One of the most popular African-American comedians of the late 1990s, TV star turned screen actor Jamie Foxx first became known for his many roles on Keenen Ivory Wayans’ long-running comedy variety show In Living Color. Since then, Foxx has played both raucous and sensitive nice-guy roles in a number of films, and earned particular acclaim for his portrayal of a talented but egotistical quarterback in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday.
Born Eric Bishop in the small town of Terrell, Texas, on December 13, 1967, Foxx was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated. He enjoyed a happy upbringing, going to church every day with his grandparents and excelling at everything from academics to music to football. During his teen years he had his first taste of the entertainment business as his church’s choir director and music director, and also started his own R&B band. Foxx studied music while a student at the U.S. International University in San Diego; it was during his college days that he got his start as a stand-up comedian. Attending a comedy club one night with some friends, he was encouraged to take the stage and perform some impersonations, which proved incredibly popular with the audience. Foxx’s enthusiastic reception led to his decision to move to L.A. and pursue a comedy career. At the age of 22 he was hired for In Living Color, and he subsequently landed a recurring role on Charles Dutton’s sitcom Roc in 1985.
Foxx was ultimately given his own show in 1996; that same year, he appeared in a supporting role in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, which cast him as a friend of Ben Chaplin. He was also featured in the boxing satire The Great White Hype, and the following year he got star billing opposite fellow comedian Tommy Davidson in the poorly received comedy Booty Call. After playing a DJ in Ice Cube’s The Players Club (1998), Foxx earned some of his best reviews to date for his role in Any Given Sunday (1999). He subsequently returned to straight comedy, starring in Antoine Fuqua’s crime comedy Bait as an ex-con trying to mend his ways, and as a man caught in a convenience stored robbery in Held Up.
In 2001, Foxx was given an opportunity to again flex the dramatic chops he displayed in Any Given Sunday with a role as Drew Bundi Brown in Michael Mann’s biopic Ali. Then, after a role in the barely seen 2003 Sylvester Stallone drama Shade, Foxx embarked on his busiest year yet. 2004 saw him star in no fewer than four films, the most noteworthy of them being the thriller Collateral. The tense summer flick not only saw Foxx again under the direction of Mann, but cast on an equal level with Hollywood uber-star Tom Cruise. His turn as a hapless cab driver who is forced into a menacing partnership slowly advancing Foxx’s dramatic screen presence, the role served as proof to many that his talents extended well beyond what many may have suspected. When it was announced shortly thereafter that Foxx would be donning the trademark sunglasses to essay the role of legendary blues pianist Ray Charles in Director Taylor Hackford’s eagerly anticipated biopic Ray, it was only a matter of time before audiences found out how deep Foxx’s talents as an actor truly ran. So effective was Foxx in recreating Charles’ unique style and unmistakable visage that many critics speculated an Oscar nomination may be in calling for the one-time funnyman turned dramatic powerhouse. When the star-studded evening in February did finally arrive and the envelope that would reveal the best actor of 2005 was breathlessly opened, Foxx did indeed take the prize — raising already stratospheric expectations regarding his future career to a fever pitch.
Foxx subverted expectations by capitalizing on his Oscar win with an R&B album that garnered respectable reviews and solid sales. He returned to films in the summer action flop Stealth — in a supporting role to would-be superstar Josh Lucas — and appeared as a leader of men in Sam Mendes’ Gulf War film Jarhead. In 2006 he reteamed with Michael Mann, starring as Tubbs in the big-screen adaptation of Miami Vice. Late in the year, he starred in the much-anticipated adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, opposite fellow actor-musicians hyphenates Eddie Murphy and Beyoncé Knowles. He is also known for his big leading role in Law Abiding Citizen.
Hollywood
Jamie Foxx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After all the pain I've endured girl, while I was with you, babe
Sensed that we're over babe, I could see your halo slipping, babe
And it's all my fault, you were in it for my lifestyle, no more denying now
She said said she wanna be alone, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanna be amongst the stars, so I left her in Hollywood
I left my heart in Hollywood
Paparazzi flashing, you blinded by the lights, hey baby
Our love was empty, there's nowhere inside, should I search and find it girl?
I can see our chapter ending babe, I can see your halo slipping babe
And it's all my fault, you were in it for my lifestyle, no more denying now
She said said she wanna be alone, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanna be amongst the stars, so I left her in Hollywood
I left my heart in Hollywood
I can't believe that it's all over, oh
You left my heart so hurt babe, nothing for me to save
But goodbye, goodbye to a lie babe, no (Goodbye, lover)
Oh, goodbye to a lie girl (Goodbye, lover, goodbye lover)
She said said she wanna be alone, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanna be amongst the stars, so I left her in Hollywood
Said she want to be alone, so I left her in Hollywood, oh
She wanna be amongst the stars, so I left her in Hollywood, oh
I left that ass in Hollywood
The song "Hollywood" by Jamie Foxx is about a relationship that has come to an end because the singer’s lover was only interested in being with him for his fame and fortune, rather than for the love and passion they once shared. The song speaks to the pressures of life in the spotlight and the toll it can take on a relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer’s lover was blinded by the bright lights of fame and she lost sight of the love they once had.
The chorus speaks to the singer’s decision to end the relationship and leave his lover in Hollywood, where she can be amongst the stars. This serves as a metaphor for the lifestyle that accompanies fame and how it can be enticing and all-consuming. The singer refers to himself as the one at fault for getting caught up in the lifestyle and allowing it to damage their relationship. He recognizes that his lover was only interested in his fame and fortune, but he was still blind to the truth for some time, until it was too late.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the high cost of fame and the challenges that come with life in the entertainment world. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of losing sight of what really matters in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
After all the love and passion girl, I gave it to you, babe
I gave you all of my love and passion, but it wasn't enough
After all the pain I've endured girl, while I was with you, babe
I suffered a lot while being with you
Sensed that we're over babe, I could see your halo slipping, babe
I knew we were done, I could see your facade falling apart
And it's all my fault, you were in it for my lifestyle, no more denying now
I take responsibility for our relationship ending, you were only with me for my fame and success
She said said she wanna be alone, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanted to be a part of the glamorous Hollywood scene, so I left her there
She wanna be amongst the stars, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanted to be a famous Hollywood star, so I left her there
I left my heart in Hollywood
My love and passion is still present in Hollywood, even though our relationship ended
Paparazzi flashing, you blinded by the lights, hey baby
The media attention and fame blinded you, my dear
Our love was empty, there's nowhere inside, should I search and find it girl?
Our relationship was meaningless and hollow, should I try to rekindle it?
I can see our chapter ending babe, I can see your halo slipping babe
Our relationship is coming to a close, and your fake persona is disappearing
I can't believe that it's all over, oh
I can't come to terms with our relationship being done
You left my heart so hurt babe, nothing for me to save
You hurt me so deeply, there's nothing left to save
But goodbye, goodbye to a lie babe, no (Goodbye, lover)
But goodbye to the falsehood of our relationship (Goodbye, lover)
She said said she wanna be alone, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanted to be alone, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanna be amongst the stars, so I left her in Hollywood
She wanted to be famous, so I left her in Hollywood
I left that ass in Hollywood
I left her behind in Hollywood
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind