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.
Zuhause
Joy Denalane Lyrics
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Ich glaube sie merkten es nicht
Und im leisen Satz Gewalten
Und die Worte brachten mich aus meinem Gleichgewicht
Und du hast mich immer bewahrt
Hast mich vor diesem Blick gewarnt
Doch gemerkt habe ich es oft nicht
Und jetzt scheine ich mir so endlich
Veränder ich mich
Ich bleib in deinen Fußstapfen stehen
Ist nicht leicht für mich so weiter zu gehen
Würd' gerne wissen wie du's verstehst
Und ich folge deinen Wegen
So als gingst du noch durchs Leben
Bleib in deinen Fußstapfen stehen
Würd' gerne in deine Augen sehen
Und ich frag' „Wo komme ich her?“
Du sagst „Ich weiß es nicht mehr“
Doch das ist dein Zuhause
Das ist dein Zuhause
Das ist dein Zuhause
Mich traf heute Zweifel
Und mit ihnen kam die Sorge
Sie versteckten sie nicht
Zwischen den Geschichten, den Gedanken und Berichten
Mein scheues Gesicht
Und ich liebe diese Straßen
All die Winkel und Fassaden
Doch manchmal vergessen sie mich
Und das Spiegelbild im Fenster zeigt verschwommene Gespenster
Nichts scheint wirklich zu stimmen
Ich bleib in deinen Fußstapfen stehen
Ist nicht leicht für mich so weiter zu gehen
Würd' gerne wissen wie du's verstehst
Und ich folge deinen Wegen
So als gingst du noch durch's Leben
Ich bleib in deinen Fußstapfen stehen
Würd' gerne in deine Augen sehen
Und ich frag' „Wo komme ich her?“
Du sagst „Ich weiß es nicht mehr“
Doch das ist dein Zuhause
Das ist dein Zuhause
Das ist mein Zuhause
Ich traf heute Zweifel und sie sprachen über mich
Ich glaube sie merkten es nicht
The lyrics of Joy Denalane's song "Zuhause" delve deep into themes of self-reflection, identity, and the impact of past experiences on one's present self. The artist begins by describing a moment when friends spoke about her behind her back, unaware of her presence. The subtle power dynamics and words exchanged threw her off balance, prompting her to reflect on how she has changed since the absence of someone important in her life. This individual, who was a warning beacon for her, is now physically gone but their influence remains, causing her to question her own evolution in their absence.
The next paragraph explores the idea of following in someone's footsteps, struggling to find one's own path while grappling with the desire to understand and connect with the departed person. The artist longs to see things through their eyes, seeking guidance and clarity about her roots and identity. The interaction between the artist and the absent figure creates a poignant tension as they navigate the complexities of life and memory. The repeated refrain of "Das ist dein Zuhause" (This is your home) highlights the emotional connection and sense of belonging that the artist still feels towards the person who is no longer physically present.
As doubts and worries surface in the artist's mind in the third paragraph, she finds solace in the familiarity of the streets and buildings around her, even as she grapples with feelings of being forgotten or overlooked. The metaphor of her reflection in the window, showing blurred images and distorted realities, reflects the internal struggle and confusion she faces. The dichotomy between her external surroundings and internal turmoil adds layers of complexity to her search for clarity and understanding in a world that seems uncertain and unsteady.
In the final paragraph, the artist circles back to the theme of doubt and self-awareness, recognizing the impact of others' perceptions and words on her sense of self. The intertwining of doubt, reflection, and the yearning for connection creates a poignant narrative of individual growth and introspection. Through the lens of past experiences and present struggles, the artist navigates the complexities of her own identity and sense of belonging, ultimately finding solace in the notion that home is not just a physical place but a state of being and connection with others. The raw emotion and introspective journey captured in these lyrics invite listeners to reflect on their own relationships, memories, and sense of self in a profound and deeply personal way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOY DENALANE, ALEXANDER FREUND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind