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"
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
Honor to 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 au fait
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
Now 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, 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
Corinne Bailey Rae's song "Like a Star" is a beautiful tribute to a love so pure and captivating that it feels like a celestial being has graced your life. Through the use of similes, the song describes the incredible impact that this love has had on the singer's life. The opening lines compare the love interest to a star, which shines brightly across the sky, and an angel jumping straight out of the pages of a book. This imagery is used to emphasize the otherworldly qualities of the lover and to express how they have breathed new life into the singer's world.
The song also explores the unique dynamic between the two characters. The singer admits that they do not argue with anyone but their lover, and that their love seems to have a power that is both incredible and overwhelming. The lyrics also declare that heaven has been far away for too long, and that the singer cannot find the words to express their feelings of love and devotion for their partner. The chorus repeats the similes of the star and the angel, emphasizing that the singer's lover is an essential and transformative element in their life.
As the song progresses, the singer comes to understand that their lover is the only one for them. They declare that they had previously been confused and lost, but now feel like everything makes sense because of their partner. The lyrics express a sense of vulnerability and guardedness, claiming that the singer's lover is the only person they trust enough to let their guard down around.
Overall, Bailey Rae uses beautifully crafted language to convey the depth and complexity of this relationship, which is both otherworldly and visceral.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like a star across my sky
You come into my life like a shimmering light in the dark night sky, leading me to a place of wonder and awe.
Just like an angel off the page
It's as if you've come straight out of a beautifully illustrated storybook--your beauty and goodness inspires me.
You have appeared to my life
You entered my world when I needed a change, when I was lost and lonely, and brought new hope, inspiration and joy.
Feel like I'll never be the same
Your love has transformed me in ways that I could never have imagined--you have caused me to see the world in a new light and to experience new heights of emotion.
Just like a song in my heart
You've become a permanent presence, a sweet melody that resonates in my heart and fills my soul with warmth and contentment.
Just like oil on my hands
You are like anointing oil, bringing new meaning and purpose to everything I touch and do, and making me feel more centered and grounded in the world.
Oh, I do love you
You are the one I love most deeply and truly, and I am grateful for the joy and meaning you have brought into my life.
Still wonder why it is I don't argue like this with anyone but you
Even though we sometimes argue, I am amazed at how you are the only one with whom I can really do so, while still feeling safe, loved and respected.
We do it all the time, blowing out my mind
Our arguments, while sometimes intense, always leave me feeling more alive and truthful, and I am grateful for that intensity and honesty we share.
You've got this look I can't describe
There are times when I look into your eyes and I am simply stunned by the depth and beauty I see there, not to mention the many emotions they convey.
You make me feel I'm alive
When I am with you, I am constantly reminded of the gift of life, the beauty of nature and the richness of experience, and I feel fully present and alive as a result.
When everything else is so faint
Sometimes life can seem dull and monotonous, but your presence adds color and vibrancy to everything, illuminating even the most mundane aspects of existence.
Without a doubt you're on my side
No matter what happens in this life, I know that you will always be there for me, supporting me, loving me and championing my dreams and ambitions.
Heaven has been away too long
It feels as if heaven has been absent from my life for a while, but you have brought a new sense of hope, grace and beauty into my world.
Can't find the words to write this song, oh your love
Words cannot fully express the depth and power of the love I feel for you, and yet I try to capture its essence in my music, my poetry, and my soul.
I have come to understand the way it is
In my heart and mind, I have come to realize that you are the key to everything, the one who has brought meaning and purpose to my life.
Is not a secret anymore
Though I may have once kept my feelings hidden, now they are out in the open, for all to see and share, thanks to your love and example.
From tonight I know that you're the only one
As of tonight, I know without a doubt that you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, because you are my soulmate and true love.
I've been confused and in the dark
Before I met you, I was lost in the shadows of my own doubts and fears, but you helped me find my way back to the light, to hope and to joy.
Now I understand, yeah, yeah
Thanks to your love, I now understand the meaning of life, the beauty of friendship and the power of passion, and I am eternally grateful.
I won't let my guard down for anyone but you
Because of the depth and power of my love for you, I am willing to be vulnerable and open with you in ways that I never thought possible before.
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Corinne Bailey Rae
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nope_dontknow
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
Oh, I do love you
Still 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 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
@user-nh7qv9rr2g
2024 anyone?
@honeybraswell625
Just watched 27 Dresses again, but this time with my daughter who is almost 17 & may not have been born when that movie came out. Anyway, she's a musician & this song was playing before the credits rolled.
@cray6525
Yup
@bclassy871
I’m here
@cookiew2348
Meeeeeeeee thanks to the show Medium I forgot about this song 🎵 🥰🥰🥰
@solgarrido9422
🙋🏻♀️
@d1surv
I remember my mom playing this on my first day of kindergarten, and she made it a tradition to play it everyday before my first day of school. I started my senior year of high school, and she really wanted to drive me my first day and I let her. She played this song. She played it my junior year and I didn’t think much of it. But this year, tears went down my face. I am accepted into college out of state, and she won’t be present with me. I walked into my first class, red eyes, some of my classmates assumed I was high. This was one of the most powerful moments of my life. I don’t exactly know how to put it into words, how it felt. I love you mom.
@asmooth7758
Leavwix this just made me shed a tear!
@WouldntULikeToKnow.
I'm not crying, you're crying!
I remember going away to college. It was hard but I really found a home there. Good luck!
@smoothsole9559
Wow that is powerful thank you for sharing the bond and love that you and ur mom have. It took me back to how me and my mom was R.I.P. MOM but I seriously do know what ur saying and hope u turned that pain into strength as I have but I bet you have cuz of the beautiful experience you have shared so thanks again and continue to be blessed.
P.s. To all the hard working,loving,caring shit ECT. Of everything else as well I typically made this a bit long sorry 🙏🙏🙏