In 2004, James toured as an opening act for the Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock's album Soul Survivor II, providing vocals to the track "No Tears".
Her debut album was released on June 21, 2005, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come. The album is a soul music record incorporating the styles of 1960s and 1970s American soul singers, with a mixture of funk, R&B and gospel influences. The first single from the album, entitled "Music," laments what Leela James sees as the decline of hip hop and soul music and asks for a return to the artistry of musicians of earlier decades. Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, with two notable exceptions being her cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," and the classic song by Sam Cooke for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, Kanye West, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song "Compared to What". Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to "Stronger". In June 2009, she appeared on Moby's new album "Wait for Me", performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In June 2009, she appeared on the Moby album Wait for Me, performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
James' third album My Soul - her debut release for the Stax label - was released on May 24, 2010, and debuted on the US Hip Hop/R&B chart at #7. Speaking in May 2010 to UK soul writer Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, she stated: "With this album I wanted to make sure that I showed all sides of me - in terms of variety in the music and in my vocal range - while at the same time making it clear that every song deeply came from my soul. Plus I also wanted to incorporate a little more hip hop this time, and infuse it with my traditional R&B - because I felt that. By making my beats edgier and harder-hitting, I'd show there was more to me than just doing ballads and things of that sort."
On July 8, 2014, Leela James released her fifth studio album, Fall For You. The album's first two singles, "Say That" feat. Anthony Hamilton and "Fall For You" both reached Top 15 on the Billboard Urban AC charts, with "Fall For You" reaching #12. Ms. James supported her album with tours nationwide, including performances at Essence Music Festival, Arizona Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Fest, Capitol Jazz Fest, and more.
James' sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017 by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[5] The album has the singles "Don't Want You Back" released on October 28, 2016,[6] "Hard for Me" released on February 25, 2017, "Don't Mean a Thang" released on March 27, 2017,[8] and a video single "All Over Again" on May 4, 2017.[9] The single "Don't Want You Back" reached number 1 on Billboard' Adult R&B Songs chart on April 15, 2017, becoming her highest charting single ever.
When You Love Somebody
Leela James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To do with a man
Who treats her unkindly
When she's down, all she can
I cried so many nights
How we fuss and fight
The make ups and the break ups
The things you do
When you love somebody
When you love somebody
(Things you do, ooh)
I gave you my lovin'
With no questions asked
Tears on my pillow
From all your disrespect
I didn't care about your past
I only wanted to make us last
And oooohhh
I loved you and only you
The things you do
When you love somebody
Oh love, yeah, um
When you love somebody
I loved you baby
Nooo
When you love somebody
When you love somebody
The things you do
For love
Ooh
The things that you do yeah
Who knows what tomorrow may bring me
All I know is it is what it is
And why, do I look for crucial???
When I don't have to question you
When you love somebody
When you love somebody
Y'all hear me
The things you do [Repeat x4]
All in the name of love
(When you love somebody)
(Oh you make me wanna)
All in the name of love
In the name of love
All the things you do for love
(somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody)
Love love love [Repeat x2]
It's in the name of love
The things you do for love
Love, love, love
(Y'all hear me when I sing it to you love somebody, love somebody, love somebody)
Leela James's song, When You Love Somebody, tells the story of a woman in love with a man who continuously treats her unkindly. The opening lyrics ask what a woman should do with a man who is unkind to her, leaving her with no option but to cry every night. The woman has been through many ups and downs with her partner, but even in the midst of all the hardship, she still loves him. She gives him her love without any questions, even though he disrespects her, leaving her with tears on her pillow every night. Nevertheless, she wants to make their relationship last and loves him wholly and exclusively.
The line "Who knows what tomorrow may bring me, all I know is it is what it is" suggests that the woman has accepted her current situation and is not sure what the future holds. "Why do I look for crucial when I don't have to question you" is another line that conveys that she doesn't need to question her partner's love because she believes that he still loves her.
In summary, this song tells a story of a love that is both intense and painful, with the woman willing to endure her man's unkindness just to be with him, in the name of love.
Line by Line Meaning
What is a woman
The singer wonders about the situation of a woman
To do with a man
When she's mistreated by a man, what options does she have?
Who treats her unkindly
The man in question is not treating the woman with kindness
When she's down, all she can
During a difficult time, the woman is helpless
I cried so many nights
The artist experienced a lot of emotional pain due to the relationship
How we fuss and fight
The relationship was tumultuous with lots of arguments
The make ups and the break ups
The relationship was characterized by frequent breakups and reconciliations
I loved you and only you
Despite the difficulties, the artist was fully committed to the relationship
The things you do
The artist is referring to the specific actions of the partner that caused pain
When you love somebody
The chorus emphasizes the theme of the song, namely the sacrifices made in the name of love
I gave you my lovin'
The singer was emotionally invested in the relationship
With no questions asked
The artist didn't ask for anything in return for the love given to the partner
Tears on my pillow
The singer was often sad and cried a lot due to the partner's actions
From all your disrespect
The partner treated the singer with a lack of respect
I didn't care about your past
The singer was willing to overlook the partner's mistakes in the past
I only wanted to make us last
Despite the difficulties, the artist was invested in the relationship and wanted it to work
And oooohhh
The artist expresses an emotional reaction
Who knows what tomorrow may bring me
The singer is uncertain about the future
All I know is it is what it is
The singer accepts the current situation, even if it's not ideal
And why, do I look for crucial???
The artist questions why she needs to look for anything else
When I don't have to question you
The artist trusts the partner and doesn't need to ask any questions
Y'all hear me
The artist addresses the audience to emphasize a point
The things you do [Repeat x4]
The chorus repeats to reinforce the theme of the song: the sacrifices made in the name of love
All in the name of love
Love is the driving force behind the actions of the artist and the partner
(Oh you make me wanna)
The singer expresses a desire motivated by love
In the name of love
The actions of the singer and the partner are motivated by love
(somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody)
The repetition emphasizes the universal nature of the theme of the song
Love love love [Repeat x2]
The chorus repeats the word love to drive home the central theme of the song
(Y'all hear me when I sing it to you love somebody, love somebody, love somebody)
The final line reiterates the central message of the song: the sacrifices people make for love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KEVIN DENNEY, TIM OWENS, MARCUS JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind