Possessing both the introspective nature of Tracy Chapman and the unbridled spunk of Chrissie Hynde, Myers excels at weaving poetic narratives around starkly honest portraits of her life experiences “reassuringly long on singer-songwriting talent” (The London times).
The story of Myers’ discovery by record producer Peter Q. Harris (Will Smith) has become one of legend in the music industry. “I was dancing around being goofy, and Pete came up and said, “If you sing as good as you dance, we should work on some songs together.” Myers’ giggles, “It’s kind of an embarrassing story. Everybody thinks it happened at a strip joint or something, which of course it didn’t!”. Soon after, Myers entered the studio with world-famed record producer Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Ricky Martin, Cher, Robbie Williams). While working on some tracks in 1997, Doug Morris, president of Universal Music, dropped by to visit his pal Child. After hearing Myers, he quickly offered the flabbergasted singer a recording deal. “I was simply lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time” says Myers.
Her debut album “Growing, pains” spawned the infectious, hit single, “Kiss The Rain.” Carving out a spectacular niche on airwaves around the globe, “Kiss The Rain” stayed on Billboard’s Top 100 for over six months, reached the top ten internationally and the dance remix became a club-land classic. “Growing, pains” was certified gold in both the US and Canada.
The success of “Kiss The Rain” set off a lengthy period of worldwide touring. Driven by a need to entertain, not only perform, Myers astounded crowds with high energy, emotionally driven performances described as “electrifying” by Rolling Stone Magazin and support slots on tours with Bob Dylan and Savage Garden.
Myers made waves with performances at Lilith Fair, for which she handpicked by organzer and fellow musician, Sarah McLachlan. Her videos for "Tell Me" and "Kiss the Rain" had frequent rotation on VH1 and The Box.
Along the way Myers appeared on numerous television shows including: “The Tonight Show,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Good Morning America,” “VH-1’s Crossroads”, “The List”, and the “How To...” special. It wasn’t long after, that requests for Myers’ vocals came pouring in eventually landing her on several TV soundtracks including: “Dawson’s Creek,” “Melrose Place,” “The Real World” as well as numerous European programs.
Über -songwriter/producer Diane Warren asked Myers to lend vocals to her latest gem. The song, “It All Comes Down to You” was featured on the soundtrack and in the movie of the same name. Myers got a taste of Hollywood while shooting the video with the stars of the movie, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Styles. Myers clearly enjoyed her time during the shoot because it wasn’t long before she was acting herself and featured on “Wasteland” and “Purpose.”
“Vertigo,” her highly anticipated sophomore release yielded across the board critical praise. Vibe heralded the album stating, “… She has developed an ear for consistently potent, often provocative lyrics. It’s apparent she’s weighed every word carefully and the lyrics fuel her performance… leaving you hungry for more.” Co-produced by David Tyson (Tina Arena, Amanda Marshall, and Alannah Myles), “Vertigo” tackled issues that were even more personal to Myers this time around such as racism, sexism and religious dogmatism. “Am I Here Yet,” reflected Myers’ uncertainty that sudden success brought to the singer. Fans reacted strongly, as did legendary producer/DJ Junior Vasquez who remixed the single into a dance floor anthem and once again Myers found herself at the top the Billboard Dance Charts.
After a four -year break, Myers returned with a pulsating and provocative new record, ”Just sex”. Exploring sexuality with her renowned, often-controversial directness, Billboard magazine declared “Its delicious verses gambol across a melodic carnival imprint topped only by a chorus so intuitive that one would swear this is a remake of a song heard a thousand times before.” Remixed by Eddie Baez, “Just Sex” became an instant #10 smash on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart which brought Myers back on stage, where as always, she both stunned and delighted audiences in venues across the U.S. and abroad.
Myers' third studio album, “Tea & sympathy”, includes collaborations with such highly acclaimed songwriters as Peter Vale, (Lemar, Beverly Knight) Marcella Detroit, (Shakespeare’s Sister, Eric Clapton) and Kristen Hall, (Sugarland). While staying true to the expressive vocals and incisive lyrics that have earned her a loyal fan base and ongoing critical acclaim, Myers has broken new ground musically. Working with UK producer Dee Adam, Myers has fashioned a unique collage of sound that intertwines electronica, trip-hop beats, and bluesy guitars around her live acoustic/rock roots. “I have to confess,” says Myers “Dee pushed me creatively, to experiment beyond my usual comfort level, but hopefully the end result speaks for itself”
While staying true to the expressive vocals and incisive lyrics that have earned her a loyal fan base and ongoing critical acclaim, Myers has broken new ground musically. Working with UK producer Dee Adam, she has fashioned a collage of sound that intertwines electronica, trip-hop beats, and bluesy guitars around her live acoustic/rock roots.
Honest to the point of painful, Myers pulls no punches as she lays bare, bruising portrayals of her struggles with self worth (“Anonymous”), midnight losses of faith (“Send Me An Angel ...Is God Dead?”), infidelity (“You Send Me Flying”), and defeated Hollywood dreams (“Lady Jane”).
The first single, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” is a cathartic ode to an ex- lover. Hitting you where it hurts, lines such as “Another lover in my bed, wishing you were here instead” express the lonely frustration of an unwanted break- up. Luring the listener with its infectious hook and melancholy melody, its universal relatability ensures the listener feels that they are part of a highly intimate conversation.
Ever self- deprecating, Myers says “there’s even one moment of misguided optimistic romanticism (“Wonderful”) where I wonder what a lover, so seemingly perfect, sees in me but don’t be fooled - on “Not Another Love Song” (written about the same person), the answer becomes clear, NOT A LOT!”.
VERTIGO
Billie Myers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No reflections into hold me down, let's look around, do I belong?
Space electric blue is calling, a northern star on my credit line,
Running short of it or borrow time you blow my mind, out of control
I feel my ship is sinking yeah I'm giving in,
Afraid to fly afraid to fall in love,
On a kaleidoscope of roller coasters,
Takes me to an all-time love, on a mountain of, I don't know
You give me vertigo
Sleeping satellites are waking, turning cycles in my head,
Information highway leave me ashtray , it's ok,
But I don't want to know where I'm going 'til I get there
I feel my ship is sinking yeah I'm giving in,
Afraid to fly afraid to fall in love,
On a kaleidoscope of roller coasters,
I won't look down ''cause fear I've met,
Takes me to an all-time love,
You give me vertigo
Oooohhh
Something????
? I'm crush landing on the cloud blue, so let's leave this plane, skydive away,
Skydive away
I feel my ship is sinking yeah I'm giving in,
Afraid to fly afraid to fall in love,
On a kaleidoscope of roller coasters,
I won't look down ''cause fear I've met,
Takes me to an all-time love, on a mountain of, I don't know
Don't let go, oh no, it's vertigo, oh oh no, no, don't let me go, oh oh no,
Take me, take me, take me
The song Vertigo by Billie Myers is an introspective reflection of the fears and doubts that the artist experiences in her personal relationships. The lyrics begin with Myers feeling trapped and isolated, so far away from her present reality that she can't even see her reflections. She questions her place in the world and wonders if she truly belongs. The space electric blue calling is the metaphorical personification of her fear of the unknown - something that is calling her but also scaring her at the same time. The mention of her credit line highlights her feeling of being trapped in a cycle of spending that she can't control. Her fear is taking her out of control and making her feel like she is sinking.
The chorus talks about Myers' fear of falling in love and how the roller coaster of emotions that love brings scares her. This fear has taken her to an all-time low, but also to an all-time high. Her lover, who gives her vertigo, is the one who she depends on to help her overcome her fears. The second verse talks about how she is trying to escape these feelings of fear and doubt by filling her head with distractions. But she knows that she can't truly understand where she is going until she can get there. The outro speaks about taking a leap of faith, skydiving away from her fears and letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
Pain myself into the corner, a thousand miles from here and now,
Feeling trapped in a corner, isolated from the present moment.
No reflections into hold me down, let's look around, do I belong?
Not wanting to be held down by past experiences, questioning one's sense of belonging.
Space electric blue is calling, a northern star on my credit line,
Feeling drawn towards something unknown but exciting, with financial uncertainty.
Running short of it or borrow time you blow my mind, out of control
Feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the future and lack of control over it.
I feel my ship is sinking yeah I'm giving in,
Feeling like life is falling apart and giving up.
Afraid to fly afraid to fall in love,
Fearful of taking risks and falling in love.
On a kaleidoscope of roller coasters,
Life feels like a series of ups and downs, constantly changing and unpredictable.
I won't look down ''cause fear I've met,
Choosing to avoid thinking about the negative consequences of taking risks.
Takes me to an all-time love, on a mountain of, I don't know
Taking risks has led to experiencing a powerful, unknown love.
You give me vertigo
This powerful, unknown love is overwhelming and dizzying.
Sleeping satellites are waking, turning cycles in my head,
Thoughts and ideas are constantly swirling around in the mind, causing restlessness.
Information highway leave me ashtray , it's ok,
Feeling disconnected and unimportant in the midst of rapid communication and technological advancement.
But I don't want to know where I'm going 'til I get there
Preferring to live in the moment and let life unfold naturally, without worrying about the future.
Oooohhh
Something????
? I'm crush landing on the cloud blue, so let's leave this plane, skydive away,
Skydive away
Expressing a desire to escape everyday life and take a thrilling risk, leaving everything behind.
Don't let go, oh no, it's vertigo, oh oh no, no, don't let me go, oh oh no,
Take me, take me, take me
Desperately clinging to love, wanting to hold on tight despite the overwhelming feelings of vertigo.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEVERLEY MYERS, DAVID MICHAEL TYSON, MICHAEL LATTANZI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind