Mike Tramp - 'Cry For Freedom' (Songs of White Lion)

The fire is burning
We lay our weapons down to rest
This war ain't over
'till all the people will be free

Straight from our hearts we cry
This war has stolen too many lives
Cause for the sake of freedom we
Will die
Our songs will carry on

Oh lord we try, we try
To keep our dream alive
And voices will be heard
All around the world

So stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive
Yeah, stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive

Our brothers in prison
But no crime was ever done
I call it racism
Ashamed I face my fellow man

The children are taken away
And families destroyed
And millions have died from starvation
We can't go on this way

Oh lord we pray, we pray
That maybe soon someday
The world will smile again
And they shall be released

So stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive
Yeah, stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive

So stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive
Yeah, stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive

So stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive
Yeah, stand up and cry for freedom
And keep our dream alive

So stand up and cry for freedom
And keep the dream alive
Yeah, stand up and cry for freedom
And let 'em know that we are here

Oh no, we can't go on this way
And we will never give up
Fighting for freedom
Yeah, and we will keep this dream alive

Στο δεύτερο μισό της δεκαετίας του ογδόντα άρχισε να κυριαρχεί (εμπορικά τουλάχιστον κι ως προς την απήχηση στην νεολαία) στην αντίπερα όχθη του Ατλαντικού (ΗΠΑ) ένα παρακλάδι του "σκληρού" ήχου πιο mainstream [με pop / FM rock (ή AOR) καταβολές και glam - φανταχτερές εμφανίσεις] "παραμερίζοντας" (κι εν τέλει επηρεάζοντας σε κάποιο βαθμό - είτε συνθετικά, είτε εμφανισιακά) σε μεγάλο βαθμό και τον πιο παραδοσιακό (metal) ήχο.

Μία από τις μπάντες που ξεχώρισαν την συγκεκριμένη χρονική περίοδο ήταν και οι White Lion. Δημιουργήθηκαν το 1983 και κυκλοφόρησαν τέσσερις "ολοκληρωμένους" δίσκους μέχρι και την (προσωρινή) διάλυσή τους το 1992. Επανήλθαν το 1999, κυκλοφόρησαν άλλα δύο full length albums και διαλύθηκαν (οριστικά;) το 2013.

Ο (τραγουδιστής και εκ των κιθαριστών της μπάντας) Mike Tramp κάνει "βουτιά" σε εκείνη την περιόδο και είναι έτοιμος να κυκλοφορήσει δίσκο με τον άκρως χαρακτηριστικό τίτλο "The Songs Of White Lion". Το δελτίο τύπου μας δίνει όλες τις λεπτομέρειες:

«Respected vocalist and guitarist Mike Tramp has announced the upcoming release of "The Songs Of White Lion", via Frontiers Music Srl on April 14, 2023. As the title implies, the album sees Tramp re-imagining select cuts from his former band White Lion's catalog. Additionally, Tramp will be embarking on a 'Songs of White Lion' U.S. tour in May 2023.

"For me, the period of 1983-1991 was a once in a lifetime experience.

Everything I did back then was for the first time, and even though it was beyond exciting and adventurous, when it came to an end, it was more than just the end of a band, it was also the end of a very specific time in my life that I had lived and been part of.

Over the next 20 years, I would revisit that time in my life in small parts, but never felt 100% comfortable with it. I simply could not force myself to recreate what I once was," says Tramp.

"Now, here I am again, the year is 2023 and I have recorded an album of the 'big' White Lion songs as close to the originals as possible, but exploring small new parts that today I feel should be that way.

I am not 26 anymore, I don't sing like I am 26, and I wouldn't be doing justice to the songs or myself if I tried to sing like I am 26. Today, I sing the songs that I wrote with Vito Bratta over 40 years ago exactly the way I am today.

This is the only way I can embrace them and feel at home and be honest to myself and the songs," he concludes.

Tramp first came to prominence in the music world with White Lion, who formed in 1983. After signing to Atlantic Records, the band enjoyed great success with the release of their second album, "Pride" in 1987, which included the hits 'Wait' and 'When the Children Cry'.

The band's third album, "Big Game" (1991) and fourth album, "Mane Attraction" (1992) continued the band's winning streak, but ultimately White Lion disbanded in 1992. After White Lion, Tramp formed the hard rock band Freak Of Nature, who had a decidedly darker and harder vibe than White Lion.

Freak Of Nature would release three studio albums before disbanding in 1996. In 1998, Tramp initially started his solo career. His debut solo album, "Capricorn" came out in 1998 and in 2002, his second solo album, "Recovering The Wasted Years" was released.

Tramp would then take a break from his solo career from 2004-2008 to tour and record under the name Mike Tramp's White Lion and eventually under the name White Lion, releasing the album "Return Of The Pride" in 2008. Since 2009, Tramp has been writing and recording as a solo artist releasing nine studio albums, including his most recent, 2022's "For Første Gang".

He has also been a consistent presence on the road, both as an acoustic solo artist and with a backing band, with no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Keep an eye out for news about the release of "The Songs Of White Lion" and upcoming tour dates by following Tramp's social media at the links below.»

Artist / Band: Mike Tramp
Audio: "Cry For Freedom"
Album: "Songs of White Lion"
Type: Full length
Release date: April 14th, 2023
Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Format: CD, 2-LP
Produced by: Soren Andersen, Mike Tramp

Track listing:
01. Lady Of The Valley
02. Little Fighter
03. Broken Heart
04. Love Don't Come Easy
05. Hungry
06. Cry For Freedom
07. Going Home Tonight
08. Wait
09. All The Fallen Men
10. Living On The Edge
11. Tell Me
12. When The Children Cry

Line-Up:
Mike Tramp - Vocals
Marcus Nand - Guitars
Claus Langeskov - Bass
Alan Tschicaja - Drums
Sebastian Groset - Keyboard
Christoffer Stjerne - Harmonies