Summer's career began in 1983 when she was cast as the voice of niece Penny on the original cartoon version of Inspector Gadget. Her unique, throaty voice was instantly recognizable to casting agents (as well as viewers even today), who began frequently casting her in animated programs. Many of these were part of cult franchises, like The Care Bears Movie and Ewoks. Audiences finally had a chance to put Summer's voice to a face when she was cast as the afrocentric Winifred "Freddie" Brooks in the Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. She remained a regular cast member of the show from 1988 through its end in 1993.
In all, Summer has voiced over 70 animated characters between 1983 and 2006, many of them African-American girls. Summer has also ventured into the realm of music. In 1990, she sang background vocals on two tracks for fellow A Different World cast member Jasmine Guy's self titled LP. In 1993 she released an album (as lead singer) with her band Subject to Change. The album was not officially released by Capitol Records because of creative differences; the records that were produced were distributed promotionally and are considered a rarity. The band, with an aggressive political message and rock-soul fusion sound, remained popular as a co-headlining act with other performers.
In 1999 Summer released the solo album Street Faërie produced by and featuring guest artist (and friend) Lenny Kravitz; The album was not hugely successful. Summer toured as Kravitz's opening act, but her label dropped her and a planned spot with Lilith Fair was cancelled. The label continued to promote it, however, sending out a four-track sampler to radio and issuing remix singles of the track "Revelation Sunshine" in Europe, with a special single specifically for Austria.
Miss Moon
Cree Summer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turning upside down don't make me young with wonder
And I don't believe
There's a man in the moon
All I see is the fullness of you
My blood came today
I am swollen and ripe
Telling me what's right
My blood came today
I don't care what you say
I'm gonna play I'll fly away
To where my love is laughing
I don't believe
There's a man in the moon
All I see is the fullness of you
I won't hang out in between your thoughts
Outrun your mouth try to thaw you out
I'm not sorry for the fire that's inside my heart
i'll be howling
In the dark
For
Miss Moon
Cree Summer's song Miss Moon is a tribute to femininity and the power that women hold within themselves. The opening lines describe her menstrual cycle, which has just begun, and how heavy it feels. Despite the discomfort she's experiencing, she's not looking to be made young with wonder. She references the man in the moon, but doesn't believe in it. All she sees is the fullness of herself. She's proud and unapologetic for who she is, swollen and ripe with power. She doesn't want anybody telling her what's right or how to live her life. Though she experiences cramps and pain, it doesn't stop her from playing and dreaming of a place where her love is laughing. She howls in the dark for Miss Moon, embracing her feminine power and ability to create and endure.
The refrain "I don't believe there's a man in the moon, all I see is the fullness of you" reinforces the song's theme of rejecting patriarchal norms and embracing the fullness and power of the feminine. The lyrics also reference the idea of not hanging out in between someone else's thoughts, not letting them dictate what she thinks or how she lives her life. She won't run from her own power and her own fire, even in the face of adversity. It's a powerful and empowering message for women everywhere to embrace their femininity and not let anyone else dim their light.
Line by Line Meaning
My blood came today, I am so heavy
I am menstruating and feel weighed down
Turning upside down don't make me young with wonder
Changing things up doesn't magically make me feel young and curious
And I don't believe
There's a man in the moon
All I see is the fullness of you
I don't subscribe to the idea of a man living on the moon; instead I appreciate the grandeur of the natural world around me.
I am swollen and ripe
I don't want nobody
Telling me what's right
My body is maturing and I don't need anyone to dictate how to live my life.
I don't care what you say
I'm gonna play I'll fly away
To where my love is laughing
I am going to ignore any negative opinions and do what fulfills me, specifically fly to where my partner is happy.
I won't hang out in between your thoughts
Outrun your mouth try to thaw you out
I'm not sorry for the fire that's inside my heart
i'll be howling
In the dark
For
Miss Moon
I won't linger in someone's mental anguish or try to fix them; I won't apologize for my passionate, emotional nature and I'll call out for the comfort of the night sky.
Lyrics © FAMA MUSIC
Written by: CREE SUMMER FRANCKS, LENNY KRAVITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ali_Saurus95xx
I truly wish that they had more artists like Cree Summer. Such a talented woman. Great Album. <3
Sunshine Robinson
More indeed😅
edwin breed
Killed this cd back in the day! And it still bangs in 2016. Street Faerie has to be one of the most underrated albums ever!
Kim Wilson
Agreed!
Joy Pink
I concur!
Fiction Tea Reviews
straight facts
Voodeux Child
edwin breed Definitely
rahphunk
This CD was so underrated. I still bang it!! A unique rare talent
Joy Pink
Totally underrated! 20 years later it still bumps. Not dated or anything.
LeviNiece_TheVoyage
If y'all are just now finding out who she is you definitely missed out on her amazing quirkiness in a different world