1) US soul singer, songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴D'Angelo is the name of more than one artist
1) US soul singer, songwriter & producer
2) Brazilian jazz/samba group
1) D'Angelo (born Michael Eugene Archer on 11 February 1974 in Richmond, VA, United States) is a neo-soul singer, keyboardist, and guitarist. He has released three albums, "Brown Sugar" (1995), "Voodoo" (2000), and "Black Messiah" as D'Angelo and the Vanguard (2014).
D'Angelo signed a publishing deal with EMI Music in 1991 after catching the attention of record executives with a demo tape. He penned the hit song "U Will Know" on the Jason's Lyric soundtrack. It was performed by Black Men United for the Jason's Lyric motion picture soundtrack. Shortly after, he was signed by Gary Harris and he began recording his debut album for EMI records.
Brown Sugar was released in June 1995. Though sales were sluggish at first, the album was eventually a hit, due in large part to "Lady," a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, peaking at #10. The album earned platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, following sales in excess of one million copies in the U.S., while its total sales have been estimated within the range of 1.5 million to over two million copies. The album helped give commercial visibility to the burgeoning neo soul movement of the 1990s, along with debut albums by Maxwell, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill. The album was a critical success as well, and appeared on many critics' "best of" lists for the year.
Following his debut album's success, D'Angelo went into a four and a half year absence from the music scene and releasing solo work. His recordings for soundtracks included Belly ("Devil's Pie"), frequently singing covers like "Girl You Need a Change of Mind" (Eddie Kendricks, Get on the Bus), "She's Always in My Hair" (Prince, Scream 2) and "Heaven Must Be Like This" (The Ohio Players, Down in the Delta), as well as appearing on Lauryn Hill's landmark The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on the duet "Nothing Even Matters".
The much-delayed follow-up to Brown Sugar, Voodoo, was finally released in 2000. It debuted at #1 and went on to win two Grammy Awards, one for Best R&B Album, and the other for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The lead single, 1999's "Left & Right" (featuring Method Man and Redman) did well, but it was the second single, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (a tribute to artist Prince), that became a huge R&B hit buoyed by an innovative yet infamous video featuring a nude D'Angelo from his face to his hips while singing the song. The video was nominated for 4 MTV Video Music Awards and currently ranks #44 in VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Videos. He also performed "Be Here" (with Raphael Saadiq) from Saadiq's album Instant Vintage.
After the release D'Angelo embarked on what would become one of the most fabled series of live soul shows in history, "The Voodoo Tour." Consisting of a live group entitled "the Soultronics," (presumed to have been assembled by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots) which engulfed arena-size stages with various dancers and instrument players, it was one of the most attended shows of the year. The tour was taken all around the world, one of the most notable performances being the Free Jazz Festival in Brazil. The live show was a thinly-disguised homage to Prince's late 80's shows, in its grandeur and conceptual stage set-up & setlist. Slum Village (then in its original line-up of Jay Dee, Baatin & T3) opened for D'Angelo on several dates, and soul-tinged R&B singer Anthony Hamilton sang backup in the band.
In 2002, Q magazine named him in their list of the "50 Bands To See Before You Die", and in 2003 Voodoo was ranked at number 488 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Pitchfork Media rated it at #44 on their list of the best albums of the 2000s.
Greatdayndamornin'/Booty
D'Angelo Lyrics
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Cards are in my favor
Can't leave too much to chance
Woke up with time to waver
Yesterday was crazy
Mysteries I know now
Now I know the ins and outs of things
From day to day, that's how it goes
Just try to do your thing
Cause in the end, got to know
Just how to play the game
I search for answers often
I paid the price for many
Still long for happiness
Not promised to the plenty
But I've got to go on
Good days, bad days, halfway days
Good times, bad times, halfway times
Good days, bad days, halfway days
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
Today might be the day
I get it in the pocket
Lord knows if there's an angle
Got to try to find it, got to get over
Before the sun comes up
Just in case of an emergency
Got to tighten up, but here it goes
Good days, bad days, halfway days
Good times, bad times, halfway times
Good days, bad days, halfway days
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
I said today could really be the day
So don't go if I'm gon' be fine
My body could melt good night
Don't you let them switch you, baby
Said the most crazy mystery
Ins and outs of things, day to day
How they supposed to know?
Good days, bad days, halfway days
Good times, bad times, halfway times
Good days, bad days, halfway days
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
I know it gets hard
I know it gets hard sometimes
Gather the people
Said I got it all in my spirit
And I know this morning when I rose
Gonna be, got to be crazy, crazy
Good days, bad days, halfway days
Good times, bad times, halfway times
Good days, bad days, halfway days
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
Good days, bad days, halfway days
Good times, bad times, halfway times
Good days, bad days, halfway days
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
Good days, bad days, halfway days
Good times, bad times, halfway times
Good days, bad days, halfway days
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
Everybody likes the morning, the morning
Sunshine in the morning, the morning
Said we make love in the morning, the morning
Pray to God in the morning, in the morning
Get it on in the morning, the morning
Take a shower in the morning, the morning
Smoke somethin' in the morning, the morning
Said it'll be all good in the morning, the morning
It's a new day in the morning, the morning
We getting down, down in the morning
Yeah, we getting down, down in the morning
You know we getting down, down in the morning
Yeah, we getting down, down in the morning
You know we getting down, down in the morning
Know we getting down, down in the morning
You know we getting down, down in the morning
Yo, we getting down, down in the morning
You know we getting down
In "Greatdayndamornin'/Booty," D'Angelo is reflecting on life and the ups and downs that come with it. He talks about playing it safe and taking control of his own destiny while still searching for the answers to life's mysteries. He acknowledges that there are good days, bad days, and halfway days, but he is always looking for a "great day in the morning," a day when everything falls into place and he feels content and happy.
Throughout the song, D'Angelo references the morning as a symbol of hope and new beginnings. He mentions making love, praying, and getting down in the morning, all activities that suggest starting the day with positivity and energy. He also alludes to the idea of finding a "pocket" or an angle, perhaps a reference to finding success or making a breakthrough.
Overall, "Greatdayndamornin'/Booty" is a contemplative and introspective song that encourages listeners to persevere through life's challenges and look for moments of joy and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Today, I played it safe
I took a cautious approach today
Cards are in my favor
I have a good chance of success
Can't leave too much to chance
I need to be careful and not rely solely on luck
Woke up with time to waver
I woke up with some free time to spare
Yesterday was crazy
Yesterday was hectic and chaotic
Mysteries I know now
I have discovered some answers to things that were previously unknown
Now I know the ins and outs of things
I have gained an understanding of how things work
From day to day, that's how it goes
Things can change from one day to the next
Don't get confused about it
Don't overthink or make things more complicated than they need to be
Just try to do your thing
Just focus on yourself and what you need to accomplish
Cause in the end, got to know
Ultimately, it's important to understand
Just how to play the game
How to navigate the challenges and obstacles of life
I search for answers often
I am always looking for answers and solutions
I paid the price for many
I have suffered the consequences of my actions
Still long for happiness
I still desire to be happy
Not promised to the plenty
Happiness is not guaranteed, even for those who have a lot
But I've got to go on
But I have to keep moving forward
Good days, bad days, halfway days
There are days that are good, bad, and in between
Good times, bad times, halfway times
There are times that are good, bad, and in between
But I'm still looking for a great day in the morning
But I am still hoping for a really good day to come
Today might be the day
Today could be the day I've been waiting for
I get it in the pocket
I achieve success
Lord knows if there's an angle
I don't know if there is a way to achieve success
Got to try to find it, got to get over
I need to search for a solution and overcome any obstacles
Before the sun comes up
Before it's too late
Just in case of an emergency
In case something unexpected happens
Got to tighten up, but here it goes
I need to focus and take action
I said today could really be the day
I truly believe that today is the day
So don't go if I'm gon' be fine
Don't leave if there's a chance I'll be successful
My body could melt good night
I could be overcome with relief and joy
Don't you let them switch you, baby
Don't let anyone change your mind or influence you
Said the most crazy mystery
Something that is difficult to understand
Ins and outs of things, day to day
How things work in everyday life
How they supposed to know?
How are people supposed to understand something so complex?
I know it gets hard
I know that life can be difficult
I know it gets hard sometimes
I know that there are times when it's particularly challenging
Gather the people
Bring everyone together
Said I got it all in my spirit
I feel confident and capable
And I know this morning when I rose
I am certain that when I wake up tomorrow
Gonna be, got to be crazy, crazy
It's going to be a really amazing day
Everybody likes the morning, the morning
Everyone enjoys the morning time
Sunshine in the morning, the morning
The sun is shining in the morning
Said we make love in the morning, the morning
We have intimate moments in the morning
Pray to God in the morning, in the morning
We pray to God in the morning
Get it on in the morning, the morning
We get things done in the morning
Take a shower in the morning, the morning
We take showers in the morning
Smoke somethin' in the morning, the morning
We smoke something in the morning
Said it'll be all good in the morning, the morning
We believe that everything will be okay in the morning
It's a new day in the morning, the morning
Every morning is a new opportunity
We getting down, down in the morning
We are having fun in the morning
Yeah, we getting down, down in the morning
We are really enjoying ourselves in the morning
You know we getting down, down in the morning
It's no secret that we are having fun in the morning
Yo, we getting down, down in the morning
Hey, we are having fun in the morning!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael D'angelo Archer, Sidney Charlie Hunter, Angela L. Stone, Ahmir K. Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind