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.
Sexy Lady
El DeBarge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I hear voices every time that you smile
And I don't wanna look like a clown
But I could swear they're telling me you wanna to get close to me
And please don't get me wrong I'm not trying to flatter you
Cause girl I know you heard that all before, I won't break your heart
Ain't nobody gonna touch you like I wanna love you baby
Ain't nobody gonna need you like I wanna treat you baby, yeah baby
Ain't nobody gonna hold you like I'm gonna squeeze you baby, hey baby
All I need is one night with you now baby,
Hey sexy lady don't leave here alone
I put your coat and you follow me home
And we can get it popping tonight,
Cause I can tell you wanna be my fantasy my everything
And please don't take me wrong, I'm not trying to flatter you
Cause girl I know you heard that all before, I won't break your heart
All I need is just one night with night, and girl I'll prove it to you
Ain't nobody gonna touch you like I wanna love you baby
Ain't nobody gonna need you like I wanna treat you baby, yeah baby
Ain't nobody gonna hold you like I'm gonna squeeze you baby, hey baby
All I need is one night with you baby, oh baby
Just one night, oh baby, just one night
Just one night, all I need, all I need,
All I need, all I need is just one night.
All I need is just one night,
All I need is just one night,
All I need is just one night.
In El DeBarge's song "Sexy Lady", the singer is addressing a woman he is attracted to, inviting her to stay with him and expressing how her smile makes him feel. He reveals that he is hearing voices that seem to be urging him to get closer to her. The singer acknowledges that he is not the first person to compliment her, but assures her that he is not trying to flatter her insincerely. He promises not to break her heart, and pleads with her to give him a chance to show her how well he can treat her. He suggests that she wants him just as badly as he wants her, and offers to take her home with him so they can spend the night together.
Throughout the song, El DeBarge uses repetition to emphasize his desire for this woman, highlighting the fact that nobody will touch, need, or hold her as he will. He also employs the use of a metaphor, referring to her as his fancy and everything, and expressing his intention to make her his reality. Overall, the song is about the power of attraction and what a man is willing to do to win a woman's affection.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey sexy lady stay with me a while
I want you to stick around for a little while because your smile makes me hear voices and I don't want to look silly.
Cause I hear voices every time that you smile
Your smile has a way of making me hear things that aren't there, but it's not a bad thing.
And I don't wanna look like a clown
I'm worried that if I act on these voices, I might make a fool of myself.
But I could swear they're telling me you wanna to get close to me
The voices I hear seem to be saying that you're interested in me and want to be closer to me.
And please don't get me wrong I'm not trying to flatter you
I don't want you to think I'm just saying these things to flatter you. I genuinely feel this way.
Cause girl I know you heard that all before, I won't break your heart
I understand that you've probably heard lines like this before, but I promise I won't hurt you like others might.
If you give me the chance I'll make it good to you
If you let me, I'll make sure your experience with me is a positive one.
Ain't nobody gonna touch you like I wanna love you baby
No one will ever touch you the way I want to show my love and affection for you.
Ain't nobody gonna need you like I wanna treat you baby, yeah baby
No one will ever need you like I want to take care of you and treat you right.
Ain't nobody gonna hold you like I'm gonna squeeze you baby, hey baby
No one will ever hold you like I want to hold and embrace you
All I need is one night with you now baby,
I just need one night with you to show you how much I care for you.
Hey sexy lady don't leave here alone
I don't want you to leave by yourself. Let me walk you home.
I put your coat and you follow me home
I'll help you with your coat and you can follow me home.
Cause I can tell you wanna be my fantasy my everything
I can see in your eyes that you want to be everything to me and I want that too.
All I need is just one night with night, and girl I'll prove it to you
If you just give me one night, I'll show you how much you mean to me and prove it to you.
Just one night, oh baby, just one night
All I'm asking for is one night with you to show you my love.
All I need, all I need,
All I really need is you and one night to show you how much I care.
All I need is just one night.
I just need one night with you to prove my love.
All I need is just one night,
If you give me one night, I promise I'll show you how much I care.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JESSICA CORNISH, JOSHUA COLEMAN, CLAUDE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind