there will never be another one i been around and i never seen another one look at your style they ain't really got nothing on and you out and you ain't got nothing on baby you the whole package plus you pay your taxes and you keep it real while them other stay plastic you're my wonder women call me mr fantastic stop now think about it i've been to london i've been to paris even went out there to tokyo back home down in georgia to new orleans but you always steal the show steal the show and just like that girl you got me froze got me froze like a nintendo 64 64 if you never knew well now you know know know know know beautiful girls all over the world i could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby nothing on yo
Oh her eyes, her eyes Make the stars look like they're not shining Her hair, her hair Falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful And I tell her every day
Yeah I know, I know When I compliment her She wont believe me And its so, its so Sad to think she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look okay I say
When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for awhile Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are
Her nails, her nails I could kiss them all day if she'd let me Her laugh, her laugh She hates but I think its so sexy
She's so beautiful And I tell her every day
Oh you know, you know, you know Id never ask you to change If perfect is what you're searching for Then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking If you look okay You know I say
When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for awhile Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are
The way you are The way you are Girl you're amazing Just the way you are
When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for awhile Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are
Easy come Easy go That's just how you live oh Take take take it all But you never give Should have known You was trouble From the first kiss Had your eyes wide open Why were they open Gave you all I had And you tossed it in the trash Tossed it in the trash you did To give me all your love Is all I ever asked Cause what you don't understand is I'd catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya I'd jump in front of a train for ya You know I'd do anything for ya Oh oh I would go through all this pain Take a bullet straight through my brain Yes I would die for ya baby But you won't do the same No no no no Black black black and blue Beat me till I'm numb Tell the devil I said hey when you get back to where you're from Mad woman bad woman That's just what you are yeah You'll smile in my face then Rip the breaks out my car Gave you all I had And you tossed it in the trash You tossed it in the trash yes you did To give me all your love Is all I ever asked Cause what you don't understand is I'd catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya I'd jump in front of a train for ya You know I'd do anything for ya Oh oh I would go through all this pain Take a bullet straight through my brain Yes I would die for ya baby But you won't do the same If my body was on fire ooh You'd watch me burn down in flames You said you loved me you're a liar Cause you never ever ever did baby
But daring I'll still catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya I'd jump in front of a train for ya You know I'd do anything for ya Oh oh I would go through all this pain Take a bullet straight through my brain Yes I would die for ya baby But you won't do the same No you won't do the same You wouldn't do the same Ooh you'll never do the same No no no no
Easy come, easy go, that's just how you live Oh, take, take, take it all but you never give Should've known you was trouble from the first kiss Had your eyes wide open, why were they open?
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash You tossed it in the trash, you did To give me all your love is all I ever asked 'Cause what you don't understand is
I'd catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya I'd jump in front of a train for ya You know I'd do anything for ya
I would go through all this pain Take a bullet straight through my brain Yes, I would die for you, baby But you won't do the same No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue, beat me 'til I'm numb Tell the devil I said, hey, when you get back to where you're from Mad woman, bad woman, that's just what you are, yeah You'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash You tossed it in the trash, yes, you did To give me all your love is all I ever asked 'Cause what you don't understand is
Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing, just the way you are And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are(yeah)
Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same So, don't even bother asking if you look ok You know I'll say
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing, just the way you are And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are The way you are, the way you are Girl you're amazing, just the way you are
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing, just the way you are And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while Cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are. Yeah
{Verse 1} Girl here we are (here we are), in this big old empty room Staring at each other, who's gonna make the first move? Been doing our thing for a minute, and now both our hearts are in it The only place to go is all the way
{Chorus} Is that alright? Is that okay? There's no need to be nervous, no babe 'Cause I got you all night, don't you worry about a thing babe Just go with it, go with it, go with it And I will go real slow with it, slow with it It's our first time Go with it, go with it, go with it And I will go real slow with it, slow with it It's my first time with you
{Verse 2} Baby, and I wanna make it right for you, (it's our first time) Clothes are not required, for what we got planned Ooh, girl your my desire, your wish is my command Treat you like a princess, ooh girl your so delicious Like ice cream on a summer day, gonna eat you before you melt away, yeah
{Chorus} Is that alright? Is that okay? There's no need to be nervous, no baby 'Cause I got you all night (all night baby), don't you worry girl Just go with it, go with it, go with it Then I'll go real slow with it, slow with it It's our first time Go with it, go with it, go with it Then I'll go real slow with it, slow with it It's my first time with you
{Verse 3} We can go slow (we can go slow), we can go fast (we can go fast) All you gotta do is ask me girl, ask me girl The candles are burnin', our bodies are yearnin' I can't wait tonight, I'm so ready babe I'm so ready baby
{Chorus} Just go with it, go with it, go with it And I will go real slow with it, slow with it It's our first time Go with it, go with it, go with it And I will go real slow with it, slow with it It's my first time with you
Baby, and I wanna make it right for you It's our first time
Ahh yes Well looky here looky here Ah what do we have Another pretty thang ready for me to grab But little does she know That I'm a wolf in sheeps clothing 'Cause at the end of the night It is her I'll be holding I love you so That's what you'll say You'll tell me Baby baby please don't go away But when I play I never stay To every girl that I meet here this is what I say Run run run away run away baby Before I put my spell on you You better get get get away get away darling 'Cause everything you heard is true Your poor little heart will end up alone 'Cause lord knows I'm a rolling stone So you better run run run away run away baby Ahh yes Well let me think let me think Ah what should I do So many eager young bunny's That I'd like to pursue Now even now they eating out the palm of my hand There's only one carrot and they all gotta share it I love you so That's what you'll say You'll tell me Baby baby please don't go away But when I play I never stay To every girl that I meet here this is what I say Run run run away run away baby Before I put my spell on you You better get get get away get away darling 'Cause everything you heard is true Your poor little heart will end up alone 'Cause lord knows I'm a rolling stone So you better run run run away run away baby See I ain't try to hurt you baby No no no I just wanna work you baby Yup yup See I ain't try to hurt you baby No no no I just wanna work you baby If you scared you better run You better run You better run You better run You better run You better run You better you better you better Run run run away run away baby Before I put my spell on you You better get get get away get away darling 'Cause everything you heard is true Your poor little heart will end up alone 'Cause lord knows I'm a rolling stone So you better run run run away run away baby
Today I don't feel like doing anything I just wanna lay in my bed Don't feel like picking up my phone So leave a message at the tone 'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything
I'm gonna kick my feet up Then stare at the fan Turn the TV on, throw my hand down my pants Nobody's gonna tell me I can't
I'll be lying on the couch, Just chillin' in my snuggie Click to MTV, so they can teach me how to dougie 'Cause in my castle I'm the freaking man Oh, oh
Yes I said it I said it I said it 'cause I can
Today I don’t feel like doing anything I just wanna lay in my bed Don’t feel like picking up my phone So leave a message at the tone 'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything Nothing at all
Tomorrow I'll wake up, do some P90X Meet a really nice girl, have some really nice sex She's gonna scream out: 'This is Great' [Hear me out: this is great] Yeah
I might mess around, get my college degree I bet my old man will be so proud of me But sorry paps, you'll just have to wait Oh, oh
Yes I said it I said it I said it 'cause I can
Today I don’t feel like doing anything I just wanna lay in my bed Don’t feel like picking up my phone So leave a message at the tone 'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything
No, I ain't gonna comb my hair 'Cause I ain't going anywhere No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, oh
I'll just strut in my birthday suit And let everything hang loose Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eah
Oh Today I don’t feel like doing anything I just wanna lay in my bed Don’t feel like picking up my phone So leave a message at the tone 'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything
It’s a beautiful night, We’re looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Is it the look in your eyes, Or is it this dancing juice? Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go, No one will know, Come on girl. Who cares if we’re trashed got a pocket full of cash we can blow, Shots of patron, And it’s on girl.
Don’t say no, no, no, no-no; Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah; And we’ll go, go, go, go-go. If you’re ready, like I’m ready.
Cause it’s a beautiful night, We’re looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Is it the look in your eyes, Or is it this dancing juice? Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you.
I’ll go get a ring let the choir bells sing like oooh, So whatcha wanna do? Let’s just run girl. If we wake up and you wanna break up that’s cool. No, I won’t blame you; It was fun girl.
Don’t say no, no, no, no-no; Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah; And we’ll go, go, go, go-go. If you’re ready, like I’m ready.
Cause it’s a beautiful night, We’re looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Is it the look in your eyes, Or is it this dancing juice? Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Just say I do, Tell me right now baby, Tell me right now baby, baby.
Cause it’s a beautiful night, We’re looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Is it the look in your eyes, Or is it this dancing juice? Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you.
I know you're somewhere out there Somewhere far away I want you back I want you back My neighbors think I'm crazy But they don't understand You're all I have You're all I have
Chorus: At night when the stars light up my room I sit by myself
Talking to the Moon Try to get to You In hopes you're on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool who sits alone Talking to the moon
I'm feeling like I'm famous The talk of the town They say I've gone mad Yeah I've gone mad But they don't know what I know
Cause when the sun goes down someone's talking back Yeah They're talking back
Chorus: At night when the stars light up my room I sit by myself Talking to the Moon Try to get to You In hopes you're on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool who sits alone Talking to the moon
Ahh Ahh, Ahh Ahh,
Do you ever hear me calling? Cause every night I'm talking to the moon Still trying to get to you
In hopes you're on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool who sits alone Talking to the moon
I know you're somewhere out there Somewhere far away
Standing at this liquor store, whiskey coming through my pores Feeling like I run this whole block Lotto tickets, cheap beer, that's why you can catch me here Tryin' to scratch my way to the top 'Cause my job's got me going nowhere So I ain't got a thing to lose Take me to a place where I don't care This is me and my liquor store blues I'll take one shot for my pain One drag for my sorrow Get messed up today I'll be okay tomorrow One shot for my pain One drag for my sorrow Get messed up today I'll be okay tomorrow Me and my guitar tonight singing to the city lights Tryin' to leave with more than what I got 'Cause 68 cent just ain't gonna pay the rent So I'll be out until they call the cops 'Cause my job's got me goin' nowhere So I ain't got a thing to lose Take me to a place where I don't care This is me and my liquor store blues I'll take one shot for my pain One drag for my sorrow Get messed up today I'll be okay tomorrow One shot for my pain One drag for my sorrow Get messed up today I'll be okay tomorrow Here comes Junior Gong, I'm flying high like superman And thinking that I run the whole block I don't if it's just because pineapple kush between my jaws Has got me feeling like I'm on top Feeling like I woulda stand up to the cops And stand up to the big guys, because de whole lot a dem saps All de talk dem a talk and dem fly make no drop Nuff ghetto youth cannot escape the trap Give me this one shot for my pain One drag for my sorrow Get messed up today I'll be okay tomorrow One shot for my pain One drag for my sorrow Get messed up today I'll be okay tomorrow
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea I'll sail the world to find you If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see I'll be the light to guide you
Find out what we're made of What we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three I'll be there and I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh
If you toss and you turn and you just can't fall asleep I'll sing a song beside you And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me Everyday I will remind you
Find out what we're made of What we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three I'll be there and I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah
You'll always have my shoulder when you cry I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You can count on me like one, two, three I'll be there and I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh
Truth of the matter is I'm complicated You're as straight as they come You go 'bout your day baby While I hide from the sun It's better if you don't understand Cause you wont know what it's like Til you try You know I've been waiting on the other side And you, all you gotta do is cross the line I could wait a whole life time But you just gotta decide You know I I've been waiting on the other, waiting on the other side We would live forever Who could ask for more You could die if you wanted But baby what for It's better if you don't understand And you won't know what it's like Til you try Chorus If they say life's a dream Call this insomnia Cause this ain't Wonderland It damn sure ain't Narnia And once you cross the line You can't change your mind Yeah I'm a monster But I'm no Frankenstein And quite frankly I've been feeling insane in between my eyes I really can't explain what I feel inside If you knew what I was you's would run and hide Many have tried to go into the night Cross over the line and come back alive But that's the price we pay when we living on the other side Chorus It's better if you don't understand It's better if you don't understand It's better if you don't understand It's better if you don't understand It's better if you don't understand It's better if you don't understand
(Chorus) she was covered in leather and gold, 21 years old i lost her in the cold it's unfair, she's out there somewhere, somewhere, somewhere in Brooklyn she's somewhere, somewhere, somewhere in Brooklyn
(Verse 1) little miss perfect sitting at the train stop red nike high tops listening to hip-hop while we were waiting started conversating before i got her name along came a train
...next stop Brooklyn
now i'm lookin'
(Chorus) she was covered in leather and gold, 21 years old i lost her in the cold it's unfair, she's out there somewhere, somewhere, somewhere in Brooklyn she's somewhere, somewhere, somewhere in Brooklyn
(Verse 2) on the street kickin' rocks circling the same block green farm flatbush checking every corner shop tappin' people's shoulders askin if they know her everyday's the same back to the train
...next stop Brooklyn
...I'm still lookin
(Chorus) she was covered in leather and gold, 21 years old i lost her in the cold it's unfair, she's out there somewhere, somewhere, somewhere in Brooklyn she's somewhere, somewhere, somewhere in Brooklyn
Ohhh Ohh Oh Oh Ohhh i wonder will we ever meet again Ohhh Ohh Oh Oh Ohhh i wonder will we ever meet again yeahh...i wonder if we'll ever meet again i hope we do somewhere in Brooklyn
I know you're somewhere out there, Somewhere far away I want you back I want you back. My neighbors think I'm crazy, But they don't understand You're all I had You're all I had. At night when the stars light up my room, I sit by myself, Talking to the moon Tryin' to get to you In hopes you're on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool? Who sits alone Talking to the moon I'm feeling like I'm famous, The talk of the town. They say I've gone mad. Yeah, I've gone mad. But they don't know what I know, 'Cause when the sun goes down Someone's talking back. Yeah, they're talking back. At night when the stars light up my room, I sit by myself, Talking to the moon Tryin' to get to you In hopes you're on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool? Who sits alone Talking to the moon Do you ever hear me calling? 'Cause every night, I'm talkin' to the moon Still tryin' to get to you In hopes you're on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool? Who sits alone Talking to the moon I know you're somewhere out there, Somewhere far away...
[Bruno Mars:] This one's for you and me, living out our dreams We're all right where we should be Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes And now all I wanna see Is a sky full of lighters A sky full of lighters
[Eminem:] By the time you hear this I will have already spiralled up I would never do nothing to let you cowards fuck my world up If I was you, I would duck, or get struck like lightening, Fighters keep fighting, put your lighters up, point em' skyward uh Had a dream I was king, I woke up, still king... This rap game's nipple is mine for the milking, Till nobody else even fucking feels me, till' it kills me I swear to god I'll be the fucking illest in this music There is or there ever will be, disagree? Feel free, but from now on I'm refusing to ever give up The only thing I ever gave up is using. No more excuses. Excuse me if my head is too big for this building And pardon me if I'm a cocky prick but you cocks are slick Poppin shit on how you flipped ya life around, crock-of-shit Who you dicks try to kid, flipped dick, you did the opposite You stayed the same, cause cock backwards is still cock you pricks I love it when I tell em shove it Cause it wasn't that long ago when Marshall sat, luster lacked, lustered Cause he couldn't cut mustard, muster up nothing Brain fuzzy, cause he's buzzin', woke up from that buzz Now you wonder why he does it, how he does it Wasn't cause he had buzzards circle around his head Waiting for him to drop dead, was it? Or was it, cause them bitches wrote him off Little hussy ass fusses, cause fuck it, guess it doesn't matter now, does it What difference it make? What it take to get it through your thick skulls As if this ain't some bullshit People don't usually come back this way From a place that was dark as I was in Just to get to this place Now let these words be like a switch blade to a haters rib cage And let it be known from this day forward I wanna just say thanks cause your hate is what gave me the strength So let em bic's raise cause I came with 5'9′ but I feel like I'm 6'8″
[Bruno Mars:] This one's for you and me, living out our dreams We're all right where we should be Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes And now all I wanna see to moonn6pence from papayeverte Is a sky full of lighters A sky full of lighters
[Royce Da 5'9":] By the time you hear this I'll probably already be outtie I advance like going from toting iron to going and buying 4 or 5 of the homies the iron man Audi My daddy told me slow down, boy, you goin to blow it And I ain't gotta stop the beat a minute To tell Shady I love him the same way that he did Dr Dre on the Chronic Tell him how real he is or how high I am Or how I would kill for him for him to know it I cried plenty tears, my daddy got a bad back So it's only right that I right till he can march right into that post office and tell em to hang it up Now his career's Lebron's jersey in 20 years I'll stop when I'm at the very top You shitted on me on your way up It's 'bout to be a scary drop Cause what goes up must come down You going down on something you don't wanna see like a hairy box Every hour, happy hour now Life is wacky now Used to have to eat the cat to get the pussy Now I'm just the cats meoww, ow Classic now, always down for the catch weight like Pacquiao Ya'll are doomed I remember when T-Pain ain't wanna work with me My car starts itself, parks itself and autotunes Cause now I'm in the Aston I went from having my city locked up To getting treated like Kwame Kilpatrick And now I'm fantastic Compared to a weed high And y'all niggas just gossipin' like bitches on a radio and TV See me, we fly Y'all buggin out like Wendy Williams staring at a bee-hive And how real is that I remember signing my first deal and now I'm the second best I can deal with that Now Bruno can show his ass, without the MTV awards gag
[Bruno Mars:] You and I know what it's like to be kicked down Forced to fight But tonight we're alright So hold up your light Let it shine Cause this one's for you and me, living out our dreams We're all right where we should be Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes And now all I wanna see Is a sky full of lighters A sky full of lighters
.... 
