She is the daughte… Read Full Bio ↴Alice Russell (b. 1975) is a British soul singer.
She is the daughter of an organist, and grew up in Framlingham in Suffolk. At the age of nine, following in her father's and sisters' musical footsteps, Russell began taking lessons on cello, and sang in choirs, before studying art and music in Brighton from 1994.
As well as the classical influences of her father, and formal music lessons, Russell listened to gospel music and soul artists such as Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin from an early age, which played a big part in the shaping of her style. Other artists such as Minnie Ripperton, Eva Cassidy, Chaka Khan, and Jill Scott are listed by Russell as influences.
She began making a name for herself in the early 2000s, contributing to recordings by Bah Samba, Quantic, TM Juke, Kushti and Nostalgia 77. Her work with Bah Samba sees Russell fusing Latin sounds with tinges of house, jazz and funk, whereas her material with the band Kushti involved a more laid back, hip-hop and soul inspired sound. Her debut album, Under the Munka Moon (2004), was an amalgamation of various singles, remixes, and collaborations.
It was followed by My Favourite Letters in 2005, her debut studio album, created in collaboration with co-writer, producer, and guitarist Alex Cowan (a.k.a. TM Juke). Her third release, Under the Munka Moon II (2006), compiled her most recent collaborations, remixes, and cover versions, including her popular interpretation of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army. The Alice Russell – Live in Paris DVD also came out in 2006.
Russell and TM Juke have been touring together since 2006 in the U.K, Europe, Australia, the U.S., and other countries. In summer 2006, Grant Marshall (a.k.a. Daddy G of Massive Attack) asked Russell to play the main stage at The Big Chill music festival. Russell has also supported Lonnie Liston Smith, Femi Kuti and De La Soul, and has appeared on the bill with Amy Winehouse for the British showcase at the Midem Music Conference in Cannes 2007.
Mean to Me
Alice Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can always be mean to me
Or you could keep me on side
We could work this out easily
But I don't know if I'll try, anymore
So carry on being mean to me
And all you'll get is dry eyes
It's like somebody died
I'm giving you recipies
Cos you have to feed fire
I'm giving you chemistry
Cos you have to feed fire
I'm giving you
Recipies, chemistry, everything
Yes all of me
Cos you have to feed fire
You could always be mean to me
Or you could treat me nice and kind
You could be huggin and a'squeezing me
You could be holding me tight
But carry on the way your treating me
And wait for letters I wont write
Wheres the kissing and the pleasing me
It's like somebody died
I'm giving you recipies
Cos you have to feed fire
I'm giving you chemistry
Cos you have to feed fire
I'm giving you
Recipies, chemistry, everything
Yes all of me
Cos you have to feed fire
The song "Mean to Me" by Alice Russell is a reflection on a toxic relationship where one party continuously mistreats the other. In the first stanza, the singer addresses the constant meanness they receive from their partner and hints at a desire to find a resolution. However, the singer is unsure if they should continue trying or let go of the relationship. The second stanza describes how the singer has been giving their all to the relationship, providing it with "recipes" and "chemistry" to keep the fire going. Yet, the partner continues to treat them poorly, leading to a lack of intimacy and affection.
The third stanza continues with the plea for the partner to treat them nicely, hugging and squeezing them, but the singer warns that if the partner continues to be mean to them, they will stop writing letters. The singer longs for the affection that seems to have died out in the relationship due to the constant negativity. The final refrain reiterates the singer's efforts to maintain the relationship, offering recipes and chemistry, but ultimately stating that their partner needs to feed the fire by giving their all.
Overall, the song captures the struggles and frustrations of being stuck in a toxic relationship, where one party continues to mistreat the other, leading to a lack of intimacy and affection.
Line by Line Meaning
You can always be mean to me
It seems as if you don’t care about how I feel, so you always have the option of treating me poorly.
Or you could keep me on side
On the other hand, you could choose to treat me in a way that keeps me by your side and loyal to you.
We could work this out easily
It wouldn’t take much effort to resolve our issues if we’re willing to communicate and compromise.
But I don't know if I'll try, anymore
I’m feeling exhausted and uncertain about whether it’s worth it to keep trying to make things work between us.
So carry on being mean to me
If you choose to keep mistreating me, I’ll eventually become indifferent to your behavior.
And all you'll get is dry eyes
I’ll stop shedding tears over your actions and become emotionally detached.
Wheres the kissing and the pleasing me
I’m feeling neglected, as if you no longer prioritize being affectionate and making me happy.
It's like somebody died
The relationship feels lifeless and unfulfilling, as if something essential is missing.
I'm giving you recipies
I’m offering you guidance on how to satisfy my needs and make me happy.
Cos you have to feed fire
In order for our relationship to thrive and survive, you need to continuously stoke the flames of passion and connection.
I'm giving you chemistry
I’m sharing with you the secrets to creating a spark between us and keeping it burning brightly.
Recipies, chemistry, everything
I’m giving you everything I’ve got, in the hopes that we can reignite the passion between us.
Yes all of me
I’m willing to invest my heart and soul into this relationship, in the hopes that we can make it work.
You could always be mean to me
I’m expressing the fact that you have a choice when it comes to how you treat me.
Or you could treat me nice and kind
Alternatively, you could choose to treat me with care and respect, which would be greatly appreciated.
You could be huggin and a'squeezing me
Being affectionate and physically intimate with me could help rekindle the connection between us.
You could be holding me tight
Holding me close and being physically present could make me feel safe, loved, and happy.
But carry on the way your treating me
If you continue treating me as you have been, things will only get worse between us and we’ll likely drift further apart.
And wait for letters I wont write
If you keep ignoring my needs and mistreating me, you shouldn’t expect me to reach out to you and try to repair the relationship.
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bartvanleeuwen9190
Yes, yes. Hell fucking yes.