At the age of 17 and after eschewing art school in favor of a music degree, Calvi began to learn her trade and started to assemble musical partnerships. In 2006, she met percussionist and harmonium player Mally Harpaz and later recruited drummer Daniel Maiden-Wood. Her initial gigs took place in and around London in late 2008 and 2009. The release of her debut single, "Jezebel," in the fall of 2010 was an electric cover version of the Edith Piaf standard.
The young Calvi soon captured the attention of Domino Records' boss Lawrence Bell after a glowing reference from former Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, who had witnessed one of Calvi's gigs in Manchester. Bell quickly signed her to his label. Ryder-Jones was not the only celebrity admirer of Calvi's, an acquaintance with the aforementioned Brian Eno similarly urged him to listen to this emerging talent. After hearing Calvi's raw and unplugged performances on The Attic Sessions (the early demos that she recorded on an 8-track in her parent's attic), the distinguished producer soon became her mentor and unofficial cheerleader.
Calvi entered Black Box Studios in France with the much-lauded producer Rob Ellis to record her self-titled debut album in 2010. Using vintage analog equipment, Calvi created a velvet Wall of Sound that justified the hype in the buildup to its 2011 release.
Her second album "One Breath" was released in October 2013. It was produced by John Congleton across two locations - Box Box Studios in France and Elmwood Recording Studios in Texas. The first single taken from the record was "Eliza".
Lady Grinning Soul
Anna Calvi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll lay belief on you
Skin sweet with musky oil
The lady from another grinning soul
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She'll drive a beetle car
And beat you down at cool Canasta
And when the clothes are strewn
don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She'll come, she'll go.
She'll lay belief on you
But she won't stake her life on you
How can life become
her point of view
And when the clothes are strewn
don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
The song "Lady Grinning Soul" by Anna Calvi is a tribute to David Bowie's former muse and partner, American singer and model, Amanda Lear. The lyrics describe a confident, alluring woman who moves in and out of the singer's life with ease. She is characterized by her beauty, her perfume ("Cologne she'll wear"), and her distinctive features such as a silver and Americard. Despite her seductive presence, she is not willing to sacrifice her own life for anyone else ("But she won't stake her life on you. How can life become her point of view").
The image of the clothes being strewn represents the physical act of love and the vulnerability that comes with it. The singer encourages the listener not to be afraid of this intimacy and to fully embrace the woman ("Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress"). The lyric "She will be your living end" suggests that this woman will be both the singer's greatest pleasure and his ultimate downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
She'll come, she'll go.
The woman in question is fickle and unpredictable in her behavior.
She'll lay belief on you
She will make you believe in her, and often mesmerize you with her words.
Skin sweet with musky oil
The woman's scent and presence evoke strong feelings of sensuality and desire.
The lady from another grinning soul
She is a mysterious woman with a different persona that is elusive and difficult to understand.
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She exudes class and glamour, with expensive taste in fragrances and accessories.
She'll drive a beetle car
Her choice of vehicle further showcases her individuality and flair for the unconventional.
And beat you down at cool Canasta
She is confident and skilled at the card game Canasta and can outwit and outplay her opponents with ease.
And when the clothes are strewn
Describing an intimate moment when clothing has been discarded in the heat of the moment.
Don't be afraid of the room
Urging the listener to embrace the intimacy of the moment without hesitation.
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Describing a moment of physical touch in a sensual context.
Feel the love of her caress
Reiterating the idea of physical intimacy and the strong emotions it can evoke.
She will be your living end
Describing an intense and all-consuming relationship, which can often be destructive.
But she won't stake her life on you
Despite the intensity of the relationship, she is not committed enough to make it her entire life's purpose.
How can life become her point of view
She is an individual with a perspective on life that is unique and not shaped by others around her.
Contributed by Thomas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabriel Zanatta
She'll come, she'll go.
She'll lay belief on you
Skin sweet with musky oil
The lady from another grinning soul
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She'll drive a beetle car
And beat you down at cool Canasta
And when the clothes are strewn
Don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She'll come, she'll go.
She'll lay belief on you
But she won't stake her life on you
How can life become
Her point of view
And when the clothes are strewn
Don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
Mary Ingolfsrud
This is so beautifully arranged and I just love Anna's voice. "She'll become your living......" SOUL"
Ella Knight
Such a perfect song! Sung with the most perfect of voices!
Jules Hammond
A fantastic cover version, satisfyingly new while still respecting the original song. Brilliant!
David Borucki
Great choice, wonderful rendition!
susos1965
Bowie estaría orgulloso de esta versión...
Mark Pereira
Listening to this on the day that Bowie died. Great rendition.
Rapha
Magnificient cover of the truly amazing song
RJ Nuzzi
No matter the drastic interpretation this song is perfectly structured in its beauty
Louise Voraujan
Magnificent. Thank you.
Gabriel Zanatta
She'll come, she'll go.
She'll lay belief on you
Skin sweet with musky oil
The lady from another grinning soul
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She'll drive a beetle car
And beat you down at cool Canasta
And when the clothes are strewn
Don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She'll come, she'll go.
She'll lay belief on you
But she won't stake her life on you
How can life become
Her point of view
And when the clothes are strewn
Don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast.
Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end