With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s. Gifted with a strong, supple alto, Baker was influenced not only by R&B, but jazz, gospel, and traditional pop, which gave her music a distinctly adult sophistication. Smooth and mellow, but hardly lifeless, it made her one of the most popular romantic singers of her time.
Baker was born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, OH, and raised in nearby Detroit, where she grew up listening to female jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. At age 12, she began singing a gospel choir, and by age 16 she was performing with several local bands. In 1975, she successfully auditioned for Chapter 8, one of Detroit's most popular acts at the time; the group eventually signed with Ariola and released an album in 1979, but were immediately dropped when the label was acquired by Arista (which didn't care for Baker's vocals). Chastened, Baker worked low-paying jobs in Detroit and eventually found steady work as a receptionist at a law firm. In 1982, Otis Smith -- an executive who'd worked with Chapter 8 -- contacted Baker about recording for his new label Beverly Glen. Happy with her employment benefits and skittish over the experience with Arista, Baker was reluctant at first, but eventually flew out to the West Coast to record her debut album, The Songstress, in 1983. Though it didn't gain quite enough exposure to become a hit, it did help Baker build a strong fan base through word-of-mouth and she was signed by Elektra in 1985.
Working with producer Michael J. Powell (an old Chapter 8 cohort), Baker released her major-label debut Rapture in 1986. It was a platinum, Grammy winning smash, appealing to both urban and adult contemporary listeners and producing two all-time quiet storm classics in "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Sweet Love." Baker toured the world in 1987 and her guest appearance on the Winans track "Ain't No Need to Worry" won a Grammy. Her equally stylish follow-up album, Giving You the Best That I Got, appeared in 1988, spawning more staples in the title track and "Just Because." "Giving You the Best That I Got" also won Baker two more Grammys, for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song. For her third Elektra album, Baker decided to handle a greater share of the songwriting, hence the title Compositions, which was released in 1990 and featured even stronger jazz inflections than Baker's previous work (not to mention all live instruments).
Following Compositions, Baker took a break from recording and touring; after having her first son in 1993, she returned to the studio to craft Rhythm of Love, which was released in 1994. In the years that followed, Baker was mostly silent, despite her fans' clamoring for a jazz album; instead, she raised her family and became embroiled in contract disputes with Elektra, which eventually led her to move to Atlantic. She began working on a new album in 2000, but had to start over from scratch due to defective recording equipment that made the original tracks unsalvageable. In 2004 it was announced that she had signed with Blue Note and still working on her new album. In the meantime, the Atlantic imprint Rhino released Night of Rapture: Live, a 1987 concert originally available on video. Baker finally returned to the studio in 2003 and issued My Everything, her first album in 10 years. Two years later she released her first holiday album, Christmas Fantasy.
Caught Up In The Rapture
Anita Baker Lyrics
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I would feel the magic for you
On my mind constantly
In my arms is where you should be
I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time
I'm caught up in the rapture of love
Nothing else can compare
When I feel the magic of you, I'm
We stand side by side
'Til the storms of life pass us by
Light my life, warm my heart
Say tonight will be just a start
I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time
I'm caught up in the rapture of love
Nothing else can compare
When I feel the magic of you
The feeling's always new
Caught up in the rapture of you, I'm
I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time
I'm caught up in the rapture of love, I'm
In "Caught Up in the Rapture," Anita Baker presents a romantic and passionate ode to love. The song begins with a sense of inevitability, with the singer describing how she always knew she would feel the magic of love with her partner. This feeling of certainty is heightened by the repeated refrain of "I'm caught up in the rapture of love," which suggests that this love is not just a passing feeling but something overwhelming and all-encompassing.
Throughout the song, Baker uses vivid imagery to describe the intensity of her feelings, such as the line "Light my life, warm my heart." The song suggests that love provides a sense of shelter from the storms of life, and that being with the beloved can make everything feel right in the world. At the same time, Baker seems to acknowledge that this intensity can be scary, as when she sings "Say tonight will be just a start," implying that the future of the relationship is uncertain.
Overall, "Caught Up in the Rapture" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the heady, intoxicating feelings of falling in love. With its lush instrumentation and Anita Baker's passionate vocals, the song continues to be a favorite with fans of romantic music.
Line by Line Meaning
When we met, I always knew
From the moment we met, I knew that there was something special and magical about you.
I would feel the magic for you
I knew that I would feel an intense connection and attraction to you that I've never felt before.
On my mind constantly
You are always on my mind, I can't stop thinking about you and the way you make me feel.
In my arms is where you should be
When I'm with you, I want to hold you close and keep you by my side always.
I love you here by me, baby
I love having you by my side, and being able to show you my love every day.
You let my love fly free
You allow me to express my love for you without restraint, and in doing so, you have allowed us to grow stronger as a couple.
I want you in my life for all time
I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and for us to experience everything that love has to offer together.
I'm caught up in the rapture of love
I am overwhelmed with the intense feelings of love and passion that I have for you.
Nothing else can compare
There is no other love that can compare to what I feel for you, it is unique and special.
When I feel the magic of you, I'm
Whenever I feel the connection and love that we share, I am overcome with emotion and joy.
We stand side by side
We support each other through everything, and no matter what comes our way, we stand together.
Til the storms of life pass us by
Through all of life's ups and downs, we will stand strong together and weather any storm.
Light my life, warm my heart
You bring light and warmth to my life and fill my heart with love, joy, and happiness.
Say tonight will be just a start
I want to spend my life with you, and tonight is just the beginning of our journey together.
The feeling's always new
No matter how long we've been together or how familiar things may seem, my feelings for you always feel new and exciting.
Caught up in the rapture of you, I'm
I am completely consumed by my love for you, and I am grateful to have you in my life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dianne Quander, Garry De Wayne Glenn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind