In 2009, Ledisi released her fourth album Turn Me Loose , which earned her a couple more Grammy nominations.
Ledisi's fifth album, Pieces Of Me, was released on June 14, 2011 debuting at #8 on the Billboard 200, her first entry on the top 10 of the album chart.
She and her band are from a new breed of modern soul singers (that fall into the New Organic Soul movement in the U.K.) that do not bow to the formulated 'pop' format that permeates the national charts of the U.K. and the U.S.A.
Her mother sang in an R & B band and opened her daughter's ears to classical music, then to jazz and gospel.
‘My mother is an inspiration to me because she was an R & B singer when I was growing up, and I'd watch her perform in the park by our house. I grew up on Earth, Wind and Fire. Tina Turner is my favorite’.
As a teenager Ledisi first sang in a friend’s band, but soon realised she'd have to form her own if she was going to get the creative freedom she desired.
She formed the group Anibade.
The band consisted of:
Sundra Manning (keyboards)
Cedrickke Dennis (guitar)
Nelson Braxton (bass)
Wayne Braxton (saxophone)
and Tommy Bradford on (drums)
Anibade means ‘my mother is great’ in Yoruba and also happens to be Ledisi's middle name.
The band the group performed at several nightspots including Bruno's, The Black Cat, and Rasselas, in the San Francisco area before, successfully, getting a local radio station, KMEL, to play the single ‘Take Time’, without any major label distribution.
Ledisi said, ‘We took it to other labels to try and get a deal, but we found that they didn't get it 'cause it wasn't already out there. We got frustrated with that.’
Ledisi is said to be recording a jazz record with bassist Marcus Shelby on Noir Records.
That album was due in early 2000, although the set has not yet surfaced.
Her first solo album ‘Soulsinger’, was, however, released in 2000, to critical acclaim.
The album addressed several personal issues, none more so than the track ‘Papa Loved To Love Me’, a harrowing tale of a father sexually abusing his daughter.
The track is uncomfortably close to home.
Ledisi said ‘My family heard it, though, and they said, 'Wow, you went and told everything!'. I know it's giving something away about myself, but it's a part of me. That's why people relate to a story like that.’
Eric Benét and Rahsaan Patterson recently attended her groups' concerts and they have opened for Eric Benet, D’Angelo and Angie Stone.
A second album entitled 'Feeling Orange And Sometimes Blue' was released in early 2002.
Ledisi travelled to London's Jazz Cafe in March 2003 for more gigs following a successful concert at Subterranea in the autumn of 2002.
She was supported by the Braxton Brothers along with several other performers.
Been Here
Ledisi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no where else on earth I'd rather be
Here I am - it's just me and you
And tonight we make our dreams come true
It's a new world - it's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's a new day - it's a new plan
Here I am
Here I am
Here we are - we've just begun
And after all this time - our time has come
Ya here we are - still goin' strong
Right here in the place where we belong
It's a new world- it's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's a new day- It's a new plan
I've been waiting for you
Here I am
Here I am
Here I am
(waiting for you)
Here I am - this is me
There's no where else on earth I'd rather be
Here I am - it's just me and you
And tonight we make our dreams come true
It's a new world - it's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's a new day - It's a new plan
I've been waiting for you
It's a new world It's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's new day - It's a new plan
I've been waiting for you
(waiting waiting waiting)
Here I am (here I am)
Here I am (here I am)
Here I am - next to you
And suddenly the world is all brand new
Here I am - where I'm gonna stay
Now there's nothin standin in our way
Here I am
this is me
"Here I Am" by Ledisi is a song about finding the one person who makes everything in life feel complete. The song begins with the singer expressing gratitude for being exactly where they are at that moment, with the person they love. The message suggests that there is nowhere else on earth the singer would rather be than with the person they have found. The chorus emphasizes the assertiveness of the individual and their dreams. The lyrics continue to highlight how this is a new beginning for them, and they have finally found the person they have been waiting for, as the line "I've been waiting for you" repeats throughout the song.
The second verse shows the positive impact that the person they love has had on their life. The lyrics about a beating heart and a new start have a metaphorical meaning of how the love has helped them bring life into lifeless aspects and break cycles. There is a sense of empowerment as the song progresses, given the strength of their love, and the two people are described as "still goin' strong." The final verse ties in the other metaphors when the "world is all brand new" and "there's nothing standing in our way," indicating total commitment to and belief in each other. The final "Here I am" line echoes the opening, bringing the song's overall message of having found love full circle.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am - this is me
I am being authentic and true to myself.
There's no where else on earth I'd rather be
I am living in the present moment and content with everything I have.
Here I am - it's just me and you
I am in a relationship that I cherish and value deeply.
And tonight we make our dreams come true
We are finally bringing our aspirations to fruition.
It's a new world - it's a new start
The future is bright with endless possibilities and opportunities.
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
We are both youthful and full of passion as we embark on this journey together.
It's a new day - it's a new plan
We have decided to take action and create a better future for ourselves.
I've been waiting for you
I have been searching for someone like you and I am finally glad to have found you.
Here we are - we've just begun
We are at the start of something new and exciting.
And after all this time - our time has come
After waiting patiently, our moment of success and happiness has finally arrived.
Ya here we are - still goin' strong
We have been through tough times but have come out even stronger and more resilient.
Right here in the place where we belong
We have found our true purpose and meaning in each other's lives.
Here I am - next to you
I am grateful to be by your side and sharing this experience with you.
And suddenly the world is all brand new
With you, my perspective on life and the world has changed and become refreshed.
Here I am - where I'm gonna stay
I have no intention of ever straying away from this loving and fulfilling relationship.
Now there's nothin standin in our way
We have overcome every obstacle and challenge that has come our way and will continue to do so together.
waiting for you
I have been patiently waiting for the right person to come into my life.
waiting waiting waiting
I have been waiting for this moment for a long time and it has finally arrived.
Here I am (here I am)
I am proud and confident in who I am as an individual.
Here I am (here I am)
I am ready to face the world with you by my side.
Contributed by Sydney O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.