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.
The Other Side
El DeBarge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such a lonely place without you, oh ah
My heart is acing me what should I do? Oh ah
We were playing with both fears are forever, oh ah
Until that clock tick-tock now was never, oh ah, oh ah
It's a shame same thing that you love
Oh ah, oh ah, oh ah,
Oh why did you leave you know I believe
And now I'm left to grieving for you
Shames like time standing still with a,
Didn't feel, every step is a treacherous move, oh ah, oh ah
It's not fair losing to a dangerous,
You took much too long to wait upon
Somewhere between heaven and earth
It all got lost where has it gone, the horror, horror
It's a shame same thing that you love so much
Can make you hurt that much on the other side,
Oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah
The lyrics to El DeBarge's song The Other Side describe the feeling of loss and loneliness after a loved one has left. The singer is lost without their partner, describing their heart as aching and the world as a lonely place. The song speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak, and the pain that can come from loving someone deeply.
The lyrics speak to the passage of time, and how quickly things can change. The singer describes playing with their fears, thinking that their love was forever. However, with the ticking of a clock, everything changed, and their partner was gone. The song touches on the frustration and sadness that comes from the unpredictability of life, and the unexpectedness of loss.
The chorus of the song speaks to the irony of love. It can be the most amazing thing, but it can also bring the most pain. The singer is left to grieve for their lost love, and wonders why their partner had to leave. The lyrics speak to the feeling of helplessness and despair that can come from losing someone you love deeply.
Overall, El DeBarge's song The Other Side is a beautiful and poignant description of the pain of lost love. The lyrics are raw and honest, speaking to the complexity and depth of human emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollow, such a lonely place, such a lonely place, oh
Being without you has left me in a hollow, lonely place.
Such a lonely place without you, oh ah
The loneliness I feel is overwhelming.
My heart is acing me what should I do? Oh ah
I am in emotional pain and don't know how to deal with it.
We were playing with both fears are forever, oh ah
We were both hesitant to fully commit to this relationship out of fear, but we thought it would last forever.
Until that clock tick-tock now was never, oh ah, oh ah
Once time ran out, we realized that our relationship was never meant to be.
It's a shame same thing that you love
So much can make you hurt that much on the other side,
Oh ah, oh ah, oh ah,
It's unfortunate that something you love so much can cause you so much pain and heartache in the end.
Oh why did you leave you know I believe
And now I'm left to grieving for you
I can't help but wonder why you left, and now I'm left to grieve for you.
Shames like time standing still with a,
Didn't feel, every step is a treacherous move, oh ah, oh ah
It feels like time has stopped and every step I take feels like a dangerous, risky move.
It's not fair losing to a dangerous,
You took much too long to wait upon
Somewhere between heaven and earth
It all got lost where has it gone, the horror, horror
It's unfair that I lost you to something dangerous, and it's like we lost our way between heaven and earth. I don't know how this happened, and it's a horror.
Oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah
These repeated sounds represent the lingering pain and heartache of the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELDRA DEBARGE, JAMES HARRIS III, TERRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind