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.
shut up
Ledisi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My eyes are open and I know where I'm going
So much is in the way
There are people who like being negative
And they always got something to say
They say you'll never be what you want to be
And that you'll never get what's so far
Times like this, I wish I really could say
I wanna to tell them shut up, I'm moving up
No time for the haters, working hard to be greater
You need to shut up, I'm climbing up
This is the calling, I don't see myself falling
So shut up
Working hard every day to be noticed
[?????????}
They don't want the best for you
There are people around being jealous
'Cause they wish that they could do what you do
They say you'll never be what you hope to be
And that you'll never shine like the stars
Ooh, you're trying hard, gotta hold your tongue
Times like this, I know you wish you could tell them
So shut up, I'm moving up
No time for the haters, working hard to be greater
They need to shut up, I'm climbing up
This is the calling, I don't see myself falling
So shut up
Please forgive me, I don't mean to be rude
This is not my normal behavior
When people say them things
To knock me off my brains
I can't help it, gotta tell them
Shut up, I'm moving up
No time for the haters, working hard to be greater
They need to shut up, I'm climbing up
This is the calling, I don't see myself falling
So shut up, I'm moving up
No time for the haters, working hard to be greater
They need to shut up, I'm climbing up
This is the calling, I don't see myself falling
So shut up
Shut up, shut up
This is real
So shut up
The song "Shut Up" by Ledisi is an empowering anthem about ignoring the negativity and naysayers that come with pursuing one's dreams. In the first verse, Ledisi remarks that she is "stuck in the middle" and encountering obstacles, but she remains focused on her goals and refuses to let the negative opinions of others hold her back. She acknowledges that there will always be people who enjoy being negative and critical, but she is determined to keep working hard and moving forward.
The chorus of the song reinforces this message of persistence in the face of adversity. Ledisi sings that she is "moving up" and working hard to be great, and doesn't have time for the "haters" who try to bring her down. She urges them to "shut up" and let her continue to pursue her dreams without their interference.
In the second verse, Ledisi emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences and avoiding those who are jealous or resentful of one's success. She recognizes that it can be tempting to respond to negativity with more negativity, but ultimately encourages listeners to take the higher road and focus on their own goals and aspirations.
Overall, "Shut Up" is a powerful song about staying focused and persistent in the face of obstacles and negativity. It promotes the importance of self-belief and hard work, and encourages listeners to rise above the naysayers and keep pushing towards their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Stuck in the middle, I can see where I've been
Despite feeling stuck at times, I have clarity about my past experiences
My eyes are open and I know where I'm going
I am clear about my future goals and am working towards them
So much is in the way
There are many obstacles and negative people that try to hold me back
There are people who like being negative
There are individuals who enjoy being pessimistic and bringing others down
And they always got something to say
They constantly voice their negativity and don't hold back
They say you'll never be what you want to be
These negative voices tell me that I won't reach my goals
And that you'll never get what's so far
They also say that the things I desire are too out of reach
Ohh, I'm trying hard, gotta hold my tongue
Even though it's difficult, I must resist the urge to argue back and keep moving forward
Times like this, I wish I really could say
I wish I could tell them to stop being negative and hindering my progress
I wanna to tell them shut up, I'm moving up
I want to tell them to be quiet and that I am making progress towards my goals
No time for the haters, working hard to be greater
I am too busy working hard on myself to pay attention to the negativity of others
You need to shut up, I'm climbing up
I am determined to climb the ladder of success despite their attempts to hold me back
This is the calling, I don't see myself falling
I am confident that I am meant for this path and will not let anyone take me down
Working hard every day to be noticed
I put in the effort and hard work each day to make myself known and stand out
They don't want the best for you
These negative people don't have my best interests in mind
There are people around being jealous
Some individuals envy my progress and success
'Cause they wish that they could do what you do
They wish they could be in my position and doing what I'm doing
Ooh, you're trying hard, gotta hold your tongue
It can be difficult to keep my composure when faced with negativity, but I must keep pushing forward
Times like this, I know you wish you could tell them
I know you want to tell them to be quiet and that you are working towards your goals
Please forgive me, I don't mean to be rude
I don't intend to be rude, but sometimes I can't help but speak my truth
This is not my normal behavior
My usual approach is to remain calm and composed
When people say them things
When people say negative things that try to bring me down
To knock me off my brains
They try to mess with my head and make me second-guess myself
Shut up, I'm moving up
I am making progress and don't have time for their negativity
This is real
My goals and aspirations are legitimate and worth pursuing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL FLOWERS, LEDISI YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind