After this initial success with this first EP, Lelia began work on the new project (lil-yah) (also the proper pronunciation of her first name) which shows Lelia’s versatility as a vocalist, diverse songwriter, and producer. At the same time, she made her first appearance at the legendary Bitter End in NYC (where she is a regular featured artist), and was immediately embraced and continues to be strongly supported by owner Kenny Gorka. “I knew right away there was something very special about Lelia.” From her most recent appearance in NYC: “It was apparent once again that Lelia does not perform; she inhabits her music. Each song emerges from her as if she is suddenly compelled to tell its story or release its feelings. No movement seems calculated; no gesture planned. The result is an exhibition of musical integrity that would make any venue, large or small, feel intimate.” says Robbie Merkin, critically acclaimed composer.
(lil-yah) shows the diverse spectrum of Broussard's writing styles. Influenced by the music of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and others in that genre, Lelia knew she wanted her album to have an old soulful vibe, but with a new pop flair. Moving from jazz to soul, and even hip-hop, Broussard shows a mature understanding of her many influences without ever sounding forced. Recorded with an unrivaled group of musicians, this first rate group of seasoned pros quickly discovered that this would not be "another recording session" as they came to learn and appreciate Lelia's music. "It's scary how talented the young lady is. I couldn't believe the sound coming from this petite little thing. We were all blown away by her," says Jef Lee Johnson (Mariah Carey, Billy Joel). “Lelia is a creative genius” says Joel Bryant, (Harry Connick Jr, Aretha Franklin). Chico Huff (James Taylor) says, "Lelia seems to already have a strong musical vision and great love for music that comes across tenfold. Her singing and writing are very fresh and contemporary to my ears without being derivative.
On putting (lil-yah) into a genre, Lelia says it best when she explains, "People are hearing the CD and saying, 'wow, you have all these different types of music on one CD- jazz, pop, rock, blues, rap, R&B, how do you even classify yourself? My answer is not any one genre is more me than the other. My goal is to be a diverse artist and performer that does many styles equally well.”
Lelia recently went back into the studio to make some improvements on the CD and will re-release it in the Spring of 2007 re-titled as “Rise”. This remixed and re-mastered CD has the addition of a couple of new tracks, and new vocals and arrangements on others. The title song, “Rise” has already been picked up by the MTV show “The Hills”. Lelia recently completed a national tour for the Heinz Corporation’s TGIFriday/Wal Mart Tour where she headlined along with major label artists.
What’s next for Lelia? “Well, I am continuing to grow my fan base by touring in and around the Philadelphia and New York areas, where I recently moved and back home in Louisiana. I’ve also recently started doing some co-writing with Rob Fusari, and I love the direction my songs are taking. And I’m going to be in LA early this year doing some co-writing with various songwriters, so it’s a busy time for me. I’ve remained an independent artist by choice, because I always felt it would be better for the longevity of my career if I stayed independent while I was so young. I think I have proven that I am a serious musician and songwriter, not a flavor of the month, but someone with musical integrity, at least that’s my goal . . . now that I’m a little older, I’m ready to move on to the next level of my career.”
Philadelphia Magazine, in a feature article on Lelia, speculated about her being “the next big thing”. Is she? Listen and we think you just might agree.
Grass Is Greener
Lelia Broussard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I won't stop you from comin' over tonight
So restless, hard to satisfy
You don't wanna lose her, so you just gotta lie
It's like a time-bomb, tickin' away
She's gonna find out, blow up in your face
It's a flavor, you just had to taste
We're frozen, black and white
You listen to your mama
As if she did it right
Oh, you know the grass is greener
On the other side
Old-fashion ideas
A fairytale that we got trapped inside
Oh, you know the grass is greener
On the other side
No happy endings for us dreamers
Oh, we take a drink and have another try
An angel in his eyes,
But I'm more like the devil in disguise
Temptation is stronger than me,
You know I love you, I just gotta be free
And it's like a time-bomb, just tickin' away
He's gonna find out, blow up in my face
It's a flavor, I just had to taste
And now I had some, you're too good to waste
We're frozen, black and white
You listen to your mama
As if she did it right
Oh, you know the grass is greener
On the other side
Old-fashion ideas
A fairytale that we got trapped inside
Oh, you know the grass is greener
On the other side
No happy endings for us dreamers
Oh, we take a drink and have another try
Wouldn't you like to get away from all the same old things
Why would you settle for something less than second best
It's like we're frozen, black and white
You listen to your mama
As if she did it right
As if she did it right
As if she did it right
You know the grass is greener
But I wanna get on the other side
Old-fashion ideas
A fairytale that we got trapped inside
Oh, you know the grass is greener
On the other side
There's no happy endings for us dreamers
Oh, we take a drink and have another try
I know the grass is greener
But I wanna get on the other side
The song "Grass Is Greener" by Lelia Broussard represents the theme of unfaithful relationships. It describes a situation where two people are involved physically though they aren't fully committed to each other. The lyrics paint a picture of a guy who is involved with another girl but can't resist coming over to the singer's place despite knowing it is not right. The line "It's a flavor, you just had to taste" implies that their intimate relationship felt enjoyable at the time but will eventually lead to disastrous consequences. The singer admits that she is the devil in disguise, and temptation is stronger than her; she loves him and dreams of a time when they could be together. The phrase "You know the grass is greener on the other side" means that everything looks rosy on the other side, but the reality is often different. Both parties are trapped in an old-fashioned idea that only leads to heartache and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
You tell me it's not right
You acknowledge that we may be doing something wrong by being together.
But I won't stop you from comin' over tonight
Despite acknowledging the wrongness, I am willing to continue seeing you tonight.
So restless, hard to satisfy
You have a tendency to be restless and unsatisfied in your relationships.
You don't wanna lose her, so you just gotta lie
You are willing to lie to your partner to avoid losing them, even though it is not right.
It's like a time-bomb, tickin' away
The situation we are in feels like a ticking time bomb that could blow up at any moment.
She's gonna find out, blow up in your face
Your partner is going to find out about the lies, and it will explode in your face.
It's a flavor, you just had to taste
Being with me, even though it is wrong, is something you felt compelled to experience.
And now you had some, it's too good to waste
Since you have already started being with me, you don't want to end it because it feels too good to waste.
We're frozen, black and white
Our relationship feels stagnant and unchanging.
You listen to your mama
You rely heavily on the advice and opinions of your mother.
As if she did it right
You act as though your mother is right in everything she advises, even though it may not be true.
Oh, you know the grass is greener
You believe that there is something better out there for you.
On the other side
You are convinced that what you want is on the other side of what you currently have.
Old-fashion ideas
You hold onto traditional beliefs about relationships that may not be applicable anymore.
A fairytale that we got trapped inside
The idea of a perfect relationship is something we got stuck believing in, even though it may not be realistic.
No happy endings for us dreamers
Our hopes for a perfect ending may not be possible in real life.
Oh, we take a drink and have another try
Despite the challenges we face, we are willing to continue trying to make it work.
An angel in his eyes,
You see me as a good person, despite our situation being wrong.
But I'm more like the devil in disguise
Despite the good impression you have of me, I am capable of being deceptive and causing trouble.
Temptation is stronger than me,
I am weak in the face of temptation and may give in despite knowing it is wrong.
You know I love you, I just gotta be free
I do have feelings for you, but I also feel the need to be free and not tied down.
Wouldn't you like to get away from all the same old things
Don't you feel like breaking free and trying something new?
Why would you settle for something less than second best
Why would you settle for a relationship that is not fulfilling and may not be the best for you?
As if she did it right
Repeating this line emphasizes the idea that you still rely heavily on your mother's guidance.
You know the grass is greener
You truly believe that there is something better out there for you.
But I wanna get on the other side
I too share the belief that there could be something better out there, and I want to explore it with you.
Contributed by Lucy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.