Surrounded by music since she was a small child, singer, songwriter and composer Chrisette Michele has been blessed with an old soul and this Long Island bred vocalist has a deep appreciation for the harmonic foundations that includes gospel and jazz. āI did my first solo when I was four years old,ā Chrisette remembers.
Currently putting the finishing touches on her soulful debut album, an artistic exploration that fuses Chrisetteās diverse musical interest into a wonderland, the young artist couldnāt be more pleased. āI realize that Iām new to the music world, but Iāve been preparing for this moment for long time.ā
Even before signing on the dotted line of her Def Jam contract last year, the multitalented soul sister had toured with more established artists like Kem and India Arie. āIndia saw me singing at the Village Underground in New York City. She came backstage that first night and graciously offered me a gig as her opening act.ā
Working hard in the studio writing songs and recording demos, Chrisette finished an album worth of material before even trying to get signed. āIāve been creating songs since I was twelve, so I knew I needed the right musical blend in order to stand-out from the many other performers trying to get a deal.ā
While not hung-up on genre labels, Chrisette Michele says, āIām excited about finding my place amongst young composers like Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. My goal from the moment I was signed by Antonio āLAā Reid, Chairman and CEO, Island Def Jam Music Group, was to create a seamless album that mixes soul and pop in a way that will have people coming back to again and again.ā Favorite contemporary artists that are in high rotation include, Beyonce, Kanye West and NAS.
Days after giving LA āgoose bumpsā during the audition, the young singer found herself in a California studio called Brandonās Way having a creative conversation with Babyface.
Over the course of a few days, the duo recorded seven tracks, four of which will be heard on her upcoming release. āBabyface and I got into a conversation about the love he has for his children,ā she says. āSo, the first song I penned was called āMy Joy.ā Itās a song about a child speaking to his or her father, and I think itās quite special. Observing the artistry that Babyface possesses has hopefully made me a better performer as well.ā
Having grown-up in the suburbs of Long Island, Chrisette didnāt spend much time planted in front of the television. āMy parents had me in girl scouts, tap class and piano lessons,ā Chrisette says. āIt wasnāt like I was cut off from the world, but there just wasnāt a lot of media influence in my life during those early years.ā
Chrisette Michele has always been true to herself. āI donāt feel as though I was the typical deaconās kid, because I was taught early on to speak my mind and not be afraid to think,ā she says. āTo me, that is one of things that helped keep me focused as an artist who is trying to do something different in music.ā
A self-described āgirly girlā Chrisette says, āI have definite older child syndrome. I helped my mom raise my brothers like they were my own children, but I also had the pleasure of being daddyās little princess.ā
In addition to her own relatives, Chrisette was blessed with an extended family that included the many folks that her mother allowed to room in their house. āIf my mother saw a homeless pregnant woman on the street, chances are they would soon be staying with us,ā Chrisette laughs. āI learned so much about the world listening to these folkās stories, and to this day their experiences can be heard in my material.ā
Though already a fan of gospel and classical, it wasnāt until Chrisette Michele was seventeen that she also developed a passion for jazz. āWhen I was still in high school a teacher introduced me to jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, and afterwards my life was all about jazz,ā she remembers.
Majoring in music at 5 Towns College in Long Island, Chrisette cites the nurturing sway of her teachers for where she is today. āAlthough I did have talent, often that is not enough,ā she says. āMy professors taught me how to be a professional and to be serious about my music. They taught me how to put the music that I dream about at night on paper in the morning.ā
With the release of her debut album, Chrisette Michele will soon be sharing those musical dreams with the rest of the world.
Best of Me
Chrisette Michele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crossing the walk with your lady
I caught your eye from afar
I noticed she wore a ring
I found a smile against my will
Wish it was genuine
I put away my desire
No more in love with you still
Loved you, lost you, thought I'd give you all the best of me
We departed brokenhearted; I need to be free
What we had was oh-so lovely, I'll swallow my pain
It's my time to find the best of me
Can't be the time to be beggin'
Can't be the time to plead
My mama made me much wiser
What's mine will be just for me, yeah
I'm trying hard just to focus
I'm trying hard to sleep
Promise, I'm glad you're happy
When it's my time, it will be
Look, I'm moving on, whoa, whoa, whoa
Loved you, lost you, thought I'd give you all the best of me
We departed brokenhearted; I need to be free
What we had was oh-so lovely, I'll swallow my pain
It's my time to find the best of me
Oh my, why have I been
Just so foolish all this time?
Not realizing the beauty that your eyes once saw in mine
I guess it's time to find the best in me
Loved you, lost you, thought I'd give you all the best of me
We departed brokenhearted; I need to be free
What we had was oh-so lovely, I'll swallow my pain
It's my time to find the best of me
Oh, oh, oh, the best of me
In Chrisette Michele's song "Best Of Me," the singer confronts her past love when she sees him with another woman. She catches his eye but recognizes that he has moved on to a committed relationship because she is wearing a ring. Despite her desire, she attempts to put away any feelings she has left for him and move on with her life. While she acknowledges that what they had was once lovely, she accepts their brokenhearted departure and uses it as an opportunity to find the best version of herself.
Throughout the song, she expresses self-worth and self-love by refusing to beg or plead for his attention. Instead, she focuses on herself, with the encouragement of her mother's wisdom. She recognizes the pain that their relationship brought her, but she doesn't let it define her. Although she has been foolish in the past, she understands that it is time to find the best in herself.
Overall, "Best Of Me" is about coming to terms with the end of a relationship and using it as an opportunity to grow as a person. It's about finding one's self-worth and moving forward with confidence, even when it's challenging.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw you again at the parlor
Encountered you again by chance in the parlor
Crossing the walk with your lady
Walking with your girlfriend
I caught your eye from afar
You looked at me from a distance
I noticed she wore a ring
I saw her wearing a ring
I found a smile against my will
As you looked at me, I tried not to smile
Wish it was genuine
I hoped that it was a sincere smile
I put away my desire
I suppressed my feelings
No more in love with you still
I'm no longer in love with you, but still have feelings
Look, I am moving on, ooo
I'm letting go of the past and moving forward
Loved you, lost you, thought I'd give you all the best of me
I loved you, we broke up, and I thought I gave you everything I had
We departed brokenhearted; I need to be free
We left each other with broken hearts, and I need to find freedom
What we had was oh-so lovely, I'll swallow my pain
What we shared was beautiful, even though it hurts me
It's my time to find the best of me
Now it's my turn to discover the best in myself
Can't be the time to be beggin'
I can't beg you to stay with me
Can't be the time to plead
I can't implore you to come back to me
My mama made me much wiser
My mother taught me to be wise
What's mine will be just for me, yeah
I'll keep what's mine for myself
I'm trying hard just to focus
I'm making an effort to concentrate
I'm trying hard to sleep
I'm struggling to fall asleep
Promise, I'm glad you're happy
I promise that I'm happy that you're happy
When it's my time, it will be
When it's meant to be for me, it will happen
Oh my, why have I been
Oh my, why was I so
Just so foolish all this time?
So foolish for all this time?
Not realizing the beauty that your eyes once saw in mine
I didn't recognize the beauty that you once found in me
I guess it's time to find the best in me
I suppose it's time for me to discover the best in myself
Oh, oh, oh, the best of me
The best version of myself
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KENNY BABYFACE EDMONDS, CHRISETTE MICHELE PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lil J
This deserves so much more recognition her music is amazing and just so soulful and relaxing. Nothing harsh like nowadays.
jnefitema yep
I agree
Precious kreations
Javonda Renee amen
Corey A.C.I.E
I hate to say it if a white artist released this it would have went diamond,and she would have a Grammy for album of the year.
PorshƩ Nichelle
Lol I have no Idea how this song just randomly popped into my head I haven't listened to this in years.... But now I remember why I loved her so much her voice is so beautiful
PorshƩ Nichelle
Lol I'm here again 2018
San C
And in 2019 toošš
Lela Robinson
2020
LIL JON'S
@PorshƩ Nichelle come back 2020
Blissedx
2021