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.
Like This
Ledisi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You singing some one else's song
And all the stuff you did before
Before I came along, I'm not the one
We can't be one like this
I want to love you but I need us to be thinking the same
And all the stuff you holding on to baby I'm not to blame
I want to love, I want to love you like this
I want the best for us, I want us to win
I can't keep this up, being like this
I can't love you like this, can't hold you like this
When we argue like this, why we do this?
I can't love you like this, why we going through this?
All this uncomfortableness
Why we going through these changes? This is so messed up
Do you remember what I told you when we first hooked up?
I want to love you, I want to love you like this
You had me thinking I was wrong for you, you know I'm right
You know how good my loving is because you said last night
I want to love you, I want to love you like this
I want the best for us, I want us to win
I can't keep this up, being like this
I can't love you like this, can't hold you like this
When we argue like this, why we do this?
I can't love you like this, why we going through this?
All this uncomfortableness
Why we keep going the wrong direction?
I just want to give you love and affection
Soft words kisses day and night,
If you let me I'mma love you till the morning light
All I want to do is love you like this
We don't need to be going through this
Oh I want to love ya, love ya
I get tired of arguing with you baby
Just want to love you baby aye I give you everything you ask for from me,
Why can't we just be together baby
Aye just want to love you, Aye just want to be there for you baby
Love you baby be there for you baby
Aye just want to love you
Like this.
The lyrics of Ledisi's song Like This tell the story of a relationship that is going through a difficult time. The singer expresses her frustration and confusion with her partner who seems to be holding on to his past and not willing to fully commit to the relationship. She wants to love him but realizes that for that to happen, they need to be on the same page. She is tired of the arguing and uncomfortable moments they keep going through and just wants to give him love and affection. The chorus repeats the phrase "I can't love you like this" emphasizing the singer's inability to continue the relationship in its current state.
The song suggests a relationship that is struggling due to communication issues and the inability to let go of the past. The singer's desire to make the relationship work is clear, but she feels held back by her partner's actions. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and sadness caused by a relationship that is not fulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't want to be with you
I don't want to continue this relationship with you.
You singing some one else's song
You're not being honest about your feelings and are pretending to be someone else.
And all the stuff you did before
Your past actions are affecting our present and future together.
Before I came along, I'm not the one
I'm not responsible for the problems in our relationship that existed before I came along.
We can't be one like this
Our relationship can't continue if we keep having these issues.
I want to love you but I need us to be thinking the same
I still care for you, but we need to be on the same page to make this relationship work.
And all the stuff you holding on to baby I'm not to blame
I'm not responsible for any baggage or issues you're holding on to from your past.
I want to love, I want to love you like this
I still want to love you despite our problems and I want to do it in a healthy and positive way.
I want the best for us, I want us to win
I want our relationship to be successful and fulfilling for both of us.
I can't keep this up, being like this
I can't continue with the same issues and arguments in our relationship.
I can't love you like this, can't hold you like this
I'm unable to express my love and affection for you when we're constantly fighting.
When we argue like this, why we do this?
I don't understand why we keep arguing and having the same issues over and over again.
All this uncomfortableness
Our relationship is currently uncomfortable and unpleasant.
Why we going through these changes? This is so messed up
I don't understand why our relationship is going through so many changes and is currently a mess.
Do you remember what I told you when we first hooked up?
Do you remember the promises and commitments we made to each other at the beginning of our relationship?
You had me thinking I was wrong for you, you know I'm right
You made me doubt myself and question if I was right for you, but I know deep down that I am.
You know how good my loving is because you said last night
You do recognize the positive aspects of our relationship and the love I show you.
Why we keep going the wrong direction?
Our relationship seems to be going in a negative direction and I don't understand why.
I just want to give you love and affection
All I want to do is show you love and positive attention.
Soft words kisses day and night,
I want to show you affection through loving words and physical touch all day and night.
If you let me I'mma love you till the morning light
If you allow me to, I will show you love and affection all throughout the night.
We don't need to be going through this
We don't need to be experiencing all these problems in our relationship.
Oh I want to love ya, love ya
I still want to love you, despite everything we're going through.
I get tired of arguing with you baby
I'm exhausted from constantly fighting and arguing with you.
Just want to love you baby aye I give you everything you ask for from me,
All I want is to show you love and give you everything you need from me.
Why can't we just be together baby
I don't understand why we're having these issues that are keeping us from being together.
Aye just want to love you, Aye just want to be there for you baby
All I want is to love and support you through everything.
Love you baby be there for you baby
I love you and I will always be there for you.
Aye just want to love you
My only desire is to love you and have a healthy, positive relationship with you.
Like this.
In a way that is healthy, happy, and positive for both of us.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: REX RIDEOUT, LEDISI YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind