Benét's father loved rap music and inspired an interest in music in his son. He sang with a Top 100-style group called Gerard in the late 1980s, and then Benét, his sister, Lisa, and his cousin, George Nash Jr., formed a band called Benét and released a self-titled album in 1992 but only sold 100,000 copies.
Benét's career-building, however, was interrupted by a series of personal tragedies. His father died of cancer, and his girlfriend, Tami Marie Stauff, the mother of Benét's daughter, India, born in 1992, died of injuries suffered in an automobile crash (April 24, 1993) after languishing in a coma for five days. Benét endured a long period of personal and creative depression, often feeling that only his responsibilities as a father kept him going. He took a job with United Parcel Service in Milwaukee and eased back into music by producing demo recordings for local artists.
In 1994, Benét signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his solo debut album, True to Myself, in fall (1996). Individual songs from the album were successful, including the top-ten R&B hit "Spiritual Thang" and "Let's Stay Together," which appeared on the soundtrack of the film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.
His next album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999; its first single, "Georgy Porgy (featuring Faith Evans)" received significant airplay, but the second single, "Spend My Life With You (featuring Tamia)", became a smash hit. "Spend My Life With You" rose to number one on the American R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The album, A Day In The Life also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male.
Benét also recorded for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD. He contributed vocals to the post-Katrina charity single, "Heart of America" along with Michael McDonald, Wynonna Judd, and Terry Dexter. He has also lent his vocals to many jazz albums for such artists as Wayman Tisdale, George Duke, Chris Botti, Jeff Lorber, Boney James, etc.
Benét has also been active as an actor; he had a recurring role on the television program For Your Love (1998 - 2002). He made his film debut alongside Mariah Carey in Glitter (2001). He has a recurring role on the MTV scripted show "Kaya" (2007) where he plays a music producer.
His Love & Life was released on September 9, 2008. The first single You're The Only One is currently rising on the r&b charts (having already hit No.1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart (Billboard)). It is his first top twenty hit in 2 years.
I Wanna Be Loved
Eric Benét Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had almost reached heaven
Just to feel it slip away
But life's too short to waste away
Being scared to take chances
Or so I've heard wise men say
I wanna be loved
I wanna be loved
Ten million lifetimes with you
I wanna be loved
And after all I've been through
I'll let my heart take it's chances, just to be loved by you
Taste, touch, hear, see, feel me now girl
And you'll know I'm so ready
To exchange lifelong vows, yes I am
'Cause now you've shown me how God has smiled
On this chance and this moment
For this I've prayed all my life
I wanna be loved
Faithful and true
I wanna be loved
Ten million lifetimes with you girl
I wanna be loved
And after all I've been through
I'll let my heart take its chances, just to be loved by you
I wanna feel there's a reason for living again
I want us to fly far away
And I want my heart to sing the words only you can understand
So put your hand in mine, say a prayer tonight
So that we may find love
I wanna be loved
I want to be faithful and true
I wanna be loved
Ten million lifetimes with you baby
I wanna be loved
And after all I've been through
I'll let my heart take its chances, just to be loved by you
I want to be loved
Faithful and true
I want to be loved
Ten billion lifetimes, ten zillion, ten trillion lifetimes baby
And after all I've been through
I'll let my heart take a chance just to be loved by you
I'll let my heart take a chance just to be loved by you
The lyrics of Eric Benét's song "I Wanna Be Loved" express a longing for love, and a willingness to take the chance to find it, even after a past experience left the singer feeling "cold and gray". Opening with a description of a lost opportunity, the lyrics continue with the idea that life's too short to waste time being scared to take chances. The singer is looking for a love that is "faithful and true", and expresses a desire to be with someone for "ten million lifetimes". Despite the pain and heartache he's experienced in the past, the singer is willing to take a chance on love once again, just for the opportunity to be loved by the right person.
The song continues with descriptions of the physical and emotional sensations the singer experiences when he's with the one he loves. He's "so ready" to exchange lifelong vows, and believes that God has smiled on this chance and this moment. He wants to fly away with his beloved and live a life that is filled with joy and meaning. At the end of the song, the singer expresses his desire to be loved faithfully and truly, for ten billion lifetimes, and he's willing to take a chance on love once again, even if it means risking his heart.
Overall, "I Wanna Be Loved" is a song about the power of love to heal old wounds, and the courage it takes to open oneself up to the possibility of love once again. The lyrics are filled with longing, hope, and vulnerability, and they speak to the universal human desire for connection and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Love once left me cold and gray
I've experienced heartbreak before and it left me feeling empty and lifeless
I had almost reached heaven
I thought I had found true love, but it didn't last
Just to feel it slip away
My previous love just slipped away and I was left alone
But life's too short to waste away
I don't want to waste my life being scared to take chances
Being scared to take chances
I don't want to be afraid to take risks in love
Or so I've heard wise men say
I've heard that wise men encourage taking chances in love
I wanna be loved
I desire to experience true love
Faithful and true
I want a love that is loyal and honest
Ten million lifetimes with you
I want to spend eternity with my true love
And after all I've been through
After experiencing heartbreak in the past
I'll let my heart take its chances, just to be loved by you
I am willing to take a chance on love again, just to be with the one I love
Taste, touch, hear, see, feel me now girl
I want my love to experience all of me in a physical sense
And you'll know I'm so ready
I am ready for a committed and loving relationship
To exchange lifelong vows, yes I am
I am ready to make a lifelong commitment to my love
'Cause now you've shown me how God has smiled
Because of my love, I feel blessed and that God is on my side
On this chance and this moment
I feel grateful for this opportunity to experience true love
For this I've prayed all my life
I've been waiting and praying for true love my entire life
I wanna feel there's a reason for living again
My love gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment
I want us to fly far away
I want to explore the world and share experiences with my love
And I want my heart to sing the words only you can understand
My love for you goes beyond words and can only be felt
So put your hand in mine, say a prayer tonight
Let's hold hands and pray for our love tonight
So that we may find love
I pray that our love continues to grow and flourish
Ten billion lifetimes, ten zillion, ten trillion lifetimes baby
I want to spend infinite lifetimes with my love
I'll let my heart take a chance just to be loved by you
I am willing to take a risk on love again, just to be with the one I love
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DEMONTE POSEY, ERIC BENET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@colettebyfield195
Love how they showed a beautiful simple story of a couple getting married in a simple way and rejoicing over those exciting "first moments". Very very touching!
@russelljohnson2008
Amazing... Why this man is not given the respect due him is beyond me.
@sparx180
+russelljohnson2008 Halle Berry ruined this man's career. She cannot keep a man so it has to be her.
@carebear433
+Chloe wilson it is the proofs in the pudding.my cousin's friend was one of eric's good friends. Says she's nuts foreal.
@thalease10
THIS DUDE CAN SING!
@daksnadaks6499
Of course!
@anthonywilliams5815
You're right he sung the mess out that song !!!!! Wow !!!!
@ricknelson1637
Yesss🙌🏽🙌🏽🥰
@reginawatson5021
My wedding party is going to walk down the aisle to this song when I get married👰🏽♀️💍🤵🏽♂️
@wshelby83
Those who get to experience this type of love are so so blessed man