AK Summer 2024 - BRANDPHILE

In the upbeat song “Good to Be Alive,” Aaron pokes fun at life. Lyrics playfully talk about everyday inconveniences. Despite the playful tone, the chorus is a big statement, emphasizing the happiness of just being alive. Aaron shows a carefree attitude toward life’s uncertainties. The relatable lyrics, combined with the uplifting melody, create an experience that speaks to the shared human experience. “Good to Be Alive” encourages listeners to celebrate, in both the ups and downs, the simple yet profound gift of life.

“Good to Be Alive” is one of those songs that I wrote as a reminder to myself. No matter how busy life gets, no matter how hard things are, there’s always the silver lining that I woke up with breath in my lungs. The song highlights trivial things that happen in life, slightly poking fun at them, but with a deeper understanding that something like spilling coffee on yourself on the drive to work really can ruin your day. To contrast the negative things that happen on a daily basis, we made the chorus an anthemic hook, proclaiming that, at the end of the day, it’s so good to be alive. The song is fun and a bit tongue-in-cheek, but my hope is that when people listen to it—myself included—it will bring about gratitude for one of the simplest, yet most wildly complex things in life: breath in our lungs.

Verse
I wake up in the morning
Don’t matter where I’m going
Already knowing that’s it’s gonna be a good day
Gray sky, don’t care about it
No stress on where I’m headed
I’ll keep on shouting that it’s gonna be a good day

Pre
Wind through my fingertips
Sun shinin’ everywhere I go

Chorus
Ooh ooh
It’s so good to be alive
Ooh ooh
I feel so high yuh
Ooh ooh
Everything is feelin right
Ooh ooh
It’s so good to be alive

Verse
Stand still on the 405 and
Nothing can stop my smiling
I keep on moving cause it’s gonna be a good day
Flat tire on my brand new audi
Got fired and I spilled my coffee
Won’t sweat about it cause it’s gonna be a good day

Chorus
Ooh ooh
It’s so good to be alive
Ooh ooh
I feel so high yuh (up)
Ooh ooh
Everything is feelin right
Ooh ooh
It’s so good to be alive

Bridge
World at my fingertips
I’m shining everywhere I go
Don’t matter if It’s raining or it’s pouring
Only I control my story
and I’m feeling so (woo)

Chorus
Ooh ooh
It’s so good to be alive
Ooh ooh
I feel so high yuh (up)
Ooh ooh
Everything is feelin right
Ooh ooh
It’s so good to be alive

Track 2: Nice Guy

Aaron is referred to as the “nice guy.” People often say, “You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met,” but it comes at a cost – Aaron ends up focusing on others’ comfort more than his own. The frustration of losing touch with himself while trying to please everyone inspired the song. Listeners will connect with the pressure to fit in. The lyrics resonate with those who have felt the need to apologize for just being human and encourages self-acceptance, urging listeners to embrace their true selves without apology.

I’ve always been known as the “nice guy.” I’ve heard many times, “You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met.” Sometimes, it comes at a cost because I’m often so conscious of other people and their comfort that I neglect my own. So much so that I find myself forgetting how to be myself because I’m so caught up in being something for everyone else. I wrote this song out of frustration for falling into that habit way too much. I would feel like I owed people apologies if I wasn’t everything I thought they wanted me to be. The song is more of a question than it is a statement: Why can’t I be the nice guy and get mad? Why can’t I be the nice guy and get sad? Why do I always feel like I have to apologize for being me?

Verse
I’ve seen the underdog rise to fame
I’ve seen the sun in the pouring rain – I
Caught a chill on the warmest night
And I can’t deny, How the odds defy
I’ve seen ‘em fall and they rise again
I’ve seen an enemy become a friend- I
Wonder why I’m so hard on myself
If it were anyone else I would know how to help

Pre-Chorus
Why can’t I be the nice guy and get mad
Why can’t I have an off day and be sad
Why can’t I show up late to the party
Without the feeling I should be sorry

Chorus
Sorry for being human
Sorry for being me
Sorry for being human
Sorry for being me

Verse
I’ve been the smile on the darkest day
I’ve been the peace in the thick of hate – I
Never give up on the weakest link
Man, I hate to see someone not succeed
I’ve never been the kind to put up a fight
Always find myself on that silver line – I
Wonder why I still second guess
If people love me less when my life is a mess

Pre-Chorus
Why can’t I be the nice guy and get mad
Why can’t I have an off day and be sad
Why can’t I show up late to the party
Without the feeling I should be sorry

Chorus
Sorry for being human
Sorry for being me
Sorry for being human
Sorry for being me

Bridge
I should be sorry for all of the times that I wasn’t myself
Trying my best to be something for somebody else
I shouldn’t be

Chorus
Sorry for being human
Sorry for being me
Sorry for being human
Sorry for being me

Track 3: Making Strangers Jealous

In “Making Strangers Jealous,” Aaron shares the happiness of being married to Kristin Kellim; playfully recalling moments with his wife from the first date and the ongoing excitement after 12 years together. The lyrics express a light and heartfelt exploration of their special connection, making their love stand out and even making strangers a bit envious. With its catchy melody and lyrics, the song is more than just a celebration of a personal love story; it’s an invitation for everyone to appreciate and share in the beauty of lasting love.

“Making Strangers Jealous” is a playful and heartfelt song, reflecting on my thoughts about my wife and how much better my life is because she’s in it. I think about the ways I felt the first time I ever saw her, the first time I took her out on a date. All those memories are ingrained in my head forever as beautiful moments. I simply wanted to write a song that captures the love my wife and I share, a love so good that it makes strangers jealous when they see it. I feel fortunate and blessed to have such a wonderful relationship and marriage with my wife, and I know it can be rare. Therefore, “Making Strangers Jealous” is a light and fun exploration of our relationship, highlighting how she still has me on cloud nine 12 years later. Yeah, that is “Making Strangers Jealous.”

Chorus
Kiss you on the first date
Tell your mom you’ll be late
Making strangers jealous
Cause they know they know
I’m taking you home
Set you as my ringtone
Don’t care what they tell us
Cause I can’t leave you alone

Verse
I’m caught up I’ve been hit
In the best way
Nothing else Ever did
What ya do to me
Stopping sleep Makin dreams
come to life again
Suddenly Start to think
You’re my weakness

Pre
Ooooooh ooooh
Don’t ever want you out of my head
Ooooooh oooooh
I’m stuck on every word you’ve said

Verse
It’s been years And I’m still
On the ninth cloud
Always you Always knew
We’d be here now
In the best In the worst
In the hard times
You’re my peace You’re my first
You’re my lifeline

Pre
Ooooooh ooooh
I’ll never get you out of my head
Ooooooh oooooh
I’m stuck on every word you’ve said

Chorus
Kiss you on the first date
Tell your mom you’ll be late
Making strangers jealous
Cause they know they know
Im taking you home
Set you as my ringtone
Don’t care what they tell us
Cause I can’t leave you alone
No i can’t leave you alone

Bridge
And I couldn’t if I wanted to
If I’m better it’s because of you
No one gets to me the way you do (no one gets me like the way you do)
And I never will forget

Track 4: All Night

“All Night” was born from a spontaneous idea reflecting the charm of romance. Inspired by everyday moments, Aaron playfully imagines approaching his wife with the excitement of a first date, exploring the light-hearted side of their 12-year relationship. The song paints vivid pictures of sunset drives and candlelit moments, creating a romantic atmosphere. The chorus warmly invites listeners to be late-night companions, and the bridge expresses a desire to share special moments, like witnessing the sunrise in a loved one’s eyes. “All Night” resonates with its relatable and enjoyable essence, encouraging listeners to reminisce about early love and consider playful ways to reignite the spark in their own relationships.

All night, I wrote that with Brittany Bookout, and I came into the session with the lines, “We don’t need a play, just a little hand in hand. Would you come over?” Those were lines that just came to me. I was at my apartment, not even trying to write a song. I was probably doing dishes, cooking, or in the shower—somewhere not focused on music—when those lines popped into my head. I really liked it—the way they sounded together and the idea behind them.

Then I started thinking, “Well, that would be intriguing because I’m already married, so I don’t really need to ask my wife, ‘Hey, would you want to come over?’ since we live together.” But I thought it would be playful to consider a marriage like that too, to think of it more in those playful first-date kind of ways. So, we wrote the song around the idea of me asking my wife again to date me, asking her again if she wanted to be with me, even though we’re already together. It’s a fun, light, and playful look at a relationship that is 12 years in, exploring the things I would do to impress her if I had to win her over again. “All Night” is all about that—just asking my wife, essentially, “Would you be mine again?”

Verse
Sunset drive
And a morning view
Taking my time
When I’m next to you, and it’s cool
Cause I’ve been making moves
Just to get myself to you
Would ya come over
We don’t need no plans
Just a little hand in hand
Would ya come over

Chorus
Let me be your late night
Oh my
Take you somewhere you ain’t never been
Why don’t I
Show you all the things you can’t forget
I wanna make you all mine
I wanna love you all night long

Verse
Candlelight
& your favorite song
Ocean eyes
That can do no wrong & I’m gone
Cause nothing makes me feel
Like the way you make me feel
Would you come over
Baby come closer

Chorus
Let me be your late night
Oh my
Take you somewhere you ain’t never been
Why don’t I
Show you all the things you can’t forget
I wanna make you all mine
I wanna love you all night long

Bridge
Wanna see the sunrise sunrise sunrise
in your eyes in the morning
Think about making you mine in time
you’ll find that you’re my only

Chorus
Let me be your late night
Oh my
Take you somewhere you ain’t never been
Why don’t I
Show you all the things you can’t forget
I wanna make you all mine
I wanna love you all night long

Track 5: You

In the song “You,” Aaron reflects on married life. Lyrics explore how, in the beginning, he made special efforts to make his wife feel loved. After being married for 12 years, Aaron realizes that those gestures might have faded. With its sincere lyrics and relatable emotions, listeners connect with themes of reminiscence, the impact of time, and the lasting love conveyed in “You.” The song encourages the audience to think about their own relationships and the small yet meaningful moments that define them.

“You” takes a look at all the things I used to be really good at when I first met my wife, during our initial dating phase, and when we first got married. I remember being concerned about every little thing in life; every moment of interaction had to be perfect. I had to make sure that everything was taken care of to make her feel like a queen every single moment. You know, we’ve been married for 12 years, and sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of those little things that make her feel amazing.

This song’s verses reflect on the things I might forget to do now. But then the chorus hits, saying, “But I’ll never forget when I first saw you.” That’s a memory ingrained forever – the moment I first laid eyes on her. I knew I had to figure out who she was. So, “You” is all about those things I might forget to do now that we’ve been in this relationship for so long. But I’ll just never forget how she made me feel the first time I saw her and how she continues to make me feel.

The bridge delves into the things I’ll never forget – why I chose you, my commitment to getting to know you, and the promise to remember the small things. I promise my favorite moment is when I see you. So, it’s just a little cute look at the little things I might forget that I used to do to make you feel like a queen. But know that you’re still my queen. That is “You.”