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.
Will You Be Mine
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A feeling I can't explain
The love I lost I found again
My broken heart you came to mend
But it still seems as though we are miles and miles apart
The very best is all I got
It's all I got to give
But you arrived to see me through
And you came to me all by surprise
Then I moved the dark ness right out of my eyes
And it's plain to see
That you were all I need
And I want to know
[Chorus:]
Will you be mine?
Sugar will you be mine
Sugar will you be mine
Sugar will you be mine
This kind of love only comes around
Only once in a lifetime
But the last love I tried to hold
It left me feelin' so empty and blue
And it made me afraid to let my true feelings show
I need you here right by my side
Each and every night
My soul is cryin' out to you
It's reaching out for somethin' true
Do I have to go
To get you into my life
The suspense is tearing me, tearing me apart
Won't you bring your love
Bring it all to me
So we can live together eternally
Will you be mine?
[Repeat Chorus]
In Anita Baker's song, Will You Be Mine, the singer expresses a newfound feeling towards a past lover. The singer feels an unexplainable desire to reconnect with the person, having found the love that was once lost. While they feel that they are miles apart, the singer acknowledges that the love they shared was the best they had ever experienced. The lover was able to mend their previously broken heart, and show them the light after being lost in the darkness. This time around, the singer is willing to put themselves out there and show their true feelings, even if doing so makes them vulnerable. They plead for their lover to stay by their side, to bring their love, and to live together eternally.
The song speaks to the idea of rekindling a past love, and the risk involved in opening oneself up to the possibility of being hurt again. It highlights the value of finding true love and acknowledges the fear that comes with showing our vulnerabilities. The lyrics are truthful, sincere, and they showcase Anita Baker's amazing voice.
Line by Line Meaning
Something has come over me
A sudden, unfamiliar feeling has taken hold of me
A feeling I can't explain
I can't quite articulate it, but it feels like something special
The love I lost I found again
I have rediscovered a love that I thought was gone forever
My broken heart you came to mend
You were the one who helped heal my heart after it was shattered
But it still seems as though we are miles and miles apart
Despite our connection, I still feel a great distance between us
The very best is all I got
All I can offer you is my best, nothing less
It's all I got to give
But I promise that my best is everything I have to give
My soul was lost in darkness
I felt lost and alone, unable to find my way
But you arrived to see me through
You came into my life and helped guide me out of the dark
And you came to me all by surprise
Your appearance in my life was unexpected, but a welcome surprise
Then I moved the dark ness right out of my eyes
Thanks to you, I was able to see things clearly and without hindrance
And it's plain to see
It's abundantly clear to me now
That you were all I need
That you are the missing piece I have been searching for
And I want to know
I need to ask...
Will you be mine?
Will you commit to being with me?
Sugar will you be mine
A term of endearment used to ask the question again
This kind of love only comes around
A love as special as ours is rare and precious
Only once in a lifetime
It's not something that happens often, so we must cherish and nurture it
But the last love I tried to hold
My last attempt at love left me feeling empty and heartbroken
It left me feelin' so empty and blue
The experience left me feeling hopeless and depressed
And it made me afraid to let my true feelings show
It caused me to retreat within myself and made me hesitant to be vulnerable
I need you here right by my side
I need your presence to feel complete and happy
Each and every night
I long for you to be with me every night
My soul is cryin' out to you
My deepest self is reaching out to you, begging for your love
It's reaching out for somethin' true
It's searching for a deep, meaningful connection with you
Do I have to go
Do I need to take drastic measures...
To get you into my life
...to convince you to be a part of my life?
The suspense is tearing me, tearing me apart
The uncertainty and anticipation is causing me pain and anxiety
Won't you bring your love
Please share your love with me
Bring it all to me
Give me everything you've got
So we can live together eternally
So we can build a life together, forever and always
Will you be mine?
Will you commit to being with me?
Sugar will you be mine
A term of endearment used to ask the question again
Sugar will you be mine
A final, tender plea for commitment
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARLOS F TURRENTINE, PATRICK L. MOTEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind