2025 Competition Entry:
Me & Stella by Greg Lastrapes
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Genre
Pop
Artist
Website
Co-writer(s)
no
Performer(s)
Greg Lastrapes – Vocals, Fender Rhodes; Jimmy Keegan – Drums; Kevin Wyatt – Bass; Dave Judy – Electric Guitar; John Parr – Slide Guitar
Description
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Bio
Born in 1968, I’m a native Angeleno and former showbiz kid. I first sang on stage at the age of seven, and by the time I was twelve, I had earned my SAG and AFTRA union cards. In the early 1980s, I appeared in the popular live kids’ cabaret Let’s Put On a Show, which ran for nearly three years at the legendary Roxy on Sunset.
In my early twenties—while hustling as a recording studio runner and engineer—I squeezed in studio time whenever possible to record my band and dove headfirst into the Hollywood music scene. In the 1990s, I became a published songwriter and ASCAP memeber, with co-writes on albums by Shivaree (Capitol) & Karissa Noel (Sony/Epic).
For the last couple of decades, I’ve worked as a first-call session singer for advertising, lending my voice to international jingles for brands like Apple, Visa, IKEA, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Mattel, and Fiat, as well as film and TV productions such as La La Land, Mad Men, The Simpsons, and many more.
I also have a background in filmmaking and design and have directed music videos for Ambrosia Parsley and Holly Miranda. In 2023, I had the honor of directing the music video for my daughter Scarlet’s debut single, Shady Little Lady, as well as co-producing the track with her.
In my early twenties—while hustling as a recording studio runner and engineer—I squeezed in studio time whenever possible to record my band and dove headfirst into the Hollywood music scene. In the 1990s, I became a published songwriter and ASCAP memeber, with co-writes on albums by Shivaree (Capitol) & Karissa Noel (Sony/Epic).
For the last couple of decades, I’ve worked as a first-call session singer for advertising, lending my voice to international jingles for brands like Apple, Visa, IKEA, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Mattel, and Fiat, as well as film and TV productions such as La La Land, Mad Men, The Simpsons, and many more.
I also have a background in filmmaking and design and have directed music videos for Ambrosia Parsley and Holly Miranda. In 2023, I had the honor of directing the music video for my daughter Scarlet’s debut single, Shady Little Lady, as well as co-producing the track with her.
Lyrics
Me & Stella in my pickup,
Parked on a hill under starlit skies,
I stare down at the city below,
She rests her head gently on my thigh.
She tells me the secrets that no one else hears.
I tell her some jokes and she laughs through her tears.
Me & Stella & all these years.
Me & Stella on the telephone,
Cities apart in our underwear,
Share our thoughts on the nature of love,
And our careers and the clothes we wear.
She says, “Babe, you’re the sweetest guy I’ve ever seen,
But the chicks won’t respond ’til you learn to be mean.”
Me & Stella & our smokescreens.
Me & Stella at the Harbor House,
Negotiating her broken heart,
Only recently imposed upon
Then meticulously picked apart.
She has learned reckless love doesn’t tend to be true,
And even messiahs can let you down, too.
Me & Stella & shades of blue.
In a life ripe with options and chances
I’m sorry for the ones that resist,
Because to live without failure and pain
Is merely to exist.
Me & Stella on the futon,
Light up some incense and roll some scraps.
Language flows like an oil spill
In our slick, undulating rap.
We talk of Lolita and time machines,
We talk about maybe fulfilling some dreams.
Me & Stella & our hill of beans.
Parked on a hill under starlit skies,
I stare down at the city below,
She rests her head gently on my thigh.
She tells me the secrets that no one else hears.
I tell her some jokes and she laughs through her tears.
Me & Stella & all these years.
Me & Stella on the telephone,
Cities apart in our underwear,
Share our thoughts on the nature of love,
And our careers and the clothes we wear.
She says, “Babe, you’re the sweetest guy I’ve ever seen,
But the chicks won’t respond ’til you learn to be mean.”
Me & Stella & our smokescreens.
Me & Stella at the Harbor House,
Negotiating her broken heart,
Only recently imposed upon
Then meticulously picked apart.
She has learned reckless love doesn’t tend to be true,
And even messiahs can let you down, too.
Me & Stella & shades of blue.
In a life ripe with options and chances
I’m sorry for the ones that resist,
Because to live without failure and pain
Is merely to exist.
Me & Stella on the futon,
Light up some incense and roll some scraps.
Language flows like an oil spill
In our slick, undulating rap.
We talk of Lolita and time machines,
We talk about maybe fulfilling some dreams.
Me & Stella & our hill of beans.
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