Next to her recording career, Evans is widely known as the widow of New York rapper Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, whom she married in 1994 two months after meeting at a photoshoot. The turbulent marriage led to Evans' involvement in the East Coast-West Coast hip hop feud, dominating the rap scene at the time, and ended with Wallace's murder in a yet-unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in March 1997. A 1997 tribute single featuring Puff Daddy and 112, entitled "I'll Be Missing You," became Evans' biggest-selling hit to date and won her a Grammy Award in 1998.
After marrying Todd Russaw and having a third child, named Joshua, Evans released her long-awaited follow-up, Keep the Faith in 1998. Unlike the solemn approach to her first album, this album spoke of optimism, good times, and love. Among its biggest hits include the Chic-sampled track "Love Like This" (#7 US), the P. Diddy helmed "All Night Long" (#9 US), and Babyface lent her a number-one R&B hit song with "Never Gonna Let You Go". Outside of her own albums, Evans found another hit that year with Whitney Houston and Kelly Price on the song "Heartbreak Hotel".
Evans released her third album, 2001's Faithfully, which included the hit singles "You Gets No Love" (#8 R&B) and "I Love You" (#2 R&B). For the album's promotion, Evans went through a transformation in her physical appearance. Always a slightly full figured woman, Evans shed over fifty pounds and presented a sexier image that was present for the videos to "I Love You" and "Burnin' Up". Fatman Scoop also sampled her vocals on the song "Be Faithful" in 2003, which reached number one in the UK. Although the album wasn't as largely promoted as her first two, it was a moderate success. The album was certified platinum in January 2002, with over 1 million units sold.
Evans rebounded with a record that many of her fans have proclaimed as her strongest record to date, The First Lady (released on April 5, 2005) her Capitol record debut album. After finding success with her Twista collaboration, "Hope", Evans released her first song of new material in three years with "Again", a biographical account of her life struggles. Faith recorded "Say A Prayer" with gospel music star Donald Lawrence on his "I Speak Life" album in 2004. The First Lady came out commemorating her tenth anniversary in the industry and her first record on Capitol Records after leaving Bad Boy in 2003. With the help of "Again" reaching the top ten of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and appearances on David Letterman, BET, Later... with Jools Holland and MTV the album entered the Billboard 200 at number two with 160,000 copies sold in its first week, marking the largest first-week total of her career. The First Lady was RIAA certified Gold selling over 600,000 copies to date. The second single, "Mesmerized", saw Faith going with a 70's retro-funk soul vibe. The track failed to crack top fifty R&B despite numerous remixes; however a dance remix by the Freemasons went on to hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
At the end of 2005, Evans released her fifth studio album, A Faithful Christmas, a Christmas collection of new material and covers of seasonal classics. She also made lots of appearances on holiday TV programming. In early 2006, Faith Evans' third single, "Tru Love" (produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox), gradually gained ground on urban/urban AC radio without any assistance from her label since they never promoted (sent to radio) or had a video for "Tru Love", becoming her twelfth solo R&B hit (Top 30). Also in 2005, Evans appeared along with Jessi Colter and Cece White as a feature vocalist on the Shooter Jennings song "Southern Comfort" from the album "Put the O Back in Country".
On October 5. 2010, Evans' sixth album, "Something About Faith." The album debuted at #4 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #15 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 23,586 copies in its first week. The albums' lead single "Already Gone" peaked at #22 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. The albums' second single and music video "Right Here" was released on February 14, 2011.
In 2012, Evans became a cast member of TV One reality show R&B Divas Atlanta alongside Nicci Gilbert, Syleena Johnson, Keke Wyatt and Monifah. Evans also co-executive produces the show.[25] The album R&B Divas Atlanta, led by Evans was released on October 2, 2012. Proceeds from the album will benefit the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative & Performing Arts in East Orange, New Jersey.
On August 6, 2013, Evans confirmed she had begun work on her 6th album, tentatively titled Incomparable. Evans also revealed guest appearances for the album are slated to include Missy Elliott, KeKe Wyatt, B.Slade and Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters. "I Deserve It", a record featuring recurring collaborator Missy Elliott and her protégée Sharaya J, was released via iTunes on August 25, 2014 as the album's lead single. Incomparable was released on November 24, 2014. On TMZ, Evans had announced that she is working on a posthumous Notorious B.I.G. album titled The King & I, which will feature duets with the two. She plans to release it sometime in 2015.
Christmas Song
Faith Evans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you!
In Faith Evans's version of The Christmas Song, she paints a scene of the classic Christmas experience. The lyrics start by detailing the classic holiday scenery where she describes chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at people's noses, and yuletide carols being sung. The scenery is not complete without people dressed up like Eskimos, and this paints a perfect winter environment for people to celebrate in. The mood intensifies as she points out some of the items that make the season more than just the scenery- turkey, mistletoe, and toys. The excitement of Santa and his flying reindeer is where things get more magical for the children.
Faith Evans's voice does an amazing job of capturing the essence of these lyrics, and even though these are words that have been sung for years, she always makes it feel fresh and new. This version of The Christmas Song speaks to everyone who is reveling in the timeless appeal of Christmas, and also to the new generation that is still experiencing the magic of the holiday for the first time.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
The warmth of a glowing fire brings comfort during the cold winter nights
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Even though the coldness of winter can be biting, there is still beauty in the frosty snow
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
Holiday music fills the air, spreading the cheer and goodwill of the season
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Cold weather calls for dressing in warm layers, like the traditional clothing of Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Traditional holiday items like turkey and mistletoe are familiar to all
Help to make the season bright
These festive items add to the joy and happiness of the holiday season
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
The excitement of Christmas fills the hearts of young children as they anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
The anticipation of receiving presents on Christmas morning makes it difficult for children to fall asleep
They know that Santa's on his way
Children believe in the magic of Santa and know he will bring them gifts on Christmas Eve
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa has prepared many gifts for children all over the world and is ready to deliver them on Christmas Eve
And every mother's child is gonna spy
All children will stay up late, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer flying through the night sky
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
The wonder of Christmas allows us to believe in magical creatures, like flying reindeer
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
As a way to express my holiday wishes, I offer these simple words
To kids from one to ninety-two
These wishes are meant for all ages, from young children to the elderly
Although it's been said many times, many ways
This phrase may be a common one, but it still holds true and heartfelt sentiments
Merry Christmas to you!
May your holiday season be filled with warmth, joy, and love. Merry Christmas!
Lyrics © Ceylon Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind