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.
You Belong To Me
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To strangers, I've got loving eyes of my own,
Of my own.
You belong to me.
Why'd you tell me this?
Were you looking for my reaction?
Don't you know I'll always be your girl?
You do not have to prove to me you're beautiful
I can tell.
You belong to me
You belong to me, baby
You belong to me, can it be baby that you are not sure?
You belong to me,
Thought we'd closed the book,
I thought we'd locked the door.
Baby, you don't have to prove to me you're beautiful
To strangers, I've got loving eyes of my own, of my own,
And I know, darling.
You belong to me,
You belong to me, yes you do,
Tell that woman something baby,
I believe you know what I want you to say to her, yes
Want you to tell her baby,
Tell her that I love you,
Tell this woman, tell her?
You belong to me,
Everybody knows this baby,
All of your friends, all of your friends baby
Told me this was going on,
I can't stand it, baby
What you doing, baby, what you doing?
Where you going, baby, where you going?
"You Belong to Me" is a love ballad by Anita Baker from her second album, Rapture. The lyrics convey a sense of possessiveness and passion as Baker sings about her love for someone who belongs to her. The first verse starts with Baker telling her love that they don't have to prove their beauty to her, as she already knows it. She continues to infuse a sense of intimacy by stating that she has "loving eyes of my own." Baker is assured of her love's beauty and does not feel threatened by the opinion of strangers.
In the chorus, Baker confidently proclaims that her love belongs to her, and there is no need to confirm or reassure it to others. She is confident in their love and wants her partner to know that as well. In the second verse, Baker's lover confides in her, and she reassures them that she will always be there for them, and their love is not ever in question as she knows it belongs to her.
The bridge of the song changes the tone and becomes more urgent, with Baker questioning her love's actions and choices. She wants her love to tell her something crucial, and she wants them to confess their love to someone else, whom she feels is a threat to their relationship. Baker's passion is evident in her pleading voice as she asks her love to tell this other woman that she loves them and that they belong to Baker.
Overall, "You Belong to Me" is a song that celebrates the intimacy and possessiveness of true love. Baker's lyrics showcase her passion and assurance in her relationship, while also highlighting the struggles and hurdles that come with love.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't have to prove to me you're beautiful
I already find you beautiful and don't need any convincing
To strangers, I've got loving eyes of my own,
Of my own.
I have my own way of seeing you and I don't need anyone else's opinion
You belong to me.
You are mine and I am yours
Why'd you tell me this?
Why did you share this information with me?
Were you looking for my reaction?
Did you want to see how I would respond to this news?
Don't you know I'll always be your girl?
I will always be here for you, no matter what
You belong to me
You are a part of me and belong with me
You belong to me, baby
You belong to me, can it be baby that you are not sure?
Do you doubt that you belong to me?
You belong to me,
Thought we'd closed the book,
I thought we'd locked the door.
I thought we had finished with this chapter of our lives and closed the book on it
Baby, you don't have to prove to me you're beautiful
To strangers, I've got loving eyes of my own, of my own,
And I know, darling.
Your beauty is not something you need to prove to me and I already see it
You belong to me,
You belong to me, yes you do,
Tell that woman something baby,
I believe you know what I want you to say to her, yes
Want you to tell her baby,
Tell her that I love you,
Tell this woman, tell her?
You are mine and you should tell anyone else who thinks otherwise that you belong to me
You belong to me,
Everybody knows this baby,
All of your friends, all of your friends baby
Told me this was going on,
I can't stand it, baby
Everyone knows that you belong to me and it hurts me to hear that you may not believe that
What you doing, baby, what you doing?
Where you going, baby, where you going?
What are you doing that is causing doubt in our relationship? Where are you going that is making you question our love?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carly E. Simon, Michael H. McDonald
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matthew Darnell
Good lord! I was trying to listen to Carly Simon and Anita popped up! She killed this song! Her voice is beyond stunning! Her voice makes my heart beat a little faster! ❤️
Ladyb71
She killed it! This right here@2:52♥️🔥
Harriet Johnson
Totally agree. Still listening in 2023. 🥰
Ryan J
Man, it always gives me goosebumps when Anita lays into her vocals. Like a great sax player. Sultry as it gets. Anita Denise Baker!
Anointed1
She slayed this song. I feel every word. Yesss!
James Gordon
Love & Peace Moore it's like she is singing the Music too. So Outstanding 👏👏😍
Charles Greene
YESSSSSSSSSS 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
LadyBhive1
She did periodnt.🔥❤
Bobbi Andrade
Totally!
Stacy Riden
Still loving this song in 2020..who else is with me?! 💯 🔥