Eartha debuted her first album, This I Know, in 2001, and it received critical and popular acclaim. A single from the album, "Love Jones," landed on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles chart in the number two position. The album features Eartha playing all of the instruments, and it covers a wide range of styles, from gospel to R&B and hip-hop.
Eartha's second album, Sidebars, seemed initially not to do as well when it was released in 2003. Although it sold briskly in nontraditional outlets, it received little airplay and moved slowly in traditional music outlets. According to SoundScan, which tracks album sales, the album had sold only 52 copies through traditional outlets at the time of its Grammy nomination. AFRT reported selling 10,000 copies at Eartha's concerts, parties, clubs, and special events, but even this figure was insignificant compared to the millions of copies sold by Eartha's fellow nominees. Nevertheless, the album garnered not just one, but two Grammy nominations.
Many people wondered how a relatively unknown musician could win a Grammy Award. Some credited Eartha's record label, AFRT, which in the weeks and months before the Grammys had launched an all-out publicity campaign, conducting massive CD, T-shirt, and cap giveaways. (The company handed out 50,000 copies of Sidebars.) In addition, AFRT copresident Glaurys Ariass told USA Today's Steve Jones, "We hit different key people [with CD giveaways], sent product to retailers, specific editors, producers and musicians just to try to get in front of them."
The hard work paid off. Eartha earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Female Performance for the song "I'm Still Standing," sharing the field with Mary J. Blige, Ashanti, Aaliyah, and Jill Scott. It was, however, her nomination for the Sidebars album for which Eartha won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
This double nomination in two distinct categories—R&B and gospel—reflects Eartha's unique approach to music, which combines gospel lyrics with infectious dance tracks and other popular music forms. Eartha credits AFRT with fostering this unique approach—an approach that might not have been possible at a larger, more conservative label. She speaks in glowing terms of the label's willingness to let her produce her own work and follow her own path, without regard to what might or might not match the tastes of the label's executives or accountants. "I didn't really initiate the choice to select them, " she told Marie Cruz for Inside Connection, of the beginning of her relationship with the label. "They kind of selected me."
The singer/songwriter was understandably delighted at her Grammy win. As she told Cruz for Inside Connection, when she heard the announcement that she had won the award, "I could have just fallen to my knees. It was so exciting … I'm still kind of speechless." Eartha also expressed hope that her success would inspire other musicians working outside of the musical main-stream to pursue their dreams and to keep the faith.
That's not a word Eartha uses lightly: her Christian faith is the foundation of her work and her life. As she told E. Christian Moore in Dysonna, "I understand where my help comes from and without God I couldn't do any of this." She also described her music as her ministry, and her disarmingly fun approach to music gets her in the door at many clubs and other venues that would not ordinarily showcase gospel music.
In addition to music and her faith, Eartha has a strong interest in fashion. "I love fashion," she told Moore. "I love style. I have a sense of individuality about my style and the way I dress…. It's funny because sometimes people will look at me and assume that I'm doing something else other than gospel because of [my] appearance or because of [my] clothes. Well, I'm gospel. Maybe you can't tell but that's good." Eartha also writes an advice column each month in the teen magazine Fresh.
For the Record …
Born Eartha Moore in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of Zinna (a musician) and Philip Moore. Education: Attended El Camino College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
Released debut album This I Know on the AFRT label, 2001; released Sidebars, also on AFRT, 2003.
Awards:
Grammy Award, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for Sidebars, 2003.
Addresses:
Record company—AFRT Music, P.O. Box 6590, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, phone: (310) 277-4601,
website: http://www.afrtmusic.com.
Management—Ariass Management Group (AMG), P.O. Box 6590, Beverley Hills, CA 90212.
As for the future, Eartha says that she plans to keep performing music that makes people want to dance, that brings them closer to God, and that, as she told Contemporary Musicians, helps to "encourage and … strengthen other people."
Additional information was obtained from AFRT publicity materials and telephone interviews with Eartha in June of 2003.
—Michael Belfiore ©2008 eNotes.com
Exerpts from "Eartha." Contemporary Musicians. Ed. Leigh Ann DeRemer. Vol. 44. Gale Group, Inc., 2004. eNotes.com. 2006. 2 Jan, 2008
Next To You
Eartha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pondering over all of the things in my life
You consoled me, came to hold me,
Showed yourself right and you kept me through the night
Got a bit of déjà vu
Once I got you back into my view
Saw it like a matinee
Got a bit of déjà vu
Once I got you back into my view
Saw it like a matinee
There's no one to stand next to you
Nobody can do what you do
You really don't have nothing else to prove
The things you do, it's just like you
You stand all by yourself
Can't be compared to no one else
You're the first and only last premiere
You've got so much savoire-faire
You're amazing, keep me gazing,
You're my admiration and I thing you are so awesome
And you are second to none, never will you be undone
By any other power; you exceed all expectation
Got a bit of déjà vu
Once I got you back into my view
Saw it like a matinee
Didn't know it was coming that way
Got a bit of déjà vu
Once I got you back into my view
Saw it like a matinee
Didn't know it was coming that way
Didn't know what to do cause you caught me by surprise
I'm sure you could tell when you looked into my eyes
Thought I knew you well until now
And I realize, I realized
No one, nobody can do what you do
You really don't have nothing else to prove
The things you do, just like you
Oh it's just like you stand
By yourself
Can't be compared, no one else
You're the first and only last premiere
You've got so much savoire-faire
Next to you, nobody can do what you do
You really don't have nothing else to prove
The things you do, just like you
Oh it's just like you stand
By yourself
Can't be compared, no one else
You're the first and only last premiere
You've got so much savoire-faire
There's no one next to you
Nobody can do (no one)
Really don't have nothing else to prove
The things you do, just like you
Oh you stand all by yourself
Can't be compared, no one else
You're the first and only last premiere
You've got so much savoire-faire
There's no one next to you
In this song, Eartha Kitt reflects on a relationship that has brought her comfort and joy. She remembers a time in late November when she was feeling overwhelmed and unsure about various aspects of her life. However, her partner was there to console her and hold her during this difficult time. She is grateful for their presence in her life, and recognizes that no one can compare to them.
The phrase "Got a bit of déjà vu" signifies that Eartha has experienced similar emotions in the past when reunited with her partner. She didn't anticipate their reunion to be as special and fulfilling as it turned out to be - she saw it like a matinee, never expecting the experience to be so moving.
Eartha emphasizes the uniqueness of her partner, affirming that no one can do what they do, and no one can compare to them. She admires their confidence and style - they stand alone and never have to prove themselves to anyone. They are the first and only one of their kind, with an abundance of "savoir-faire." The song ends with Eartha repeating that no one can come close to her partner - there's no one next to them.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember late November
I was thinking about everything in my life during late November
Pondering over all of the things in my life
Reflecting on every aspect of my life
You consoled me, came to hold me, Showed yourself right and you kept me through the night
You comforted and held me when I needed it and stayed with me throughout the night
Got a bit of déjà vu
I felt like I had experienced this before
Once I got you back into my view
As soon as I saw you again
Saw it like a matinee
It felt like I was watching a movie
Didn't know it was coming that way
I didn't expect it to happen that way
There's no one to stand next to you
No one is comparable to you
Nobody can do what you do
No one can do what you do
You really don't have nothing else to prove
You have nothing left to prove
The things you do, it's just like you
Your actions reflect who you are
You stand all by yourself
You stand alone
Can't be compared to no one else
You cannot be compared to anyone else
You're the first and only last premiere
You are the original and will remain the best
You've got so much savoire-faire
You possess great style and confidence
You're amazing, keep me gazing, You're my admiration and I thing you are so awesome
You amaze me and I find you incredibly awesome
And you are second to none, never will you be undone
You are unmatched and will never be defeated
By any other power; you exceed all expectation
No one can surpass you and you always exceed expectations
Didn't know what to do cause you caught me by surprise
I was caught off guard and didn't know how to react
I'm sure you could tell when you looked into my eyes
I'm certain that you could see it in my eyes
Thought I knew you well until now
I believed that I knew you well, but now I am unsure
And I realize, I realized
I now understand
There's no one next to you
No one can stand beside you
Really don't have nothing else to prove
You have nothing left to prove
Oh it's just like you stand
You stand alone
You're the first and only last premiere
You are the original and will remain the best
You've got so much savoire-faire
You possess great style and confidence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
[Verse 1]
Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Verse 2]
Santa baby, a '54 convertible too
Light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Chorus]
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check off my Christmas list
[Verse 3]
Santa baby, I want a yacht
And really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Verse 4]
Santa honey, one little thing I really need
The deed
To a platinum mine
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Verse 5]
Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex
And checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight
[Chorus]
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
[Verse 6]
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing
A ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
[Outro]
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight
@ferociousgumby
She's the best because she doesn't over-sing it. Most singers just squirm around and strain to sound seductive. She doesn't have to try. Her voice is like velvet.
@thejupiter2574
She was / still is 'purrrrrrr fect' She will always be my favorite Catwoman
@borganon3022
ferociousgumby exactly.
@yourname9840
ferociousgumby velvet is a perfect description for her voice
@DragonHeir92
This comment, yes! I love the vocal lilt she does, whimsical and flirty.
@Jobe-13
ferociousgumby Yep
@kayla3618
Eartha Kitt sings THE BEST version of Santa Baby. This is not up for discussion.
@beautifulfoster4458
Ofc this is her song❤❤❤
@jaysonseraile
She jus sings it so easily.....
@galinadodd2318
It's her song. The rest are cover versions.