Rae was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire to a Kittitian father and an English mother, and she was the eldest of three daughters. She began her musical career at school where she studied classical violin before she turned her attention to singing: "I started off singing in church, I suppose, but people think it must have been a gospel church because of the whole, you know, black assumption", she says in reference to her multiracial background. "But it wasn't gospel at all, it was just your regular Brethren church, very middle-class, where we would sing these harmonies every Sunday. It was always my favourite part of the service, the singing".
Rae later transferred to a Baptist church, where the choir would sing traditional hymns, and Primal Scream tunes. "We changed the words though", Rae states on her website. "We didn't want to offend the regular churchgoers, now did we?"
Performing in church broadened Rae's musical horizons, and her love affair with making music was solidified after a local youth leader offered to buy her an electric guitar. In her mid-teens, she became obsessed with rock legends Led Zeppelin, "I loved that band during my teens; I wanted, somehow, to follow in their footsteps, and to create music of my own".
Rae formed an all-female indie group called Helen, which was inspired by similar acts such as Veruca Salt and L7. "It was the first time I'd seen women with guitars. They were kinda sexy – but feminist. I wanted to be like that, at the front of something".
The group raised eyebrows on several fronts; in the white male-dominated world of indie music, they were an all-female group fronted by a mixed-race singer from Leeds. The moniker "Helen" also drew attention, albeit for not all the right reasons: "What can I say? We were 15 years old, and thought that Helen was a cheeky, indie kind of thing to do. It seemed clever at the time. Admittedly, it seems less so now".
The group played many gigs around Leeds, including a memorable performance at Joseph's Well with Leeds-based band Swift, fronted by wildman rocker Royce Dunston. Despite this, the group became the first indie act to be signed to heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records, home to acts such as Slipknot, in 1995. The venture proved to be short-lived however after the bassist became pregnant and the group disbanded. "[Was I] Disappointed? I was gutted! I had no idea what to do next".
Corinne has often stated that she is a proud Leeds United Football Club fan.
After the disappointment of Helen, Rae went on to attend the University of Leeds where she studied an English Literature degree. While at University, she began work as a hat check girl on an evening in her local jazz club. Permitted to sing on stage with the jazz band when business was slow, it was there that she discovered a different type of music that sent her on a different musical path: "I kept hearing this jazz and soul stuff and I realized I loved that music too". It was there also that she met saxophone player Jason Rae, whom she eventually married in 2001 at age twenty-two. "I was Corinne Bailey. I added on Rae, my husband's name, when I got married. There's no hyphen; stops it being posh!" Jason died in March 2008.
Career
Over the space of the next three years, Rae began working on solo material – this time steering away from her indie past and embarking on a more "soulful" path. She collaborated with Leeds-based funk group The New Mastersounds on the track "Your Love Is Mine", featured on their 2003 album Be Yourself, released via One Note Records. The following year she again worked with another Leeds-based group, Homecut Directive, on the song "Come the Revolution", which was the first single from the group's debut album.
In 2004, Rae got a breakthrough when she was signed by Global Talent Publishing and then approached by Craig David's mentor Mark Hill, from the duo The Artful Dodger, to appear on his new album better luck next time under his new alias, The stiX. The resulting collaboration, "Young and Foolish", was released in April 2005 and brought Rae to the attention of the major record label bosses. Rae released her debut single, "Like a Star", in November 2005 and her first album, Corinne Bailey Rae, in February 2006. In September 2006, Rae scooped two awards at the UK's MOBO Awards: "Best UK Newcomer" and "Best UK Female". Rae recorded a live session at Abbey Road Studios in July 2006 for Live From Abbey Road.
Rae also received three nominations at the 2007 Grammy Awards: "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year" (both for "Put Your Records On"), and "Best New Artist". During the ceremony, she performed "Like a Star" and joined John Legend and John Mayer in a collaborative performance, providing accompanying vocals to Legend's "Coming Home" and Mayer's "Gravity". The poll's predictions subsequently came true, as she became only the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one. She has been nominated for Grammy Awards and BRIT Awards and won two MOBO Awards.
During an interview for the 2011 Mercury Awards, Corinne revealed she is writing a follow-up album to her critically acclaimed The Sea.
In 2013, Bailey Rae was moved from Capitol Records to Virgin Records due to corporate restructuring as a result of their parent company being purchased by Universal Music Group in 2012.
Discography
Albums
* 2006: "Corinne Bailey Rae"
* 2007: Live in London & New York
* 2010: "The Sea"
01 Like a star
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like an angel off the page
You have appeared to my life
Feel like I'll never be the same
Just like a song in my heart
Just like oil on my hands
Oh, I do love you
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
You've got this look I can't describe
You make me feel I'm alive
When everything else is so faint
Without a doubt you're on my side
Heaven has been away too long
Can't find the words to write this song, oh
Your love
Still I wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
Yeah
I have come to understand the way it is
Is not a secret anymore
'Cause we've been through that before
From tonight I know that you're the only one
I've been confused and in the dark
Now I understand, yeah, yeah
I wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
I wonder why it is
I won't let my guard down
For anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
Just like a star across my sky
Just like an angel off the page
You have appeared to my life
Feel like I'll never be the same
Just like a song in my heart
Just like oil on my hands
The lyrics to Corinne Bailey Rae's "Just like a star" describe the overwhelming feeling of being in love. The singer compares their love to a star that shines consistently and brightly, and to an angel that has come to their life unexpectedly. The singer also mentions feeling alive and describes how their love is like a song in their heart and like oil on their hands. It is an all-consuming love that has changed their life forever.
The chorus focuses on the unique dynamic the singer has with their partner. They wonder why they only argue with this person and why they blow their mind all the time. The singer describes how their partner has a look they cannot describe and makes them feel like they are alive, even in the darkest moments. Faint everything else is, their partner is always on their side giving them a sense of belonging.
In the final verse, the singer explains how they have come to understand that their partner is the only one for them. They admit to being confused before but now, they have clarity about who they are supposed to be with. They won't let their guard down for anyone else, only for their partner, who they argue with all the time and keeps them on their toes.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like a star across my sky
You shine as brightly in my life as a star shines across the sky.
Just like an angel off the page
Your presence in my life is as refreshing as if an angel has descended upon me from a storybook.
You have appeared to my life
You have come into my life and brought me joy and happiness.
Feel like I'll never be the same
Your impact on my life is so profound that I can't imagine going back to the way things were before you arrived.
Just like a song in my heart
You bring the same joy to my heart that a beautiful song does when I hear it.
Just like oil on my hands
Your presence in my life is as comforting as oil on my hands after a long day of work.
Oh, I do love you
I am deeply in love with you.
Still wonder why it is
I am curious as to why I behave a certain way around you.
I don't argue like this
I never argue with anyone else the way I do with you.
With anyone but you
I only argue like this with you and no one else.
We do it all the time
We argue frequently, but it doesn't detract from our love for each other.
Blowing out my mind
Our arguments are intense and overwhelming, but they don't change the way I feel about you.
You've got this look I can't describe
There is something about the way you look that is indescribable but absolutely captivating.
You make me feel I'm alive
Your presence in my life brings me more joy and excitement than anything else does.
When everything else is so faint
Your love for me is so powerful that it overshadows everything else in my life.
Without a doubt you're on my side
I know with certainty that you are always there for me, supporting me no matter what.
Heaven has been away too long
Our love is so strong and fulfilling that it feels like heaven has been away from me for too long.
Can't find the words to write this song, oh
Our love is so beautiful and extraordinary that I struggle to put it into words.
I have come to understand the way it is
I have finally come to understand our relationship and what it means to me.
Is not a secret anymore
I no longer feel the need to keep our love a secret from anyone.
'Cause we've been through that before
We have faced challenges in our relationship before, and we have come out stronger because of it.
From tonight I know that you're the only one
I have finally come to the realization that you are the only person for me.
I've been confused and in the dark
I have been struggling to understand my feelings for you, but I am no longer confused.
Now I understand, yeah, yeah
I have finally come to understand what our relationship means to me, and I couldn't be happier.
I won't let my guard down
I am protective of our love and won't let anything come between us.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., SPIRIT /GLOBAL TALENT MUSIC
Written by: CORINNE JACQUELINE BAILEY RAE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cyntia Lima
Just like a star across my sky
Just like an angel off the page
You have appeared to my life
Feel like I'll never be the same
Just like a song in my heart
Just like oil on my hands
Honor to love you
Still i wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
You've got this look i can't describe
You make me feel like I'm alive
When everything else is a fade
Without a doubt you're on my side
Heaven has been away too long
Can't find the words to write this song
Oh... Your love
Still i wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
I have come to understand
The way it is
It's not a secret anymore
'cause we've been through that before
From tonight I know that you're the only one
I've been confused and in the dark
Now I understand
I wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
I wonder why it is
I wont let my guard down
For anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
Just like a star across my sky
Just like an angel off the page
You have appeared to my life
Feel like I'll never be the same
Just like a song in my heart
Just like oil on my hands 🌻
Laura Duet
This is a perfect album in every way.
Emma Rose
Laura Duet a perfect singer in every way.
Creo
One of my favorite songs; Love how emotional it is.
Cyntia Lima
Just like a star across my sky
Just like an angel off the page
You have appeared to my life
Feel like I'll never be the same
Just like a song in my heart
Just like oil on my hands
Honor to love you
Still i wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
You've got this look i can't describe
You make me feel like I'm alive
When everything else is a fade
Without a doubt you're on my side
Heaven has been away too long
Can't find the words to write this song
Oh... Your love
Still i wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
I have come to understand
The way it is
It's not a secret anymore
'cause we've been through that before
From tonight I know that you're the only one
I've been confused and in the dark
Now I understand
I wonder why it is
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you
I wonder why it is
I wont let my guard down
For anyone but you
We do it all the time
Blowing out my mind
Just like a star across my sky
Just like an angel off the page
You have appeared to my life
Feel like I'll never be the same
Just like a song in my heart
Just like oil on my hands 🌻
Kent Lumm
this woman...one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of the 2000's..listen to this and then the full album {debut album from 2006} and see what i mean,,
thanks corrine,you make me smile.
Anthony West
CORINNE BAILEY RAE HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.
Ms Brie
I love this CD!
ginny lidlow
Me too. Actually discovered her on a PBS televised concert. Glad I did.
LaurenJayX0
Ms Brie me too! She's amazing and underrated!
Jacob Bruges
+Ms Brie great album!!!