Study Guide to On how life is (Macy Gray)

Artist: Macy Gray
Producer: Andrew Slater
Label: Epic, Sony Music
Release: January 2000

Key Concepts

Relationships, personal struggles, spirituality, sexuality, ambition, suicide

Summary

Imagine you are in an American smoke-filled coffee house. The aroma of Columbian coffee and the subdued lighting sets you up for an enjoyable evening. The live band are about to do their set. The lead singer comes on wearing a white fur coat with a large fluffy neck. She starts to sing. You've not heard anything quite like it. Her voice can be best described as a 'smoky rasp', husky and passionate, ideal for the style of music you are hearing. It's a mixture of Rhythm and Blues and Soul mixed with Jazz, Hip-hop and a little Rock. As the band move from one song to the next you feel you've heard bits before - Aretha Franklin, Billie Holliday. Then something strikes you forcibly. The lead singer totally identifies with the songs she is singing. It's as if her life is being shown on a big video screen. From one song to the next you are forming the history of the life of the lead singer. She sings about her desires, her ambitions, her sexual relationships, her times of depression. Her lyrics are brutally honest. They make you feel uncomfortable but you identify with some of the emotions in her songs. Welcome to Macy Gray's album On how life is

Background

Macy has been singing since 1992. She was born in Canton, Ohio USA and has been living in Los Angeles for the past seven years. She always wanted to be a screenwriter and ventured to Los Angeles to attend a film school. She met up with some musicians and used her screen writing talents to craft lyrics for her musician friends. One day a singer failed to show up to record a song Macy had written so out of sheer frustration Macy said she would sing it herself. A demo tape was created. As it was passed around this led to more musical opportunities including singing with a jazz band on the local hotel lounge circuit. She began to get known and as her reputation grew so did interest from record labels. She eventually landed her first recording deal but the record company decided not to release the album. A publishing executive took the recorded album to Epic Records - they snapped her up straight away and the album On how life is was an instant success.

Ideas for discussion

  1. On how life is is a personal account of Macy Gray's life. Identify the emotions behind these songs and try to piece together her life.
  2. How would you describe Macy Gray's worldview of life?
  3. Track 8 - I've committed murder - was inspired by a past boyfriend of Macy's who could never keep a job. Identify and discuss some of the issues raised in this song. What does it say about the human conscience?
  4. In the credit list Macy says 'everything that is great in my life and on this record is because of God so I thank him first and foremost' What do you think Macy means by this? Do any of the songs contradict this statement?
  5. Track 10 - The letter - says that freedom is unobtainable here on earth. This song is about escaping from this life and longing for a better one. How do you respond to this song? Do you identify with its sentiment? What does 'being free' mean?

Action questions

  1. As a Christian, what has been your initial impression of the content of Macy Gray's album? What feelings does it generate within you? Do these feelings motivate you to want to understand more of some of the struggles people face in life, or do you find yourself judging Macy?
  2. Does 1 John 3 v 1-10 give a message of hope to Macy's life story?. How would you help her to discover what God means by 'being free'?
  3. Track 6 - I can't wait to meet chu is a prayer to God. She says ' I do my best to do right'. As a Christian, if you were to spend time with Macy how would you talk to her about this song?
  4. Identify the insecurities in Macy's life. Can we relate to them and how does our Christian faith address some of these insecurities?
  5. On how life is shows us how life really is for some people. List ways of showing Christ's love to people who may have the same story as Macy.

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