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.
My Funny Valentine
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me smile with my heart.
Your looks are laughable.
Unphotographable,
Yet, you're my favorite work of art.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it is speak, are you baby are you smart?
Not if you care for me.
Stay little valentine. Stay.
Each day is Valentine's Day.
Baby, don't change your hair for me.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are
You? Baby are you smart?
Don't change your hair for me.
Not if you care for me.
Stay little valentine, why don't you stay?
Each day is Valentine's Day,
(scat) doo, wee, day.
Everyday is?
Every night is?
Every day ooh, ooh.
The song "My Funny Valentine" by Anita Baker is a classic love ballad with timeless lyrics that convey deep emotion and appreciation for a loved one. The singer addresses their Valentine as a sweet and comic figure who brings joy to their heart and makes them smile. They acknowledge that their looks may not conform to society's standards of beauty, yet they are still a work of art and hold a special place in the singer's heart.
The singer also expresses their desire for the Valentine to stay true to themselves, not changing their appearance or personality to please others, especially not the singer. By saying "Don't change your hair for me, not if you care for me," they emphasize the importance of accepting and loving someone for who they are, rather than trying to mold them into an idealized version. The final lines of the song, "Stay little valentine. Stay. Each day is Valentine's Day," further reinforce the message of unconditional love and appreciation.
Overall, "My Funny Valentine" is a beautiful ode to love and acceptance that continues to resonate with audiences decades after its initial release.
Line by Line Meaning
My funny valentine. Sweet comic valentine,
You are my unusual and amusing love, my dear. You always bring joy and laughter to me.
You make me smile with my heart.
You make me deeply happy and full of love.
Your looks are laughable.
Your physical appearance might be unconventional, but it only adds to your unique charm.
Unphotographable,
It's hard to capture your beauty in a photo, it's beyond what the camera can see.
Yet, you're my favorite work of art.
Despite all your differences, you are still the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on.
Is your figure less than Greek?
You might not have the perfect figure that society deems as beautiful, but to me, you are still perfect.
Is your mouth a little weak?
You might not have the most confident voice, but your words still carry so much love and wisdom.
When you open it is speak, are you baby are you smart?
When you speak, I am always in awe of your intellect, and I love how you still have a childlike curiosity about the world.
Don't change your hair for me,
You don't have to change anything about yourself to make me love you more.
Not if you care for me.
If you truly love me, you won't feel like you have to change yourself to please me.
Stay little valentine. Stay.
Please don't ever leave my side, my sweet and beloved valentine.
Each day is Valentine's Day.
Every day that I'm with you feels like Valentine's Day, full of love and joy.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind