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.
Niemand
Joy Denalane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und wir uns Zeit erkaufen
Könn’ wir weiter rückwärts denken
Und dabei vorwärts laufen
Könn wir Liebe predigen
Wenn uns der Glaube teilt
Könn’ wir noch ein Feldzug führen
Refrain
Sag mir
Ich muss wissen wo wir stehen
Sag mir
Denn ich glaub nicht mehr dass das geht
Wie lang
drehen wir uns noch im Kreis
Oh Niemand
der uns die Richtung weist
Wie lang
Sind wir sehenden Auges stumm
Niemand
Wird tun was wir nicht tun
Könn’ wir den Weg gemeinsam gehen
Und jeder will zuerst ans Ziel
Kann die Welt so reich gesät sein
Mit zu wenig und zu viel
Könn’ wir noch länger hadern
Und meinen es liegt nicht bei uns
Könn’ wir das Unrecht nur benennen
Und leben von seiner Gunst
Refrain
Sag mir
Ich muss wissen wo wir stehen
Sag mir
Denn ich glaub nicht mehr dass das geht
Wie lang
drehen wir uns noch im Kreis
Oh Niemand
der uns die Richtung weist
Wie lang
Sind wir sehenden Auges stumm
Niemand
Wird tun was wir nicht tun
Wir können noch lang beteuern
Was uns am Herzen liegt
Doch ein Funke macht kein Feuer
So wie ein Tropfen schnell versiebt
Oder wir gehen den Weg zusammen
Und nehmens in die Hand
Was wir nicht tun macht niemand
Refrain
Sag mir
Ich muss wissen wo wir stehen
Sag mir
Denn ich glaub nicht mehr dass das geht
Wie lang
drehen wir uns noch im Kreis
Oh Niemand
der uns die Richtung weist
Wie lang
Sind wir sehenden Auges stumm
Niemand
Wird tun was wir nicht tun
The lyrics of "Niemand" by Joy Denalane feat. Megaloh Max Herre & Samy Deluxe touches on various subjects involving self-awareness and taking responsibility for one's actions. The opening verse questions whether time can be bought and sold and whether we can move forward while looking back. The following verses question the capacity for humans to preach love when they are divided by their beliefs and if launching a campaign can unite them. The refrain repeats the line "Sag mir" or "Tell me" as the singer calls on someone to reveal their current position.
The second half of the song calls for a joint action and for people to take control of their lives. It questions the reasons why people hesitate to act and instead rely on the status quo, urging them to seize the opportunity to create change. It also speaks to the power of unity and how one person's efforts can result in positive change. Ultimately, the song encourages people to take responsibility, join forces, and collectively make a difference, as no one will do it for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Kann Zeit aus Geld gemacht sein
Is time really something that can be bought with money?
Und wir uns Zeit erkaufen
And if so, can we really purchase more time for ourselves?
Könn’ wir weiter rückwärts denken
Can we keep looking back to the past?
Und dabei vorwärts laufen
While still moving forward towards the future?
Könn wir Liebe predigen
Can we preach about love?
Wenn uns der Glaube teilt
Even though our beliefs may differ?
Könn’ wir noch ein Feldzug führen
Can we lead another battle?
Und meinen das er uns eint
And think that it will bring us closer together?
Wie lang
For how long
drehen wir uns noch im Kreis
will we continue to go around in circles?
Oh Niemand
Oh no one
der uns die Richtung weist
who can guide us in the right direction
Sind wir sehenden Auges stumm
Are we turning a blind eye?
Wird tun was wir nicht tun
Will someone else do what we refuse to?
Könn’ wir den Weg gemeinsam gehen
Can we walk this path together?
Und jeder will zuerst ans Ziel
Even though we may have different priorities?
Kann die Welt so reich gesät sein
Is it possible for the world to be both abundant and scarce at the same time?
Mit zu wenig und zu viel
With too little and too much.
Könn’ wir noch länger hadern
Can we keep hesitating?
Und meinen es liegt nicht bei uns
And think that we have no control over the situation?
Könn’ wir das Unrecht nur benennen
Can we only identify the wrongs without taking action?
Und leben von seiner Gunst
And continue to benefit from the wrongs.
Wir können noch lang beteuern
We can continue to profess
Was uns am Herzen liegt
What is important to us
Doch ein Funke macht kein Feuer
But a spark alone does not make a fire
So wie ein Tropfen schnell versiebt
Just like a drop of water quickly evaporates
Oder wir gehen den Weg zusammen
Or we can walk this path together
Und nehmens in die Hand
And take matters into our own hands
Was wir nicht tun macht niemand
If we don't act, no one else will.
Sag mir
Tell me
Ich muss wissen wo wir stehen
I need to know where we stand.
Denn ich glaub nicht mehr dass das geht
Because I no longer believe it's possible.
Contributed by Layla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laaxlocal
Der track darf nicht vergessen gehen. Ich wünsche mir den track auch 2030 auf rotation in radiostationen und vielen playlists. Das soll der evergreen sein den er verdient zu sein ❤
Sabrin Frikha
Dankeschön für dieses wunderschöne Lied. Mit einem kostbaren Inhalt.
ALL IN BEATS
You are the best😘
Pedro Mbi
Ich liebe diese Lied und Joy Denalane, dazu kann man einfach nix sagen die Frau ist einfach die Deutsche Mary J Blige!!!
Danilo Haruo
The best song i've heard in 2011
SaleElSol10
So underrated
ERICZIQN
SaleElSol10 oh ja.
evulotion1
Ich bin erst 10 jahre alt als dieses lied rausgekommen ist war ich erst 2 jahre alt mein vater hat mir das vor ein paar monaten gezeigt ich liebe es einfach
oliver kostic
So stark!
S W
die frau - ein traum... genauso top wie vor jahren schon! danke joy - die liebsten grüße aus kapstadt in meine muddastadt!