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.
lIvIng prOOF
Kelis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I walked alone, I never thought
I'd find someone who I could come home to
Until there was you - until there was you
You lift me up into the sky
Won't let me fall - just push me up higher and higher
You fill me up, I'm still hungry for more of you
You may not believe but I am living proof
Open up your heart and love will come to you
If you don't believe, I'm telling you my truth
Open up your heart and love will find you too
No one is perfect, no, I won't ever be
You see my faults and keep on feelin' me
And now I know wherever I go
I will never have to walk alone
You lift me up into the sky
Won't let me fall - just push me up higher and higher
You fill me up, I'm still hungry for more of you
It tastes like love to me
You may not believe but I am living proof
Open up your heart and love will come to you
If you don't believe, I'm telling you my truth
Open up your heart and love will find you too
It took so long to get it right
But in your eyes, there is a light
Much brighter than it's ever been
I'm in love with the real thing - I'm in love with the real thing
You may not believe but I am living proof
Open up your heart and love will come to you
If you don't believe, I'm telling you my truth
Open up your heart and love will find you too
Kelis's song "Living Proof" is a tribute to the transformative power of love. The song starts with Kelis reminiscing about her lonely past and how she never thought she would find someone who she could call home until that someone walked into her life. Now that she has found love, she is filled with a sense of purpose and direction, and she knows that she will never have to walk alone again. The chorus "You may not believe, but I am living proof, open up your heart and love will come to you, if you don't believe, I'm telling you my truth, open up your heart and love will find you too" reminds us that love is a force that can change our lives and we should always be open to it.
In the second verse, Kelis acknowledges that no one is perfect, including herself. She is grateful that her partner sees her faults and still supports her. She concludes the verse by asserting that she will never have to walk alone because she knows that there is someone who will always be there for her. The bridge highlights how long it took Kelis to find true love, but now that she has it, her life is much brighter than it has ever been before.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young, I had no one
I spent my childhood feeling alone and without anyone to rely on
I walked alone, I never thought
I used to navigate life by myself without any hope of finding meaningful connections
I'd find someone who I could come home to
I didn't expect to meet anyone who could provide me with a sense of comfort and belonging
Until there was you - until there was you
But then I met you, and everything changed for the better
You lift me up into the sky
You elevate me and make me feel like I'm capable of accomplishing anything
Won't let me fall - just push me up higher and higher
You provide constant support and encouragement, ensuring that I don't fail or give up on my dreams
You fill me up, I'm still hungry for more of you
Even though you shower me with affection and attention, I can't get enough of your love
It tastes like love to me
Your love feels deeply satisfying, fulfilling, and nourishing to me
You may not believe but I am living proof
I want to convince you that love exists and that I am a testament to its reality
Open up your heart and love will come to you
If you're open to giving and receiving love, you'll attract it into your life
If you don't believe, I'm telling you my truth
If you're skeptical about love, I want to share my own experiences as evidence of its existence
No one is perfect, no, I won't ever be
I recognize that neither of us is flawless, and that's okay
You see my faults and keep on feelin' me
Despite my imperfections, you love me unconditionally, without judgment or criticism
And now I know wherever I go
Thanks to your love and support, I feel like I can face any challenge or uncertainty that may come my way
I will never have to walk alone
Because you're always by my side, I'll never feel alone, isolated, or unsupported
It took so long to get it right
Finding you and experiencing this kind of love wasn't easy, but it was worth the wait
But in your eyes, there is a light
When I look at you, I see something special and bright that fills me with joy and hope
Much brighter than it's ever been
Your love has illuminated my life and made it more vibrant and colorful than it ever was before
I'm in love with the real thing - I'm in love with the real thing
I'm not just in love with the idea of love, but with the genuine, authentic, and tangible love that we share
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL ANGELO SAULSBERRY, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, ROBERT C JR OZUNA, NANCY JOY KAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kuraygus
I listen to this song all day 💞
@fuschiafox501
love this song
@thatgurlfeli
Absolutely Love!
Hearing this song for the very first time!
Sounds like a mash up of:
1. Prince - Screams of Passion
2. Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That
3. Shalamar - Second Time Around
4. The Time - Ice Cream Castles
@blinknessmonster
i love kelis!!!!!!!
@2010tajah
i L O V E this song !
@larkthomas3371
Sounds Like Prince.... I.love Kelis & this song...
@buggaboo7073
It does remind you of prince music....I agree
@RossJr8604
So True!!!!!!!!!
@chilezp
Raphael Saadiq is definitely inspired by prince. You can here it in this song and on “Glow”
@Fornik8noMore
How Im feelin right now