This song was a result of a random brainstorm session on Friday night. The flow of ideas went as such: Love song –> Cupid –> Arrow –> Apple –> Newton –> Newton’s Circus… or something along those lines.

We decided to call the song “Newton’s Circus”. People in Singapore will recognise the name because of a famous hawker centre here called “Newton Circus”, located beside a large roundabout (hence the name Circus). Mind you, this song isn’t about an eating joint – we just thought it would be an interesting title!

“Newton’s Circus” is what happens when the laws of the great Isaac Newton go completely berserk. (You know, laws such as gravity, motion, every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction, etc. Stuff of geek romance.)

It’s about what you get when you fall in love. Everything goes haywire, you feel like you’re walking on air, the laws of physics don’t apply to you because your heart is soaring high up in the sky. It’s a fantastic feeling, really.

We recorded the video at The Heeren mall in Orchard Road. There’s an outdoor balcony on the third floor overlooking the street. We’ve been there a few times to jam and it’s a lovely spot.

Because of the lack of time – we only finished the song on Saturday and I wrote the verses on the train just before meeting Jaye –  we recorded everything outdoors after rehearsing a few times. Bruce (BBS) kindly helped to hold the camera. Everything was recorded with the “8mm” app on an iPhone 4, no edits whatsoever.

Newton’s Circus

I used to be a big piece of wood
The geeky guy who just did what he should
Got a fear of heights and highway crashes
I’d fall right over like a house of ashes

Never pushed hard enough for a big reaction
Tuned out to boy-girl interaction
Guess I wasn’t no man-in-motion
No emotion, devotion till I drank the love potion

Cupid’s arrow fell from a tree
When I woke up, I was singing aloud
Tomorrow who knows where I’ll be
Walking on water or sitting on a cloud

CHORUS
Gravity, you’ve lost your grip on me
Can’t you see my heart is flying free
Love is a criminal you can’t arrest
When left is right and the stars fall down
Newton’s circus is in town
The circus is in town…

Now I’m a smooth talking son-of-a-gun
I’m rhymin’ all the timin’ like a speeding pun
Send in the clowns, swing away that frown
‘Cos the circus is in town

Cupid’s arrow fell from a tree
When I woke up, I was singing aloud
Tomorrow who knows where I’ll be
Walking on water or sitting on a cloud