In 1982, DeBarge finally found success with their acclaimed second album, All This Love, which gave DeBarge major chart success with singles "Stop! Don't Tease Me," the perennial "I Like It," and the title track. In 1983, DeBarge's third album, In a Special Way garnered yet more success for the group. El and Bunny wrote most of the songs with El most often singing leads. The album produced the hit singles "Time Will Reveal" and "Love Me in a Special Way."
In 1985, the group released their fourth album, Rhythm of the Night which produced hits "The Heart Is Not So Smart," "Who's Holding Donna Now," "You Wear It Well", and the massively successful title track, which was their second single to top the R&B charts, reached #3 in the U.S., and #4 in the U.K. Its music video was featured in the 1985 martial arts film, The Last Dragon as well as in an episode of Miami Vice (Season 2) called "Bought and Paid" for in which "You Wear It Well" was also performed. That year, El appeared as himself in an episode of the television series The Facts of Life and sang "You Wear it Well."
Solo career
After the commercial pop success of "Rhythm of the Night," El left the group in 1986 to begin a solo career. The same year, El released his self-titled debut solo album. "Who's Johnny" was the first single released and was featured in the movie Short Circuit. The single was a major success, peaking at #3 in the U.S. The music video for the song reflected its use in the movie, depicting a mock trial for characters Stephanie Speck and Newton Crosby (Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg, respectively) for the theft of the movie's main character, the robot Johnny 5, with scenes from the movie being shown as evidence.
Other singles from this album were "Someone" and the laid-back ballad "Love Always". A break in El's career, according to some, kept him from the spotlight until 1989 when he returned with a second solo album, Gemini. This marked El's final Motown release to date. "Real Love" was a single, as well as "Broken Dreams." El signed with Warner Brothers and released his third solo album, In The Storm. "You Know What I Like," which featured Chante Moore (Latimore) on co-lead vocals, "My Heart Belongs To You," and a cover of Marvin Gaye's "After The Dance" (recorded with Fourplay and featuring Patti LaBelle) were singles. Two years later, in 1994, El collaborated with hit producer Babyface and released his fourth and most recent to date solo album Heart, Mind and Soul. "Can't Get Enough", "Slide," and a duet with Babyface, "Where Is My Love," were singles.
El teamed up with Quincy Jones to create the successful collaboration, "The Secret Garden," a single from 1990 which also featured Barry White, Al B. Sure!, and James Ingram on vocals. In 1998, El worked with DJ Quik for the single "Hand In Hand."
In 2008, Eldra was featured on RZA's album Digi Snacks on the track "Up Again". "Rhythm of the Night" will be the theme song of Lowes Motor Speedway during the 2008 NASCAR season.
Personal life
According to his mother, Etterlene DeBarge, El is the father of 11 children, the eldest born when El was only fifteen. His children include Adris DeBarge, who is an executive assistant for producer Tracey Edmonds.[3] He is currently separated from Monique DeBarge, having been arrested in 2007 for a conflict stemming from an individual described as "girlfriend."
Legal troubles
El DeBarge was arrested in Los Angeles County, California on August 26, 2007 for possible vandalism, drug possession, and alleged domestic violence.[4] On October 27, 2008 he was sentenced for possession of a controlled substance. Eldra had been arrested earlier in the month after police discovered two warrants for his arrest. [5]. On October 28,2008 he was sentenced to two years in state prison for possession of crack cocaine. He was recently released from prison on October 26, 2009 nearly a year after his sentence.
Dindi
El DeBarge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With far away clouds just wandering by,
Where did they go?
Oh I don't know, don't know,
Wind, that speaks to the leaves
Telling stories that no one believes,
Stories of love
Oh Dindi,
If I only had words
I would say all the beautiful things that I see
When you're with me
Oh my Dindi!
Oh Dindi,
Like the song of the wind in the trees
That's how my heart is singing Dindi, happy Dindi,
When you're with me!
I love you more each day,
Yes I do, yes I do,
I'd let you go away
If you take me with you!
Don't you know Dindi,
I'd be running an' searching for you,
Like a river, that can't find the sea,
That would be me, without you my Dindi!
Don't you know Dindi,
I'd be running an' searching for you,
Like a river, that can't find the sea,
That would be me, without you my Dindi!
The song "Dindi" by El DeBarge is a beautiful love song about a person whose emotions overflow upon seeing their beloved. The lyrics evoke the vastness of the sky and the limitless beauty of nature, as well as the power of the wind to whisper secrets to the leaves. The singer confesses their deep love for their partner, stating that if they could put into words all the beautiful things they see when they're together, they would.
The title "Dindi" is a reference to a small town in Brazil associated with the bossa nova style of music. The song was originally written and recorded by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Aloysio de Oliveira. Jobim was one of the pioneers of the bossa nova sound, a genre that blended elements of samba, jazz, and traditional Brazilian music. El DeBarge's version of the song is a faithful cover that retains the lush instrumentation and smooth vocals of the original.
The lyrics of "Dindi" express the timeless and universal theme of love, but they are also notable for their poetic and imaginative language. The lines about the clouds wandering by and the wind telling stories to the leaves create vivid images that enhance the emotional impact of the song. Overall, "Dindi" is a powerfully romantic song that reminds listeners of the beauty and importance of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sky, so vast as the sky
The sky is vast and open, it seems infinite.
With far away clouds just wandering by,
Clouds in the distance pass by slowly and aimlessly.
Where did they go? Oh I don't know, don't know,
The clouds have disappeared and the singer doesn't know where they went.
Wind, that speaks to the leaves
The wind moves the leaves and makes rustling sounds.
Telling stories that no one believes,
The rustling leaves sound like they're trying to tell a story, but no one is there to hear it or believe it.
Stories of love
The wind and leaves speak of love.
Belong to you and me
The love stories are meant for the singer and their loved one.
Oh Dindi, If I only had words
The singer loves their partner so much, they can't express it in words.
I would say all the beautiful things that I see
If the singer had the words, they would tell their partner all the beautiful things they see in life.
When you're with me, Oh my Dindi!
The singer feels complete and happy when their partner is with them.
Like the song of the wind in the trees
The singer's heart feels like it's singing when they're with their partner, like the wind in the trees.
That's how my heart is singing Dindi, happy Dindi,
The singer's heart is singing with happiness because of their partner, calling out their name.
When you're with me!
The singer is happiest when their partner is with them.
I love you more each day, Yes I do, yes I do,
The singer's love for their partner grows every day and they confirm that love.
I'd let you go away, If you take me with you!
The singer would follow their partner anywhere, even if it means leaving everything behind.
Don't you know Dindi, I'd be running an' searching for you,
Without their partner, the singer would feel lost and would try to find them no matter where they are.
Like a river, that can't find the sea, That would be me, without you my Dindi!
The singer feels incomplete without their partner, like a river that can't reach the sea.
Don't you know Dindi, I'd be running an' searching for you,
Without their partner, the singer would feel lost and would try to find them no matter where they are.
Like a river, that can't find the sea, That would be me, without you my Dindi!
The singer feels incomplete without their partner, like a river that can't reach the sea.
Lyrics © CORCOVADO MUSIC CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aloysio De Oliveira, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ray Gilbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind