Aṣa (pronounced Aasha) means "little hawk". She was born in Paris to Nigerian parents, but after two years she moved with her parents to Nigeria and grew up in the capital of Lagos. Her music is thus linked to her time in Western Africa. Asa grew up under the influence of her father's record collection, which included legendary artists such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Aretha Franklin.
At the age of twelve years, her mother gave her the opportunity to attend one of the best music schools in the country. Aṣa not only developed her voice and her technique, over time she also discovered more about the musicians who fascinated her. When she came home, she discovered Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti, and Angélique Kidjo, in whose footprints she dreamed of following.
At the age of 18 she secretly signed up for the Peter King’s School of Music and learnt to play the guitar in six months. In 2004 Aṣa met her manager and friend, Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who in turn became her musical partner and producer. He enabled Aṣa, the free spirit, to find her bearings. She wrote songs in both English and Yoruba, with the music falling somewhere between pop and soul, inspired by her musical heritage. Particular care was paid to the melodies reflecting the feeling she puts into it.
Her texts talk about her country, the things in life, the things in her life, all delivered with feigned naïveté and real irony. She states "I like writing or thinking about my texts on the bus, or the molué, as we call it. 49 seats, 99 passengers standing up, as Fela described it. Everyone’s squashed up together and mini-dramas break out all the time. And, at the end of the day, we still manage to laugh, that’s where our strength lies..."
It was at this stage of her life that Aṣa finally returned to Paris. This was her chance to test out her talent on the French musical scene, playing with artists such as the Nubians, Manu Dibango, Doctor L and Tony Allen. In the meantime, back in Nigeria, her first single, Eyé Adaba, then Jailer, were beginning to get airtime. MTV chose her as the ambassador for South Africa. Her popularity became big, that when she came back to Nigeria she opened for Akon, John Legend, Beyoncé and Snoop Dogg amongst others.
Aṣa soon signed to the 'Naïve label'. Partnered by Cobhams, and with the new involvement of Christophe Dupouy, she produced a magnificent debut album, ASA a 12 track album with chartstopping tracks. R&b rubs up against pop, with reggae also making an appearance on 'Fire On The Mountain', the first track released from the album, an impertinent and barely-disguised metaphor for an ignorant and indifferent world. "Jailer", another highlight of the album, reinterprets the old adage “you reap what you sow”. This emblematic song with its irresistible refrain opens the album by denouncing modern slavery in all its forms.
questions
Aṣa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me how many movies turn out real
There are so many questions
Questions how hard to ask
So you can understand exactly how I feel
Tell me how many people wish they were someone else
Someone that think the world wants them to be
Leaving me with these questions
Asking why
Tell me how the trees whisper
How the birds learn to sing
And how does the rainbow stay the same
How the bees make their honey
How do they learn to sting
Can a broken heart get back to heal
How do people get so busy they don't find time to love
What's the truth behind why people go to war
Why is it so many religions yet there's so little to love
Will I ever get to know the truth some day
When the youth's gonna dare where's the elder who really cares
Why do people believe things they know aren't true
When you look into the mirror who do you see
Why do we have to grow to be wise
The song "Questions" by Asa poses a series of thought-provoking questions. The singer is curious about the world around her and is seeking answers to the many mysteries and complexities that exist. The opening stanza asks about the likelihood of dreams coming true and how often life imitates art. Asa then delves into wider societal issues, questioning why people yearn to be someone else and pointing out how unjust and cruel the nature of life can be.
The second half of the song touches on the natural world, questioning how things come to be as they are - how animals know to do what they do, how nature sustains itself, and why humans are so inclined to let busy-ness take over their lives. Asa ends the song by pondering why people believe things they know are untrue and why wisdom seems to come only with age.
One of the underlying themes of the song is the search for truth and understanding. Asa seems genuinely interested in finding answers to the many questions she poses. The song invites the listener to join in this search and to challenge their own assumptions about life and the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me how many women shall their dreams come to past
Asking about the number of women whose dreams actually come true.
Tell me how many movies turn out real
Asking about the number of movies that actually have a chance to become reality.
There are so many questions
Acknowledging the existence of numerous unanswered questions.
Questions how hard to ask
Expressing the difficulty in asking certain questions.
So you can understand exactly how I feel
The purpose of asking these questions is to convey the emotions and thoughts of the person.
Tell me how many people wish they were someone else
Asking about the number of people who aspire to be someone else.
Someone that think the world wants them to be
Referring to people who feel pressured by society to conform to certain standards.
Tell me how many babies will be born just to die
Asking about the number of newborns who will not survive.
Leaving me with these questions
The idea that such questions have no clear answers and yet they persist.
Asking why
Expressing frustration and confusion often felt in situations of loss or tragedy.
Tell me how the trees whisper
Asking about how trees rustle in the wind and make sounds.
How the birds learn to sing
Asking about how birds acquire the ability to produce music through their vocal cords.
And how does the rainbow stay the same
Asking about how the rainbow retains its particular form and shape even after it disappears.
How the bees make their honey
Asking about the biological process bees use to produce honey.
How do they learn to sting
Asking about the biological and evolutionary reasons why bees evolved to have stingers.
Can a broken heart get back to heal
Asking if a heart that has been hurt can truly recover and heal again.
How do people get so busy they don't find time to love
Asking how people become so preoccupied with daily activities that they forget to prioritize love and relationships.
What's the truth behind why people go to war
Asking about the real reasons why nations and people engage in warfare.
Why is it so many religions yet there's so little to love
Asking about why so many religions exist when they often fail to promote love and compassion for others.
Will I ever get to know the truth some day
Expressing the desire to learn or discover the truth about life and the world.
When the youth's gonna dare where's the elder who really cares
Expressing concern for the lack of guidance or support from older generations for the youth who are often more daring and innovative.
Why do people believe things they know aren't true
Asking about the psychology behind why individuals hold onto false beliefs despite being aware of contradictory evidence or logical arguments.
When you look into the mirror who do you see
Asking a rhetorical question about personal identity and self-awareness.
Why do we have to grow to be wise
Questioning why experience and age are often necessary to acquire wisdom, rather than making it accessible to all individuals regardless of age or life experience.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN CONSTANT, BUKOLA ELEMIDE, COBHAMS EMMANUEL ASUQUO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kimberryjuliet7215
How d hell this song hasn't got Millions of views @2021.. asa u are a living legend and I'm so grateful to be a witness of the wonders in tongue..
@78king_kong
Poderosa!
@mofelloyd253
This song views should be in it's billions by now.... Let's get the views up people :-)
@joshlicht1359
Brilliant song, singing, playing and production
@ahmadrukayya1319
To the soul....this is wonderful.....
@imerhionrichard1948
Asa!!!. You can't be Matched by no female....Thanking God I witnessed Greatness in my Lifetime
@mocambicananivalda6781
Nostalgia 🎶
@ignatiusbunda5162
Simply genius
@rwemmysamlee4381
greatness in this song.
@amdoguns9600
Asa is a G.O.A.T