1. Donnie (full name: … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named Donnie.
1. Donnie (full name: Donald Ellerström, born 5 August 1994 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands) is a Dutch rapper who was discovered by Vjèze Fur of De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig. His career took off thanks to several collaborations with members of 'De Jeugd', their beat creator and producer, Bas Bron, in particular. Bron produced Donnie's 2015 début album, Mannelogie and many of his tracks and albums thereafter.
Thusfar, Donnie released six full-length albums, most recently 2019's Door Het Licht, which included his 2019 hit single with Willie Wartaal, 'Barry Hayze'. Post-2019 Donnie was particularly successful with a number of collaborations with singers of popular Dutch-language repertoire, including Frans Duijts (in 2021's 'Frans Duits') and René Froger (in 2021's 'Bon Gepakt').
2. The smooth style of modern day soul singer Donnie is comparable to such other similar sounding artists as Macy Gray, Jill Scott, Seal, and Maxwell. Born in Lexington, Kentucky during the mid '70s, Donnie was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and came from a very religious family (both of his parents were ministers). Singing for a choir at an early age, Donnie soon expanded his musical horizons, as he became influenced equally by such gospel artists as Walter Hawkins and Mahalia Jackson plus such soul/R n' B masters as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin. By the early 21st century, Donnie was signed to the Giant Step label, and issuing such singles and EP's as Holiday, Masterplan, Do You Know?, Excerpts from the Colored Section, and Our New National Anthem. The singer's anticipated full-length debut, the Colored Section, was released in November 2002 and eventually picked up for release by Motown. The Daily News, an even more ambitious album, followed for Soul Thought in 2007.
Cloud 9
Donnie Lyrics
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And I'm adorned with the crown that's making this up
And I'm fine under cloud 9
Yes I wear the lamb's wool, the feet of burned brass
And the wool defies gravity like the nature of a gas
And I'm fine under cloud 9
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one
Happy to be nappy, I'm black and I'm proud
That I have been chosen to wear the conscious cloud
And I'm fine under cloud 9
I be a chameleon and wear it bone straight
But it's so much stronger when it's in its natural state
And I'm fine under cloud 9
Twist my cloud and let it rain
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one
Twist my cloud and let it rain
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one
We live from the head down and not the feet up
And I'm adorned with the crown that's making this up
And I'm fine under cloud 9
Twist my cloud and let it rain
And when it rains it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one
The lyrics to "Cloud 9" by Donnie are an exploration of the power and beauty of blackness and how it connects to a sense of spirituality and personal empowerment. The lines "We live from the head down and not the feet up / And I'm adorned with the crown that's making this up" suggest that the singer sees themselves as connected to something greater than themselves, perhaps a force of divine inspiration. The reference to wearing "the lamb's wool, the feet of burned brass" speaks to a deep connection to African cultural traditions, while the line "Happy to be nappy, I'm black and I'm proud" celebrates the natural beauty and strength of black hair.
Throughout the song, the phrase "cloud 9" keeps coming up, suggesting a state of elevated consciousness or spiritual connection that the singer is striving to attain. The lines "Twist my cloud and let it rain / And when it rains it pours / And the energy will absorb / Power for the metaphysical one" suggest that this sense of empowerment and connection to something greater can come through channeling one's own energy and connecting it to the larger world.
Overall, "Cloud 9" is a deeply personal and poetic exploration of the ways in which spiritual and cultural identity intersect, and how these connections can be a source of strength and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
We live from the head down and not the feet up
Our minds control our bodies and the direction our lives take.
And I'm adorned with the crown that's making this up
I hold the power and authority over my own life and destiny.
And I'm fine under cloud 9
I am content and at ease with myself in a blissful state of consciousness.
Yes I wear the lamb's wool, the feet of burned brass
I wear the garments of strength and resilience, symbolized by the wool of the pure and the brass of the enduring.
And the wool defies gravity like the nature of a gas
The cloak of my spirit defies earthly constraints, like the nature of a gas that expands, ruling out containment.
Twist my cloud and it rain
Let me reveal the emotions within me and put it into the world.
And when it rains it pours
The outpouring of emotion will be intense and overwhelming in its force.
And the energy will absorb
The energy of the impact of my emotions will take the shape and form of the receiving vessel.
Power for the metaphysical one
The force carried by my emotions will empower the one who has attuned to my frequency.
Happy to be nappy, I'm black and I'm proud
I embrace my heritage and my racial identity, and I am proud of my natural hair.
That I have been chosen to wear the conscious cloud
I recognize the gift of a heightened state of awareness and enlightenment.
I be a chameleon and wear it bone straight
I have the ability to adapt to changing situations and conform to varying expectations.
But it's so much stronger when it's in its natural state
But I am at my most powerful and authentic when I embrace my natural state.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONN JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind