Red Light Stop Sign
Relationships represent a minority in Snowclone's lyrics but for some reason, the first demo features two instances. In the case of Red Light Stop Sign, the reasons lie within the background.
In early 2003, Tero was invited to submit an entry to compete for the chance to become Ukraine's first ever representant in Eurovision Song Contest held in Riga later that spring. A successful entry would naturally have to be catchy and easy enough to catch the listeners' attention on the first time around but also original enough to stand out from the crowd. For the same reason, also the text ended up lighter than usual.
The ticket to Riga was eventually snatched by a former ESC winner from Israel, but something essential had clicked in RLSS, because the song soon become many people's favourite. The next year, it won the fan-organized 3rd Chance Contest performed by Anja Veck and was included in the theme tune for the contest. In 2006, it became the title track for UFOPOLI's second album.
Like Heart-Shaped Ice, also RLSS is a story of a problematic relationship that the protagonist is trying to break away from. She's realized the situation for a long time but had over and over again ended up to forgive and accept her fate. Will the light remain red this time?
The catchy melody is fortified by the syncopated rhythm in the chorus. The structure gets some extra flavour from the atmosphere-changing break leading to the second verse. The chorus reaches climax in the forceful title phrase, followed by an exciting chord progression. The original ESC version lacked the modulated last chorus. Instead a modulation was heard between the break and the second verse. The arrangement is predominantly acoustic.
Evening comes with no sign of you
No surprise to me you failed to show
Ever thought how deep you could break a heart?
At least one that's so in love with you
You have chosen your side
On the road open wide
I'm not taking you back
No more playing in the stairway
Lean against the wall and call it a day
No more waking up in self-hate
Doesn't matter if you call it a date
I can't be your crutch
By now you know that much
Red light stop sign
Hold it back from me, go on
Should I stay for yet another day?
If I do you'll leave me anyway
Come what may - I see you walking away
No matter what I would say
Every time you have let me down
I've been gladly crawling back to you
Have I learned a thing from the past? - I doubt
Something tells me I'll be there for you
Though it tasted so good
It just made me feel bad
Better off without you
No more playing in the stairway
Lean against the wall and call it a day
No more waking up in self-hate
Doesn't matter if you call it a date
I can't be your crutch
By now you know that much
Red light stop sign
Hold it back from me, go on
No more playing in the stairway
Lean against the wall and call it a day
No more waking up in self-hate
Doesn't matter if you call it a date
I can't be your crutch
By now you know that much
Red light stop sign
Hold it back from me, go on
Red light stop sign