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"
Is This Love
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna love you,
I want to love and treat you right,
I wanna love you
Every day and every night,
We'll be together,
With a roof over our heads,
We'll share the shelter of my single bed,
Is this love that I'm feelin'? that I'm feelin'
Is this love, is this love, is this love,
Is this love that I'm feelin'? ooh
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now!
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now!
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I,
I'm willing and able,
I'm willing
So I lay my cards on your table
I wanna love you, I wanna love,
Love and treat, love and treat you right,
I wanna love you every day and every night,
We'll be together,
With a roof over our heads,
We'll share the shelter, of my single bed,
We'll share the same room,
'cause Jah provides the bread.
Is this love, is this love, is this love,
Is this love that I'm feelin'? that I'm feelin'
Is this love, is this love, is this love,
Is this love that I'm feelin'? ooh
Is this love, love, love,
That I'm feelin'? that I'm feeling
Tell me, if its love, love, love that I'm feelin'?
Tell me, if its love
Wonder a long time if its love
Love
If this love that I'm feelin' yeah
Oh now,
Oh someone tell me if its love
Corinne Bailey Rae's song "Is This Love" is a soulful and heartfelt expression of love and commitment. The lyrics are a declaration of the singer's desire to love and treat her partner right, to be with them every day and every night, and to share a home and a single bed with them. The repeated question, "Is this love that I'm feeling?" highlights the uncertainty and vulnerability that often accompanies falling in love.
The singer lays her cards on the table, expressing her willingness and ability to love and be with her partner. The phrase "Jah provides the bread" refers to the Rastafarian belief that God provides for our needs. This line reinforces the idea that the singer's relationship is rooted in faith and trust.
Overall, "Is This Love" is an uplifting and emotional tribute to love and commitment. The lyrics express the singer's desire for a relationship that is built on trust, faith, and a deep sense of connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm feelin', I wanna love you, I want to love and treat you right, I wanna love you every day and every night
The singer is feeling strongly for someone and wants to express their desire to love and treat them well, every day and every night.
We'll be together, with a roof over our heads, we'll share the shelter of my single bed, is this love that I'm feelin'?
The singer wants to spend their time with this person and share a home with them without any complications. They question whether this feeling is indeed love.
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now!
The singer expresses their impatience to know if what they are feeling is truly love.
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I, I'm willing and able, I'm willing, so I lay my cards on your table
The singer confirms their willingness to be in a relationship, stating that they are willing to show their intentions with honesty and openness.
We'll share the same room, 'cause Jah provides the bread
The singer believes in sharing a united household and will trust in God's provision for their needs.
Tell me, if it's love that I'm feelin', wonder a long time if it's love, love, if this love that I'm feelin' yeah, oh now, oh someone tell me if it's love
The singer is seeking external validation for their emotions, asking if what they are feeling is really love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd
Written by: Junior Giscombe, Bob (gb 2) Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-vx5yi1qf7g
I'm feelin'
I wanna love you, I want to love, and treat you right
I wanna love you every day and every night
We'll be together, with a roof over our heads
To share the shelter in a single bed
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love, is this love, is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now
(I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I) I, I'm willing and able
(I am willing)
So I lay my cards on your table
I wanna love you, I wanna love, love and treat
Love and treat you right
I wanna love you every day and every night
We'll be together, with a roof over our heads
We'll share the shelter of my single bed
We'll share the same room, and Jah provide the bread
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love, love, love that I'm feelin'?
Tell me if it's love, love, love that I'm feelin'
I really can feel one love, send down the love (tell me if it's love)
Oh, is this love that I'm feeling
Oh, someone tell me if it's love, love
@vanessajaikaran7292
I love Bob Marley but got to admit there's something very soft and romantic about Corinne singing this song that melts my heart.
@keneilwemadiba4807
Yeahp I love both versions but this one melts me
@danielduran953
When a cover damn near challenges a classic. 🙌
@Lalairu
Different approach, but I love it. Feels like soft waves and warm summer afternoons.
@zeezee5007
I watched a Brazilian series that played this specific song in the most romantic way possible, when my favorite character finds love after a failed marriage to who she taught was the love of her life. It became my favorite song
@valeriemontano7806
Same
@j.i.-cruz
She won a Grammy for this :) She deserved it, along with all those musicians and producers. Congrats.
@hsmathis
I agree! Well deserved.
@trayrite4040
This song is so beautiful...I'm glad I get to hear it on tv in 2021 ...
@ThisGuy65842
Yes!!...idk about this gem until just hearing it as theme from a commercial 12/2021