She absorbed musical skill early in life, encouraged by both parents: her mother, Joyce, herself a former singer, and now India Arie's stylist; and her father, former ABA and NBA basketball player Ralph Simpson (not former NBA star player Ralph Sampson, as has been mistakenly reported in some media). She had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, Colorado, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. "When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs," she said at the press release of her debut album, Acoustic Soul.
Co-founding the Atlanta-based independent music collective GroovmentEarthseed (Groovement was the collective artists' name and Earthshare was their independent label name), her one-song turn on a locally released compilation led to a second-stage gig at the Lilith Fair. Their Universal Records/Motown music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. Sidestepping all the devices of flavor-of-the-month record-making, Acoustic Soul acquainted listeners with a brave and eloquent new voice, drawing an uncommonly broad swath of listeners from hip-hop, the so called neo-soul, blues, folk, and classic troubadour-style singer/songwriting, all at once. The album, released in 2001, debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart and number three on the R&B album chart. Within months, without the concentrated radio play that typically powers pop and rap albums, Acoustic Soul was certified double-platinum.
India.Arie also features on Stevie Wonder's album A Time To Love which was released on October 18, 2005. India.Arie and Stevie Wonder duet on the title track "A Time To Love" that India wrote, which was nominated in the 2006 forty-eighth Grammy Awards, for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration with Vocals.
On the September 2005 premiere of The Tyra Banks Show, Arie performed "Just 4 2day". She wrote this song especially for Tyra's show. Arie also wrote "What About the Child", a song that did not air but was made available as a $1 internet download to support child victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Voyage to India
India.Arie followed the success of her debut in 2002 with the release of Voyage to India. Debuting at number six on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B chart, the album eventually earned a 2003 Grammy for Best R&B Album. The single "Little Things" also won a 2003 Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Soon after its release, Voyage to India was certified gold; and it was certified platinum on Friday 4 August 2006.
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
India.Arie's third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, was released on June 27, 2006. Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship gave India.Arie her first number-one on the Billboard 200 and was her second chart-topper on the U.S. R&B album chart. This album was also the first #1 album for the Motown record label in 33 years since Diana Ross's #1 Lady Sings the Blues Its first week sales of 161,000 copies is Arie's best sales week to date and was certified gold on Friday, August 4, 2006.
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Songversation (2013)
Christmas with Friends (2015)
Worthy (2019)
a beautiful day
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a destination,
There are no mistakes,
Just chances we've taken
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now
Wake up in the morning
And get out of bed
Of all of the things that I am grateful for
Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes new dreams new ways
I open up my eyes and
I open up my mind and
I wonder how life will surprise me today
Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes new dreams new ways
I open up my heart and
I'm gon' do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day
La la la la la la la la la [Repeat: x3]
It's a Beautiful Day [Repeat: x3]
Life is a challenge not a competition
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart
Sometimes you feel like you've got something to prove
Remind yourself that there's only one you
Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are
Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes, new dreams, new ways
I open up my eyes and
I open up my mind and
I wonder how life will surprise me today
Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes, new dreams, new ways
I open up my heart and
I'm gon' do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day
La la la la la la la la la [Repeat: x3]
It's a Beautiful Day [Repeat: x2]
Let's make this a wonderful
Let's make this a powerful
Let's make this a Beautiful Day
It's a Beautiful Day
Life is a journey,
Not a destination,
There are no mistakes,
Just chances we've taken
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now
India.Arie’s song “Bonus Track” is a poetic piece that puts emphasis on making the best of each day. Life, according to the lyrics, is a journey and not a destination. The lines “there are no mistakes, just chances we've taken” encourage individuals to let go of any regrets as they keep moving forward in life. In the morning, it is important to take a moment just to recognize the wonders of life before opening the mind and heart to all that the day has to offer.
The song reminds us that it is crucial to remain grateful for what we have and who we are. Life is not always easy; it is, in fact, a challenge, but that does not imply that one cannot be on a mission and still enjoy the beauty of life. Therefore, it’s essential to take time to treasure life's beauty, connect with our hearts, and remain true to who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is a journey,
Life is meant to be experienced as a journey, not just a final destination.
Not a destination,
Life is not just about reaching the end goal, but the satisfaction from every experience.
There are no mistakes,
There are no errors in life, just opportunities to learn and grow.
Just chances we've taken
Life is full of risks, and every chance we take shapes our future.
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now
Don't let your past regrets weigh you down, focus on the present moment and make the most out of it.
Wake up in the morning
Start the day with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
And get out of bed
Start the day with positivity and a willingness to embrace the new day.
Start making a mental list in my head
Think of things that you are grateful for and appreciate.
Of all of the things that I am grateful for
Reflect upon things that you are grateful for, and appreciate their value.
It's the dawn of a new day
Each morning is like a new beginning with new opportunities and possibilities.
New hopes new dreams new ways
Each new day brings new opportunities to hope, dream, and find ways to improve oneself.
I open up my eyes and
Be open-minded and aware of your surroundings.
I open up my mind and
Be receptive to new ideas and different perspectives.
I wonder how life will surprise me today
Be curious about what the new day will bring, and be open to surprises.
Life is a challenge not a competition
Life should not be viewed as a competition with others, but as a challenge to better oneself.
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission
You can appreciate the beauty of life while striving towards your goals.
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart
Take some time to reflect on your values and emotions.
Sometimes you feel like you've got something to prove
There may be times when you feel like you need to prove yourself.
Remind yourself that there's only one you
Remember the uniqueness and value of your individuality.
Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are
Appreciate and give thanks for who you are, including your strengths and weaknesses.
Let's make this a wonderful
Let's strive to make this day wonderful.
Let's make this a powerful
Let's aim to make this day impactful and significant.
Let's make this a Beautiful Day
Let's work towards making this a day of beauty, positivity, and happiness.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON, JOYCE SIMPSON, NICK TREVISICK, ROBIN ROBERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind