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.
Pieces Of Me
Ledisi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They haven't seen what's there behind my smile
There's so much more of me I'm showing now
(These are the pieces of me)
When it looks like I'm up sometimes I'm down
I'm alone even with people all around
But that don't change the happiness I found
So when you look at my face
You gotta know that I'm made
Of everything love and pain
These are the pieces of me
Like every woman I know
I'm complicated for sho'
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
These are pieces of me
So many colors
(That make up the woman that you see)
A good friend and lover
(Anything you want yes I can be)
I can run the business and make time for fantasy
(These are pieces of me)
Now I'm gonna make mistakes from time to time
But in the end believe that I'm gon' fly
No matter if I'm wrong or if I'm right
(These are the pieces of me)
So when you look at my face
You gotta know that I'm made
Of everything love and pain
These are the pieces of me
Like every woman I know
I'm complicated for sho'
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
These are the pieces of me
Oh as the pieces of me start to unfold
Now I start to understand all that I am
A woman not afraid to be strong, strong
So when you look at my face
You gotta know that I'm made
Of everything love and pain
These are the pieces of me
Like every woman I know
I'm complicated for sho'
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
These are the pieces of me
I'm a woman
A woman
A woman
Woman
Woman
Yes I'm a woman
A woman
These are the pieces of me
In "Pieces of Me," Ledisi sings about the different facets of her personality and identity that make her the complex and multi-dimensional woman that she is. She acknowledges that people may not fully understand or see all of these aspects of her, but she is now ready and willing to show them. Ledisi talks about how even when she appears to be on the rise, she may be struggling internally and feeling alone. However, she emphasizes that her happiness comes from embracing all the different parts of herself, including her capacity for love and pain.
The song is a powerful anthem of self-acceptance and self-love. Ledisi's lyrics encourage listeners to recognize and celebrate all the parts of themselves, even the messy or vulnerable parts that they may feel the need to hide. Through her music, she reminds us that we are all complex individuals with unique stories and experiences, and that it is important to honor and value ourselves in our entirety.
Line by Line Meaning
People just don't know what I'm about
People don't really understand me or my true feelings
They haven't seen what's there behind my smile
People only see my exterior and not my true self
There's so much more of me I'm showing now
I'm starting to reveal more of myself to the world
(These are the pieces of me)
All the different facets of my personality that I'm revealing
When it looks like I'm up sometimes I'm down
Even though I may seem happy, sometimes I'm actually feeling low
I'm alone even with people all around
Even when people are around, I still feel lonely and isolated
But that don't change the happiness I found
Despite my struggles, I've still found happiness
(Theses are the pieces of me)
All the different parts of my life that contribute to my overall happiness
So when you look at my face
When people see me
You gotta know that I'm made
They need to be aware that I'm made up of
Of everything love and pain
Both love and pain are important parts of my life
(These are the pieces of me)
This is what makes up who I am
Like every woman I know
Just like any other woman
I'm complicated for sho'
I'm complex and multifaceted
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
When I love, I give my all
These are pieces of me
All these different aspects make up who I am
So many colors
There are so many different facets to who I am
(That make up the woman that you see)
All these different aspects make up who others see me as
A good friend and lover
I'm a good friend and partner to those closest to me
(Anything you want yes I can be)
I'm capable of being anything someone needs me to be
I can run the business and make time for fantasy
I can balance my responsibilities and also have fun
(These are pieces of me)
All these different facets make up who I am
Now I'm gonna make mistakes from time to time
I'm not perfect and will make mistakes
But in the end believe that I'm gon' fly
Despite my mistakes, I'll still succeed
No matter if I'm wrong or if I'm right
Regardless of my choices or decisions, I'll still succeed
(These are the pieces of me)
All these different facets make up who I am
Oh as the pieces of me start to unfold
As I continue to reveal more about myself
Now I start to understand all that I am
I'm starting to understand who I truly am
A woman not afraid to be strong, strong
I'm a woman who isn't afraid to be strong and assertive
So when you look at my face
When people see me
You gotta know that I'm made
They need to be aware that I'm made up of
Of everything love and pain
Both love and pain are important parts of my life
(These are the pieces of me)
This is what makes up who I am
Like every woman I know
Just like any other woman
I'm complicated for sho'
I'm complex and multifaceted
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
When I love, I give my all
These are the pieces of me
All these different aspects make up who I am
I'm a woman
I'm a woman
A woman
I'm a woman
A woman
I'm a woman
Woman
I'm a woman
Woman
I'm a woman
Yes I'm a woman
I'm a woman
A woman
I'm a woman
These are the pieces of me
All these different aspects make up who I am
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES HARMON, CLAUDE KELLY, LEDISI YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jadayah Wilson
People just don't know what I'm about
They haven't seen what's there behind my smile
There's so much more of me I'm showing now
(These are the pieces of me)
When it looks like I'm up sometimes I'm down
I'm alone even with people all around
But that don't change the happiness I found
(Theses are the pieces of me)
So when you look at my face
You gotta know that I'm made
Of everything love and pain
These are the pieces of me
Like every woman I know
I'm complicated for sho'
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
These are pieces of me
So many colors
(That make up the woman that you see)
A good friend and lover
(Anything you want yes I can be)
I can run the business and make time for fantasy
(These are pieces of me)
Now I'm gonna make mistakes from time to time
But in the end believe that I'm gon' fly
No matter if I'm wrong or if I'm right
(These are the pieces of me)
So when you look at my face
You gotta know that I'm made
Of everything love and pain
These are the pieces of me
Like every woman I know
I'm complicated for sho'
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
These are the pieces of me
Oh as the pieces of me start to unfold
Now I start to understand all that I am
A woman not afraid to be strong, strong
So when you look at my face
You gotta know that I'm made
Of everything love and pain
These are the pieces of me
Like every woman I know
I'm complicated for sho'
But when I love I love 'til there's no love no more
These are the pieces of me
I'm a woman
A woman
A woman
Woman
Woman
Yes I'm a woman
A woman
These are the pieces of me
Yasmin Yas
This song will never go out of style.
Entertainment Tadayyyy
Ever ❤❤❤❤
AJ D
I'm slightly sad that this kind of music isn't what's playing on the radio.
But I am grateful I can find it on my own and enjoy real music with legit talent, lyrical wealth and wholesome meaning.
theydixkride.jordyn
ong
MisterShakemdine
What city you in? Bc Texas radios do
Latrelle Fletcher
I totally agree
Tybaebe Tybaebe
They play it her in Alabama
Swiftdragoon
They play it in Georgia
misstoyaj
Still listening in 2022. 11 years later I still love this song like when I first heard it. ❤
Ms. E
Yesssssssss