Father to Son - click image to enlarge

Father to Son

Acrylic on stretched canvas.

I was listening to “Father to son” by Queen, my very first favorite band (I was 11 years old and I was wearing an old Queen shirt) when I started this painting.
So why not include it in the “Inspired by a song” category.
By the way, this one was written by Brian May.

Play The Song: Father To Son

Here’s the lyrics:

a word in your ear, from father to son
hear the words that I say
i fought with you, fought on your side
long before you were born

joyful the sound, the word goes around
from father to son, to son

and the voice is so clear, time after time it leeps
calling you, calling you on
don’t destroy what you see, your country to be
just keep on building on the ground that’s been won

kings will be crowned, the word goes around
from father to son, to son

take this letter that I give you,
take it sonny, hold it high
you won’t understand a word that’s in it
but you’ll write it all again before you die

a word in your ear from father to son
funny you don’t hear a single word I say
but my letter to you, will stay by your side
through the years till the loneliness is gone
sing if you will -
but the air you breathe I live to give you

father to son
father to, father to, father to son

joyful the sound, the word goes around
from father to son, to son…

kings will be crowned, the word goes around
from father to son, to son…

Suffer the Children - click to enlarge

Ever since I became a father I feel different. Things that didn’t use to bother me before now hit me hard.
I am more sensitive to subjects involving children suffering. In movies, music, stories I read in the news, I find myself holding my tears.
When I work, draw or paint, I usually listen to music. It motivates me.
That’s why I created the category “inspired by a song”.
This is an old song from Tears for fears. I saw them a long time ago in River Plate Stadium, back in Argentina.

Suffer The Children

Here’s the song: Suffer the Children

Here’s the lyrics:

It’s a sad affair
When there’s no one there
He calls out in the night
And it’s so unfair
At least it seems that way
When you gave him his life
And all this time he’s been getting you down
You ought to pick him up when there’s no one around
And convince him
Just talk to him
Cos he knows in his heart you won’t be home soon
He’s an only child in an only room
And he’s dependent on you
And it seems so strange
That at the end of the day
Making love can be so good
But the Pain of birth
What is it worth
When it don’t turn out the way it should
And all this time he’s been getting you down
You ought to pick him up when there’s no one around
And convince him
Just talk to him
Cos he knows in his heart you won’t be home soon
He’s an only child in an only room
And he’s dependent on you
Suffer…suffer the children…

The way I see it the song is about child neglect, probably by a single parent.
It’s very sad and it happens a lot.
So I dedicate this post to all single parents, and lonely children.”

Standing in the Shower...Thinking - click image to enlarge

This is a series of self-portraits inspired by the song “Standing in the shower thinking” by Jane’s Addiction, one of my favorite bands from the 90’s.

Standing in the shower…thinking

Play the song: Standing in the shower…thinking

Lyrics:

I was Standing in the shower thinking
About what makes a man
An outlaw or a leader
I’m thinking about power…
The ways a man could use it
Or be destroyed by it
The water hits my neck
And I’m pissing on myself…
Standing
In the shower
Thinking…

Standing in the shower thinking
About a man I know don’t like me
He don’t like the place I’m headed
Same place he’s headed…
I know he’d beat me to it
If he could but he won’t do it
But he would man
If he could…
And the water is piping hot..
The water is piping hot
It beats upon my neck
And I’m pissing on myself…
Standing
In the shower
Thinking…

Standing in the shower thinking
Is my woman afraid of me?
She’s seen how far I’ve twisted
It’s just cause I can trust her
And ever since we met
She understood so she let
Me twist her good…
I twist her good…
And the water is piping hot
The water is piping hot
It beats upon my neck
And I’m pissing on myself…
Standing
In the shower
Thinking…

Jane’s Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band is composed of Perry Farrell (vocals), Dave Navarro (guitar), Eric Avery (bass) and Stephen Perkins (drums). After breaking up in 1991, Jane’s Addiction briefly toured in 1997, reunited in 2001 and then parted ways in 2004. Jane’s Addiction have since reunited again in 2008, with founding member Eric Avery returning on bass. The band’s varied musical style have influences rooted in punk, gothic rock, and heavy metal.
Jane’s Addiction was one of the first bands to emerge from the early 1990s alternative rock movement to gain mainstream media attention and commercial success in the United States. Their initial farewell tour launched the first Lollapalooza festival, an annual touring alternative rock showcase. As a result, Jane’s Addiction became icons of what Farrell dubbed the “Alternative Nation”

The photo series:

Standing in the Shower...Thinking 2 - click to enlarge

Standing in the Shower...Thinking 3 - click to enlarge

Standing in the Shower...Thinking 4 - click to enlarge

Standing in the Shower...Thinking 5 - click to enlarge