“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.”
Kissed By The Sun
Dondria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And nothing could've warned me
That your touch could make me complete
I was cold and alone, till I got lost in your charm
That's when I found me a place to belong
I've been kissed by then sun
My steady heartbeat increases whenever you touch me
I was cold and alone, till I got lost in your charm
That's when I found me a place to belong
I've been kissed by the sun
My happy was misplaced
Somewhere in a dark place
Till you shined your light on me
I've been kissed by the sun
I used to be damaged
Till you removed the bandage, now I don't hurt no more
One touch of your hand and you light my soul
Take hold of me and don't let go (forever)
Forever and ever babe
I can spend a lifetime with your shine
I was cold and alone, till I got lost in your charm
I found me a place to belong, I was kissed by the sun
I found me a place to belong, by the sun
In Dondria's song "Kissed By The Sun," she expresses the transformative power of love in her life. The lyrics suggest that prior to falling in love, she felt lost, incomplete, and without a sense of belonging. However, with the touch of her lover, she found a new sense of purpose, joy, and fulfillment. She describes the experience of being "kissed by the sun" as an awakening, as if a light had been switched on to guide her way. Moreover, the lyrics make it clear that the love she has found is all-encompassing, healing her wounds, making her happy, and bringing a sense of permanence into her life.
The opening line of the song, "No one told me, that one day I'd make history," indicates that the singer is surprised and overwhelmed by the way love has changed her. She feels as though her experience is significant and noteworthy enough to be considered historic. The lyrics also suggest that, while she acknowledges the power of love, she did not realize it until she fell in love herself. The metaphor of being "kissed by the sun" encapsulates the idea that love can be transformative, illuminating and provide radiant brightness to one's life.
In summary, "Kissed By The Sun" communicates the message that love can be a powerful force of positive change in one's life. The lyrics offer a powerful testimony to the transformative experience of finding love and its healing properties.
Line by Line Meaning
No one told me, that one day I'd make history
I never expected to achieve greatness, nobody warned me
And nothing could've warned me
There was no indication that this would happen
That your touch could make me complete
Your touch fills me with completeness
I was cold and alone, till I got lost in your charm
I used to feel isolated and neglected, but when I met you I felt welcomed and hypnotised
That's when I found me a place to belong
You provided me with a sense of belonging
I've been kissed by the sun
You brightened up my life and made it more beautiful
My steady heartbeat increases whenever you touch me
Your touch instills a sense of joy and excitement in me
No more lonely, you cured me from that disease
You saved me from the despair of loneliness
My happy was misplaced
I used to forget what it felt like to be happy
Somewhere in a dark place
The happiness was hidden in a deep and depressing part of my life
Till you shined your light on me
You illuminated my life and showed me the way to happiness
I used to be damaged
Previously, I was broken and damaged
Till you removed the bandage, now I don't hurt no more
But with your healing touch, you cured me and my wounds disappeared
One touch of your hand and you light my soul
Whenever you touch me, my soul illuminates
Take hold of me and don't let go (forever)
Hold on to me and never let me go till the end of time
Forever and ever babe
I want to be with you forever and ever
I can spend a lifetime with your shine
Being with you feels like I could never grow tired of it and keep going forever
I found me a place to belong, I was kissed by the sun
You gave me a sense of belonging, and I was brightened with your presence
I found me a place to belong, by the sun
You are the one who gave me a place of belonging, where I feel happy and content
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CRYSTAL JOHNSON, CEDRIC WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind