After a short spell working as a model, 5'10" Kelis began appearing on songs by Neptunes produced rappers such as 'Got Your Money' by the late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard. Soon afterwards, she released her debut album, Kaleidoscope in 1999 of which the first single was 'Caught Out There,' a song based on the time she caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and she beat him. The video feautures Kelis leading a pack of angry women down the street screaming 'I hate you so much right now!'. The album was released in USA, Europe and Asia, but did not find much audience in the USA. Not a great success, it only sold 249,000 copies to date.
After finding her largest audience in Europe, Kelis released her second album titled Wanderland (2001) in Europe only, which like her first album did not fare well. It only sold 80,000 copies and was entirely produced by The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) again, similarly to her debut. Only one single was released 'Young Fresh N New'.
In 2003 Kelis finally found fame in her country with the single 'Milkshake,' which was a massive success in Europe, Asia and USA, and she began dating rapper Nas (born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones). The single was from the album 'Tasty' which did not feature the Neptunes as heavily as her previous albums. Singles included the popular Dallas Austin produced 'Trick Me' and 'Millionaire', a collaboration with OutKast's Andre 3000. 'In Public's duet with Nas was the fourth single from the album, becoming a top twenty hit in the U.K. without a video.
In 2006, Kelis presented a new album to her fans, entitled Kelis Was Here, which was originally to be called 'The Puppeteer' which was released on 22 August but was due Fall 2005. No Neptunes tracks appeared on this album, but Kelis used other producers such as Max Martin, Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas) and Raphael Saadiq. Singles are the huge 'Bossy', 'Blindfold Me', and 'Lil Star'. Kelis wrote more of the material on this album than she did for Tasty, and carries off the sci-fi, electronica sounds so often considered Neptunes material without them. This is most evident on the brilliant 'Trilogy'. Kelis has said she wants to make her mark with this album, as it will be the last 'album like this' she will make.
In October 2007, Kelis was dumped by Jive Records, for poor sales of Kelis Was Here but a new album is in the pipeline. The Hits - a greatest hits collection - was released in March 2008, including tracks where she was a featured artist, eg, Got Your Money by Ol' Dirty Bastard , N.E.R.D's Truth or Dare, and Richard X's Finest Dreams.
Kelis then signed to Interscope Records, and released her fifth studio album entitled Flesh Tone in May 2010. The David Guetta-produced Acapella preceded the LP in February of that year. Other singles released from the album include '4th of July (Fireworks)', 'Scream' and 'Brave'. The following year, Kelis appeared on Calvin Harris' 'Bounce'.
In the beginning of 2010, Kelis received a letter by animal rights organization PETA, in which she was informed about the cruelty that comes along with the production of fur coats. She pointed out that the organization seems to have little concern about the treatment of people of color and that she will continue wearing fur and eating meat.
Songfacts reported that 'Distance', the planned first single from Kelis’ sixth studio album received its first play during the June 30, 2012 show of The Beatnik Mix on London's Reprezent 107.3FM. At the time, the album was set to be house/dance-inspired, but sessions with TV on The Radio's Dave Sitek led to it taking a soul-like direction.
Kelis completed her sixth album in April 2013, and her new label Ninja Tune confirmed details regarding the album in January the following year, 'Jerk Ribs' served as the lead single for the album; the track had however been previously released as a free download the previous year.
Food was released in April 2014 to critical acclaim. Kelis also appeared for the first time at the annual South by Southwest festival, both performing and serving meals to attendees from her food truck.
Marathon
Kelis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is this marathon, I'm running for you baby
And you don't know me yet but faith is all I have, see
And I'm gonnnaaaaa
Win this race [x2]
Since I were a little girl
My eyes were fixed on you
That you could set me free
Sure diamond ring, pretty things
A piece of mind, could be all mine
O this growing love affair
Has kept me on my feet
[Chorus]
Yesterday I had a glimpse of you
You looked me in my face
And just the other day you brushed right by me
I felt you reeling in my space
Tell me, do you think of me
And can you see me from the start
I swear I said I'd wait for you
But fate might change the score
[Chorus]
Kelis’s song “Marathon” is a powerful ode to the trials and tribulations of love. The chorus repeats the metaphor of love being a marathon, with the singer running towards her desired lover. She emphasizes the power of faith in carrying her through this difficult journey towards love, despite not being known by the object of her affection yet. The journey of love is compared to a race throughout the song, with the singer determined to be the victor in this emotional marathon.
The constantly repeated chorus gives the listener a sense of the intense focus required to love someone who is not yet aware of your presence. Kelis’s lyrics touch on the mind of a young girl obsessed with her love and how it has guided her journey. She sings about how her love for this person was instilled in her since she was a little girl and how it has kept her on her feet throughout her life. The song describes how this marathon of love is a life-changing journey and how the destination of love is all that matters.
Overall, Kelis’s “Marathon” is a thought-provoking and emotionally powerful song that celebrates the power of love and the journey that it takes for two people to come together.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is this marathon, I'm running for you baby
The singer compares love to a marathon, and she is working herself to exhaustion trying to win the affections of the person she desires.
And you don't know me yet but faith is all I have, see
Despite not having had any real interaction with the person she wants, the singer remains hopeful and holds onto her belief that destiny will bring them together.
And I'm gonnnaaaaa
Win this race [x2]
The singer is confident in her love and believes that her persistence will be rewarded.
Since I were a little girl
My eyes were fixed on you
The artist has been infatuated with the person she loves since childhood.
I knew that one day we'd meet
That you could set me free
The artist believes that the person she desires holds the key to her happiness and liberation.
Sure diamond ring, pretty things
A piece of mind, could be all mine
The singer would be content with material possessions and a settled state of mind, as long as she can be with the one she loves.
O this growing love affair
Has kept me on my feet
The excitement and possibility of love has given the singer the energy to keep pushing through life.
Yesterday I had a glimpse of you
You looked me in my face
The artist had a brief interaction with the person she loves, and she cherishes this moment.
And just the other day you brushed right by me
I felt you reeling in my space
The person the artist loves came close to her, and she felt a connection between them.
Tell me, do you think of me
And can you see me from the start
The artist wonders if the person she desires also thinks about her, and if they could have felt their connection from the beginning.
I swear I said I'd wait for you
But fate might change the score
The singer promises to be patient in waiting for the person she loves, but understands that life may not always go according to plan.
Love is this marathon, I'm running for you baby
And you don't know me yet but faith is all I have, see
And I'm gonnnaaaaa
Win this race [x2]
The chorus serves as a reminder of the artist's determination to win the affections of the person she loves, even if they don't yet know her or share her feelings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: ROBERT OZUNA, KELIS ROGERS, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, GLENN STANDRIDGE, KELVIN WOOTEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind