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
Everything
Lisa Stansfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I the lucky one?
Wait to see if I will put up a fight
I won't let it go, mmh
I see those moves
Know it's time
You're my reason
Do you want it all
Say, do you really want it all
Feeling like a lightning bolt
Everything I have is yours, baby
Everything I got, you're everything I've got
Everything you want and more, baby
Everything I got, ooh babe, everything or nothing
Everything I have is yours, baby
Everything I got, yeah everything I got, babe
Everything you want and more, baby
Everything I got, everything or nothing
You don't have to play, my baby
'Cause you've always worked
I'm ready for the night of my life
I want it, I'm done
I see that vein
Up and down my spine
My heart starts beating
I'm feeling fine
Do you want it all
Say, do you really want it all
Feeling like a lightning bolt
Everything I have is yours, baby
Everything I got, you're everything I've got
Everything you want and more, baby
Everything I got, everything or nothing
Everything I have is yours, baby
Everything I got, yeah everything I got, babe
Everything you want and more, baby
Everything I got, everything or nothing
Yeah yeah
Uh uh, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah uh uh, yeah yeah
(Everything) uh
(Everything)
Do you want it all
Say, do you really want it all
Feeling like a lightning bolt
Everything I have is yours, baby
Everything I got, oh everything I've got
Everything you want and more, baby
Everything I got, yeah, everything or nothing
Everything I have is yours, baby
Everything I got, ooh, everything I got, babe
Everything you want and more, baby
Everything I got
The song "Everything" by Lisa Stansfield is a love song that speaks to the depth of feelings that the singer has for her lover. The first verse says, "I can feel the love tonight, Am I the lucky one? Wait to see if I will put up a fight, I won't let it go." The singer is expressing her gratitude for having found a love that she considers herself lucky to have. She is determined to hold on to it and won't let go without a fight. The second verse says, "I see those moves, Know it's time, You're my reason, You're my rhyme." The singer is talking about how her lover's actions and behavior let her know that it's time to take things to the next level. She is convinced that she has found her soulmate, and he is the reason and rhyme for her existence.
The chorus is a repeated affirmation of the singer's love and commitment to her partner. The lyrics say, "Everything I have is yours, baby, Everything I got, you're everything I've got, Everything you want and more, baby, Everything I got, everything or nothing." The singer is making it clear that her heart belongs to her partner and that she is willing to give everything she has to make the relationship work. She is also saying that he can have anything he wants, but he needs to take the relationship seriously and reciprocate her feelings.
Overall, the song captures the passion and intensity of a deep love that is rooted in a strong emotional connection and mutual respect for the partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel the love tonight
The singer senses the love between her and her partner as they spend time together tonight.
Am I the lucky one?
The singer questions if she is fortunate enough to have such a great partner in her life.
Wait to see if I will put up a fight
The singer wonders if her partner will make an effort to continue their relationship.
I won't let it go, mmh
Regardless of any disagreements, the singer is committed to her relationship.
I see those moves
The singer notices her partner's actions and understands what they mean.
Know it's time
The singer is aware of the moment and recognizes the importance of it.
You're my reason
The singer's partner is the primary motivation in her life.
You're my rhyme
The singer's partner is the perfect complement to her life, making everything fit together musically.
Do you want it all
The singer asks her partner if they want everything that comes with their relationship.
Say, do you really want it all
The singer repeats her question to ensure that her partner understands the weight of her question.
Feeling like a lightning bolt
The singer is overwhelmed with excitement and emotion when she thinks of her love.
Everything I have is yours, baby
The singer is willing to give her partner everything in her life.
Everything I got, you're everything I've got
The singer puts her relationship above everything else in her life.
Everything you want and more, baby
The singer is willing to give her partner everything they desire.
Everything I got, ooh babe, everything or nothing
The singer tells her partner that she is willing to give everything she has or nothing at all.
You don't have to play, my baby
The singer reassures her partner that they do not need to pretend or put on airs to be accepted by her.
'Cause you've always worked
The singer recognizes the effort her partner has put into their relationship.
I'm ready for the night of my life
The singer is excited and eager for a memorable night with her partner.
I want it, I'm done
The singer is confident in her decision to continue her relationship with her partner, without any hesitation.
I see that vein
The singer observes a change in her physical expression that signifies a strong emotional response.
Up and down my spine
The emotion the singer is feeling is affecting her entire body.
My heart starts beating
The strong feelings of love and excitement are causing the singer's heart to beat faster.
I'm feeling fine
Despite the heightened emotional response, the singer feels good and happy.
Uh uh, yeah yeah
The singer repeats these sounds to convey her emotional state and the rhythm of the song.
(Everything) uh
The singer emphasizes her willingness to give everything in her relationship.
(Everything)
The singer repeats this word to reinforce the depth of her love and commitment to her partner.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ian Owen Devaney, Lisa Jane Stansfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind