The Apology Ep, Learn the true meaning behind Ed's new CD. Options

[Liveman94]

The Apology Ep...

Much has been written, spoken, pondered about the nuclear explosion and subsequent fallout amongst the fans that was the break up of LiVe.

Since that 'hiatus' in June/July '09 both former lead singer Ed kowalczyk and his ex band mates have seemingly moved on - to better things ? Well that's dependent upon the listener.

Yet some anger, bitterness and even hatred remain over the many unanswered questions. Amongst the once rabid fan base, enamored with kowalczyk: his voice, his aura and his presence are many who see him now as a broken down imitation of his former self, a fraud, a liar and a fake.

While Gracey, Taylor and Dahlheimer have enlisted new men - earnest people who's strive for similar ideals as they once held dear and now claim to continue. Kowalczyk has fought to remain in some way attached to His past success through the use of Live the name, the sound, the brand in almost all of his solo work since.

What does this tell us about the situation?

Well rather then point out the obvious flaws in the production of Kowalzcyk's new ep - I decided to reveal to you the true meaning behind it...an apology.

Yes the garden ep or apology ep as it shall now be referred to in this article highlights many wonderful facets of kowalczyk's vocals and musical style while re-hashing yet again some of his most loathed.

But the apology I hear you ask ??

It begins with the garden...alone in the desert cast aside by his former bandmates; disheartened by the 'dirty water' that kowalczyk has found himself in he affirms; 'i would die 10,000 times' to change my life - to 'take the pain (of my breakup with live) and turn it into the light and love (we once shared). At the same time with the second verse kowalzcyk shifts the blame for his errors to the eternal and everlasting struggle with fame and fortune musicians must face - a topic we revisit in "I'm the proof" - an impurity that can burn, slice and lie - quite an entity this one - the true cause of Lives demise!

In the bridge of the garden kowalzcyk asks can we let it go ? It was just a masquerade in the fading light of fame anyway ...right ?

Nice sentiments this is true...but this apology as Bronson would say..."ain't over".

Track two 'Rise': this song is an affirmation for remaining fans of kowalczyk that he is still righteous - we see the other members of LiVe depicted as 'fighters on the ridge takin their aim at' kowalzcyk one imagines these to be in the spurious form of twitter, Facebook and blog complaints leveled at Ed K by his former band members (a low which kowalczyk has not yet stooped) and boy does he take the moral high ground! "I did NOTHING wrong" kowalczyk growls with more angst then we have seen since Love Shines (an Incredibly long parentheses song for his daughters about god) and this may very well be the case - perhaps the studio time kowalzcyk had booked before the fateful pink pop lead singer bonus WAS worth precisely 100,000 USD - we will never know and perhaps the not so secret publishing of all songs from SFBM in the fifth Veda (which is in the liner notes of the album) was kowalczyk's way of saying 'ok chad if you are going to let the producer write your guitar parts well I will take your royalties - maybe then you will wake up and help me get this band back together like it was circa '94'.

Ed is a specific thinker from what I hear.

'Can we rise, can we fly?? Just to fall out of the sky" kowalczyk again implores his band mates to join with him and rise above the hurt they have caused each other over the last few years - even If it is only to fall victim to that terrible burning, slicing, lying entity mentioned in the garden and 'fall out of the sky' again someday.

In one last ditch effort to absolve himself of responsibility Ed will rest the fate of the evil entity in god's hands; 'the glory of the lord' will certainly 'shine in the wicked eyes' of that multifaceted fame monster which has destroyed kowalczyk's band and left him with the blame!

May your will be done.

Track 3: "I'm the proof"

Kowalczyk's new persona "the constant questioner" asks again "did it hit you like a speeding car? Did it change the way you were before?"

Two of many rhetorical questions posed in the same song! Here the singer is asking His former band mates; are you shocked to realize that I have changed ?? Because people can change and kowalzcyk is the proof! He is no longer that self-righteous guy who would order his bandmates around and pledge never to sing to chad's guitars ever again. He is new, re-born, born again even with the realizations that 'hey I did NOTHING wrong' I have just changed since I was a good song writer and now I am a different arguably a much worse song writer but different none-the-less'. Yes the burning, slicing, lying fame monster is what killed LiVe and not kowalczyk's intentions or actions nor his transformation from bad person good writer to arguably the opposite.

So again we see Kowalzcyk inviting his friends to 'let it go', 'rise above' - this time 'lay it down and come on out' because he 'knows they are ready' to reconcile having accepted Kowalzcyk's apology and his admission of not wrong but change.

How will Chad Taylor respond ? Hopefully he will listen to these tracks and tearfully accept Ed's sincere musical explanation for the Demise of LiVe put in that much needed phone call - talk it out, hug it out, cry it out and decide that even if liVe with Ed K no longer exists those four Long time friends may still.

In track 4: "solar flare" Kowalzcyk merely reflects fondly but yearningly upon His past bonds with Live prior to his realization and the bands fall from grace "we were in the shadows" but kowalzcyk "was alone in his mind" before he changed. The 'crying shame and foolish game that trades love for fa(m)e' oh that game that they have played with the incredible burning, slicing, lying fame monster has caused a pensive kowalzcyk to reflect and beg"save me from myself" Chad, Chad & Patrick ? "I need your love tonight"
Before finally pleading "we are one in this love take my heart and run" - heartfelt ? Indeed...too little too late ? Only time will tell.

Finally in track 5 "mind games". Kowalczyk covers the great John Lennon and implores the boys from LiVe to keep playing 'these mind games" with Ed so that even if their careers fade - at lead they will still be relevant in each others lives.

In conclusion; I ask of you when you listen to the apology ep not to critique it's many and at times obvious failings as a recording but to embrace it as what it truthfully is; a long overdue apology from Ed Kowalzcyk to His former BandMates now continuing in LIVe and enjoy it as I have!

[Bremang]

The Apology Ep...


So again we see Kowalzcyk inviting his friends to 'let it go', 'rise above' - this time 'lay it down and come on out' because he 'knows they are ready' to reconcile having accepted Kowalzcyk's apology and his admission of not wrong but change.

An apology involves contrition or admission of doing something wrong. You've made the point that Ed believes that he has changed, but you strongly suggest that Ed doesn't believe he did anything wrong. Therefore, there's no apology whatsoever from Ed. I can see someone interpreting the lyrics in this EP as Ed exonerating himself, but I don't see any apologies in there.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Aug 10 2013, 1:17 am

[Liveman94]

An apology involves contrition or admission of doing something wrong. You've made the point that Ed believes that he has changed, but you strongly suggest that Ed doesn't believe he did anything wrong. Therefore, there's no apology whatsoever from Ed. I can see someone interpreting the lyrics in this EP as Ed exonerating himself, but I don't see any apologies in there.

An apology does not always involve contrition or admission. You may for example be "sorry that someone feels a certain way" - this type of apology does not involve an admission of wrong rather an acknowledgment of the others feeling and perhaps regret that this is the case.

noun plural a·pol·o·gies.
1. a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another: He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.
2. a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
3. a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates' defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.

From dictionary.com

It is perhaps this type of 'apology' that is expressive without being admissive that Ed was going for here.

Certainly; i found tones of remorse in the ep but your right no admissions or direct ownership.

[Bremang]

An apology does not always involve contrition or admission. You may for example be "sorry that someone feels a certain way" - this type of apology does not involve an admission of wrong rather an acknowledgment of the others feeling and perhaps regret that this is the case.

noun plural a·pol·o·gies.
1. a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another: He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.
2. a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
3. a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates' defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.

From dictionary.com

It is perhaps this type of 'apology' that is expressive without being admissive that Ed was going for here.

Certainly; i found tones of remorse in the ep but your right no admissions or direct ownership.

You're describing what is often referred to as a non-apology, because it is not an actual apology, which still doesn't seem to be your interpretation of the lyrics. Taking no blame means he's not apologizing. Also, to call the EP "The Apology EP," you were only referring to an actual apology, and it seems to stem from a desire to find Ed as being morally wrong, in any way.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Aug 11 2013, 7:45 am

[Liveman94]

You're describing what is often referred to as a non-apology, because it is not an actual apology, which still doesn't seem to be your interpretation of the lyrics. Taking no blame means he's not apologizing. Also, to call the EP "The Apology EP," you were only referring to an actual apology, and it seems to stem from a desire to find Ed as being morally wrong, in any way.

I actually quoted a reputable source there to back up my broader definition of 'apology' which i used in the context of this opinion blog.

Again according to that source and my knowledge one can apologize without taking any blame - for often times a party may feel injured by presuming upon another's guilt. If that party had done nothing wrong his apology would be just that - but not an admission of guilt.

You are enforcing a narrow view of what constitutes an apology on a piece of fan fiction/opinion on a low traffic website - even if your technicality is correct - what does it matter?

Nonetheless; contextually within the scope of the word apology and within the perceived scope of Ed's integrity my argument is sound. Though merely still just an argument or opinion designed to promote discussion of its context not the technical application of the descriptors used within.