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.
Porcelain Doll
Chrisette Michele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's the thing
I need you to stop treatin' me as if I'm simple or naive.
As if I don't know nothing bout the world.
I understand you think you protecting me, but I could use a little room to breathe
And the respect you give a woman not a girl
Here's the thing
I appreciate all the love
But lately I'm wondering what you do it for
If the reason you act all over sweet is cause you want to keep me on a leash.
I have no choice but to show you the door.
[Chorus: x2]
If you want to cradle me like a little girl
And lock me down
I'm not your possession
I'm a full grown woman I am not your porcelain doll
Here's the thing you wanna put me in fancy clothes
And take me everywhere you go
And show me off to all your fancy friends
Well here's the thing
I really don't mind the clothes
I love a nice dress with some open toes
But a trophy I'm not, So baby think again
(Hey) and Here's the thing
You always wanna hold my hand
And say things to me like I'm the man So let me do what a man's suppose to do
Well here's the thing you can be the man all the while
Understanding I am not a child
You're a man for sure, but baby I'm grown too
Hey hey
[Chorus: x2]
Said you gotta respect me totally
Otherwise I'm goin' up and leave
And baby I know you don't want me to do that.
So you gotta respect me totally, so when I say back up off of me
Just kiss my cheek and when I leave move back
[Chorus: x2]
I'm a full grown woman I am not your porcelain doll
One more time
I'm a full grown woman I am not your porcelain doll
The lyrics in Chrisette Michele's song, Porcelain Doll, display the frustration and dissatisfaction that the singer feels towards her lover. She can't believe they're having the same conversation again, and she demands that he stops treating her as if she's simple or naive. She wants to be given room to breathe and to be respected as a woman, not a girl. She appreciates the love and affection he shows, but questions the motives behind the constant catering and attention. She feels like she's being put on a leash and wants to be free.
The chorus emphasizes her independence and strength, as she declares that she's not his possession and is a full-grown woman, not a porcelain doll. She wants to be respected totally and warns that if she's not, she's leaving. The singer wants to be seen as an equal and not just an accessory that her lover shows off to his friends. She emphasizes that she's not a trophy and he needs to think again if that's how he perceives her. She also wants him to understand that being a man doesn't mean dictating her every move, and that she's grown too.
Overall, the lyrics in Porcelain Doll are a message to the singer's lover that she's no longer comfortable with being treated like a child or an object. She wants to be respected as an adult woman, given space to breathe and be her own person, and not be limited or restricted in any way.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't even believe we're having this conversation again, oh my god.
I cannot believe that we're having this conversation again. It's exasperating.
Here's the thing
I need you to stop treatin' me as if I'm simple or naive.
As if I don't know nothing bout the world.
Stop treating me like I'm simple or naive as if I don't know anything about the world. I'm smart enough to understand things.
I understand you think you protecting me, but I could use a little room to breathe
And the respect you give a woman not a girl
I know you're trying to protect me, but I need space to do my own thing. Treat me like a woman rather than a girl.
I appreciate all the love
The constant catering kisses and hugs
But lately I'm wondering what you do it for
If the reason you act all over sweet is cause you want to keep me on a leash.
I have no choice but to show you the door.
I appreciate your love, but lately I've been wondering if you're only doing it to control me. If that's the case, I have to leave.
If you want to cradle me like a little girl
And lock me down
I'm not your possession
I'm a full grown woman I am not your porcelain doll
If you want to treat me like a child and control me, I won't tolerate it. I'm a grown woman, not your possession.
Here's the thing you wanna put me in fancy clothes
And take me everywhere you go
And show me off to all your fancy friends
Well here's the thing
I really don't mind the clothes
I love a nice dress with some open toes
But a trophy I'm not, So baby think again
(Hey) and Here's the thing
You want to dress me up and show me off to your fancy friends, but I'm not some trophy. I don't mind the clothes, but I won't stand for being treated like an object.
You always wanna hold my hand
And say things to me like I'm the man So let me do what a man's suppose to do
Well here's the thing you can be the man all the while
Understanding I am not a child
You're a man for sure, but baby I'm grown too
Hey hey
You always want to hold my hand and treat me like I'm the man in the relationship. Let me be independent and do what a man is supposed to do. You can be the man, but also understand that I'm not a child. I'm a grown woman too.
Said you gotta respect me totally
Otherwise I'm goin' up and leave
And baby I know you don't want me to do that.
So you gotta respect me totally, so when I say back up off of me
Just kiss my cheek and when I leave move back
You need to respect me entirely, or I'll leave. I know you don't want that, so you better respect me. When I tell you to back off, do it. Just give me a kiss on the cheek and move back.
I'm a full grown woman I am not your porcelain doll
One more time
I'm a full grown woman I am not your porcelain doll
I want to reiterate that I'm a grown woman, and I won't tolerate being treated like a fragile porcelain doll.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SHAFFER SMITH, CHARLES T. HARMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind