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
Footsteps
Lisa Stansfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though you're weak and chilled to the bone
I will shore the pain that you're going through
If there's one set of footsteps I'll be carrying you
If there's one
One set of footsteps in the sand
One set of footsteps
One set of footsteps in the sand
One set of footsteps
If you're losing faith, I'll understand
Don't be afraid I'm holding your hand
If you trust in me then I will be true
If there's one set of footsteps I'll be carrying you
If there's one
One set of footsteps in the sand
One set of footsteps
If there's one
One set of footsteps in the sand
One set of footsteps
Then I'm gonna walk on, walk on
I'm gonna walk on 'till the hurt is gone
Walk on, walk on
I'm gonna keep going, gonna carry on
Walk on, walk on
I'm gonna walk on
I'm gonna walk on
Don't give up, you're not alone
Gotta try to be strong, you've got to move on
Just hold on tight and you'll make it through
If there's one set of footsteps I'll be carrying you
If there's one
One set of footsteps in the sand
One set of footsteps
If there's one
One set of footsteps in the sand
One set of footsteps
Walk on, walk on
Walk on, walk on
I'm gonna walk on 'till it's gone
The song "Footsteps" by Lisa Stansfield is a song about support and perseverance in difficult times. The first verse acknowledges the pain of the person the song is addressing, but reassures them that they are not alone and that their pain will be shouldered by someone else. The chorus repeats the idea that even if only one set of footsteps is visible, the support and guidance of the person singing the song is always present. The second verse encourages the person to keep going, even when they are losing faith, and promises to continue to support them. The bridge adds an extra layer of determination, promising to walk on until the hurt is gone.
The overarching message of the song is one of comfort and encouragement. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, using the image of footsteps in the sand as a metaphor for guidance and support. This is a song that can resonate with many people who have suffered through difficult times, either personally or through supporting someone else who is struggling.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't give up, you're not alone
Even when things get rough, don't lose hope. You have someone supporting you.
Though you're weak and chilled to the bone
Even in your physical and emotional vulnerability, you are not without someone to help you.
I will shore the pain that you're going through
I will help you bear the burden of your suffering.
If there's one set of footsteps I'll be carrying you
I will support you even if it means carrying you through the tough times alone.
If you're losing faith, I'll understand
I know it's not easy, and if you're struggling to keep faith, I won't judge you.
Don't be afraid I'm holding your hand
I am here for you and won't let you face your fears alone.
If you trust in me then I will be true
If you choose to rely on me, I won't let you down.
Then I'm gonna walk on, walk on
Even in the face of adversity, I won't give up.
I'm gonna walk on 'till the hurt is gone
I will stand by your side until your pain subsides.
Gotta try to be strong, you've got to move on
I know it's hard, but you need to keep trying and push forward.
Just hold on tight and you'll make it through
Even when it feels like all is lost, you just have to hold on tight and believe in yourself.
Walk on, walk on
Keep moving forward, don't give up.
I'm gonna walk on
I'm not going anywhere, I'll keep supporting you.
I'm gonna keep going, gonna carry on
I won't stop until we get through this together.
If there's one set of footsteps I'll be carrying you
I will be there for you, even if it means doing all the hard work myself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD SIMON DARBYSHIRE, IAN OWEN DEVANEY, FRANK JOHN MUSKER, LISA JANE STANSFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Morgan
Saw her sing this in Mainz, Germany in 07. Beautiful song.
arbdan
this should've been a hit single back in '97 , from her album Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Abos
La meilleur chanson de cet album
Electro Chums - Jimmy Quezada Contreras
My Favorite song from Lisa along with All Woman.
Jorge Poblete
Lisa....lisa.....lisa...........muchas estrellas ...y granos de arenas.......hay 1 yo tu y yo.....te amo...❤
Joey Thomas
BEAUTIFUL 😭😭😭❤❤
Edward Reynolds
I'm glad I don't have to carry on no more still a very good song has anyone walk in those footprints before
Edward Reynolds
Spirit keeps me alive in these very hard times my illness is taking a very hard toll on my body and with cancer behind me ha its been 30 years plus I'm very tired after the lost of my lover it has taken the wind out of my sails
Antoniette Jacklynn
more people should really hear this. this is waaaaaaaay better than leona lewis's song
Jorge Poblete
Mi..conzuelo....mi..tesoro......más..que..la.plata..y...el..oro.....mi....lisa...stansfield.....rojo..como..mi.corazon.....❤️💙🇬🇧🇨🇱🤱😇