“Before 2006, I had never heard of YouTube,” says the Texas native, who was introduced to the site by a friend. “I went up there to watch a fight that had happened at my school. I didn’t know people were singing on it.”
On a whim, Dondria bought a webcam and decided to upload a singing video of her own. Her choice: an a cappella version of Musiq Soulchild’s “Love.” Within two weeks, the video earned over 1,000 views and garnered tons of encouragement from visitors. Inspired, Dondria began searching for instrumentals that she could videotape herself singing along to. At the request of her rapidly growing online fan base, she posted various clips of herself covering songs from “Diary” by Alicia Keys to Rihanna’s “Unfaithful.”
However, it was her stirring rendition of Ciara’s “Promise” – which received over a million views – that took the budding singer from homebound diva to a complete Internet sensation.
“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, I really have something here,’” remembers Dondria of the overwhelming response to the video. “I didn’t get on YouTube to get a record deal. I was just having fun. But when I saw the feedback I was getting, I realized that a lot of people really liked my voice.”
One of those people happened to be So So Def CEO Jermaine Dupri, who tried for several weeks to connect with Dondria on both YouTube and MySpace. Thinking Dupri’s messages were from an impostor, Dondria initially ignored them. “I would get emails all the time from people claiming to be this or that. Most of the time, when I’d blow them off, they’d never hit back. But Jermaine persisted, so I called him up one day and the rest is history.”
Dupri flew the singer and her mom to Atlanta for what Dondria thought was a session with Jagged Edge to make a YouTube video. However, Dupri surprised the young artist by offering her a contract.
“JD was so extra cool,” she recalls. “He just walked over to me, and asked if I was ready. My answer was, ‘I was born ready.’” Officially signing with So So Def in 2007, Dondria, then 20 years old, had a record deal.
And to think, merely a year prior, the Southern songbird was just another small town girl from Sachse, Texas who got her start in music at the age of four by singing in church. “My entire family sang, but I didn’t get passionate about singing until middle school when my choir teacher suggested I take voice lessons.” Dondria took voice lessons, competed in talent shows and over the years studied the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Etta James. She even spent a year at Tarleton State University as a music education major.
All of these experiences prepared Dondria for her long-awaited debut album Dondria vs. Phatfffat. Channeling her natural talent and years of training, Dondria pours her heart and soul into her first single, “You’re the One.” Written and produced by Dupri and veteran songwriter/producer Bryan Michael Cox, “You’re the One” is a timeless throwback to classic R&B and the perfect track to showcase Dondria’s range and vocal maturity.
“Dondria is like a young Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey or Alicia Keys,” says Dupri. “There is nothing that the girl can’t sing.”
Longtime Dupri collaborator and singer/songwriter Johnta Austin also sings her praises. “Dondria has a soulfulness that is just crazy,” says Austin, who recorded a duet with Dondria entitled “Crazy About Your Love.” “There hasn’t been a voice like hers since SWV. When we were working together, I was impressed by how natural she was.”
Her debut album released August 17th, 2010, Dondria vs Phatfffat – (“Phatfffat” is a nickname she picked up in college as a contrast between her skinny physique and ravenous appetite for food) – features a diverse mix of soulful ballads, real R&B and straight up dance records.
“I’m so in love with this album,” Dondria gushes. “You can play it from start to finish without stopping. I love the feedback I’ve been getting from my fans.”
If you haven’t purchased your copy of the album yet, you are missing a treat. Dondria updates a number of online pages daily with content – from a cappellas to covers to silly behind-the-scenes moments – and really leverages the power of the Internet to maintain her relevance and grow her million-plus fan base.
Subsequently, Dondria’s keen understanding of social networking coupled with her raw talent and charisma set her apart in the music industry and is a sure sign that this rising star will be around for a long time.
“As an artist, you need to utilize every aspect of putting yourself out there,” says Dondria. “YouTube made it so easy. It allowed me to show the world the ‘real me’ – my real voice, pitch and presence. Now, with So So Def, I have the opportunity to become a real R&B artist and live a dream. And I’m loving every minute of it.”
Cant Stop
Dondria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y'all know what this is...
[Verse 1: Dondria]
When you touch me
My knees go weak
And I can't move
My functioning
My pain 'round u
I'm forgetful
Can't remember life without
You and me baby in my mind
We're inseperable
Your love takes me high
Like a catapault
Over mountains and moons
I'm invincible
When I'm lovin' you, oh
[Chorus:]
I can't stop thinkin' 'bout you, boy
Stay on my mind I can't help what I'm feelin', boy
I can't stop thinkin' 'bout you
I can't stop thinkin' 'bout, can't stop thinkin' 'bout you
[Repeat]
[Verse 2:]
Baby, take me
To a world where it's
You and me only
And a place where our love can be free
Without boundaries or limits
Just hold me
We can do anything
You and me all alone on a throne
King and queen
Now that's my definition of happy
And nobody can take that away from me
As long as I got you, babe
[Chorus]
[Pre-bridge:]
Everyday
In every way
All the time
Oh
[Bridge:]
Oooooh
Everything in me you can have it
Cause baby I'm stuck to your love like a magnet
And I can't get enough (I just can't get enough)
Oooooh
Day after week after month after year
Time stands still whenever your here
You're my (you're my) you're my world and I
[Chorus x2]
The song "Can't Stop" by Dondria is a love ballad which expresses the overwhelming, all-encompassing passion Dondria feels towards her lover. The lyrics convey a sense of total surrender to their love, with Dondria feeling powerless and forgetful when they are together. The chorus makes it clear that she cannot stop thinking about her partner, and this desire is all-consuming, with Dondria admitting that she "can't help what [she's] feeling".
Verse 2 expresses Dondria's desire to be alone with her lover in a world where their love can be free from boundaries and limitations. She yearns for her partner to hold her and imagines them as king and queen, together on a throne. The bridge emphasizes the strength of Dondria's feelings, with her stating that she is "stuck to [her lover's] love like a magnet" and that they are her world. The repetition of the chorus towards the end of the song reinforces the extent of Dondria's passion, with her confirming that she "just can't get enough" of her partner.
Line by Line Meaning
When you touch me
I feel physically weakened and unable to move when you touch me
My knees go weak
My legs become unsteady and weak when you touch me
And I can't move
I am immobilized because of the effect your touch has on me
Cause your love soothes
Your love is a healing balm for my pain
My pain 'round u
I feel no pain when I am around you
I'm forgetful
I am forgetful because all my thoughts are centered on you
Can't remember life without
I cannot recall a time when you were not a part of my life
You and me baby in my mind
In my mind, we belong together
We're inseperable
We are meant to be together and nothing can separate us
Your love takes me high
Your love elevates me to new heights
Like a catapault
Your love propels me forward like a catapult
Over mountains and moons
There is no limit to where your love can take me
I'm invincible
I feel invincible when I am with you
When I'm lovin' you, oh
My love for you is all-consuming
I can't stop thinkin' 'bout you, boy
You are always on my mind and I cannot stop thinking about you
Stay on my mind I can't help what I'm feelin', boy
You are constantly on my mind and my feelings for you are beyond my control
I can't stop thinkin' 'bout you
You have taken up residence in my mind and I cannot stop thinking about you
I can't stop thinkin' 'bout, can't stop thinkin' 'bout you
I am completely consumed by thoughts of you
Baby, take me
I want to be with you
To a world where it's
I want to be in a place where it is only you and me
You and me only
I want it to be just you and me, and no one else
And a place where our love can be free
I want our love to be free from any boundaries or limitations
Without boundaries or limits
I want to be able to express and experience love in limitless ways
Just hold me
I want to feel your arms around me
We can do anything
With you by my side, there is no limit to what we can accomplish
You and me all alone on a throne
I want to be with you in a place of power and authority, ruling together
King and queen
I want us to be the rulers of our own world
Now that's my definition of happy
My happiness is being with you and ruling our own world
And nobody can take that away from me
No one can come between us and our happiness
As long as I got you, babe
As long as I have you, I have everything I need
Everyday
Every single day
In every way
In every aspect of my life
All the time
Constantly
Oooooh
Expressing delight and pleasure
Everything in me you can have it
I am willing to give you everything that I am
Cause baby I'm stuck to your love like a magnet
I am drawn to your love and cannot resist it
And I can't get enough (I just can't get enough)
I am insatiable when it comes to your love
Day after week after month after year
I want to be with you for an eternity
Time stands still whenever your here
When I am with you, time seems to stop
You're my (you're my) you're my world and I
You mean everything to me and you are my entire world
Chorus x2
Repeating the earlier sentiment of not being able to stop thinking about the person they love and saying that they are always on their mind
Contributed by Bella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shockblast20
This song is awesome. Just like the title says you cannot stop listening to it.
@Smartass8504
I love this song. It is stuck in my head! It's one of those songs that puts ya in a good mood and makes you want to jam!
@KeishasKeys
I like this song and this does remind me of Solange. That's good bcuz I absolutely love "I Decided". Shoutz out to both Dondria and Solange:)
@crarzz
this is the kinda song that just sticks i your head ...i've been signing it all day
@reemaamar7343
Who's listening in 2020...
this is such a beautiful song 💘
@stizraw
OMG.. i cant believe i heard this on the radio i was soo hype lol.. LOVE U DONDRIA
@tdstray4
We do this song in Jazzercise and I've looked EVERYWHERE for it. It sticks in my mind! I love it!
@stuffandthings22
kellygthatsme I'm from New Zealand too, I haven't heard it.. but can't wait till I do. Love you Dondria!
@kingmax1006
omg i can't stop singing this song this all i've been singing 4 the past 3 days!
@MsTatorTot
This song is the hit girl i thought this was Beyonce at first... girl you can sing i cant wait untill i buy your cd...