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The Magic of True Love

by Teenager

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1.
Why January? Footprints on the dashboard—O the Summer. Blacklist the colors—Washed out and washed away. And not a thrill, no not a thrill parades. Ring in the New Year—In the puddles, always the puddles. We’ll pay any price—O to squint my eyes. Shadows on shadows—Forty shhh! shades of gray. Until the end, until the end of time. Oooh, What luck o what luck! Rise where’s the Shining?—We’re sick of talking, time is a ticking. A million urge the clouds to part—And the rain applauds. Down with the old cold—Up, up, up and away. And did you hear it disappears into thin air. Oooh, What luck o what luck! Cracked like a shutter. Blindly how we blink alike. Sing me a swan song—Magical Sun. Until the spring, until the spring has sprung. Oooh, What luck o what luck!
2.
Broke 03:51
I guess we were poor then, filled up on food stamps. A sandwich of addicts and recovering. I worked the night shift and I kept you up late making love until we disappeared. We stood on rooftops speaking like militants. I fought my nightmares on hardwood floors. When we'd go dancing I'd shake like a seizure. When the music would cut, we'd leave arm in arm. Don't go, don't go, don't go for broke. (don't go for broke) I went to New York in an old tradition, but nothing was real like skin on skin. O and my silence, it ran cold-blooded. This boy was cut down where all things meet. Don't go, don't go, don't go for broke. (don't go for broke) If you go for broke then you may get broken. Once you go there, you can't return.
3.
One is a lonely number Two is too much like a sunburn. 'Cause we are two timing machines Paired off in numbers of three A man at McArthur told me: "We are two times Cassanova," he laughed. "And how do you make love, do you build it to last?" Count down the numbers 'til we descend as the water retreats. We're dripping like statues with cold feet. She called out, "I'm numb! Burrrr!" Bare as her poems. What lies there in the fine print will conspire. With shirts over shoulders and teeth that ring out like church bells in heat. The porch lights and bottle tops see... We are two timing the lilac starlight as we get away with the night. O it was nothing--that's a lie. There's always tomorrow--that's a lie. Crash course in movement, we fall. And I don't know 'bout you. I don't know 'bout you. I don't know 'bout you, but I'd like to stay here for a while. And if you want something, don't speak. Stop biting on your tongue and cheek. For we are two timing machines, we are two timing machines, we are two timing machines with impeccable timing. We are two timing machines...
4.
If ever you think you could If ever you think you might If suddenly it should appear my god, would we ever have a good time. Someday is not my hope for someday we'll drop like flies. And with only the shoes on our feet my god, would we ever have a good time. You know I'm right. Forget what you think you want. Forget what you think you like. It's certainly perfectly clear my god, would we ever have a good time. You know I'm right. What do you get when you cross your heartstrings? Hoping not to die, but I'm not not joking… It's blinding faith across continent yards Like tin cans and shoe strings From Wednesday to Tuesday Still If ever you think you could If ever you think you might If suddenly it should appear my god, would ever have a good time.
5.
I was a magician known throughout the land. I forged every secret with the slight of my hand. Now I turn all my dimes into nickels and pennies, I turn all my confidants back into enemies, I turn strangers to friends into lovers and then back again-- tada. I too was enchanted by her salt and her sway. Love like an answer-- Lord, I know not to pray. For it takes one to know one to love one and lose one, the magic of true love is truly illusion. I turn strangers to friends into lovers and then back again-- tada. Long live the masters bringing crowds to their feet. Long live her beauty-- o it's something to see. Now if you take the high road then I'll take the blindfold and trick myself until all is revealed. I turn strangers to friends into lovers and then back again
6.
Big Squeeze 04:58
My eyes see stars like a tarot card--look & you'll believe. Now I got no luck counting sheep. "When I was young"--O I'm out of touch. And I only sing in the Key of Please, please, please! O how to put it lightly I want to tell you twicely O I want your big squeeze! I light up like a hotline every time you ring calling misread misery. So what is love? But a ton of crush And i want to heart you forever 'cause there ain't no woman like the one I see. O but that's an old disaster Here's to the morning after O I want your big squeeze! My heart is a muscle car revved and rumbling crying backfires on me. Ah here she comes, cat got your tongue. O and I'm sweating bullets 'cause I'm staring down the barrel of a diamond ring. O and I've been to high school Fell for the lowest I.Q.'s O I want your big squeeze! Ma told me time will tell us, O what a relief Ooh, I believe! So quit your crying, get me back on my feet, Ooh, I believe, o my God I believe! I read my horoscope & it's meant to be eternally bittersweet. Will I give up? I'm sad enough. O how to put it lightly, I want to tell you twicely O I want your big squeeze O what good is laughter when you're just a lonely bastard? O I want your big squeeze. Never give up (my big squeeze!)...
7.
Hung over in our Sunday's best there's nothing like a smile from a friend. I catch my breath and then give it back because she believes in nothing, but the love that we're in. A believer, I believed her. O baby how you lick your lips with ever-present indifference. "Promised my mother that we won't get wed," she said as I sat quietly. "Is that a matter of fact?" A believer, I believed her. And we spoke up as the timpani thunder rolled. Jesus Christ, you look good! Almost wonderful. Driving in circles as light hit the land with nothing but each other, and a smile from a friend. For 40 days and for 40 nights my shoes were soaking wet and my skin was white. For 40 nights and for 40 days I watched the city dripping beneath the skies of gray. A believer, I believed her.
8.
Awe struck, holy luck--won't you give me a smile. The chill in the air has winter to spare & blows. Someone's drying up--like a brick on a wall The shadow of night is tragically bright pointing home. How can you say that you like it this way? You must be joking. And though it's heaven sent, we ain't seen nothing yet on Sunday afternoon. Aw struck, holy luck--where'd we go wrong? How can you say that you like it this way--I know you don't. How can you say that you like it this way? You must be joking. And though it's heaven sent, we ain't seen nothing yet on Sunday afternoon.
9.
Cameras taking pictures Pictures with their flashes Flashing up the lowlife Diamonds are forever Come on, tell me a story Your friends are drunk and boring. The night's still young & so am I so let's get out of here before we die. This could not be made up. Made up is not this good. O my goodness gracious, You, you don't wear make up. Come on, tell me a story Your friends are drunk and boring. The night's still young & so am I so let's get out of here before we die. Read it in the papers Morning entertainment Don't it make the breakfast go down. And life is what you make it-- I read that somewhere lately-- but I don't care about anything I just want to hit the town. TIme is of the essence Patience is a virtue I'll believe it when I see it 'cause seeing is believing. Come on, tell me a story Your friends are drunk and boring. The night's still young & so am I so let's get out of here before we die.
10.
Black is back--dark like the night I cross my fingers and thumb through the Times O Phantom Future, wild as a beast Are you undaunted as the darkness falls and breaks? I play my records and I top my drinks. I write you letters across shining seas. No tell, no tell--there's no telling. From miles apart that's a hard look to read. But your charm is everlasting. It's you who puts the happy into my ness. It's you who puts the heart back in my ache. O and it's you who puts the question marks away. And it's our love that shines like the Seigne. O love, it puts us to shame. I'm going out on a limb, below you see the sun. I'm going out of my head wishing for once… So maybe I'm crazy; this world is nakedly insane. I shake like an earthquake when you call out my name. O & I told, tonight's our lucky day. "Well I may have no heart, but you've got no brains." And I've got nothing 'cause you got away. I'm going out on a limb, below you see the sun. I'm going out of my head wishing for once… I want to love her. I want no other lover, but she will never love me. (Ah come home! ah come home, please) O please, what 'cha say? Who was the fool who choose our fate? I want to love her. I want no other lover, but she will never love me. Black is back--dark like the night I cross my fingers as the Prophet dawn flickers on the sky.
11.
Lost 04:12
Winter waits at the window my longing knows not a name for the Kingdom of Love is not bolted nor shut, it is gone, gone with the Greats. Holy and half-way angelic. With swagger we stagger and swoon in the portraits of pain we have sculpted and stained we were damned and damn near the truth. And this is for love and this is for hate and this is for God growing old with the State. This is the name I was given to make we are lost, we are lost at the gates and in honor, we call and await. Boldly and barely eternal, Our hears are hardly alive. For our towers of Hope both, have shifted and sloped we were had, we were robbed, we were tried. Sacred with naked wonder. Nothing's real like skin on skin. In the crosshairs of Time we are deaf, dumb and blind. We were beast--brutal and brave. We are tired and tempted and tame. And this is for love and this is for hate this is for dawn glowing gold with the day. This is the road we have chosen to take and this is the soul I can not betray. With my head in the air and my back to the wall ear to the ground and my eye on the ball, this is the name I was given to make We are lost, we are lost at the gates. We've been damaged in so many ways, but a good boy never complains

about

Teenager began as the moniker of the sweetly defiant Bay Area songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Bevan Herbekian. Initially conceived as a solo endeavor, Teenager grew into an Oakland based Indie quintet drawing comparisons to Brian Wilson, Belle & Sebastian, Jonathan Richman, Beck, Ram-Era McCartney, Harry Nilsson and early David Bowie.

* * *

“Burning with hunger and romanticism, Teenager’s The Magic of True Love is a genuine Bay Area phenomenon and fascination.”-Impose Magazine

“Is it pop? God no. It is music with meaning, soul, and laborious passion.”-Oakland North

“Surely a testament to perseverance–but more than anything, it’s damn good music”-The Owl Mag

“Contagious. The Magic of True Love is full of unabashedly earnest, tightly crafted pop songs with seriously big instrumentation and heart. There are head-bobbers, there’s high-flying falsetto, there are shout-along soul choruses that are catchy as hell”-SF Guardian

“Invigorating. Sun-kissed tones and descriptive storytelling with a Bowie-esque sound that is raw, electric, and absolutely fun. Imagine a big band feel combined with a new modern twist. This release may be Teenager’s first, but I sure as hell hope it’s not his last.”-The Bay Bridged

“Lacking irony and performed in genuine earnest, each song convinces you that hope is the essence of life”-Reviewiera

“The Brian-Wilson of the Bay Area”-RadioValencia

“Teenager’s bright, melodic San Francisco pop is just the thing to help you shake those wintry blues. Striking arrangements, brash vocal melodies, and careful songwriting keep me glued to the sound. Put it on the car stereo and drive with your lover in the other seat; it’s a perfect soundtrack.”-Independent Clauses

“It’s a vivid sound that is inspiring, fun, and feel-good”-The Bay Bridged

“And that is what I love about Teenager–and Bevan’s music in general: it fuses parts together to make a whole, collaborative sound, always making you want to throw your hands in the air, grab a tambourine, and live.” -50/50

“Honestly brilliant. Undeniably jaunty & swinging in the tradition of pop perfectionist/intellectual auteurs such as Emitt Rhodes and Van Duren. Clever, maximally produced with bedroom charm, and catchy as hell” -The Modern Folk Music of America

“A savory set of folk-pop tunes touching on darkness and ebullient light”-SF Guardian

“Pristine. 50’s doo-wop, Heyday 70′s AM gold and maximalist Spector-like pop that jumps out of the stereo erasing divisions of both time and pop sub-genres. The Magic of True Love envelops the senses and gleefully invites the listener in.” -Unearth Music Hub

“Herbekian has delivered us an ice cream sundae of a power pop album. The exuberance behind the songs can’t be denied and is infectious. An album like this reminds us of the magic of great music.”-Adobe & Teardrops

“The Magic of True Love is a batch of songs that honors the mystery of timing, the art of love, the mystery of love, the art of timing all in tightly arranged pop orchestral clarity”-Seaweed Sway

“Neo-’50s vocal melodies and rhythms sync up with lush-yet-perky arrangements resulting in a bite-size piece of cheery goodness.”-Independent Clauses

credits

released April 29, 2015

From the album, The Magic of True Love, by Teenager.
Recorded & mixed by Peter Labberton & Bevan Herbekian at Essex.
Mastered by Cian Riordan.

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Teenager Oakland, California

Teenager is the moniker of the sweetly defiant Bay Area songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Bevan Herbekian.

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