I’ll never forget the first time I heard John Butler. I was at my friend’s party while attending the University of Kentucky; needless to say this wasn’t a seven-year-old’s birthday party. My friend sat me in front of the laptop and said, “Dude, you have to listen to this guy. He’s incredible.”I proceeded to bask in heaven for the next nine minutes to “Ocean” (my favorite JB song). There’s not one word in this song, but it’s one of the most eye-popping, heart racing (I can’t even think of a sweet enough cliché that resembles how amazing it is) songs I have ever heard. (Watch it on Youtube “Live at Federation Square,” for the best experience, especially your first time).
An Australia native, John Butler began his musical career busking (playing music on the street for tips) on the streets of Fremantle, Australia, and playing open-mic nights before forming the John Butler Trio. JBT fell apart in 2008, so now it’s just John Butler. “One Small Step” is his first solo album, which is a collection of some of his sweetest songs with the Trio.
“Better Than” is another song I love off the album (along with “Ocean”).
I feel like the meaning behind the song is that you should stop taking what you have for granted and always looking for the next best thing.
“All you want is what you can’t have, if you just look around man, you see you got magic…why oh why do I look to the other side? Cuz I know, the grass is greener but just as hard to grow.”
“The way you walk, talk, move, yeah girl, get me high as a kite, so get right over here and girl let’s get down, get funky tonight.”
“Funky Tonight” literally screams funky. Butler busts out the mouth harp and banjo on this song, along with lyrics that make you think of your special lady (or man) and maybe your intimacy, along with maybe that favorite song of yours.
“Put on our favorite record by Ella Fitz and Louie Armstrong, and take you to our living room dance floor and I’ll hold you tight.”
“Zebra” is one of the most beautiful songs on the album. I think the meaning behind this song is balance and equality: no one is better than anyone else, and you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter who you are.
“I can be ignorant, or I can be informed, I could lead my life man or I could be led, I can be anything I put my mind to boy, all I gotta do is give myself a half chance, I could bring the love back into my life, share it with the world if I got some balance.”
All of Butler’s songs have wondrous guitar solos and powerful, meaningful, strong lyrics, unlike some commercial music that does it for money. If you’re into really feel good music, with an 11-string guitar, and someone who knows how to pluck it, you should think about giving John Butler a shot.