I am a firm believer in the songwriting methodology that I DO NOT write songs ABOUT particular experiences, but instead I write them BECAUSE OF things happening to me or things I witness happening to others. So with that being said these are the inspirations for the songs of The Puppy Love Letters.
Moving To LA -
The last song I wrote on the album. My girlfriend Stephanie had listened to the whole album prior to this song being created and mentioned that she knew none of the songs were about her…uh-oh! Few days later she was headed home for her Grandma’s funeral and told me she had gotten accepted into a school out in LA. After that I wrote and recorded this song in less than four hours so she could have it for her trip home.
Tryna Be Your Superman –
My sophomore year of college I had a crush on a girl in my major named Emily, but I was practically failing out of school at the time and felt like she deserved so much better than me, which she did, so I never made a move… I did however graduate from college.
Puppy Love –
When I was in elementary school one day my friends decided it would be a good idea to rate all the girls in our yearbook (so mature). I gave a family friend, named Jessica, a nine. Apparently this was unheard of, because when I came back to school the next week everyone was gossiping about it. They were teasing us so bad she went home crying. Then I had to hear about it from my mom… as if I had the power to stop elementary school kids from teasing each other.
Strawberry Milkshake –
I was at a Valentine’s Day dance with my friend McKenzie and somehow got roped into a best couple’s competition. One of the events was best proposal. I thought it would be kind of awkward if I said something super romantic, so I got down on one knee and said, “McKenzie, you are my Big Mac, my McChicken Nuggets, and my Quarter Pounder with Cheese, would you do me the honor of being my strawberry milkshake for life?” and the crowd went wild!
Every Other Guy –
It’s always been a mystery to me why some people love to stay in relationships with other people who treat them like crap. That’s it… no funny story… there is a story, but it’s not very funny.
Princess May –
There was no magical girl that inspired this one. It was more so this; I was single throughout most of my college career; and when football season ends Monday nights get slightly depressing. So I thought wouldn’t it be nice if I met a girl who could save from these depressing Monday nights… romantic I know.
Angel Named Bri -
Nothing good can come from Summer Love. “Grease” is full of poppycock.
Ride On (25th Anniversary) –
I read in an article once that there were no good songs about married love except for Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and one other song which I can’t remember. They said most songwriters just can’t write from the perspective. This is my attempt at achieving the impossible by cheating and writing about my parents marriage.
Niagara Falls –
I was dating a girl named Taryn and we took a trip to Niagara Falls. At one point during the trip we were looking at the falls and she leaned over to kiss me, while we were kissing I see this guy with a video camera taping us and hear him say “Ah, young love is so beautiful” in a French accent. I always thought it was humorous… and creepy… that some French Canadian dude has a video tape of me kissing a girl in Niagara Falls.
Three Words –
I had been dating a girl named Mary Beth for a couple of weeks pretty intensely and then she just sort of fizzled out on me. I swore that would never happen again. A year later the exact same thing happened with the exact same girl and I was so pissed at myself, but what can I say… I’m a sucker for puppy love.
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Hey there, it 's Chris here. I’m currently in the process of producing my next studio album. I’m taking my time and doing it right, but rest assured it will rock. In the mean time enjoy the songs from The Puppy Love Letters, which are available on iTunes.
Tonye is pronounced "Tone- Yay" and is actually taken from my middle name Ebitonye. It's nigerian, and Tonye translates into English as "The one who brings." So when it comes to making music I go by Tonye Christopher because before I picked up the guitar I had always been a kind of private person, never really willing to let people know what I'm about, and always the guy who makes jokes to avoid answering personal questions. However, that guy you see playing the guitar on stage, in the studio recording music, or with a pen and paper writing songs lets you inside in a way I've always been to scared to do... he's the one who shows you who I really am. He's "The one who brings you Christopher."
Some more stuff about me... let's see... I'm Tennessee Born, New York grown, and Ohio is where I learned to roam. I'm 24, I like to go out pretty much anywhere with my friends and have fun, except the movies. My friends make fun of me for going to the movies by myself all the time, but I just prefer it that way, mainly because I usually sneak into a second one, and I live 50 feet away from a movie theatre... literally, it's a 2 minute walk... so it makes going to the movies a lot more like watching TV and a lot less like a grandiose theatrical event. Speaking of TV, my favorite shows are The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The Hills, and American Idol. Truthfully, I don't even know why I watch those last two, but their fun to watch when I'm bored...DVR, what what! Aside from that, I stick to movies pretty much. My favorite kinds are Action, Sci-Fi (my dad's a Trekky), and Romantic-Comedies. I get a lot of flack for the Romantic-Comedies, but I don't know why you wouldn't expect that from a guy whose first album was entitled "The Puppy Love Letters."
Anyway, my favorite color is red, but I like wearing lots of vibrant colors in general. Sometimes I'll look back at previous outfits I've worn and notice a strong color comparison to the Kool-Aid packages at Wal-mart. My favorite food is a pepperoni, meatball, and onion pizza. (Would you like to kiss me now?) I probably eat pizza about 3 times a week minimum. General Tso's chicken is a close second on the ratings, but I don't eat it nearly as often.
I learned how to play the guitar because I used to be one of those people who would always say "Man, I wish I knew how to play the guitar." Now I do. I was a poet however long before I ever became a musician or a songwriter. My family is the most important thing in the world to me, even though I don't talk to them as much as I should...(I hate talking on the telephone a lot). My mom is a health teacher from Nashville, TN. More importantly, she's cooler than your mom. My dad is a mechanical engineer from Nigeria, more importantly he's smarter than your dad. My younger brother is in a hip-hop group called Renazonce. You can check them out at myspace.com/roczrenazonce. So all in all my fam's pretty sweet, and I'm just the outcast loser currently playing sappy songs on an acoustic guitar, but I love what I do, and I wouldn't change a thing.
Tonye, Christopher consists of one man, Christopher Korokeyi. Chris went to the University of Dayton to become a Computer Engineer, and graduated as a Singer/Songwriter (with an engineering degree to boot). "I had been playing the guitar for about a year, and one day I was walking through the halls of the engineering building and I saw a sign that said 'Engineers Can Do Anything'." Of course the sign was an add for engineers applying to law school, but in typical fashion Chris internalized it to his own thoughts and desires.
For the past four years now, Chris has been traveling through the Northeast and Midwest playing at pubs and clubs, and opening for bands in larger venues. In 2007 he entered into the Canal Street Tavern's Battle of the Bands (One of the largest competitions in Ohio), and was the only solo act to make it to the sweet sixteen. His first album is available on iTunes and is entitled "The Puppy Love Letters". The album was written, recorded, and produced by Chris.
In "The Puppy Love Letters" Chris has created an arsenal of songs that deliver a nostalgic account of what it is like to be young and in love. His writing style is poetically playful and reflectively romanticized so that each line accents the self-portrait being painted by the sweet, simple melodies the songs employ. He has a great voice. Sometimes it's a raspy whisper, other times it's strong and soulful, but it's always unique and always great... And if you remember nothing about Chris you will rember his voice.
The weather report is in and the road less taken is looking very bright and sunny for this young singer/songwriter.
Well Hello and thanks for becoming friends with the band Drizzle. "Made for Me" is a cool ass tune. Hope all is well with you and continued success in 08. Stop on by anytime and say hello.
hey Tonye', thanks for the request. hey I'm really feeling your music. you have a good vibe and a unique style. feel free to visit my page anytime. also,did Emily ever find out about the crush ? DJ COOL ROC-CBS RADIO
