Keziah Jones (born Olufemi Sanyaolu on January 10, 1968 in Lagos, Nigeria) … Read Full Bio ↴Keziah Jones (born Olufemi Sanyaolu on January 10, 1968 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as “Blufunk”, which is a fusion between raw blues elements and hard, edgy funk rhythms. Also his Nigerian roots and soul music can be considered a major influence on his sound.
He is known for his distinctive style of guitarplaying, above all his percussive right-hand technique which is similar to bass player's slapping technique. He's also famous for playing most of his live shows with a bare torso.
Son of a chief Osodolamu Sanyaolu in a Yoruba tribe and successful industrialist, Keziah (Olufemi) spent his early childhood in a large family in the semi-Muslim part of Nigeria, close to the city of Lagos. From a young age he was being prepared to follow his father's footsteps and was expected to have an academic career. Therefore his father enrolled him in a Public School in London and Keziah left Nigeria at 8 years old to be educated in England.
"I had to find a way out of all that bullshit, and music was it!" By the age of 13 he discovered the old school piano and taught himself how to play and write songs. Three years later he switched to the guitar, neglecting his studies more and more. After scraping through exams he went against his father's wishes and family tradition even more by skipping school and trying out his songs in the streets, clubs and London Underground, constantly avoiding the police, the Immigration Department - and his own relatives.
Keziah played mostly improvised sets with tenor Saxophone player Kevin Wood at the Red Eye club in Lewisham, south London at least three times during 1988/9.
Keziah led a bohemian life for several years instead of the one envisaged for him. "Lose all time, love your mind, free your soul!" (from his song Free Your Soul). Moving from London to Paris, accompanied by his guitar, he acquired an excellent reputation as a musician and performer with a unique style. In 1991, while playing in the Paris Metro, Keziah is discovered by the French music label "Delabel" manager. In 1992, Delabel signed Keziah for his first album to record it in Paris, "Blufunk is a fact," including the worldwide success of Keziah's first single "Rhythm is Love." Obviously, Keziah' Parisian subway experience was instrumental to his skyrocketing career, as clearly stated in his official biography.
Keziah often cites Fela Kuti and Jimi Hendrix as important influences. Also Keziahs major influences were Michael Jackson[citation needed] Keziah is not in support of Drm ,he thinks music should be shared no matter the cost.and people in third world countries should listen to music to help them,he alos works with these people to and play music while doing it.
Keziah Jones also paints and writes poetry. He’s a talented[citation needed]photographer and he produces short films, one among them entitled "BLACKSPEEDTEXT." This film, his music and the other facets of his artistic life reflect his experiences on the streets.
Keziah was married to Anglo-Nigerian singer Akure Wall in 1994. they separated in 1996.

Hello Heavenly
Keziah Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

hello heavenly come along with me
i will show it all
show you how to be free in captivity
how to know it all

CHORUS:
will we
ever overcome?

Oh..id like to say yeah
and i think that we should pray
then we shall overcome
if we stay
together move as one
cuz today
the future is begun
if we say that we shall overcome

ill tell you what i see,the captured are the free
those who know it all

hell is heavenly the angels, guns, and me
groove inside a war

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Keziah Jones's song "Hello Heavenly" convey a message of hope, unity, and overcoming adversity. The song begins with an invitation to the listener to join the singer on a journey of discovery. The singer promises to show them how to be free even in captivity, and how to know it all. This suggests that the singer is experienced in the art of living under difficult circumstances and has found a way to thrive despite the challenges.

In the chorus, the singer poses a question about whether or not we will ever overcome the obstacles that we face. He expresses his desire to answer "yes" and suggests that prayer may be the key to achieving this goal. He then emphasizes the importance of unity, urging us to move as one in order to achieve our goals. He also suggests that the future has already begun and that if we say that we shall overcome, then we will. This reflects the power of positive thinking and the belief that we can achieve anything if we set our minds to it.

The second verse of the song delves deeper into the singer's worldview. He tells the listener that he sees the captured as free, implying that even those who are physically imprisoned can still find freedom within themselves. He describes heaven as hellish, juxtaposing the traditional view of heaven as a peaceful place with the reality of war and conflict. He includes a reference to guns, suggesting that violence is an ever-present reality in our world, but also acknowledges the power of music to unite people and create a sense of harmony even in the midst of chaos.

Overall, "Hello Heavenly" is a powerful message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. It encourages us to find freedom even in captivity, to believe that we can overcome obstacles, and to work together to create a better future for ourselves and those around us.

Line by Line Meaning

hello heavenly come along with me
I invite you to come with me on a journey to a better place.

i will show it all
I will reveal and share with you all that I have discovered and learned.

show you how to be free in captivity
I will teach you how to find freedom and liberation even while facing difficult circumstances.

how to know it all
I will help you gain knowledge and understanding about the world around you.

will we ever overcome?
Will we ever be able to surmount the challenges and obstacles we face in life?

Oh..id like to say yeah
Although it may be difficult, I am optimistic that we can triumph over our struggles.

and i think that we should pray
I believe that prayer can help us overcome our difficulties and find inner peace.

then we shall overcome
If we have faith and work together, we can triumph over adversity.

if we stay together move as one
We need to unite and work together to succeed, overcoming any divisions or differences.

cuz today the future is begun
Today is the start of a new era, full of possibilities and opportunities.

if we say that we shall overcome
If we believe in ourselves and our collective power, we can achieve victory and overcome challenges.

ill tell you what i see,the captured are the free
I have observed that sometimes those who seem to be held captive by difficult situations or circumstances are the ones who find a way to break free and thrive.

those who know it all
Those who have gained wisdom and insight, even through adversity, have a different perspective on life and can find greater fulfillment and joy.

hell is heavenly the angels, guns, and me
Even in the midst of war or other kinds of suffering, there can still be moments of beauty and transcendence, represented by angels and other uplifting imagery.

groove inside a war
Sometimes, music or other forms of creativity can help us find a sense of joy, escape, or meaning even in the midst of challenging situations.

Contributed by Anthony D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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