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
Simple Things
Eartha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have hopes and I have dreams
But what would they mean
If you were not here with me
I ain?t trying to be nobody?s superstar (superstar)
Lord I wanna be right where you are
Tomorrow if you?d take it all away
Oh I love these simple things
Because I?m just a simple girl
Oh I love these simple things
Because I?m just a simple girl
It ain?t like I ain?t never been there before (there before)
When there was no open door
And I thanked you all the more
That is what you made me for
I still love the beach and the sounds of waves
I love the park and the trees of shade
It?s the way you cover me
From the heat of the day (You find a way to cover me, cover me)
Oh I love these simple things
Because I?m just a simple girl
Oh I love these simple things
Because I?m just a simple girl
Eartha's song, Simple Things, is a heartfelt tribute to the small joys in life that bring meaning and happiness. The lyrics convey a sense of gratitude for the simple things in life, such as love and companionship, which make life worth living. The opening line, "I'm a simple girl who loves simple things," sets the tone for the rest of the song. Eartha's humble, down-to-earth perspective is refreshing in a culture that often values material possessions and status symbols over genuine connections with others.
Throughout the song, Eartha expresses her devotion to the people and experiences that bring meaning to her life, singing, "But what would they mean if you were not here with me." She sets herself apart from the typical celebrity lifestyle, saying, "I ain't trying to be nobody's superstar, Lord I wanna be right where you are." She recognizes that even without fame or fortune, life is still rich and full of simple pleasures to be savored.
In the second verse, Eartha reflects on past hardships and how they have shaped her appreciation for the present. "It ain't like I ain't never been there before, when there was no open door, and I thanked you all the more, that is what you made me for." Her lyrics suggest that it is through adversity that we learn to appreciate the value of the simple things in life.
Overall, the song Simple Things is a touching reminder of the beauty and importance of the little things that make life worth living. Eartha's message is one of gratitude, humility, and a sincere appreciation for the joys of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a simple girl who loves simple things
I am not someone who desires the extravagant or elaborate things in life, I am content with the basics and enjoy the little pleasures that make life enjoyable
I have hopes and I have dreams
Although I am content with the simple things in life, I do have aspirations and desires for my future
But what would they mean
However, these hopes and dreams would hold no real significance without the presence of someone special in my life
If you were not here with me
I need this significant other by my side to make these hopes and dreams meaningful and fulfilling
I ain't trying to be nobody's superstar (superstar)
I have no interest in being a celebrity or someone who is constantly in the limelight
Lord I wanna be right where you are
All I desire is to have the presence of the Lord in my life, and to be in a place where I am content with the simple things
Tomorrow if you'd take it all away
Even if everything I own or desire were to suddenly disappear tomorrow
I'd still be loving you anyway (Still be loving you anyway)
I would still have the love and appreciation for my significant other, as they are what truly matters to me in life
Oh I love these simple things
I have a great affinity for the basic and humble things in life
Because I'm just a simple girl
This affinity is due to my laid-back and easy-going personality, as I do not require much to be content
It ain't like I ain't never been there before (there before)
I have experienced hardship and difficult times in the past
When there was no open door
During times when there were no opportunities or chances for success
And I thanked you all the more
Despite these hardships, I was still grateful for the blessings I did have in life
That is what you made me for
I believe that God has given me the strength to endure these hardships and to find contentment in the simple things in life
I still love the beach and the sounds of waves
I find joy in the peaceful and calming sounds of nature, particularly the beach and the sound of waves crashing
I love the park and the trees of shade
I also find solace in the simplicity of natural surroundings like parks and trees, which offer shade and tranquility
It's the way you cover me
I feel protected and cared for by my significant other, who shields me from the harshness of life
From the heat of the day (You find a way to cover me, cover me)
This protection extends to both literal and figurative heat, as they always find a way to take care of me, even when life is difficult
Contributed by Mila K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Asmr#casashaa#tingles
Absolutely 💜💜💜💜💜🙏
Denise Ogletree
Truth!!
Bliksef weld & moto world
❤
Hope's Perspectives
Here from arya starr cast :)