Griffiths has been one of the most successful female reggae artist in the world with songs like "Young, Gifted And Black" (1970), "Feel Like Jumping" (1978) and "Steppin' Out Of Babylon" (1979), and "Electric Boogie (1990) . She cooperated with Bob Marley on all his LP albums for Island Records and in all tours until his death.
Griffiths began her early career with Bob Andy in the duo Bob and Marcia, who delivered hit songs like "Young, Gifted And Black" (1970) and "The Pied Piper" (1971). She was already an international star and more known than Bob Marley in 1973 where she contributed to the group's first LP on Island Records โ Catch A Fire โ by running in songs like "No More Trouble". In 1974, she joined Bob Marley & The Wailers as one of the permanent members of the I-Threes โ the vocal trio that also included Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley, who lifted and reinforced Bob Marley's messages on the stage and studio albums.
Solo she delivered heavy love songs like "The First Time I Saw Your Face" and "Sweet Bitter Love" (1974) on the album Play Me Sweet And Niceand immortal roots reggae classic "Steppin' Out Of Babylon" on the album Steppin'. In between, she released the album Naturally, where she sang Bunny Wailer classic rastafarian song "Dreamland", Bob Marley's "Lonesome Feeling" and her own hit songs, "Feel Like Jumping" , "Truly" and "Melody Life" - songs that are still played by radio stations worldwide.
With some help from Bunny Wailer 1990 she hit the Billboard chart with โElectric Boogieโ ( Carousell) and created a world class dance, the Electric Slide. This super star has been recording and performing ceaselessly.
At a reggae concert in South Florida, Griffiths displayed, in combination with Reggae rapper Cutty Ranks, on their duet of โFire Burningโ, all the zeal and elements that go into dancehall music. Griffiths exhibited the same exuberance when performing her international crossove hit โElectric Boogie.โ
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Griffiths recalls โI started singing professionally as a vocalist in 1964, for Byron Lee and the Dragonaires band.โ Her recording years started soon after, at Coxsone Dodd - Studio One where she recorded her first hit โFeel Like Jumping."
It was while recording at Studio One that Griffiths teamed up with Bob Andy on โReally Together," the first of many duets that the two would record. โLuckily for me, Bob Andy was always a strong and wise personโ, says Griffiths. โHe was there for me in the early days and that gave me confidenceโ. Then the pair moved to the Harry J Label, hitting the British, as well as the International charts with โYoung Gifted and Blackโ and โThe Pied Piper,โ recording two albums of the same titles.
Following that duet success, she went solo again on the High Note label with Reggae's sole established female producer - Sonia Pottinger - hitting with several songs including her own original โStepping Out of Babylon.โ and releasing two albums โNaturallyโ and โSteppingโ. When asked to express her opinion on female reggae vocalists, Marcia said โIts been a rough, tough job standing up as a woman in this business, thatโs why my album before โLand of Loveโ I chose to call โIndomitableโ, which means not easily discouraged or defeated. My views on women in reggae are positive; most of the new or upcoming female singers in reggae started out singing my songs before doing their own originals. I feel very good about that; to know that I have influenced my people positively.โ
In 1974, Griffiths united with Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley to form the I-Threes as an important part of the Bob Marley entourage. โWords are not enough to express my experience with the I-Threes and Bob Marley and the Wailersโ, says Marcia. โWhat a blessing to be so privileged.....to have shared this experienceโ.
Griffiths gained solo international recognition with her monster hit โElectric Boogie.โ This song was first recorded in 1982 and went to the #1 spot on the Jamaican charts. Sales continued over the years and in 1989, a Washington, DC Disc Jockey started playing it regularly and in no time, it caught on and hit the stationโs regular rotation list.
A new dance, the Electric Slide, was created from the โElectric Boogieโ song and as a result, sales soared and the โElectric Slideโ became popular all over the U.S. The song and dance have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey and Phil Donahue shows, and the video has been aired many times on the Black Entertainment TV (BET) and other nationwide music networks.
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths was born on November 23, 1949 to Joseph and Beatrice Griffiths. The family hailed from a poor section of West Kingston, but as bad as things were, Marcia considered those days glorious, because there was always one thing in abundance - one thing that made them the wealthiest family in the world - one thing that no one could take from them... Love.
Marcia as a teenager attended Kingston Senior School, and was a zealous member of her church choir. In fact, she was always taking part in some school concert or play. She loved to hang out and sing with friends, often times sneaking out of the house after her parents had gone to bed. It was during one such nightly excursion, that the slim fifteen year old beauty managed to get herself discovered.
Philip โBoasieโ James lead singer of the Blues Busters vocal duo was visiting his girlfriend, who lived next door to Marcia, and heard this lovely voice floating through the air. He could not believe his ears, and subsequently took Marcia straight away to Byron Lee and insisted that this song-bird be included on the upcoming talent show to be held at the Carib Theater in Kingston. Marcia remembers that Byron was upset with โBoasieโ for coming to interrupt his well planned program schedule and insisting that this "nobody" go on his show.
Marcia remembers she performed a Carla Thomas original,โNo Time To Loseโ to phenomenal response from the audience. They demanded an encore, but to no avail, as she had only rehearsed one song with the band. As much as she wanted to, she could not do any more performances that day.
The attention Marcia received after this auspicious debut was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to manage her, including Byron Leeโs manager Ronnie Nasralla. That same night he took her to the studios of JBC where Marcia made her first television debut. All in one day were the ingredients of an overnight success story which no one realized was about to happen. The rest is history, for the girl who became first the queen, the matriarch of Reggae Music. Marcia L. Griffiths OD., a great contributor to Reggae Music, is most fitting for the royal, prestigious, and respectful title of Reggae Empress.
In 2004 at the dawning of the 21st century, the most influential female artist in Jamaican popular music, Marcia Griffiths OD is briskly fanning the flames of Reggae Music. Working in the studio, releasing records and touring. Marcia continues her mission of spreading the message in the music into the new millennium.
In between studio sessions, Marcia has been on the road. In the past two years she has enjoyed a successful tour of the USA with Beres Hammond and Freddie Mcgregor. Traveling to England with Beres Hammond they performed an extensive tour with the same overwhelming results. Forward on a yard, Marcia shared the stage with Boyz II Men at the massive Spring Break concert for MTV in Negril Jamaica. Returning to the US, she performed in Orlando, Florida, (Disney World) Universal Studio, at the opening of the Bob Marley Museum. Sharing the bill were the I-Threes, Ziggy Marley and Inner Circle. Moving on up to New York, Marcia displayed two memorable shows with Beres Hammond and Buju Banton at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. Going further north Marcia worked in Toronto and Montreal with John Holt and Ken Boothe. Again in the USA with Bob Andy as the Legendary duo, they performed at the Bob Marley Day Celebration in Los Angeles, before heading down south to perform at the historic Reggae meets Rocksteady showcase in Miami. Next Marcia toured with the legendary Wailers Band. Then the I-Threes were off for shows in Italy, Europe and South Africa. Returning to Jamaica, the I-Threes shared the stage for two shows with R&B legends Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. In November 2002, along with John Holt, Ken Boothe and Mikey Spice, Marcia produced an historical performance with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Wembley Arena, Birmingham and Aston Vill Leisure Centre, Middlesex. Since then Marcia has performed in New York, Toronto, Atlanta, Miami and Jamaica.
The driving force of the Reggae Empress is fueled by her inner desire to serve the people of the world with sweet reggae music. She said โ Music alone shall live, and itโs not only for the money, but the satisfaction I get from doing the work that I love, that is what really keeps me going everydayโ.
Everywhere
Marcia Griffiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out your name?
You know that I'm falling
And I don't know what to say
I'll speak a little louder
I'll even shout
You know that I'm proud
And I can't get the words out
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
(Wanna be with you everywhere)
Something's happening
Happening to me
My friends say I'm acting peculiarly
C'mon baby
We better make a start
You better make it soon
Before you break my heart
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
(Wanna be with you everywhere)
Can you hear me calling
Out your name?
You know that I'm falling
And I don't know what to say
Come along baby
We better make a start
You better make it soon
Before you break my heart
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
(Wanna be with you everywhere)
In Marcia Griffiths feat. Buju Banton's song Closer, the singer expresses her desire for a romantic connection with the person she is singing to. She is calling out their name, indicating that she wants their attention and feels a strong pull towards them. The singer acknowledges that she is falling for the person she is addressing but does not know how to articulate her feelings. She admits that she is proud, possibly suggesting that she does not want to appear weak or desperate in front of the person she desires. The chorus of the song states the singer's desire to be with the person everywhere, emphasizing the extent of her feelings.
The second verse suggests that the singer's behavior has changed, and her friends notice that she is acting strangely. The lyrics indicate that there is an urgency to establish a relationship with the person, and if it does not happen soon, it may result in heartbreak. The singer repeats the chorus, emphasizing her desire to be with the person everywhere. The song concludes with the repetition of the desire to be with the person everywhere to reinforce the passion and intensity that the singer feels towards the person.
In conclusion, Closer is a song about expressing emotions and the struggle of articulating feelings towards someone you desire. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and passion, emphasizing how much the singer wants to be with the person.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you hear me calling
Out your name?
I am trying to get your attention by calling your name.
You know that I'm falling
And I don't know what to say
I am experiencing emotions of falling for you and am a bit confused.
I'll speak a little louder
I'll even shout
You know that I'm proud
And I can't get the words out
I will try my best to communicate my feelings, but I am struggling to express them because of my pride.
Something's happening
Happening to me
My friends say I'm acting peculiarly
I am going through changes and my friends have noticed that my behavior has shifted.
C'mon baby
We better make a start
You better make it soon
Before you break my heart
Let's start our relationship soon before I become too emotionally invested and get hurt.
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
(Wanna be with you everywhere)
I want to be with you all the time and in every place.
Come along baby
We better make a start
You better make it soon
Before you break my heart
Let's start our relationship soon before I become too emotionally invested and get hurt.
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
Oh I
I want to be with you everywhere
(Wanna be with you everywhere)
I really want to be with you in all places and at all times.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christine McVie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vybzunitentertainment2866
Big big big tune ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ baii Music sweet Nuh rass ..... 2024 n counting
@davenjoroge4134
Very nice song, am always dancing to this tune
@sharb9349
Letโs give Fleetwood Mac a thank you for this song
@JAHISRAEL
Written by Christine McVie so we can thank her and not that whirling dervish Stevie Nicks
@Auroragemz
โ@@JAHISRAELwell said!!!
@micowilliams6047
Still hot in ,2023๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ฒ
@juniorbally9707
Oh larrrddddd ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅboom boom boom very sweet ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐๐
@ryandixon6428
Smooth man smooth ๐
@johnkidd1956
What an awesome sound!!!!
@mrblackberry3836
โGreat remix by a even greater legendโ.......๐ฑ๐จ