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. “I did my first solo when I was four years old,” Chrisette remembers.
Currently putting the finishing touches on her soulful debut album, an artistic exploration that fuses Chrisette’s diverse musical interest into a wonderland, the young artist couldn’t be more pleased. “I realize that I’m new to the music world, but I’ve been preparing for this moment for long time.”
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. “India 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.”
Working hard in the studio writing songs and recording demos, Chrisette finished an album worth of material before even trying to get signed. “I’ve 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.”
While not hung-up on genre labels, Chrisette Michele says, “I’m excited about finding my place amongst young composers like Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. My goal from the moment I was signed by Antonio “LA” 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.” Favorite contemporary artists that are in high rotation include, Beyonce, Kanye West and NAS.
Days after giving LA “goose bumps” during the audition, the young singer found herself in a California studio called Brandon’s 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. “Babyface and I got into a conversation about the love he has for his children,” she says. “So, the first song I penned was called ‘My Joy.’ It’s a song about a child speaking to his or her father, and I think it’s quite special. Observing the artistry that Babyface possesses has hopefully made me a better performer as well.”
Having grown-up in the suburbs of Long Island, Chrisette didn’t spend much time planted in front of the television. “My parents had me in girl scouts, tap class and piano lessons,” Chrisette says. “It wasn’t like I was cut off from the world, but there just wasn’t a lot of media influence in my life during those early years.”
Chrisette Michele has always been true to herself. “I don’t feel as though I was the typical deacon’s kid, because I was taught early on to speak my mind and not be afraid to think,” she says. “To me, that is one of things that helped keep me focused as an artist who is trying to do something different in music.”
A self-described “girly girl” Chrisette says, “I 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 daddy’s little princess.”
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. “If my mother saw a homeless pregnant woman on the street, chances are they would soon be staying with us,” Chrisette laughs. “I learned so much about the world listening to these folk’s stories, and to this day their experiences can be heard in my material.”
Though already a fan of gospel and classical, it wasn’t until Chrisette Michele was seventeen that she also developed a passion for jazz. “When I was still in high school a teacher introduced me to jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, and afterwards my life was all about jazz,” 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. “Although I did have talent, often that is not enough,” she says. “My 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.”
With the release of her debut album, Chrisette Michele will soon be sharing those musical dreams with the rest of the world.
Like A Dream
Chrisette Michele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking next to Fly
His sticks was pounding on the drums
When I caught his eye
You know, my gosh, he looked at me
And he smiled at me
And he played to me
Later on I found his friend
I said, "Do you know that guy?"
He said, "Hold, girl, well, sure I do"
And to my surprise
He's been saying, "Who's that girl?"
And he's feeling you
And he thinks you're cute
And he wants to try and talk to you
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
(Dream to me)
I would have never known
I would have never known
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
Through the crowd I'd seen a hand
Reaching out to me
I took a chance and took a grab
These hands were soft and sweet
I told him he was beautiful
And he played real sweet
And he smiled at me
And it was so real when he spoke to me
I put his digits in my phone
And I promise I'd call
Ran outside and told my girls
I spoke to drummer boy
I smiled the whole way to the crib
He was feeling me
And he spoke to me
I can't believe he spoke to me
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
(Dream to me)
I would have never known
I would have never known
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
Oh, my gosh, can you believe it's true?
Mr. Drummer Boy spoke to me, yes, it's true
Maybe soon, he will call me his girl
And I'll call him my boy, you know
He could play the drums for my shows
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
(Dream to me)
I said, I'd have never known
I would have never known
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me, yeah
It's like a, a dream to me
I would have never known
I would have never known
It's like a dream to me
A dream, it's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
It's like a dream to me
(Dream to me)
I said, I'd have never known
I would have never known
And it's like a dream to me
It's like a dream
The song "Like A Dream" by Chrisette Michele tells the story of a chance encounter with a drummer boy in a cloud-like venue. The singer sees the drummer boy's brother at the club, notices his musical prowess and catches his eye. She later finds out from the drummer boy's friend that he has been asking about her and thinks she's cute. When the singer's hand is reached out to by the drummer boy, she takes a chance and grabs it, finding it to be soft and sweet. She puts his number in her phone and excitedly tells her friends about the encounter, dreaming about having him play the drums for her shows and possibly becoming her future boyfriend.
The song explores the feeling of infatuation and the excitement that comes with a new connection. The singer is caught up in the moment, feeling like it's all a dream, but cherishing the possibility of something more. The dream-like atmosphere of the venue adds to the fantastical feeling of the encounter, making it seem like fate.
The lyrics are supported by a sweet melody and simple instrumentation, making it easy to get lost in the story being told. The chorus, with its repetitive "like a dream to me" line, emphasizes the surreal and whimsical feeling of the moment. Overall, "Like A Dream" is a charming and relatable song about the joy and wonder of unexpected connections.
Line by Line Meaning
I seen his brother at The Cloud
I saw his brother at the club
Looking next to Fly
He looked really good
His sticks was pounding on the drums
He was playing the drums loudly
When I caught his eye
When he noticed me
You know, my gosh, he looked at me
I couldn't believe he was looking at me
And he smiled at me
He smiled in my direction
And he played to me
He played his music for me
And I imagined that he spoke to me
I imagined that he was talking to me through his music
Later on I found his friend
I later met his friend
I said, 'Do you know that guy?'
I asked if he knew the guy I had seen earlier
He said, 'Hold, girl, well, sure I do'
He replied saying he knew him very well
And to my surprise
I was surprised to find out
He's been saying, 'Who's that girl?'
He had been asking who I was
And he's feeling you
He is interested in you
And he thinks you're cute
He finds you attractive
And he wants to try and talk to you
He wants to talk to you
Through the crowd I'd seen a hand
I saw a hand reaching out to me in the crowd
Reaching out to me
Extending towards me
I took a chance and took a grab
I took a risk and grabbed his hand
These hands were soft and sweet
His hands were gentle and inviting
I told him he was beautiful
I complimented him
And it was so real when he spoke to me
It felt like a genuine conversation
I put his digits in my phone
I saved his number in my phone
And I promise I'd call
I promised to call him
Ran outside and told my girls
I ran outside to tell my friends
He was feeling me
He was interested in me
And he spoke to me
He talked to me
I can't believe he spoke to me
I was surprised that he talked to me
Oh, my gosh, can you believe it's true?
I can't believe it's really happening
Mr. Drummer Boy spoke to me, yes, it's true
The drummer boy talked to me, it's really happening
Maybe soon, he will call me his girl
He might ask me to be his girlfriend soon
And I'll call him my boy, you know
I'll call him my boyfriend
He could play the drums for my shows
He could play music for my performances
It's like a dream to me
It feels like I'm dreaming
I would have never known
I would've never expected this
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISETTE PAYNE, CHRISTOPHER GRANT, MARLON LINDSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind