Once the frontwoman of UK band Blue Zone, which saw modest success with their single "Jackie", she became a major international star beginning with her guest vocal stint on Coldcut's record People Hold On.
Stansfield is probably best known for her first UK #1 single, All Around the World (1989), which also peaked at #3 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the following year. Other worldwide hits from her debut solo album Affection include This is the Right Time (featuring a house music-styled production by Coldcut with Mark Saunders), Live Together, What Did I Do To You? and You Can't Deny It. "All Around the World" was the second song by a white female soloist to hit #1 on the Billboard R&B chart (the first being "Ooo La La La" by Teena Marie in 1988). "You Can't Deny It" also topped that chart. Affection went platinum in the U.S., and sold a total of five million copies worldwide.
In 1990, Stansfield was among a handful of high-profile artists to participate in the Red Hot + Blue charity album, which honored the songwriting career of Cole Porter, and benefitted AIDS research at a time when funding from government agencies was insufficient for those in need. She was given the chance to show her swing and jazz chops on the song "Down in the Depths" (video), which was one of a few throwback renditions to appear on the album. This likely won her the female lead in the independent film Swing (1999), for which soundtrack she also performed most of the songs. Thus began an illustrious and respected tradition of Stansfield offering jazz and torch songs to outside projects (she also sang I've Got the World on a String in the original movie soundtrack of 2003's Mona Lisa Smile).
In 1992, Stansfield won a BRIT Award as best British female solo artist. Her second album Real Love did not quite live up to the success of Affection, despite selling very well. However, it did spawn four Top 40 singles on the European charts: Change, All Woman, Time to Make You Mine and Set Your Loving Free. "Change" has since become one of her signature classics, and still receives regular air-play to this day. "All Woman" became Stansfield's third #1 single on the Billboard R&B chart, and due to the success of that song, the album went gold in the U.S. Filled with pathos and emotion, it is "kitchen sink soul", from the viewpoint of a woman taken for granted. Like "All Around the World", many critics initially believed that it had been performed by a black singer.
Stansfield continued recording disco-influenced soul throughout the 1990s. Her third album So Natural (1993) spawned three Top 40 European singles including the title track So Natural, In All the Right Places and Little Bit of Heaven, but the album was never released in the U.S. She had continued success throughout Europe, but her popularity in America had diminished.
sidenote: "In All The Right Places" was featured on the soundtrack of the movie Indecent Proposal (1993), for which Stansfield was shortlisted as the lead that eventually went to Demi Moore. You can catch her talking about it in this YouTube interview clip (@ 1:30).
Her self-titled fourth album Lisa Stansfield (1997) was a hit in Europe with two Top Ten singles - People Hold On (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Mix) (a re-released dance mix by The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and The Real Thing, and the Top 40 track Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (a remake of the late Barry White's 1973 hit). Upon being released in the U.S., the album scored some mainstream attention, but fared much better in the dance clubs where remixes were very successful; an astonishing four singles - "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up", Never Gonna Fall, I'm Leavin', and "People Hold On" reached #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It charted modestly, peaking at #30 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #55 on the Billboard 200. Subsequently, The Remix Album was released due to revived interest in Stansfield within the dance community. The music video for "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (video) was an eye-catcher featuring her strolling nude down a city street, acquiring a few items of clothing along the way. VH1 featured the clip and even gave it the Pop-Up Video treatment. During the promotion for the single, Stansfield appeared on the RuPaul Show, but inexplicably, did not sing the song (or any others, for that matter).
Her 2001 album Face Up was less successful, barely charting through a lack of publicity, but featured the singles Let's Just Call It Love and 8-3-1, which found her experimenting with newer styles of R&B such as 2-step while continuing with her established sound. Stansfield's husband, Ian Devaney, delivered an arrangement for the ballad How Could You?, which displayed his love of Burt Bacharach's legacy. Only one single was officially released in the UK.
Following the release of Face Up, a 2-CD greatest hits collection titled Biography: The Greatest Hits was released in 2003, which sold well in the UK and Europe. Stansfield then parted ways with Arista/BMG, ending an 18-year association with the label.
Stansfield signed with ZTT Records from the UK, and her 2004 release The Moment was produced by Trevor Horn, well-known for his work with Seal, Grace Jones, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, among others. The album was distributed in Europe by Edel, featuring the singles Treat Me Like a Woman (released as a double A-side with Easier) and If I Hadn't Got You, a song written by Chris Braide with ex-Squeeze songwriter Chris Difford. The album found her exploring more pop-oriented material, and focusing on lush ballads.
Despite this, as with her previous release, the album and supporting singles were not a success. At the time of the project's release, ZTT was directing large amounts of its resources into re-marketing its back catalogue, and producing the Trevor Horn concert for The Prince's Trust and its accompanying double CD Produced by Trevor Horn. The release of "Treat Me Like a Woman" was twice delayed, and the label eventually paired it with "Easier". While ZTT did erect a billboard to advertise the album in Stansfield's home area of Greater Manchester, print advertising and in-store displays were reportedly absent. Later that year ZTT dropped her from their label.
Stansfield's talents also extended into acting; she starred in the 1999 film Swing with actor Hugo Speer, and recorded covers of swing classics and a few original songs written in the style for the soundtrack. She later appeared on a London stage in The Vagina Monologues. In 2006, she guest-starred in the series Goldplated. In 2007, she starred in an episode of Marple: Ordeal by Innocence, and later joined the cast of The Edge of Love.
On June 2012, Lisa told the UK newspaper, The Sunday Mirror that she's working on her seventh studio album, her first in nine years, and that it is going to be released in spring 2013. Lisa announced in November 2012 that the album will be titled 'Seven'.
Official website: http://www.lisa-stansfield.com
Change
Lisa Stansfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I could change the way I live my life today
I wouldn't change a single thing
'Cause if I changed my world into another place
I wouldn't see your smiling face
Honey don't you worry, there's nothin' to worry for
'Cause if I didn't love you I wouldn't be here now
You've got to believe me babe, believe that I love you so
'Cause if I didn't love you I would have turned around
And if I didn't want you, then I would want you out
This love, this love has filled me up
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
'Cause I'll always want your love
[Chorus]
Believing is the answer, the answer to all your fears
When I first said I loved you, I went in for the kill
Now when I say I love you, I mean I always will
This love, this love has filled me up
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
'Cause I'll always want your love
[Chorus]
This love, this love has filled me up
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
'Cause I'll always want your love
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Lisa Stansfield's song Change primarily revolves around the idea that the change in one's life would mean missing out on the love of their life. The chorus implies that while the singer may have some regrets in their life, they wouldn't change a single thing since they love and cherish the love of their life. They acknowledge that there's nothing to worry about, and the reason they're still together and still in love is that they genuinely want to be together.
The verse "You've got to believe me babe, believe that I love you so," suggests that the singer understands that their partner may have some insecurities about the relationship. Still, they want to reassure them that their love is genuine and that they would have left if that wasn't the case. The song also says that believing is the answer to all fears, highlighting the importance of trust and communication in any relationship.
Overall, the song expresses a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the love of one's life and how that love has filled their life with joy and contentment. The song acknowledges that life may not be perfect, but with love in one's life, one can face any challenge.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could change the way I live my life today
Despite any regrets, I wouldn't alter my past actions or circumstances, because presently I am in love with you and wouldn't want to jeopardize that by changing things.
I wouldn't change a single thing
My love for you is so deep that even the wrongs and mistakes that I've made in my life have brought me to you, therefore I wouldn't change anything.
'Cause if I changed my world into another place
If I hypothetically changed my life in a different direction, then I would lose my love for you forever and would lose sight of the happiness you bring me.
I wouldn't see your smiling face
If I changed my life in any way, then my joy and love for you would be non-existent, and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the sight of your beautiful smile.
Honey don't you worry, there's nothin' to worry for
Don't worry about anything because I love and want you to be in my life forever.
'Cause if I didn't love you I wouldn't be here now
The reason why I'm here with you is because my love for you is real, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't.
And if I didn't want you I would have turned around by now
If I didn't want to be with you, I would have left by now, but my love for you is strong, and I need you in my life.
You've got to believe me babe, believe that I love you so
You should trust and know that my love for you is sincere and genuine.
'Cause if I didn't love you I would have turned around
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be with you, but I am because my love for you is real and true.
And if I didn't want you, then I would want you out
If I didn't want to be with you, then I would make it known and wouldn't string you along, but I do want you in my life.
Believing is the answer, the answer to all your fears
Believing in our love is the solution to any fears or doubts you may have about our relationship.
When I first said I loved you, I went in for the kill
When I first told you I loved you, I was completely committed and went all in.
Now when I say I love you, I mean I always will
My love for you is eternal, and I will continue to love you always and forever.
This love, this love has filled me up
My love for you is all-consuming and has completely fulfilled me.
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
My love for you is unyielding, and I will never let you go or give up on us.
'Cause I'll always want your love
My love for you is unwavering, and I will always want and need your love in my life.
[Chorus]
Repeated for emphasis and to drive home the message of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDY MORRIS, IAN OWEN DEVANEY, LISA JANE STANSFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tobyfitzpatrick3914
Heard this song at the Supermarket today. I refused to finish my shopping until the song finished!
@ricosanchez3756
😂
@helenbell7453
Would of done exactly the same myself 👍
@retro-spective3403
Most underrated female soul singer of her generation! Lisa should have been a much bigger star than she was. Still listen to her music today.
@valanasha1135
Agree 100%
@pabloblanco2656
Absolutely agree she is the most underrated female vocalist but not just her generation. Lisa is one of the best female vocalist of all time. She's may not be in the same genre as Karen Carpenter but she is definitely in the same ranking. Stansfield and Carpenter are the two best female vocalist hands down.
@paulvanappeven3340
Indeed. 👍🏻
@leighanneedminson9258
Saw her live twice still outstanding
@gorgoniojustorapela7351
Su técnica y recursos vocales son impresionante...me tiene hechizado.
@youllneverwalkalone1565
There will never be another Lisa stansfield