Early Years
Joy Denalane was born to a German mother and a South African father in Berlin-Schöneberg in 1973. A little later on the family moved to Berlin-Kreuzberg where Joy spent her childhood with her five siblings.
At the age of 16 she left home and started focusing on music with first stage performances and the joining of the Reggae and Soul bands Culture Roots and Family Affair. At 19 she was signed to a major pop label but unfortunately both the singer and the management weren't able to pass an unanimous resolution when it came to the conception of music and image and Joy soon asked for a release. Afterwards she moved to Stuttgart where she met DJ Thomilla and Tiefschwarz (two already well-known producers then) with whom she co-wrote and produced the club hit "Music".
Debut and Mamani (2002)
Around the same time Joy came in first contact with Hip-Hop group Freundeskreis, who were looking for a female counterpart to lead singer Max Herre's voice on their track "Mit Dir" then. However, the duet was used as a single in summer 1999 and became a top 10 hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - pushed by the fact Denalane and Herre had become a couple simultaneously.
Afterwards Joy joined the FK Allstars, which also consisted of Afrob, Gentleman, Sekou and Brooke Russell among others, and went on tour with them for more than two years. Later on she signed a contract with Four Music (the label of Die Fantastischen Vier) and began working on her debut album Mamani, which was released in June 2002 and debuted at #8 on the German album charts. Inspired by African roots, the CD was primarily produced by husband Max Herre. In total Mamani spawned six singles, including first single "Sag's Mir", the socially critical track "Im Ghetto von Soweto" and "Kinderlied", a song dedicated to her oldest son Isaiah.
In 2003 Denalane went on a solo tour and finished collaborations with Youssou N'Dour, ASD and Till Brönner. She also performed in New York and Philadelphia for the first time and eventually received a Comet award for "Best Hip-Hop/R&B National" and three ECHO award nominations, including "Best Female Artist". Soon after she released a Live Edition of Mamani on CD and DVD, which was recorded during a special performance in Berlin's Tränenpalast and involved a set of previously unreleased remakes. In summer 2005 Denalane contributed vocals to the German version of Common's single "Go!".
Born & Raised (2006)
In April 2006 Denalane and husband Herre founded their own label, Nesola Records. Simultaneously Denalane prepared the release of her second album, Born & Raised, her first record in English. Pre-programmed in Germany, the album was entirely recorded in Philadelphia and features appearances by American rappers Lupe Fiasco, Raekwon, and Governor. While its lead single "Let Go" reached a moderately successful number forty on the German Singles Chart, the critically-acclaimed Born & Raised (released on 11 August 2006) debuted at number two (behind Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics) on the national albums chart, making it Denalane's highest chart entry to date. Further singles from the album, "Heaven or Hell" and "Sometimes Love", failed to chart within the top one hundred. In spring 2007 Denalane released the single "Change" (featuring Lupe Fiasco) in the United Kingdom, but it failed to chart.
Present
In 2008 Joy Denalane worked with Tweet, Dwele and Bilal on the project The Dresden Soul Symphony in Dresden, Germany. They performed classic soul cuts like "Let's stay together", "Natural woman", "Its a man's world", "Ain't nothing like a real thing" etc. with the MDR Symphony Orchestra. An album and a DVD were released on October 24, 2008.
Let Go
Joy Denalane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
girlfriend I hope you listen to what I'm saying
how you think you gonna stop him from betraying
can't teach an old dog new tricks you know
you like a man who's rough around the edges
claiming he's changing, a bunch of empty pledges
can't believe a damn thing he alleges
think twice before you head on down that road
ladies you got to learn to let go
cause he ain't never gonna change no
now it's time to show him out the door
not gonna take his mess nor more
he got you waiting at home while he's out in club all night
got to let go, got to let go
got you paying all the bills and you know that it ain't right
got to let go, got to let go
if he got a baby-mama-drama all over the town
got to let go, got to say no
even your friends try to tell you he's messing around
got to let go, got to let go
they promise you the stars in the beginning
it takes a while for you to find out that he's swindeling
depending on your money and he's clinging
you live and learn only if you recognize
you stick with him because you thinks he needs you
it's almost like you don't see the way he treats you
there's even talk you won't leave him because you're too weak to
ladies you got to learn to let go
cause he ain't never gonna change no
now it's time to show him out the door
not gonna take his mess nor more
he got you waiting at home while he's out in club all night
got to let go, got to let go
got you paying all the bills and you know that it ain't right
got to let go, got to let go
if he got a baby-mama-drama all over the town
got to let go, got to say no
even your friends try to tell you he's messing around
got to let go, got to let go
and don't think I haven't been through it all myself
Songtexte hoping that one day he'll become someone else
he got you waiting at home while he's out in club all night
got to let go, got to let go
got you paying all the bills and you know that it ain't right
got to let go, got to let go
if he got a baby-mama-drama all over the town
got to let go, got to say no
even your friends try to tell you he's messing around
got to let go, got to let go
he be puffing on weed first thing in the morn'
got to let go, got to let go
is he still sitting in the same spot when you get home
got to let go, got to let go
the whole world’s against him, but it’s never his fault
got to let go, got to say no
you try to break it down, but he don’t hear you at all
got to let go, got to let go
The song Let Go by Joy Denalane is a powerful message intended to encourage women to let go of the patriarchal norms in their relationships. The song opens with the caution that a player only loves his partner when he wants to play. It highlights the futility of trying to change a man who is uninterested in changing. Women are encouraged to let go of men who are rough around the edges and who claim to be changing but are not backing their pledges with action.
The artist urges women to let go and not put up with men who take them for granted. She calls out men who stay out all night clubbing while their women are waiting for them at home. Women are also called upon to let go of men who are happy to let them pay all the bills and yet continue to engage in unchecked and unapologetic patterns of misconduct.
Denalane highlights the importance of self-respect and the need for women to appreciate their self-worth. They are encouraged to recognize when their partners are swindling them and to quickly let go. Ultimately, the song is an anthem encouraging women to break free from toxic relationships and move on to a healthier future.
Line by Line Meaning
A player only loves you when he's playing
Men who are players are only invested in relationships when they are getting something out of it. This lyric serves as a warning to women not to get too involved with someone who only shows interest when it's convenient for them.
girlfriend I hope you listen to what I'm saying
The singer is addressing her female listeners directly and is urging them to take her advice seriously.
how you think you gonna stop him from betraying
The singer asks a rhetorical question, pointing out that if someone is inclined to betray her trust, she cannot stop them from doing so.
can't teach an old dog new tricks you know
This is a common saying meaning that people become set in their ways as they age and it is difficult to change their behavior or habits.
you like a man who's rough around the edges
The singer points out a common attraction to men who appear to be tough, in control, and unapproachable.
claiming he's changing, a bunch of empty pledges
The singer is warning women not to be fooled by insincere promises from men who claim to be changing, but who have not demonstrated any real effort to do so.
can't believe a damn thing he alleges
The singer points out that people who make false promises or claims are not trustworthy and should not be believed.
think twice before you head on down that road
The singer urges women to consider the potential consequences of getting involved with a man who is not trustworthy before making any decisions.
ladies you got to learn to let go
The singer is providing advice to women to let go of relationships that are no longer viable or healthy.
cause he ain't never gonna change no
This line serves as a reminder that people rarely change their behavior or habits without significant effort and commitment.
now it's time to show him out the door
The singer is urging women to take control of their relationships and to be willing to walk away from connections that are not healthy or positive.
not gonna take his mess nor more
The singer is encouraging women to stand up for themselves and to refuse to tolerate any mistreatment or bad behavior from their partners.
he got you waiting at home while he's out in club all night
This line highlights a common scenario where men are out partying all night while their partners are left waiting for them at home.
got you paying all the bills and you know that it ain't right
This line is pointing out the financial inequality or unfairness in a relationship where one partner is responsible for all of the financial obligations.
if he got a baby-mama-drama all over the town
This line highlights a potential complication with a partner who has children with someone else and is dealing with the drama that comes along with it.
even your friends try to tell you he's messing around
The singer is pointing out that sometimes friends or loved ones can see warning signs in relationships that we are not able to see ourselves.
and don't think I haven't been through it all myself
The singer is indicating that she has had experience with these types of relationships before and wants to share her wisdom with others so they do not make the same mistakes.
he be puffing on weed first thing in the morn'
This line highlights a possible addiction or dependence on drugs/alcohol, which can often lead to rocky relationships or erratic behavior.
is he still sitting in the same spot when you get home
This line is pointing out a pattern of laziness or lack of motivation, which can be a red flag in relationships.
the whole world’s against him, but it’s never his fault
This line is pointing out a pattern of blaming others for one's problems, which can be a sign of immaturity and lack of accountability.
you try to break it down, but he don’t hear you at all
The singer is pointing out a communication barrier or lack of willingness to work through problems, which can be a major obstacle in relationships.
Contributed by Nathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adams Ibrahim
Still can't get over this song even after 14 years
CAD_IS_ME
One of Germany's best artists!
187izm
she's not one of, she's the best of all
Fae Browne
I cannot put into words how much I loved her album ❤❤❤❤
Donald Murray
WHAT!!! She NEEDS to be right here, in the US blowing up!!! I dont understand why she isnt. this chick can SANG!!!
Margarita Walls
She sings beautiful songs in German also. I picked her music.. mainly to remind me when I lived in Munich, Germany ❤
Gwendoline
introducing the hard line according to
NWA84R
So ein wunderschöne erfahrene Seele , eine Bereicherung für jeden in seinem Leben! Danke Gott dafür 👌😊
Natalie E
I recently discovered her while surfing the Amazon website. I love Soul music because it's so real and meaningful
Lhpdasul
musica gostosa de ouvir e tem um balanço suave ao mesmo tempo vibrante e a voz é linda