Spirited in her approach to communicate fitting and inspirational messages to the youth she’s been described by critics as the truth, one who will bring about real change with her powerful and captivating voice that at times seem flawlessly pure. Rebellious in her approach to denote systematic oppression against all races Etana takes pride in being an artist, she feels strongly that her responsibility as a recording artist is to express positive vibrations in her music and from this she will graceful admit to staying the course.
Born Shauna McKenzie Etana spent her youthful days playing in the hill side community of August Town situated in the South Eastern side of Jamaica. The only daughter of a fairly large family of boys she was as curious then as she is determined now doing the mischievous things most children tend to do at an early age. Attending school locally up until 1992 when she migrated to the U.S to start a new life in the sunshine state of Miami Florida Etana was a budding achiever; she finished grade school and eventually went off to college the year after with plans of becoming a Registered Nurse.
During her studies at Broward Community College Etana became extremely passionate about music, she was consumed with the joy of creating her own mix of the different genres she would attentively listen to in her earlier years. A hardened fan of Reggae, Pop, Hip Hop and Jazz Musicians she found inspiration in Whitney Houston, Lauren Hill, Jill Scott, Sizzla Kalongi, Marcia Griffiths and the legend Bob Marley all of who eventually gave the then academic the will to explore a new and potentially more suited career in Music.
In 2000 after making a tough decision to prematurely exit college Etana attempted a shot at stardom when she joined a girl group by the name "GIFT" which was being courted by Universal Records. Sexy, Reviling and conforming to the industry stereo type of how a woman should dress Etana fell victim to her dreams of becoming a mainstream star. It wasn’t her ideal fit but she conformed to the record labels requests and gave in to her groups glamorous appeal until one day while on a video shoot for their lead single she could bear it no more, walking away from the spotlights and returning to her place of birth Kingston, Jamaica to start fresh as an entrepreneur looking to grab a piece of the Cyber Market with an Internet Cafe.
Down but not out Etana still wanted to do music but only in her own way, she wanted to send a different message and portray a more eloquent look and this opportunity came in 2005 when a friend brought her to Fifth Element who at the time was prospering from the strength of Richie Spice who was heavily booked for several American and European Tours. Auditioning for a shot at becoming the backup vocalist for Spice Etana vocally floored his management team and was handed a plane ticket to do a few shows in the U.S. The ensuing fifteen months followed with the now permanent songstress soaking up valued experience as a stage performer with performance credits in Europe and North America. Eager to make her own mark Etana boldly attempted a hit single one day while chilling with the guitar player and Percussionist from Richie Spice’s band. The idea had been floating in her thoughts for weeks and like magic the melody for her debut smash single "Wrong Address" was born. Simple yet effective the single was a fusion of Jazz and Reggae, it was the first of its kind and in 2006 the song was rewarded with heavy radio rotations plunging it in the number 1 position of several local charts.
Describing her style back then Etana was quoted as saying "I do music straight from the heart, straight from the soul, straight from the people i see in everyday life" and so came about her second major hit Roots which was an intriguing mix of African and reggae cultural sounds fused with Jamaican Creole. The song became an anthem because of the definitive statement "You can’t water down and dilute" featured in the chorus.
Video’s for both songs helped bring Etana to the forefront of Reggae and during the summer and winter of 2007 she made her mark as a solo artist performing on international events like Reggae Sumfest, Fully Loaded, ATI Live Concert, Irie Jamboree, Welcome to Jamrock and Guinness Sting. Picking up where she left off in 2007 Etana began 2008 with the same level of focus rocking the likes of an Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in late January so much so that patrons lashed the promoters for putting her on too early. A few well deserved awards in the bag Etana took home Best Female Vocalist at both the Excellence in Music & Entertainment (EME) Awards and the IRIE FM Radio Awards not to mention an award for Best Solo Female Reggae Vocalist copped at the 1st annual Reggae Academy Awards for which she had nominations in 3 separate categories.
Currently promoting her new singles "Warrior Love" and "I Am Not Afraid" off her soon to be released debut album ETANA THE STRONG ONE on VP Records Etana is boldly taking on the world of music with the help of her new management team at Solid Agency. Owner of Free Mind Music / The Best Records Etana is poised to do Reggae proud.
Reggae
Etana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now it s time to play, ay
You move me like the wind blows
As night becomes a day
I know you want to go slow
To where, I don t know
But rocking is the true road
Hear me when I say
You re just like reggae
You hit me like a drum
Reggae, play cards and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you re the one
Once you tried to leave me,
Said I was on my own
Music won t deceive me, no
I won t be alone
To where, I don t know
But rocking is the true road
Hear me when I say
[Chorus] x 2
You re just like reggae
You hit me like a drum
Reggae, play cards and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you re the one
Reggae, you re, mhm
Will strum,
Sing out and I will, oh yeah
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hear me when I say,
Rock soul, never seen you, rock soul
Reggae you re the one
Uh, reggae you re the one.
In Etana's song "Reggae," she compares her love for someone to the genre of reggae music. The lyrics express that the person she loves moves her like the wind, and she wants to take things slow, but rocking is the true road. Etana tells this person that they are just like reggae, hitting her like a drum. She promises that music won't deceive her, and she won't be alone. The chorus repeats the comparison between the person she loves and reggae music, saying that they are the one who can make her strum and come alive.
The song Reggae by Etana is a beautiful message of love that uses one of the most loved music genres globally, Reggae. Looking into the lyric context, we can see that the love being expressed is patient, persistent, and consistent. Comparing the love to reggae, where the rhythm and sound go in sync, also signifies the strong, unbroken bond of love. Although she does not know where her lover is taking her, she knows the road to happiness lies in rockin' to the sound of reggae.
Line by Line Meaning
Never see you rock so,
I have never seen you rock like this before.
Now it s time to play, ay
The time to have fun has come.
You move me like the wind blows
You excite me like the wind moves.
As night becomes a day
The transition from night to day is happening.
I know you want to go slow
I understand that you want to take things slowly.
To where, I don t know
I don't know where exactly you want to go.
But rocking is the true road
Rocking is the right way to go.
Hear me when I say
Listen to what I'm telling you.
You re just like reggae
You resemble reggae music.
You hit me like a drum
You affect me like the beat of a drum.
Reggae, play cards and I will strum
If you play cards, I'll play the guitar.
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
If you sing, I'll come to you over and over again.
Oh reggae, you re the one
Reggae music, you are the best.
Once you tried to leave me,
You attempted to abandon me before.
Said I was on my own
You said I was alone.
Music won t deceive me, no
Music will never fool or betray me.
I won t be alone
I won't be by myself.
Reggae, you re, mhm
Reggae music, yes.
Will strum,
I will play the guitar.
Sing out and I will, oh yeah
If you sing, I will join in excitedly.
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah
Okay, sounds good to me.
Hear me when I say,
Pay attention to what I'm telling you.
Rock soul, never seen you, rock soul
Rock your soul, I've never seen you rock like this before.
Reggae you re the one
Reggae music, you are the best.
Uh, reggae you re the one.
Yep, reggae music, you're the best.
Writer(s): Kirk Andre Bennett, Aeion Hoilett, Jesse Adelman, Shauna Gayle Melissa Mckenzie, Stanley Hayden, Shane Connery Brown Copyright: Greensleeves Publishing Limited, Made It A Hit Music Publishing, A Team Of Hits Music
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rafidahazahari8533
"Reggae"
Never see you rock so
Now it’s time to play, ay
You move me like the wind blows
As night becomes a day
I know you want to go slow
To where, I don’t know
But rocking is the true road
Hear me when I say
You’re just like reggae
You hit me like a drum
Reggae, play chords and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you’re the one
Once you tried to leave me
Said I was on my own
Music won’t deceive me, no
I won’t be alone
I know you want to go slow
To where, I don’t know
But rocking is the true road
Hear me when I say
You’re just like reggae
You hit me like a drum
Reggae, play chords and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you’re the one
[x2]
Reggae, you’re, mhm
Will strum
Sing out and I will, oh yeah
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hear me when I say
Rock soul, never seen you, rock soul
Reggae you’re the one
Uh, reggae you’re the one
@laquitamcarthur7049
Never seen you rock so
Now it's time to play, ay
You move me like the wind blows
As night becomes a day
I know you want to go slow
To where, I don't know
But rocking is the true road
Hear me when I say
You're just like reggae
You hit me like a drum
Reggae, play chords and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you're the one
Once you tried to leave me
Said I was on my own
Music won't deceive me, no
I won't be alone
I know you want to go slow
To where, I don't know
But rocking is the true road
Hear me when I say
You're just like reggae
You hit me like a drum
Reggae, play chords and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you're the one
You're just like reggae
My heart beats to your drum
Reggae, play chords and I will strum
Reggae, sing out and I will come, come, come, come
Oh reggae, you're the one
Ooh yeah
Yeah, yeah
Ohh, yay
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Alright
Reggae you're, mmm
And I will strum
You're just like, ooh yeah
Sing out and I will, ooh yeah
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah
You're just like reggae, yeah
Hear me when I say, yeah
Rock soul, never seen you, rock soul
Reggae you're the one
Sing out and I will come
Reggae you're-
Ooh reggae you're the one, ooh yeah
Ooh reggae you're the one
@seanc.harrison7481
I don't know any other reggae female singer whose vocals move me like this woman. Such restrained power and grace.
@nvsty476
Probably alaine
@julietjude3835
Me too
@jamiemcwilliams7824
Sean C. Harrison another young marcia in the making this treasure is going places and like her vocals she is just as beautiful to look at as she is to listen to big up etana 😍jay x
@richmck007
Sean C. Harrison is whaah unnu seh...go listen to Queen Ifrica , Chereene Anderson...plenty female singers ah lift up dem voice...you just aint listening. Forget mainstream radio, an go deep!
@jimbo5479
I'm with you Sean. She's my favorite new generation reggae artist, brother or sister! Bless Up Etana! 💖 💛 💚
@zenacarter8340
Boy this woman can sing , I’ve got goosebumps ... awesome ❤️
@jonathanolap7982
She’s coming to Africa for my wedding
@trevbrispo5359
This is a Masterpiece by Etana
@indramainali4613
This is the best Reggae number I have ever listened in my life. Long live Etana.