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.
Good Enough
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say but the best that I can offer is love true
Still I know you wonder why
This love of mine seems to die
As if I
Live in the clouds and you live in the sea
Now you can bet your bottom dollar
Now for a basic fact like that
You'll need no clue
I just hope you think I'm good enough
I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I really do, I, I do
My my baby, I'm telling you honey...
For your love baby,
Said I would walk through fire
For your love honey
Said I would reach my highest ground
For this love baby
There ain't nothing that can turn me around
And I'll never let you down
For your love baby
I'd take a walk through fire
For your love honey
Said I would reach my highest ground
For your love baby
There ain't nothing that could turn me...
I'd die for your love, lie for your love
I'd even touch the sky, for your love...
Baby bet your bottom dollar
That I'm gonna love you
Said for a basic fact like that
You'll need no clue
I hope you think I'm good enough
I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I tell you, I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you think I'm good enough
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I really do...
(Scatting & ad libs)
In "Good Enough," Anita Baker sings about her deep love for someone and her desire to prove her worthiness to them. She starts by promising that she can provide anything the person needs, but admits that her love has a tendency to fade away. She then contrasts their differences, saying that it's as if she lives in the clouds while they are rooted in the sea. Nevertheless, she assures them that her love is certain, and that she would do anything for it, whether walking through fire, reaching her highest ground, or even dying if necessary. Despite this, she still hopes that they think she's good enough, girl enough, and that they believe in the chemistry between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you can count on me for anything you choose
You can always depend on me; whatever you ask me to do, I'll do it.
Say but the best that I can offer is love true
The only thing I can give you that is truly valuable is my genuine love.
Still I know you wonder why
Despite my love, I'm aware that you may still question our relationship.
This love of mine seems to die
You may feel that my love for you is fading away over time.
As if I
It's as though
Live in the clouds and you live in the sea
I am soaring high with my head in the clouds while you stay grounded, living in the sea.
Now you can bet your bottom dollar
You can be certain
That I love you
I am truly in love with you.
Now for a basic fact like that
That's such a simple truth.
You'll need no clue
You don't need any further evidence or explanations of my love.
I just hope you think I'm good enough
I worry that I am not meeting your standards and I hope I am enough for you.
I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you view me as womanly and mature enough for your liking.
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I hope you believe that we have a strong, romantic connection that can only exist between two people.
I really do, I, I do
I am truly sincere about my hopes and desires.
For your love baby,
This is all for your sake,
Said I would walk through fire
I'm willing to endure hardships for the sake of our love.
Said I would reach my highest ground
I would strive to be the best version of myself for our relationship.
There ain't nothing that can turn me around
Nothing could come between us and make me lose my love for you.
And I'll never let you down
You can always count on me to keep my promise to do my best for our love.
I'd take a walk through fire
I'm willing to go through pain and discomfort for your sake.
I'd die for your love, lie for your love
I'm willing to make huge sacrifices and to go against my principles to keep our love alive.
I'd even touch the sky, for your love...
I'm ready to do the impossible, to reach for the stars and beyond, for our love.
Scatting & ad libs
Non-lyrical musical improvisation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vuvu Fuzzy
Now you can count on for anything you choose
Say but the that I can offer is love true
Still I know you wonder why
This love of mine seems to die
As if I
Live in the clouds and you live in the sea
Now you can bet your bottom dollar
That I love you
Now for a basic fact like that
You'll need no clue
I just hope you think I'm good enough
I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I really do, I, I do
My my baby, I'm telling you honey...
For your love baby,
Said I would walk thru fire
For your love honey
Said I would reach my highest ground
For this love baby
There ain't nothing that could turn me around
And I'll never let you down
For your love baby
I'd take a walk thru fire
For your love honey
Said I would reach my highest ground
For your love baby
There ain't nothing that could turn me...
I'd die for your love, lie for your love
I'd even touch the sky, for your love...
Baby bet your bottom dollar
That I'm gonna love you
Said for a basic fact like that
You'll need no clue
I hope you think I'm good enough
I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I tell you, I hope you think I'm girl enough
I hope you think I'm good enough
I hope you believe in chemistry for two
I really do...
Songwriters: Anita Baker / James Mcbride
cmambafit1
Probably the most underappreciated Anita Baker song ever
David Morrison
Facts!
Christopher Clyde
You are correct.... this song flew under the radars..
Joy H
Because I'm like which song....and I thought I knew every Anita Baker song.
Justin Ford
Facts. I'm so blessed to run across this one. It feels like you can do do some salsa to it with your lady. I love it..
Paul Landry
I really do appreciate this song. Lovely blend of soul and jazz.
benjamin igbi
This song leaves me feeling immortal.. I connect with the galaxy listening to her sing.
Jeffery Broussard
Now I realize why I always believed that this is her best song on this album....the jazzy piano is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!
Nazz Me
Everytime I hear this song, it sounds brand new!!!💝
Trey Trey
Her voice is just so beautiful.