Dubbed the "queen of electronic soul", Billie first came to prominence as a guest with S'Express before leading the acclaimed deep house act Electribe 101, her unique voice hitting both the house scene and charts with a strong infusion of soul. Electribe 101 scored a brace of hits including the classic Talking With Myself and the album Electribal Memories, gaining rave reviews worldwide, before Billie departed to continue exploring fusions of electronic music, pop and soul.
After releasing the thoroughly scary Persuasion with Spooky and the monumentally beautiful Four Ambient Tales with The Grid, Billie found herself with a worldwide number 1 in Your Loving Arms on East West Records; now considered one of the all-time classics of dance music. Four more top 30 hits and the album Deadline for My Memories followed. The album explored her vision to create music that draws equally on Kraftwerk and Phil Spector as influences, and allowed Billie to tour extensively.
She realised a dream by travelling to Memphis to work with Ann Peebles, Carla Thomas and members of Aretha Franklin's band on her next album 18 Carat Garbage. Having attempted to capture the original Hi Records sound, Billie returned to Europe to add breaks and electronics to the final mix. She followed this with hit collaborations with DJ Hell and Slam and solo releases such as 2008's Moroder-fest Undisco Me which hit the top spots in the UK and US dance charts.
The Crackdown Project, released in 2010, featuring Billieβs takes on Cabaret Voltaireβs landmark Crackdown album, reinforced her unique position as an artist who appeals to both the uber-cool mags like Flux and The Wire as well as the pop mainstream, achieving 'Song of the Day' status at Popjustice. 20,000 downloads in a matter of days, plus overwhelming press and DJ support made this an unexpected success.
2011 began with the solo single Sweet Suburban Disco, Billieβs take on Italo disco, followed by a collaboration with Hard Ton on the Sold Life E.P., taking her back to her house beginnings and Electribe 101 roots.
2011 also saw the arrival of The Opiates β a project with Norwegian musician Robert Solheim. Their unique brand of electronic music combines a rare match of songwriting with cutting-edge beats and bleeps, the press dubbing themβ The Carpenters of Technoβ. The Rainy Days & Remixes E.P., served as a prelude to their eagerly awaited full-length album Hollywood Under The Knife, a celebrated gig at Rough Trade East causing much furore. Each song on the album is about another tortured diva, Hollywood actress, failed star... in search of identity, gender and a life beyond isolation. Turner-prize winner Wolfgang Tillmans, who had twice photographed Billie and selected her as βmost influential womanβ in i-D Magazine, supplied nine previously unseen images for the cover art and booklet.
The album met with support from DJs, press and blogs alike including a four star review in Metro and many βalbum of the yearβ entries in major publications. Eight music videos and a UK tour, including a gig at HMV Oxford Street, played their part in gaining The Opiates a growing fan community. A deluxe double CD remix collection entitled Hollywood Cuts was released in March 2012, with one of the mixes being chosen to soundtrack HMVβs Summer TV campaign.
Spring 2012 saw the release of a series of collaborations including Make Me Feel on Terranovaβs Hotel Amour album, and Hyper Lust on Motorβs Man Made Machine β both earning support when released as singles across the Summer.
The limited edition DVD Five Takes (A Song About Andy), featuring five movies inspired by Andy Warholβs Screen Tests, was released in September. A song entitled On Borrowed Time is presented in five unique takes, with music by electronic producer and soul singer Waterson. This unique project was greeted with press and online acclaim.
In 2014, Billie released two singles which made a serious impression on dancefloors and club charts, gaining support from the worldβs leading DJs. Her David Bowie approved cover of his song After All, followed by Off The Rails with Hercules and Love Affairβs Aerea Negrot continue to get played.
Billie is currently working on her next solo album and a number of exciting to go collaborations. A full-length soul album is to be released soon.
An accomplished producer / mixer, she is now offering to lend her studio skills to other artists.
Billie runs her record label, Disco Activisto, in Berlin and DJs around the world with growing success.
Honey
Billie Ray Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
would you try to call me honey
I always thought I knew
I always thought I knew
I was a part of you but now I know
no, I don't wanna be
I always thought I knew the pureness of your love
but now the words you choose won't ever be enough
'cause what they mean will only hurt me
'cause I don't wanna hear it this time
I don't wanna feel it this time
I don't wanna be your baby this time
I don't wanna feel this heartache
I don't wanna be your honey this time
I just wanna feel your heart on my side
no, I don't wanna be...
if I whisper words you haven't heard before
would you read my lips and help them
if I said that I'm a stranger to your world
would you treat me like your best friend
could you ever show it this time
I really wanna know it this time
'cause I don't wanna be your baby this time
I don't wanna feel this heartache
I don't wanna be your honey this time
I just wanna feel your heart on my side
if I said that I will re-invent myself
if I told you yesterday I was somebody else, well
would you listen to me
would you let me...
'cause I don't wanna be your baby this time
I don't wanna feel this heartache
I don't wanna be your honey this time
I just wanna feel your heart on my side
The lyrics to Billie Ray Martin's "Honey" describe a relationship that has grown distant and emotionally detached. The singer questions the sincerity of their partner's affections, asking if they truly value the singer, or if they simply regurgitate empty terms of endearment. The chorus in particular is a rejection of these shallow pet names, as the singer yearns for a deeper connection with their partner. The second verse introduces the idea of reinvention, implying a desire to break free from the confines of the relationship and start anew.
In essence, the lyrics to "Honey" revolve around the theme of authenticity. The singer longs for genuine emotion and communication from their partner, rather than empty platitudes and emotionally-detached familiarity. The idea of reinvention in the final verse suggests a desire to start over, and the chorus reinforces this desire by rejecting the shallow language of their current relationship. Overall, "Honey" represents a longing for authenticity and depth in a relationship, and a willingness to break free from the constraints of familiar but ultimately unfulfilling habits.
Line by Line Meaning
if I said I mean the world to you
Asking if my importance to you is significant enough for you to address me as honey
would you try to call me honey
Querying if you would attempt to call me by a term of endearment such as 'honey'
I always thought I knew
Assumption that I have a clear understanding of our relationship
I always thought I knew
Reiteration that I believed I fully comprehended our connection
I was a part of you but now I know
Former belief that I was integral to your life, but now realizing that is not the case
no, I don't wanna be
Expressing a desire to not continue being in a romantic relationship
I always thought I knew the pureness of your love
Belief that I understood the sincerity of your feelings for me
everytime you call me honey
Acknowledging that you refer to me with a term of endearment
but now the words you choose won't ever be enough
Stating that your words of love are now meaningless
'cause what they mean will only hurt me
Not wanting to hear words that will cause emotional pain
'cause I don't wanna hear it this time
Reiteration that I do not want your declarations of love
I don't wanna feel it this time
Expressing a desire to avoid emotional pain associated with your love
I don't wanna be your baby this time
Stating my desire to end our romantic relationship
I just wanna feel your heart on my side
Requesting a deeper emotional connection
if I whisper words you haven't heard before
Asking if you are open to hearing something new
would you read my lips and help them
Asking if you would assist in my communication
if I said that I'm a stranger to your world
Acknowledgment that I do not completely fit into your life
would you treat me like your best friend
Asking for a deeper emotional connection akin to that between close friends
could you ever show it this time
Questioning if this is achievable in our relationship
I really wanna know it this time
Stating my strong desire for this type of emotional connection
if I said that I will re-invent myself
Stating my desire to significantly change aspects of my life and self
if I told you yesterday I was somebody else, well
Posing a hypothetical scenario where I disclose having changed my identity
would you listen to me
Asking if you would be supportive of my life changes
would you let me...
Underscoring my desire for your emotional support and acceptance
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kubarozruba8509
nieΕmiertelny kawaΕek, bΔdΔ sΕuchaΕ do koΕca ΕΌycia.
@deepconnection1169
What a beautiful remix he did to this song. I remember when Billieβs record company mailed me a white label, one sided test pressing of this remix. The first time I played it the club went crazy. Absolutely a floor filler this remix was. It was also a number 1 dance club track on billboardβs βHot Club Playβ chart.
@SvensonGielen
Niesamowity kawaΕek! 24 lata i nadal Εwietnie siΔ sΕucha π
@alanamccourt5489
20 years old! Dear lord I do feel old.. still as good as the first time I heard it β₯οΈ
@deepconnection1169
I feel you man. I was a teenager in the 80βs and I just turned 50. Iβm feeling time has gotten away from me. But Iβve always LOVED club music. Thatβs all I listen to. I got my first job as a DJ in 1995. And record companies started sending me promotional copies of new music. I loved, and still do love vinyl records. Remixes. 12β singles. I have a terrific house and disco collection, that I am very proud of. Peace, love and house music my friend β€
@Utsusemi
First time hearing this today!
@PatricWeingart
One of the best Songs that been ever produced...Β β₯β₯β₯
@thefastandthefurious1
this is actually my favorite trance song of all time and ive heard them ALL
@standardv
Definitely. Golden era of Trance music.
@Chrisamusic1
One of the finest female voices I have ever heard.