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.
Rhythm of Love
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know, this old world just,
Keeps on spinning around and around and around
And sometimes it just spins too fast
And you, you not only lose your balance
But you lose your rhythm and
It's at times like these that you just need to stop
And not only find your way again but find your own rhythm
And mother nature has a rhythm
And love? Oh yes, love has a rhythm
[Song starts:]
Can't cha come away, away tonight and talk to me
Far away from all the world's insanity.
Fill your heart with music tonight.
Satisfy your soul and ease your mind.
Open your arms, close your eyes
Hearts will harmonize
Making music in your arms
Never before, never anymore
Will you be alone
Now that you have known
My rhythm of love, baby
Rhythm of love
Rhythm of love
Rhythm love darling
Rhythm of love
Hold me closer
Times are troubled, there's no doubt
Where's the cure in times like these?
The rhythm of love is the remedy
Open your arms?.
I'll never leave anyone, a fool could see
We have all we need, as long as
We believe
The rhythm of love
Oh Lord, where would I go?
Oh without you here to love me baby?
Oh Lord, what would I do?
Oh without you here to love me, ahh yeah?
I can't stop it
I don't want to stop it
Darling oh no, no
Oh you must live by the rhythm
Oh you must love by the rhythm
Oh you must live by the rhythm
Oh you must love by the rhythm
The dialogue at the beginning of the song sets the tone for the lyrics that follow. The singer speaks of the constant movement of the world and how sometimes it can become overwhelming. She suggests that during times like these, it's essential to take a step back and find one's rhythm. This rhythm comes from within, and it helps individuals steady themselves and find their balance. The singer goes on to explain that life, nature, and love all have rhythms that we can tap into to find our own beat.
The lyrics that follow are a call to connect with another person and escape the chaos of the world. They suggest finding solace in music, allowing it to fill the heart and soothe the soul. The singer beckons the listener to open their arms, close their eyes, and let their hearts harmonize. She promises that in each other's arms, they can make beautiful music and never be alone again.
Overall, the song is a beautiful ode to the healing power of love and the importance of finding one's rhythm. It speaks of the chaotic nature of the world but offers a way to escape from it and find peace within oneself and in the company of another.
Line by Line Meaning
You know, this old world just,
The singer acknowledges the perpetual cycle of life in which the world continuously moves.
Keeps on spinning around and around and around
The world moves in an infinite circle, constantly rotating.
And sometimes it just spins too fast
The pace of life can be too quick to keep up with, causing one to lose their footing.
And you, you not only lose your balance
In the face of overwhelming difficulties, one might lose their ability to remain grounded.
But you lose your rhythm and
In the midst of chaos, one can lose the internal pattern of their life.
It's at times like these that you just need to stop
When life becomes overwhelming, it is crucial to take a moment to pause and reflect.
And not only find your way again but find your own rhythm
It is important to not only regroup, but to also reestablish oneself in their own pattern.
Because life has a rhythm?
The way in which one moves through life has patterns and beats like a song or dance.
And mother nature has a rhythm
Nature moves forward with its own internal pattern that is constantly moving.
And love? Oh yes, love has a rhythm
Love has its own particular beat and flow that can be felt within the body and soul.
Can't cha come away, away tonight and talk to me
Would you like to leave the craziness of the world and spend the night with me in conversation?
Far away from all the world's insanity.
A distance from the chaotic, unpredictable world is crucial to escape the insanity.
Fill your heart with music tonight.
Let your heart be filled with the sound of music that we will play tonight.
Satisfy your soul and ease your mind.
Through the rhythm of the music we create tonight, we will find serenity and peace of mind.
Open your arms, close your eyes
Let go of your inhibitions and surrender to the rhythm of the night.
Hearts will harmonize
Our hearts will echo each other, creating a harmonious flow of energy between us.
Making music in your arms
Together, we will create a melodic beat that will move us.
Never before, never anymore
From this moment and beyond, we will never feel alone or broken-hearted again.
Will you be alone
You will never again feel lonely in this life.
Now that you have known
Now that you have experienced the rhythm of love, life will never be the same again.
My rhythm of love, baby
The artist has discovered their own particular rhythm of love that will carry them through life.
Rhythm of love
The rhythm of love is the guiding force in our lives.
Rhythm of love
The rhythm of love is a constant, unwavering force in our lives.
Rhythm love darling
The artist is expressing their love through the rhythm they have found.
Rhythm of love
Once more, the rhythm of love is a guiding principle in our lives.
Hold me closer
The singer is yearning for physical closeness and intimacy.
Times are troubled, there's no doubt
The present moment is difficult and uncertain.
Where's the cure in times like these?
In such tough times, it can be quite difficult to discover a solution to one's issues.
The rhythm of love is the remedy
The rhythm of love is the internal song that will carry us through our difficult times.
Open your arms?.
Let go of your fears and embrace the uncertainities of life.
I'll never leave anyone, a fool could see
Leaving anyone behind is foolish and the singer promises to be there for them.
We have all we need, as long as
As long as we have the rhythm of love, we have all we need.
We believe
Belief in the rhythm of love is the answer to all of life's issues.
The rhythm of love
Once more, the rhythm of love is a guiding force in this dark time.
Oh Lord, where would I go?
Without the rhythm of love, the singer would be lost in the world.
Oh without you here to love me baby?
Without the love of the person being addressed, the artist would suffer.
Oh Lord, what would I do?
Without the rhythm of love and the person being addressed, the singer would be lost and would not know what to do.
Oh without you here to love me, ahh yeah?
The singer's life would be incomplete without the love of the person being addressed.
I can't stop it
The rhythm of love is unstoppable and pervasive in life.
I don't want to stop it
The artist deems the rhythm of love to be an essential aspect of life and does not want to stop it.
Darling oh no, no
The artist addressing their beloved with fondness, hoping that they listen and understand the importance of rhythm of love.
Oh you must live by the rhythm
The rhythm of love must be embraced and internalised in every aspect of life and being.
Oh you must love by the rhythm
The rhythm of love will guide and dictate how one should love.
Oh you must live by the rhythm
Once more, the artist emphasises the importance of living life through rhythms that are the rhythm of love.
Oh you must love by the rhythm
Once more, the artist emphasises the importance of loving through rhythms that are the rhythm of love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY JIM BAKER, MARK STEPHEN CAWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind