Indeed, why does the voice of a conscious reggae sister emerge from this camera-ready blonde babe? Basically, The Ava Story, which is only just beginning, is already a triumph of an old Jamaican proverb – Who feels it, knows it. Though she’s a devotee of a music made before she was born and a world away, mid-1970s Golden Age reggae, Ava’s own breezy, sexy, sensitive spirit makes a much-loved sound fresh, and very much her own.
Helped by roots veterans like Sly and Robbie, and top UK sound men like Futurecut and Nick Manasseh, “Turned-on Underground” was recorded between Harry J’s famous studio in Kingston, Jamaica, Nick’s garden shed right by Glastonbury Tor and a basement studio in Brixton. Her vocal nuance and shimmering harmony show AVA appreciates all she’s learned from old school greats like Marcia Griffiths and Dennis Brown. One of their favourites when Ava used to sing along with her Mum, an avid Jamaican music fan, while they did the housework in Chester, was Matumbi’s lover’s rock classic, ‘After Tonight,’ sweetly re-invented here by Ava together with Finley Quaye.
Ava experimented with all sorts of music, from rock to r’n’b. But reggae chose Ava, and vice versa. “You know when something feels right,” she laughs, “I was so happy when I finally found my music.”
“Turned-on Underground” displays the many moods of Ava. Sly and Robbie’s drums and bass underpin ‘Rolling’ “It’s that stoned, two in the morning feeling when you’re at an all-night party, hanging with your friends. You’re young!” The ethereal ‘Breathe’ reflects on our earth and how lucky we are to be on it; while “Same Old Thing,” amusingly disses every day routine, reminding her of some rough times. But as Ava says, “I had to go through those experiences or what would I have to sing about?
Love, of course, is big in the mix, like the fun romance of “Mad About The Boy.” It may surprise you as they sound so uptempo, but Ava calls the rock steady of “Who Told You”, and the instant lilt of “La La La,” her “angry love songs.” “Sometimes you’re in it and you can’t get out of it, even when you know it’s wrong for you,” she explains. “I’ve felt that way, and I know there are a lot of people going through the exact same thing right now.”
Since she was a schoolgirl touring with her school swing jazz band, Ava’s vocals have always earned applause. With an innate sense of her own direction, Ava will be providing us with pleasure for years – partly because, as she says, “I write lyrics about me and my friends’ own personal experiences and I just love songs that everyone can relate to, and that will always remind them of the moment they first heard it. I want to make memories.”
La La La
Ava Leigh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me go .. La La La
I lost control .. La la La
Do you wanna know .. La La La
Don?t wanna let you go, don?t wanna let you go
Promises baby, truth and lies
You mixed them up, till they were disguised
You make me so .. La La La
You make me go ? La La La
I lose control ? La la La
Do you wanna know ? La La La
Don?t wanna let you go, don?t wanna let you go
How can I lose what I never had
You treated me good and yet so bad
I was happy, now I?m sad
Coz I?m lonely
Two faced you I can see through you, though you
You make me so ? La La La
You make me go ? La La La
I lost control ? La la La
Do you wanna know ? La La La
Don?t wanna let you go, don?t wanna let you go
All this time I?ve been walking blind
But now I know that you were never mine
Gotta find the real me inside, here in your shadow I don?t wanna hide no more
But I?m so lonely, I?m so lonely without you here
You make me so ? La La La
You make me go ? La La La
I lose control ? La la La
Do you wanna know ? La La La
Don?t wanna let you go, don?t wanna let you go
In Ava Leigh's song "La La La", the singer is expressing the mixed feelings she has about a relationship. The song begins with her stating that the person she is with makes her "so La La La", which can be interpreted as being in a state of excitement, infatuation or even confusion. She continues to say that she has lost control and doesn't want to let go of the person. However, as the song progresses we get a sense of the negative feelings she has towards her partner. She accuses him of being two-faced, mixing promises with lies and she can see through these things. This creates a sense of distrust and confusion for the singer, which is reflected in the repetitive use of the phrase "La La La". Despite these negative aspects of the relationship, she is still reluctant to let go, which indicates her conflict about the relationship.
Later on, Ava Leigh reflects on the good and bad aspects of the relationship. She confesses that she is confused about losing something she never had and that the person treated her well, but also badly, which creates mixed emotions for her. This negative aspect of the relationship ultimately leads to her questioning what the relationship means to her and who she really is. She realizes that she has been "walking blind" and that the other person was "never hers". The song ends on a melancholy note: she is lonely without that person, which highlights the complexity of relationships and how hard it is to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
You make me so .. La La La
You bring something out in me that makes me feel so alive and happy.
You make me go .. La La La
You have the ability to make me feel so good that I can't control myself.
I lost control .. La la La
You have the power to make me lose all sense of self-control and give in to my emotions.
Do you wanna know .. La La La
If you're curious about how you're affecting me, just look at how you make me feel.
Don?t wanna let you go, don?t wanna let you go
I can't imagine losing you because you're the source of all the happiness and joy in my life.
Promises baby, truth and lies
You said a lot of things to me, some of which were true and some of which were not.
You mixed them up, till they were disguised
You intentionally made it difficult for me to tell truth from fiction, making me doubt everything you said.
Two faced you, I can see through you, through you
Despite your attempts to deceive me, I can see right through you and your true nature is revealed.
How can I lose what I never had
I'm confused about my feelings, because although I never officially had a relationship with you, I still feel like I'm losing something.
You treated me good and yet so bad
You gave me moments of happiness, but ultimately your actions hurt me deeply.
I was happy, now I?m sad
Your behavior has caused me to feel a deep sadness and pain.
Coz I?m lonely
I feel isolated and alone, despite being in a relationship with you.
All this time I?ve been walking blind
Up until now, I've been oblivious to your true nature and how it's been affecting me.
But now I know that you were never mine
I've come to the realization that we were never meant to be together and you were never truly committed to me.
Gotta find the real me inside, here in your shadow I don?t wanna hide no more
I need to rediscover who I am and stop living in your shadow, because I deserve to be my own person and not hide behind you.
But I?m so lonely, I?m so lonely without you here
Despite the pain you've caused me, I still feel incredibly lonely without you around.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SYRIX, DELMARK ST AUBYN SPENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind