Bilal's classical training at the Mannes Music Conservatory in New York was instrumental to his conversance with Jazz, voice, and big band arrangements. It has also been reported that he is capable of performing opera in seven languages and writes both music and lyrics.
In 1995, Bilal encountered Faulu Mtume, and his brother, Damu Mtume (sons to James Mtume and founders of Moyo Entertainment) at a barber's shop in Philadelphia. His plans to produce film scores was shelved after he handed the brothers a demo recording; they were so impressed that they successfully convinced him to record commercially.
Bilal has also frequently collaborated and performed with several neo-soul and alternative hip hop artists, including Common, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, and The Roots. He also covered Radiohead's "High & Dry" for the 2006 Radiohead tribute, Exit Music: Songs With Radio Heads. Bilal appears in Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
His sophomore full-length recording, Love for Sale is rumored to have been shelved after being leaked on the internet. Despite no official release as of yet, Love for Sale has become an underground classic.
In 2010, Bilal released his sophomore album, Airtight's Revenge, 9 years after his debut album. The album was well-received, critics praised his lyrical substance and experimental sound.
Bilal is set to release his 3rd album, A Love Surreal, on February 26, 2013. Bilal explains that the album has a warmer, more acoustic sound compared to his previous works. He released a mixtape leading up to the release in late 2012 called Retrospective of the Man Called Bilal. 6 days after the mixtape was released, he took the wraps off his first single for A Love Surreal, "Back To Love". A video was released the next month. So far, reviews for A Love Surreal are positive, praising Bilal's natural singing talent and lyrics.
Queen Of Sanity
Bilal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And rob the sun from the sky
My love for you would still shine through me somehow
And if the rain won't fade away
My love would still soar
I love you, girl
And I know it shows
The joy I found
And when I'm at my whits end
Say the word
The gives me peace within
Queen of Sanity
From Sanity
Of Sanity
My soul
Is what you touched
The lyrics of "Queen Sanity" by Bilal speak of an all-consuming love for a person who brings clarity and stability to the singer's life. The first verse begins with an impossible scenario - blocking the moon and robbing the sun - to emphasize that even if the impossible were possible, the singer's love would still shine through. The rain is another symbol of difficulty that the singer's love can overcome. The chorus reinforces the singer's love, and he acknowledges that it shows and cannot be denied. The second verse speaks to the comfort the person brings, and how they can give the singer peace even at his "whits end." Finally, the singer addresses his love interest as the "Queen of Sanity", emphasizing how important she is to his life and how she has touched his soul.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could block the moon
Even if he could do something as impossible as blocking the moon,
And rob the sun from the sky
And even if he could steal the sun from the sky,
My love for you would still shine through me somehow
His love for the girl will keep shining through his soul, no matter what happens in the world.
And if the rain won't fade away
Even if things are not going well and the rain won't stop,
My love would still soar
His love for the girl will still be strong and will keep 'soaring'.
I love you, girl
He loves the girl very much and is expressing his feelings for her.
And I know it shows
He knows that his love for the girl is evident and visible.
I can't deny
He cannot hide his feelings for the girl.
The joy I found
He has found joy in loving the girl.
And when I'm at my whits end
When he is feeling hopeless and in despair,
Say the word
The girl simply needs to say something,
The gives me peace within
And that will bring him peace and calmness in his mind.
Queen of Sanity
The girl is the ruler of his sanity, guiding him to a better mental state.
From Sanity
His sanity originates from the girl and her love for him.
Of Sanity
The girl is the epitome of sanity, helping him stay sane and balanced.
My soul
His very being, his soul,
Is what you touched
Has been touched by the girl and her love, making him feel complete and fulfilled.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COMESS, OLIVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind