http://symphonysoldier.com/

just as i promised… here is a blog answering some of your...

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:23:44 -0400

just as i promised…

here is a blog answering some of your questions and concerns about our upcoming album “symphony soldiers.” hope this helps!!!

ohhheyjeslyn- “when writing, did you intend on this album being so different from Whisper War or was it something you noticed overtime?”

the worst thing a band can do to themselves is write the same album twice. it’s like trying to jump while your shoes are glued to the ground. you don’t want to put limitations on your artistry and your musical character. obviously, if you stray too far from your previous/original sounds you can isolate yourself from your fans, which is a very scary thing. however, i believe it IS possible to grow and mature while maintaining the same musical qualities and signature sounds that lured your listeners from the beginning. while writing this album, we didn’t think much about Whisper War. we were focused on getting all of our ideas out and staying true to ourselves as instrumentalists and artists. we know that as long as we stay true to who we are, there will always be the same pop/rock/r&b tastes as there was in Whisper War. as the writing process progressed we started realizing that the less we thought about what we were doing, the better the songs turned out. music should be extremely natural. the best advice i have received about this career was from john mayer. he told me that as long as you put out a piece of work that truly is YOURS and a piece of you, people will follow. it doesn’t matter how poppy or mainstream it is as long as it’s you. if you release a pop record because that is who you are…it’s going to have a better chance of being well received than if you released a pop record to stay “relevant” or to make a dime or two. if the music is forced it will consequently be a bit more transparent and will contain less substance. fans are smart and can see right through the bullshit, so make sure you give them something real… that way, you are giving them the best opportunity to love, appreciate, and hopefully understand it.

TracyZurbrick- “you guys are taking forever! y’all aren’t gonna pull a panic! and split after this album are you?”

i know it is taking a long time. but no we are not breaking up. no, nothing is wrong. it is taking much longer than we wanted and expected it to, but i promise it will be worth it. i would be lying if i said i haven’t been discouraged and scared the past few months about the record and when we were planning on releasing it. it’s been a few years and our fans have been ready for new material from us for a long time. there was a point where we thought we were finished with the record, but after many listens and discussions, we decided that you guys deserved one last hard push from us and we’ve been writing a few more songs. we want to make sure that every album we put out is a piece of us. we refuse to half ass anything or to rush anything because of our own impatience or excitement. our songs deserve more than that and so do our fans. i know the release date has been pushed back a few times and it has broken a few hearts, but just know we are doing everything in our power to bring you the best and most powerful music possible. not only do we want to give you something great, fun, and catchy..but we want to give you something real and something that will stand the test of time. this music is our life. not to get too morbid or sad with you guys, but these songs are a part of our legacy. when we pass away these songs will still exist as pieces of us that will still live and breathe the way we used to. just want to give you the product that you deserve. it also has to do with the label and the timing of their other releases and all of the post production processes. all of that is out of our control. luckily we have a great label who is going to deliver our work to you in the best and quickest way possible.

loco94- “what is the most personal song on the album for you, and what is it about??? :)”

out of all of the songs we have been writing for this record, i would say that “crown” is probably the most personal. the situation it was written about was very personal and hit me really hard. someone that was very close to me was going through a very hard time, and felt alone and all of their insecurities were like knives being pushed deeper inside of them everyday. they were the most beautiful and incredible person i knew. this song was my letter to them telling them that when they think they have absolutely nothing left…when they feel like they are a nobody…like no one listens or cares…to wear love like a crown. that you can live and feel like a king or queen if you just can gather up enough love. love comes from all sorts of different places. from family, friends, from appreciation of the world around you, memories, etc. i also wanted them to know that no matter how hard things got, no matter how much they kicked, screamed, and pushed me away…i wasn’t going to go anywhere and that if they ever needed anything i would be around. here are a few of the lyrics.

- Hide quoted text -

“when you’re feeling lost and want to be found,

wear love like a crown.

when pieces of you fall to the ground,

wear love like a crown.

when you’ve got nothing left to hold,

you can call my arms your home sweet home

you’re amazing and i’ll shout it out.

so won’t you wear my love just like a crown.”

lglovex3- “what are you gonna do with the other 50 some songs that don’t make the record?”

that is an amazing question. i’m not one hundred percent sure to be honest. we literally have over 50 songs completed and i know that in reality, 90 percent of them will never see the light of day. maybe some day we will make a b-side record or something along those lines, but as of now there are no plans to release them. most of them are much too rough or different from the other cab stuff anyways, though i do love them very much.

iRawqk- “which song was the most difficult to write”

the songs that are always the hardest to write are the ones that bring back the most painful/amazig memories. most people would probably guess that the sad songs are the most hard to write, but in my experience the writing process for the more somber, upsetting songs is actually more therapeutic and actually can help you cope with what you went through and are currently feeling. it’s very difficult to write and/or record love songs about someone who you aren’t with anymore because writing takes you back and makes you feel all of those feelings again. you get a rush of emotions that maybe you haven’t experienced since you were with that person and the beautiful memories can make you realize how much you miss the way things were. it doesn’t always have to do with love either. even when you write songs about a specific point in time; possibly a mindset or train of thought, it can be hard to write because you have to look through the eyes of yourself at that moment in time when you might have felt differently about things and the world around you. it can definitely be a struggle.

AsToldByErika- “Since you’re still in the process of writing songs for the album, is there any chance you’ll write one feat. Mike Posner?”

we were talking about that the other day. mike has become one of our very good friends and we are both very big fans of each other’s music. hopefully there is a part in one of the songs that mike could be apart of. mike is a real hard worker though and is extremely busy so timing could always be an issue. we haven’t officially asked him but we’ve sat down and flirted with the idea a bit and i think it could be a great fit. i think one of our songs could really use the great texture and energy his voice brings to any track he is apart of.

clanlextine- “On Whisper War you portrayed different characters (“High Hopes”). Are any new sides/characters going to appear? What kind?”

of course! Since we don’t know what songs are making the record yet, I can’t tell you EXACTLY what sides you will be seeing but you can bet that you’ll see all sorts of sides and hear about so many different emotions. some songs are about hope, some are about being in love, some about being scared, some are extremely sexual, others are about battling the fear of growing up and losing sight of who you are. there will be a very wide spectrum of topics… i promise. i’ve been through a lot the past few years.

thecabademyis- “if you do think your voice/style of music has changed since whisper war how so?”

my voice has changed a lot. nothing too extreme, but i’m sure fans have noticed it too if you compare the way i sounded on say, the cobra tour in 2008, then the way i do now. almost every single person i show songs to or talk to tell me that there is a difference in my vocals on the new record. when we recorded whisper war i had only been singing for a few years. just like with anything and everything else in life, the more you practice the better you become. i feel like i sing with more confidence and poise now and i understand my voice and it’s capabilities better. i’ve toured and have gotten to work with some incredible singers and i have gotten tips and advice from the best. i know that i’ll never be half the singer that most of my friends are, but i am extremely grateful for the opportunity to get advice from them and to be able to say that i have shared the stage with some of the best in the game.

BriiGibbons- “Does letting people in general know your emotions through your songs ever scare you half to death?”

writing songs is a great way for me to vent and to let out what is going through my mind and heart. though i do include many of my emotions and feelings in my songs, i’ll never include them all. i’ve got to keep a few raw, untouched, and in the safe deep within my chest.

Kat07- “How many songs did you write for the album? How do you choose which ones make the cut?”

choosing songs is always one of the most difficult parts about putting out an album. you have to find a balance of what your favorites are, what the label and people around you believe in, and what you think your fans are going to enjoy. since we have over 50 songs, this is going to be one of the hardest and roughest parts about releasing this record.

jldx392- “why are you so scared of this album?”

i am afraid to let myself down, and most importantly you guys down. the boys and i are some of the biggest perfectionists you will ever meet and we tend to over think everything. creating an album is a scary thing. we’ve built such an incredible and supportive fan base off of whisper war and touring nonstop and we want to allow it to keep growing. as long as we keep building and going up, we’ll be okay… but the pressure at times can truly be unbearable.

cobrafan111- “in what way is the new music different from whisper war?”

when Whisper War was written we were all barely 18 years old. we were so excited to be recording an album in a real studio with a big producer and to be signed to a record label that i think we were a little less focused than we could have been. we were still figuring out who were as musicians..and to be honest, still figuring out who we were as people. this time around we know exactly what we want and what we have to do to achieve it. we were afraid of a lot while recording whisper war. we didn’t want to cross any lines or do anything too far out there. for our new album, Symphony Soldiers, we said to hell with boundaries, lines, and limits and did exactly what we wanted to. some songs may be a bit overly pop, and some songs might have guitars that are a bit too heavy for a band like us…but that’s what is great about it. it is US. it’s who we are. no rule books or guidelines. we wrote what we wanted to and had fun with it. it allowed the songs to come out really exciting and they all have really grown into their own characters. i love it. not one song on the record is the same as any other of the other ones. i’m sick of listening to bands put out records of the same song over and over again. a good band can do it all. they showcase all of their tastes, influences, and skills in different ways on every track…and that is exactly what we want to do. we just try to be a band who has class, who plays and performs at a high level, and shows a respect and appreciation to all fellow artists and music fans. we tend to act like chameleons and change and transform our playing depending on what song we are performing at the moment. not to sound too confident or to raise the bar too high for ourselves, but our goal has always been to be the best at pop, rock, r&b, and everything else we do. we always shoot for the moon, because even if we fall short we’ll still end up among stars.

i love you guys. thank you for the support and patience. it means the world to me and the rest of the guys in the band. i cannot put into words how excited i am for you guys to hear it all!!!

-alexander michael

lyric sneak peak “get out your guns, battle’s...

Sat, 29 May 2010 20:06:17 -0400

lyric sneak peak

“get out your guns, battle’s begun.

are you a saint or a sinner?

if love’s a fight, then i shall die,

with my heart on a trigger.

they say before you start a war,

you better know what you’re fighting for.

well baby, you are all that i adore.

if love is what you need, a soldier i will be.

i’m an angel with a shotgun,

i fight until the war’s won.

i don’t care if heaven won’t take me back.

i’ll throw away my faith, just to keep you safe.

don’t you know you’re everything i have?

i want to live, not just survive.

so i’m going to hide my wings tonight.

sometimes to win, you’ve got to sin.

don’t mean i’m not a believer.

even the bombs will sing slong,

when you march like a dreamer.

they say before you start a war,

you better know what you’re fighting for.

well baby, you are all that i adore.

if love is what you need, a soldier i will be.

i’m an angel with a shotgun,

i fight until the war’s won.

i don’t care if heaven won’t take me back.

i’ll throw away my faith,

just to keep you safe.

don’t you know you’re everything i have?

i want to live, not just survive.

so i’m going to hide my wings tonight.”

these are lyrics from a song off of our upcoming album. not sure if i’m allowed to post these yet…but i’m doing so anyway. i know it seems like it’s taking forever to come out…but i promise it will be worth it. we are so close to completing it. i’ve never put my heart into anything as much as i have with this album. enjoy.

-alexander

p.s. photo courtesy of bianca gordon (@symphoniclens)

roar. i’m going to let this post speak for...

Sat, 29 May 2010 19:47:22 -0400

roar.

i’m going to let this post speak for itself.

-alexander

p.s. photo courtesy of alex brown

dear chicago, just wanted to take another second to apologize...

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:24:43 -0400

dear chicago,

just wanted to take another second to apologize for not being able to come out to hang, sign, take pics etc. at the house of blues show on the AP tour. it’s been awhile since that show but it still eats away at me that i wasn’t able to show you guys how much i appreciated you guys coming and singing along. to be honest i almost didn’t even make it onstage. i got really bad food poisoning the night before in MN from the diner in the mighty ducks movies. i could barely stand up. please know that i care more than anything and i promise i will make it up to you on warped tour. i’ll be hanging around all day and i think it would be an amazing idea to go get funnel cakes together. i included a picture of me from our dressing room that night which was taken about an hour before we went on. i literally look dead. miss you guys. going to start blogging a lot again… i’ve got a lot to say and we have a lot of catching up to do.

-alexander

i hope that there is a kind place, in outer space, that can...

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:45:43 -0400

i hope that there is a kind place, in outer space, that can erase the pace of a frowning face, and less than love-filled days.

i dream that there is a well in hell, that accepts pennies and “wish me wells” for hopeful hearts that simply forgot to swell.

i pray that there is a star in the sky, that’s not just a line in a forgotten lullaby, that sheds more than light, and that isn’t just another night satellite.

i believe that there is a smile, that is worthwhile, that makes me crave a life of more than just survival, and that will bring falling in love back into style.

-alexander

when the jukebox is on, my heart, it beats slower. the violins...

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:33:33 -0400

when the jukebox is on,

my heart, it beats slower.

the violins sing songs,

of their love going sober.

as i look through the eyes,

of the ones that grow older,

i find strength in the voices

of those starry eyed soldiers.

-amd

feelin’ kinda blue. thanks to my friend kelly for this....

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:37:02 -0400

feelin’ kinda blue.

thanks to my friend kelly for this. made mine and my little brother’s week.

-amd

speechless.

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:42:42 -0500

a beautiful young lady named crystal kimberly just sent this to me. it really swept me off my feet. i thought the words were too precious to be seen and heard by only me. an amazing surprise to start my day. your words can touch and impact my life just as much as mine do for some of yours…if not more. words are not just a string of letters. they’re windows to the soul. thank you for reminding me of this.

“Sometimes our hearts hurt more than we reveal. Sometimes our smiles lack the feelings in which we conceal. Sometimes what we hide is who we are. And sometimes where we are suppose to be is not very far. But who we are is what we show. Because to the world that is what we bestow. It’s like rainy day. In the month of May. Unwanted, but expected. Vulnerable, but protected. We walk on the edge, in hopes of not falling. But if we do, we know it’s our calling. As laughter sweeps the lives of many. Tears embody the hearts of plenty. Fill our lives with hopes and joys. Dreaming of maintaining ones poise. We strive to be who we want to be. But it’s affected by that of which people see. Truth unfolds in the lies of some. While lies unfold from what some become. Whatever life brings. The heart should be what always sings. No more echoes from those around you. Time to learn from all you’ve been through. A love once loved. Or a hurt you forever have shoved. A lesson comes with each mistake. And a lesson comes with each accomplishment. Always be real, and never fake. And never hide behind a wall of cement. Those who hide. Are unable to confide. Those who hide. Are hurting inside. Breathe in each moment, and in each moment take a breath. If you must, let the tears fall. If you must, punch down each and every wall. Life is a path, in which each must take. Which ones you choose, is a choice you must make.”

she’s pretty good right? greatness can be found in the strangest of places.

-amd

my best friends. i was going to try to come up with something...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:10:20 -0500

my best friends.

i was going to try to come up with something creative, witty, or funny for this…but i decided that this picture and our faces in it say all i would be able to type and so much more. this has got to be the good life. this has got to be happiness. hold your friends close.

-amd

p.s. we kind of look like a modern day rat pack. i love it. as long as i’m sinatra.

i am not.

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:33:08 -0500

i am not immortal. there are only so many breaks my bones can face and so many beats my heart can brace, before i return to right where i started. i am no architect. there are only so many bricks i can strategically place against and on top of each other’s base, before the roof collapses and all of my work comes crashing down upon me. i am no teacher. there are only so many words that i can give and so many minds that i can stitch before people realize that they will outlive and outreach their impact and state of being. i am not a bird. i can only jump so high, and i can only hope to fly before gravity’s current reels me back into earth like the sea and sends me to where deep down always knew i belonged. i am not a legend. i am a boy who is always sipping on someone else’s wine in the middle of his own life’s vines who is sinking into mediocrity faster than the amount of time it would take to save his own legacy. but i am me. and you are you. and though i am not much at all, in my skin i can fall, when you whisper into my ear that you need me too.

-amd

don’t the stop signs look like roses? and the trees like...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:33:23 -0500

don’t the stop signs look like roses?

and the trees like helping hands?

doesn’t love feel like a lifetime?

like a bottle to the sand?

when the dust looks like confetti

and your regrets grow into plans,

just know the way you love me

makes ordinary grand.

don’t reflections look like angels?

as their cheering from the stands?

don’t freckles look like stars,

as the world spins like a dance ?

and when the day turns into night,

like a boy grows to a man,

just know the way you love me

makes ordinary grand.

-amd

“she looks a lot like summer, and i look a lot like...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:39:51 -0500

“she looks a lot like summer,

and i look a lot like rain.

she has eternity to lose,

but i have forever to gain.

i fell asleep deep inside a dark place,

the shadows painted on my face

like graffiti on a wall.

it was cold, for a summer singin season,

but the ice gave me a reason,

to never love anyone, or anything at all.

i hated sleep

cuz sleeping just meant dreaming,

and dreaming just meant sinking

into a time and place that i could not understand.

when did they sky become so god damn blue?

what beautiful things a pair of eyes can do.

you can hate the rain for what it’s not,

but sometimes the pain is all we’ve got.

yea, even when the sky wasn’t so blue

i always saved a little faith for you.

love the rain for washing pain away

but love the pain for giving the rain a chance to stay.

someone sent us another chance,

with the ribbon wrapped around our hands,

yea, even when the sky wasn’t so blue

i always kept some faith inside for you.

you looked a lot like summer,

and i looked a lot like rain.

you had me to lose,

but i had you to gain.”

-alex

p.s. i know i look a little scary in this picture… forgive me.

untitled

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:35:53 -0500

do you remember me?

the boy who kissed you with his back against the tree.

i stayed awake to watch your smile sing to me,

i never shut my eyes…you were my only dream.

now i’m missing everything.

you were my marilyn and i was your james dean.

wanted to act out all the classic movie scenes,

but we were more in love than they could ever be.

do you remember life?

i’d tuck you in at least a half million times.

i miss the days i felt your body next to mine.

i pulled you closer just to hear them harmonize.

i won’t be afraid of the dark,

i picked up the pieces when he broke apart your heart.

holding you tightly as you cried inside my arms,

i spent the night in tears just knowing you were harmed.

i haven’t seen you since,

writing you letters that i never seem to send.

re-living inside jokes and asking how you’ve been.

sincerely, mr. “i’ve been missing you to death.”

i’m still your biggest fan.

i know your heartbeat like the back of praying hands.

i caught you long before you offered me the chance,

but why you ran away, i’ll never understand.

-alexander michael

50 years from now.. ever wanted to know what your favorite band...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:11:16 -0500

50 years from now..

ever wanted to know what your favorite band guy is going to look like in half a century? i know the joke they are trying to make, but come on! this was way too easy! when looking at this i can’t help but to think about my friend…

ice cream.

-alex

a gift to you. “this i promise you” cover. i always...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:23:00 -0500

a gift to you. “this i promise you” cover.

i always get people saying they wish i could sing them to sleep or that i should cover in nsync song. well..here’s my shot at both. this is me and a guitar. one take at 3 in the morning. i really hope you enjoy it and that it is what you were looking for. my voice is pitchy..and we all know i am no guitar god..so just take it for what it is. raw and…well….me. i love you guys…you know i’ll always do what i can to make you smile. i can’t believe i am actually posting this for the world to hear. also..i may be recording a video cover of me doing another justin song very soon. keep your eyes and ears open.

-alexander michael

one week. on sundays i am a “yes” in a room filled...

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:42:00 -0500

one week.

on sundays i am a “yes” in a room filled with no’s. wearing smiles as if they were hand-me down clothes. yes they might come fully- equipped with a few patches and holes…but having the sun in my eyes is the only view i’ll ever know.

on mondays i am forever and a day, an old man making a mark on strength, yet a child clinging onto the words that they’ll say, only to challenge their words and whimsical ways.

on tuesdays i am the “i knew it all along,” the words behind her simple songs, walking through a world that she has conquered and palmed, waiting below her window pebbles in hand and heart on her lawn.

on wednesday i am lost to the sky behind the clouds, like a desperate tongue in a simplistic mouth, with a cage filled with words just begging to get out, waiting for a kiss to bring the rain and end the drought.

on thursday i sing silence in a room filled with screams. i am a needle nightmare in a haystack full of diamond shaped dreams. i’m a set of greedy eyes in a room full of teams. and the lights i choose to free, are the lights i long to be.

on fridays i am the heartbeat behind the ready roars, the believing bird behind the sophomore soars, the handshakes and laughter behind the open doors, as i stand up with a window in my arms ready for more.

on saturdays i’m a “good” in a room filled with greats. i am a monster dining with saints. i’ve got a handful of loves, but a chest full of hates… and when it comes time to fly, i am scared that i will settle for walking with grace…

but on on sundays i am still a “yes” in a room filled with no’s. wearing smiles as if they were hand-me down clothes. of course they come fully- equipped with a few patches and holes…but with every week that passes i’ll allow myself to grow.

-alexander michael

a collection of words. don’t get your hopes up. it’s...

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:36:00 -0500

a collection of words.

don’t get your hopes up. it’s not all about anyone too specific. different words are inspired and provoked in many different ways. here is something i have thrown together on loss, love, commitment, hurt, and light. hope you guys enjoy it. it means a lot that you even take the time to read this. i write all the time…i figure i’ll start sharing it with you… because if don’t it’ll just rot away in a hard drive and never see the light of day. enjoy. i hope these words make you feel something as they do me. we are family. we all share the same blood, sweat, and tears as the person next to us. we are all more alike than you know.

“once upon a mind..these eyes could see the sky. now the clouds are just a bunch of alibis… and the day is really just a night light… doing it’s best to keep my monsters out of sight. once upon a dream… i could feel what i could see..and what i could see was much more deep…than a broken heart sewn back up at the seams. i promised a life. and one with a view. i swore i would hold her forever..until the sky ran out of blue. this is war. i point my love like a gun. this is war. i did what had to be done. if life is a show…i’m going to steal it. if luck is a lady…you know i am going to feel it. if love hurts…i’m going to find a way to heal it…and if life drives her crazy…you know i am the one who was born to steer it. i’ll be damned if this storybook is ending…because her love is the only gold worth wearing. can’t you see? she is my jewlery. i would wear her just to feel her shine. i would repair her just to make her mine. her body like a glass of wine…and a voice reminiscent of a distant lullaby. what do i do when she’s gone? yea, i have kissed the girls and made them cry…but what fun is a kiss when your hands are tied? things are not the same..not even close. when she was with me, she told me i made her feel like a million bucks…but i guess she’d rather be broke. without her here…i live in fear. not fear of who i am, or who i am meant to be. but fear of cheer. is happiness complete without a smile? is death just a date, if you don’t go out in style? if it is inevitable that we are all going to die… could i request that i at least go in peace with her elegance at my side? we used to get along you know…the pictures say it all…but what’s the use of photographs…when there’s no room on the walls? i should have known when i reached for the sun, that my hands were bound to get burned…and i should have known when i needed someone that their backs would all be turned. what do you do when the butterflies turn into moths? the laughs turns to coughs… the words turn into thoughts…and the heart is found in a box? one day she’ll turn the car around. you had me closing my eyes and making a wish..that heaven above feels something like this. it was like casting a line in hopes of a star…and getting the moon as it falls asleep in your arms. truth or dare. the truth is i’ll never find another her…and i dare her to find someone else that loves her half as much as i do. all of their heartbeats combined… couldn’t make half the noise that her heart makes every time she smiles or speaks. she is my marilyn. she is my one forever. who says when you fall you have to fall down? she is beauty and beyond… once upon a heart…she was the end, the middle, and the start…and though it all fell apart…i pray that she’ll fall back into me before the light becomes the dark.”

-alexander michael

a simple thank you.. to start this off… i’m going to...

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:39:30 -0500

a simple thank you..

to start this off… i’m going to be blunt and honest. i have no idea what is going on. i haven’t talked to any of the guys specifically on the matter. so for those of you who are reading this blog in hopes of an answer, or in hopes of getting more information..i am sorry to say that i am going to disappoint you.

i’m writing this blog to say that i support them no matter what. i realize people are going to tweet me and post “you are a brown noser” or “stop kissing so much ass”…but to be honest..i don’t care. (no pun intended) fall out boy is one of the few bands who have a had a significant impact on my life and as an artist. here is a picture of me and pete from five or so years ago. my brace face and all. the first time i ever crowd surfed was to “tell mick…” and i swear to god pete pointed at me as a floated across the crowd pointing back at him, screaming the words that he poured his heart, soul, and un-trimmed chest into writing. first time i got kicked out of a concert? fall out boy. i was singing along to “saturday” and accidentally punched a security guard in the jaw while throwing my fist up to a break in the bridge. fall out boy were a group of guys..just like us. some considered them underdogs..yet they took the world by storm. patrick has taught me that singers in this genre don’t just have to play three power chords and hit simple cheap notes when they sing. we can be soulful.. we can actually sing with a little bit of emotion. patrick has taught me so much about being myself as a singer, artist, and as a person..and that as long as i am honest with myself..people will follow.

i was just like a lot of you guys. i’d ditch school, camp out at the venue the morning of the shows, and stand outside in the cold waiting for the guys to come outside so i could nervously shake their hand and tell them that their music had changed my life. i knew that they probably got it three hundred times a day..but i didn’t mind. they always made me feel like it meant something to them. and to this day…i believe it did.

i have fall out boy to thank for almost everything i have. pete listening to me sing at a gym class heroes video shoot senior week during my finals. he was dressed up as elvis, but still found time to give a nerdy little vegas kids with braces a shot at playing a song or two on guitar. they invited me to come out on tour with them for a few days…where me and patrick ended up forming our song “bounce” and talking about hell boy comics. pete has also taught me not to take naked photos of myself…haha just kidding ;) i can still remember waking up at pete’s house to hemmingway attacking my face as if it was normandy, and pete laughing like an 8 year old as he filmed it on his old school video camera.

i apologize for getting so nostalgic on you…but i want you to know that i am right there with you guys. it has hit me hard like i’m sure it has all of you. here is what you have to think about though…

fall out boy will never be completely over.

i have enough memories to last me three lifetimes. they’ve put enough wind in my sails to push me around the world a dozen or so times. they won’t be forgotten. how many bands that you listen to were started because of fall out boy? or at least we’re inspired by their songs and sounds. fall out boy wasn’t just a band. it was a movement. it was the light between the clouds that showed that us kids can become something great. it was the fact the we can all change the world in our own ways. even if we all feel like underdogs sometimes. how can we be mad or upset with them when they have given us so much? i have heard some of patrick’s new stuff…and it is absolutely amazing. pete seems to be getting into something everyday that’s groundbreaking, new, and exciting. none of our boys are going anywhere. we need to be proud of them. i’m going to support them like they supported me. when i was lonely in my bedroom..i could put on my fall out boy cd and escape for a few minutes. have you guys seen how big little bronx is getting? isn’t he a beautiful little boy? how amazing is that for pete? they’re growing up just like we are…and they deserve a round of applause. a standing ovation. who knows what they’ll do in the future..but we all know what they have done in the past. no one can take fall out boy away from us…

not even them personally.

-alexander deleon

I'll Run

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:05:00 -0500

i know i have been promising this blog for awhile. i’ve been doing crazy things such as saying “scout’s honor” though i never was a boy scout. hell…i’ve been crossing my pinkies, and even my pinky toes. i just wanted this one to be perfect. i’ll run is such a powerful and meaningful song to me, i had to make sure that when this blog finally saw the light of day, that it would flourish and be ready to go. before i get into the actual song, i just want to share something I recently heard about with you guys…

“Jordan from New Found Glory needs our help. His mom, Maureen, is really sick and we’re trying to raise money to help cover her medical expenses. On Friday, November 27th, she was rushed to Broward General Medical Center CVICU due to a sudden, unidentified infection which has severely weakened her heart. She is in critical, yet stable condition with only 10% of her heart working on it’s own, and may need a transplant. Because Maureen is without insurance, things are moving real slow and against the clock. For more info click here:
http://helpmendaheart.com

Please take the time to check out our other auctions too. We’re selling items from Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is.. and The Cab.”

This is some of the worst news I have heard in a long time. Can you imagine? Waking up, feeling sick and then getting word that your heart is giving up on you? One day you are fine..and the next you are fighting the battle of your life. She has no insurance, and we need to help. Not as music fans…but as fans of other people. As fans of strength and compassion. Look..I know my band isn’t very big, and that’s fine, but I have decided to help out in any way that I possibly can. I grew up listening to New Found Glory and going to their shows (see below) and when i heard about this it broke my heart.

I am auctioning off my original lyrics to our song “I’ll Run.” I wrote them in Mr. Sully’s chemistry class back in high school. I was going to save them for myself, maybe give them to my kids down the road, etc…but when I got the opportunity to help get someone a new heart, and a new shot at living with ease and happiness, I had to take it. my family raised me to always give the shirt off of my back to others if they ever needed it. I’d even give the skin off of my back if I had to. Giving my lyrics up for this cause is really the least I can do. The lyrics include the first drafts of the words, and even cash wrote a few lines of lyrical suggestions on them which are included. I know this is just a piece of paper and won’t go for much…but whether it’s 5 dollars or 500 it is going to go straight to Jordan’s mom and it’s going to help her in every single way that it can. If this was my mom, I would hope others would do the same. Go place a bid on them…own a piece of my history, the cab’s history, and help save a life. we are human. love is what we do. it’s who we were born to be.

this story is what i’ll run is all about. the term “i’ll run” isn’t about fitness or exercise. when one runs, or sprints..they are pushing themselves to a limit. they’re putting their all into what they are doing. with one hundred percent intensity, heart, and effort. it’s how we should live life. when you live…live loud. when you love… love with everything you have. why talk when you can scream? why sleep when you can dream? why settle for anything less than the summit? when i sing “i’ll run..have a little faith in me,” i am saying that i will do anything in my power to pick you up off of the ground and i will give everything i have within these bones to make a difference. it’s a promise. it’s about realizing how strong you are. discovering your niche in the world and being happy to fall asleep under the blanket of your own skin.

we will fall down. it’s one thing in life that in inevitable. we can’t do everything on our own. when you see someone around you stumble or fall to pieces, pick them up. help them out. lead by example so when you fall, someone can be there for you. the song is about being scared, feeling lost and alone, but then having someone..your human angel being there to pick you up and restoring your faith in humanity and most importantly yourself. YOU can make more of a difference in the lives of those around you than you will ever realize. i’ve seen it firsthand. THAT is why we need to help and love each other. even if we don’t know them personally. if you have the chance to bring a smile to someone else’s face or happiness to someone else’s soul, don’t ever not take it. that missed opportunity will cast a shadow over a lot more than the 30 seconds it would take to make happen.

i am on my knees begging you to help out in any way you can. the link to the ebay site with my lyrics is at the bottom of this post. you guys know that i don’t sell things. i would never ask for a penny from you if it weren’t for something important. i hope these words mean to you as much as they mean to me..and if you are the person who ends up taking them home….god bless you and thank you. you have touched a life and that, my friends, is something that no one can ever take away from you.

i love you all and hope you are all doing well.

god bless you Maureen. you’re in my prayers. stay strong…wings of help are on their way.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170421468777#ht_500wt_1182

-alexander michael deleon

love. when you fall in love. you fall hard. we’re human we...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:16:00 -0500

love.

when you fall in love. you fall hard. we’re human we can’t help it. when you love someone, in a way you are trading hearts. you unzip your chest, reach for the heart of your loved and slowly insert it to yours, hoping to lock it away for a forever or two. most of us know the feeling. or maybe not. love is a curiously sly cat. love is falling, but never touching the ground. love is falling up. coincidentally when sitting down to write out each chapter of my life, i always seem to spit out the same bunches of y’s, o’s, and u’s. you find the person you love and it’s like a car crash. life turns to slow motion. it starts with the loss of breath, slowly makes your insides tingles, and ends with your cheeks being pulled up and away..almost like the puppet master himself is tugging at the strings connected to the corners of your mouth. love is your heart smiling in a monumental way. you start spending time with the person you care for and it only gets better. your nose starts to scrunch your nose a lot more…when you laugh, you laugh differently than you ever had before..because this time it’s real. you become attached to living life horizontally, and hell…you even start watching different tv shows and trying foods that you swore on the bible itself you’d never try. yes..maybe even colliflower. why do we fall in love? is it because we don’t want to be alone? can we help it at all? can love be influenced? whatever and however this little guy works…the job almost always gets done until your slow dancing in the kitchen listening to people with far better class, style, and voices sing to you about songs that make you feel like maybe somewhere in this world there is a niche you can finally fit happily into. and you know what? there might even be space for two.

you think about them everyday. you’ve hung all of your memories around all over your mind’s fridge with cute little magnets. you saved the tree bark from the tree you kissed them against. you’ve kept the movie stubs where you snuck out and caught a late night flick about everlasting love. remember walking out and telling them how the love in the movie was nothing compared to the one that you two shared? you hear their voices in the static between the radio stations that play the same 10 songs that they did three months ago. you see their face in your eyes when you look into the mirror for sympathy on the bi-daily basis. loving them was like swinging on a tire swing. hearing their voice sing into your ear was honestly the glue that held your bones together. you’d rather be able to lay under the night and just replay “us” in your head and smile to yourself than hold anyone else. you know it might not last forever. but who is to say forever starts or ends today? just like an old lamp, when the sun burns out…you just have to put a new lightbulb in. i don’t know what this all means..or what i’m really saying. i just know that this world has become so materialistic and none of that matters. my dad taught me my whole life that love is the only thing that matters in the end. we are all going through rough times…but things will get better. find someone that shines through it all. i’m still looking for that. i’m just like you guys. i want the ocean eyes. the california mind. the framed angel sky. i know it may take some time…but one day..i’m going to meet a girl who’s smile i use to speak, and though coins might make the clocks tick, love makes the hearts beat.

i wish you all love and happiness in this life. one in each hand.

goodnight.

-alexander deleon