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
Set Your Loving Free
Lisa Stansfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've nearly shown everything you are to me
Darling don't stray stay here with me
Because that's how it ought to be
You've come this far to see who you are
See the love inside yourself
So don't be afraid I'm holding your hand
You're so tangled up in love
Searching for your soul, searching for yourself
So tangled up in love
That you can't see anything else
[Chorus]
My oh my
Do I have to tell you how to live your life
Ooh baby don't you know, now that your mine
You've got to set your loving free
[Chorus]
Tell me you see all we can be
That we can be magical
Throw off your pride and show me inside
Show me what your frightened of
You're so tangled up in love
Searching for your soul, searching for yourself
So tangled up in love
That you can't see anything else
[Chorus]
You're so tangled up in love
Searching for your soul, searching for yourself
So tangled up in love
That you can't see anything else
[Chorus]
The lyrics to "Set Your Loving Free" by Lisa Stansfield convey a message of encouragement to someone who is hesitant or afraid to fully embrace love and show their true self. The singer implores the other person not to go or stray, but to stay with them and let the love run freely through them. The other person has come far in their journey of self-discovery and needs to see the love inside themselves without fear. The singer is holding their hand through this process, but the other person needs to throw off their pride and show what they are frightened of.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of setting one's loving free and living life on one's own terms. The singer reminds the other person that they are now together and that they need to embrace their love fully. The other person is so tangled up in love that they cannot see anything else and need someone to help them find their way. The song expresses the idea that love and self-discovery are intertwined and that embracing one's true self is an essential part of living a fulfilling life.
Overall, Lisa Stansfield's "Set Your Loving Free" is a heartfelt plea for self-discovery and love. The lyrics urge the other person to embrace their true self and live their life to the fullest, with the singer offering support and encouragement along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby don't go
Please don't leave, stay with me
You've nearly shown everything you are to me
You've opened up to me almost completely
Darling don't stray stay here with me
Don't wander, stay here with me
Because that's how it ought to be
This is how things should be between us
You've come this far to see who you are
You've made progress in discovering yourself
See the love inside yourself
Recognize the love within you
So don't be afraid I'm holding your hand
I am here to support and guide you, don't worry
Just let the love run freely through me
Allow your love to flow through me
You're so tangled up in love
You're deeply engulfed in love
Searching for your soul, searching for yourself
You're seeking to find your true self
That you can't see anything else
Love has consumed your thoughts and visions
My oh my
Wow
Do I have to tell you how to live your life
Should I really have to advise you on how to live?
Ooh baby don't you know, now that your mine
Now that you're with me, don't you realize?
You've got to set your loving free
You need to let go of your inhibitions and love freely
Tell me you see all we can be
Let me know that you recognize our potential
That we can be magical
We have the ability to create something extraordinary
Throw off your pride and show me inside
Get rid of your ego and reveal your inner self to me
Show me what your frightened of
Let me know what you're afraid of
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDY MORRIS, IAN OWEN DEVANEY, LISA JANE STANSFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcelomarcal7997
Classy and elegant...everything that pop music divas miss today
@user-hb2ku5oq5r
I agree¡¡¡¡
@sallyd9485
I just wanted to say that I have loved Lisa for a long time. This is the first time I have seen her sing live and wow! There is no denying her range and her talent. Some people you see live, and wonder how they got where they are, oh right technology LOL! Not Lisa. Wonderful, just wonderful.
@democracy2.0
Wave of British acid jazz( Kenny thomas, soul to soul,incognito, M people, cool notes)from the late 80's and 90's best tunes. Memories. Clubbing back in the late 80's and early 90's best times. Lisa stansfield my all time favorite female artist. What a talent and world class band 👏 like listening to a studio recording. Don't get music like this anymore. Love to see you live Lisa.
@valerieslater3029
They dont produce songs like this anymore, and what a singer/performer she is.....FABULOUS !!
@Dead-Ball-Situation
Such great music, Lisa. Thank you for making much of the early 90's a wonderful experience.
@democracy2.0
Best times growing in the late 80's and 90's. Real times, friends and music 🎶. World was in a better space
@athram99
Perfect voice, melody, tune, rythm and lyrics....This song makes my day! 💟
@robertgraves8881
Love this live performance as well as the album version of this song!
@uknewslink
You have a great live show Lisa. You are better live than pre-recorded.