Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland to Michael and Evelyn Braxton. The youngest of the Braxton's six children, Tamar started singing as a toddler. Evelyn, herself an opera singer, recognized her children's talents when one day, Tamar, sang "Can you please get me some toilet paper!" Evelyn quickly started training her girls, and eventually enrolled them in singing lessons. The Braxton children also would eventually enter in their church choir, where Michael Braxton was pastor.
Brought up in a strict Christian household, secular music was initially frowned upon, causing the children to sneak and sing along to Soul Train when the parents were out of the house. They would soon start harmonizing, forming a girl group. Tamar says of this period "I was always the highest note." Her voice was in sharp contrast to her older sister's husky contralto. One day, A Toni was pumping gas at a local gas station while singing along, when she caught the attention of a producer. He heard her sing and was amazed, and decided to pull the five sisters into a group; he envisioned a female version of the Jackson 5. They released a single on Atlantic Records in 1990 as "The Braxtons," and caught the attention of producers Antonio "L.A" Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. The two had just started a then fledgling record label, LaFace, with Arista Records. The guys passed on the group, as they had just signed a new trio named TLC, but they were looking for a solo female artist and loved Toni's voice. So the girls talked it over, and Toni decided to embark on her now famous solo career.
The sisters worked as backup singers for Toni (you can see them in Toni's video Seven Whole Days). Eventually, the girls (minus Toni) would release an album for Atlantic, to which the group was still signed, in 1996 entitled So Many Ways.
In 1999, Tamar first explored her gospel side on T.D Jakes Love Songs album. Later, Tamar would meet up with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, a rapper/producer (also famous for bringing Blu Cantrell to national attention) based in Atlanta, Georgia. She recorded her solo debut album, Ridiculous, so named because of the many different musical styles on the album. The album would be retooled and released by Dreamworks as Tamar on January 18, 2000. It was lead in by the first single for the album, "Get None" with guest appearances by Jermaine Dupri and rapper Amil and featured the second single, If You Don't Wanna Love Me. The singles failed to gain significant radio & video airplay and ultimately the album didn't sell well, and Tamar was dropped from her contract,it is also worth noting that tamar proved that she could do the whistle register on money can't buy you love on tamar's deut album.
Tamar sang for the Kingdom Come soundtrack, with Toni Braxton appearing in the movie as Juanita Slocumb. Currently she sang background for Toni's album More Than A Woman (released 2002),and 2005 album Libra and resides in Atlanta. She also negotiated a new contract with Tommy Mottola's Casablanca Records, and is working to record a new album. She also sang backup in her sister Toni's famous headlining show in Las Vegas entitled, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" but has been replaced by singer Sparkle. She is currently working on a new album and her own record company with fiance, producer Vincent Herbert.
Love and War
Tamar Braxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only Marvin Gaye and lingerie, I guess somebody lied
We started discussin' it to fightin' then "Don't touch me, please."
Then it's "Let's stop the madness, just come lay with me."
And truth be told I'm wavin' my flag before it goes bad yeah yeah
'Cause we made it this far on for better or worse
I wanna feel it even if it hurts
If I gotta cry to get to the other side, let's go 'cause we're gon' survive oh
We stay on the front lines
Yeah but we're still here after the bomb drops
We go so hard we lose control
The fire starts then we explode
When the smoke clears we dry our tears
Only in love and war
Sometimes you're my general, you quarterback all these plays
Sometimes you're my enemy and I'm throwin' grenades
We'll just be chillin' and laughin', I'm layin' on your chest
Don't know what happened 'cause things just went left
But here we go back down that road
That's just the way that it goes
'Cause we made it this far on for better or worse
I wanna feel it even if it hurts
If I gotta cry to get to the other side, as long as you're there I'll survive oh
We stay on the front lines
Yeah but we're still here after the bomb drops
We go so hard we lose control
The fire starts then we explode
When the smoke clears we dry our tears
Only in love and war
As long as we make up after every fight when it's over
You know I'm comin' home right there where I belong
I'm takin' off this armor oh-oh-oh-whoa-ooh-oh-oh
And we stay on the front lines
Yeah but we're still here after the bomb drops
We go so hard we lose control
The fire starts then we explode baby
When the smoke clears we dry our tears
Only in love and war
Only in love and war
Only in love and war
The opening lines of Tamar Braxton's "Love and War" sets the tone for the song's exploration of the tumultuous nature of romantic relationships. The singer is dismayed to find that things are not as idyllic as she was led to believe, referencing the sunny skies they were promised. The allusion to Marvin Gaye is significant, as it indicates that the singer desires a deep and authentic connection akin to the iconic crooner's soulful music. The ensuing verses describe a common pattern in relationships, one where disagreements escalate into arguments and even physical altercations, followed by periods of reconciliation and intimacy. The chorus underscores the message that love and war are inextricably linked, highlighting the inherent conflict that can arise within romantic partnerships. The final verse expresses a willingness to be vulnerable and let down defenses, in the hopes of achieving greater understanding and closeness with a partner.
Overall, "Love and War" is a song that explores the complexity of romantic relationships, and the ways in which individuals navigate the ups and downs that can come with them. It speaks to the challenges of sustaining passion and connection over time, and the willingness to weather difficult periods in order to preserve a deep bond.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody said every day, was gon' be sunny skies,
Someone told us life would be easy and perfect.
Only Marvin Gaye and lingerie, I guess somebody lied
We were expecting love and intimacy, but instead found struggle and hardship.
We started discussin' it to fightin' then "Don't touch me, please."
We began discussing our problems but ended up fighting and wanting space from each other.
Then it's "Let's stop the madness, just come lay with me."
After the heated argument, we try to make peace and connect emotionally.
And truth be told I'm wavin' my flag before it goes bad yeah yeah
Honestly, I'm trying to avoid chaos and conflict before it gets worse.
'Cause we made it this far on for better or worse
We've come a long way together and are committed to each other through good times and bad.
I wanna feel it even if it hurts
I'm willing to experience the pain and hurt that come along with loving you.
If I gotta cry to get to the other side, let's go 'cause we're gon' survive oh
I'm willing to endure the tough times because we'll make it through them together.
We stay on the front lines
We're constantly facing challenges and working hard to overcome them as a team.
Yeah but we're still here after the bomb drops
Despite facing tough situations, we're still together and thriving.
We go so hard we lose control
We're so committed to each other that we sometimes get carried away and forget our boundaries.
The fire starts then we explode
Our desires and passions for each other can sometimes lead to intense arguments.
When the smoke clears we dry our tears
After the dust settles, we take a moment to recover and heal from the fight.
Only in love and war
These intense emotions and conflicts are only experienced in love and committed relationships.
Sometimes you're my general, you quarterback all these plays
In our relationship, sometimes you take charge and lead us through the hard times.
Sometimes you're my enemy and I'm throwin' grenades
Other times, we end up opposing each other and causing harm instead of working together.
We'll just be chillin' and laughin', I'm layin' on your chest
In the peaceful moments, we're able to rest and enjoy each other's company.
Don't know what happened 'cause things just went left
Sometimes things go wrong unexpectedly and we're left confused and hurt.
But here we go back down that road
We often find ourselves revisiting the same problems and issues in our relationship.
That's just the way that it goes
These ups and downs are just part of being in a relationship.
As long as we make up after every fight when it's over
We try to reconcile and make things right again after every argument.
You know I'm comin' home right there where I belong
We always come back to each other and find comfort and belonging in our relationship.
I'm takin' off this armor oh-oh-oh-whoa-ooh-oh-oh
I'm letting down my defenses and making myself vulnerable because I trust you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Darhyl Camper, Lashawn Daniels, Makeba Riddick, Tamar Braxton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind