In 1992, Blige released her debut album What's The 411?. The album sold 3.4 million copies on the strength of singles You Remind Me, Real Love, Reminisce, Sweet Thing, and Love No Limit. The album pioneered a new genre known as Hip-Hop Soul and is credited with influencing the marriage of Hip-Hop and R&B.
In 1994, Blige released her sophomore album My Life. Blige wrote or co-wrote fourteen of the seventeen album tracks. Supported by singles Be Happy, Mary Jane (All Night Long), I'm Goin' Down, and You Bring Me Joy, the album sold over three million copies and was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA in 1996. It has since been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Not Gon' Cry, a 1996 single written and produced by Babyface for Waiting To Exhale soundtrack (1995), peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Blige's highest charting single of the 1990s. The same year, Blige won her first Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for her performance on I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By by Method Man.
On April 22, 1997, Blige released her third album, Share My World on MCA Records. Blige cut ties with producers Sean Combs and Chucky Thompson and worked with the likes of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, R. Kelly, and Poke & Tone. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 240,000 copies, Blige's first to do so. Supported by singles Love Is All We Need, I Can Love You, Everything, Missing You, and Seven Days. Share My World was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA and sold nearly 4 million copies in U.S.
In Summer 1998, Blige embarked on the Share My World Tour, which resulted in a Gold-certified live album released later that year, simply titled The Tour. The album spawned one single, Misty Blue.
On August 17, 1999, Blige's fourth album, titled Mary was released. It marked a departure from her more familiar hip hop-oriented sound; this set featured a more earthy, whimsical, and adult contemporary-tinged collection of songs. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 239,000 copies in its first week. It spent 57 weeks on the chart and produced four charting singles: All That I Can Say, Deep Inside, Give Me You, and Your Child. Though not as successful as prior releases, the album still sold 2.1 million copies in the U.S. and was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Album.
On August 28, 2001, MCA released Blige's fifth studio album, No More Drama. The album's first single, Family Affair (produced by Dr. Dre) became her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. Two other singles, Dance For Me and No More Drama were released, with the latter becoming a Top 20 hit. On January 29, 2002, the album re-released and featured three new songs, one being Rainy Dayz, which was released as a single and became another Top 20 hit for Blige. No More Drama has since sold 3.2 million copies in the U.S. and 5 million copies worldwide.
In 2003, Blige won her second Grammy (and first as a lead artist) for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "He Think I Don't Know".
On August 26, 2003, Blige's sixth album Love & Life was released on Geffen Records (which had absorbed MCA Records.) Blige reunited with producer Sean Combs for the album. Despite the album debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and becoming Blige's fourth consecutive UK top ten album, Love & Life became Blige's then lowest selling album selling 1 million copies. Still, it was nominated for Grammy Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Geffen Records released Blige's seventh studio album, The Breakthrough on December 20, 2005. For the album, Blige collaborated with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am, Bryan-Michael Cox, 9th Wonder, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq, Cool and Dre, and Dre & Vidal. It debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Selling 727,000 copies in its first week, it became the biggest first-week sales for an R&B solo female artist in SoundScan history. The official lead single, Be Without You peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking at number one on the R&B chart for a record-setting fifteen consecutive weeks. In March 2017, Billboard Magazine ranked "Be Without You" as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop Song of all time. The song was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year and won the Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance categories at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Other singles included Top 40 Hit Enough Cryin, Top Five R&B song Take Me As I Am, and UK Top Three Hit One. The Breakthrough won the Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2007.
In December 2006, a compilation called Reflections (A Retrospective) was released. It contained many of Blige's greatest hits and four new songs, including the worldwide lead single We Ride (I See the Future). The album peaked at number nine in the U.S, selling over 170,000 copies in its first week, while reaching number forty in the UK. It has sold more than 1.6 million copies.
Blige's eighth studio album, Growing Pains, was released on December 18, 2007, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold 629,000 copies in its week and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album won Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2009. It spawned the Top 40 Hit Just Fine.
Blige's ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear, was released on December 21, 2009, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 332,000 units in its first week of release. The album had sold 726,100 copies in the United States by April 2010, and was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 6, 2011.
Blige was honored at the 2009 BET Honors Ceremony and was paid tribute by Anita Baker and Monica.
Blige's tenth studio album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), was released in November 2011. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling 156,000 copies in the first week; it was eventually certified Gold in 2012 and has sold 763,000 in the US.
A Mary Christmas, Blige's first holiday album, was released on October 15, 2013 through Matriarch and Verve Records. In early December, A Mary Christmas became Blige's 12th top ten album after it rose to #10 in its eighth week and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Think Like A Man Too, which serves as Blige's 12th studio album, was released on June 17, 2014. On Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, the soundtrack album charted at number six, marking Blige's 16th top ten entry on the chart, tying her with Mariah Carey for the second-most top tens by a female artist.
Following her concert date at the Essence Festival, on July 9, 2014 it was announced Blige would move to London to experiment with a new sound for her new album. Blige spent a month in London recording her album in RAK Studios with a host of young British acts, including Disclosure, Naughty Boy, Emeli SandΓ© and Sam Smith. Twelve new songs, co-written and recorded by the singer, were released on November 24, 2014 on an album entitled The London Sessions. The album received acclaim and was included on many Best Albums of 2014 lists. The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number one on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with 55,000 albums sold and 2,000 shifted in album-equivalent units. It became her 13th top ten entry on the Billboard 200 and her tenth number one entry on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums.
Following a heavily publicized divorce from her husband and manager Kendu Isaacs, Blige released her thirteenth studio album Strength of a Woman on April 28, 2017. Supported by Urban AC hit singles Thick of It and U + Me (Love Lesson), Strength of a Woman debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 on the issue dated ending May 20, 2017, with 78,000 album-equivalent units, selling 72,000 standard copies in its first week. It became Blige's highest-charting album since 2009's Stronger with Each Tear, and her tenth top five entry on the chart.
In 2017, Blige starred in the period drama film Mudbound directed by Dee Rees. Playing Florence Jackson, the matriarch of her family. For her performance in Mudbound, Blige was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also received nominations for Best Original Song for Mighty River, becoming the first person nominated for an Academy Award for acting and original song in the same year.
On July 12, 2018, Blige released a new single, titled Only Love.
Amazing
Mary J. Blige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All hail to the queen, Mary J. Blige (Mary J. Blige)
It's so hard to fake when everything I do is real
Money and a doggie bag, I ain't missin' no meals
Don't move on me wrong, I need to save my energy
Everybody family leave it to the industry
Cut out all of that noise, we ain't talkin' that way
Cut out all that noise, only positive vibes
I don't it pay no mind, I don't pay it no mind (No mind)
Every day like my birthday, bring the cake in
Bring the cake in, bring the cake in
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Man, I feel amazing, man, I feel amazing
Every day celebrate, not just on occasion
On occasion, not just on occasion
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Feel amazing, man, I feel amazing
My crib is so big I tell the guests to use a map
He wanna play house, I ask him, "Where's the fun in that?" (Let's go)
Seein' all these blessings, man, I think I pray too much
Lately, I been feeling like I turn up way too much
Where the drink? Where the drink? Sun got us all day
Raise the glasses up, party, party
Man, it's really goin' down
Make your way to the crowd
Right now, right now
Right now, right now
I feel too wavy, you can't save me
I meditate on the daily, to keep sane
I mean I'm goin' out my mind, I'm goin' crazy
I think it might be my season, I'm elevated, aye
Every day like my birthday, bring the cake in
Bring the cake in, bring the cake in
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Man, I feel amazing, man, I feel amazing
Every day celebrate, not just on occasion
On occasion, not just on occasion
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Feel amazing, man, I feel amazing
Pick up everybody in the dance right now
If you feelin' amazin' like we feelin' amazing right now
Put your lighters up
Lights up, lighters up, let's go
Every day like my birthday, bring the cake in
Bring the cake in, bring the cake in
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Man, I feel amazing, man, I feel amazing
Every day celebrate, not just on occasion
On occasion, not just on occasion
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Feel amazing, man, I feel amazing (Mary J. Blige)
In Mary J. Blige's song Amazing, she emphasizes the importance of staying positive and cutting out negative influences. She talks about her success and how her hard work pays off in tangible ways, such as having a big house and not missing any meals. However, Mary also acknowledges that she needs to save her energy and focus on her own well-being, rather than getting caught up in drama and noise within the entertainment industry.
The chorus of the song is a celebration of feeling good and amazing, and Mary encourages listeners to celebrate every day, not just on special occasions. She compares this feeling to the excitement of a birthday and invites everyone to bring the cake in and party. She repeats the phrase "man, I feel amazing" throughout, reinforcing the message that positivity leads to a fulfilling life.
Overall, the lyrics of Amazing are a testament to Mary J. Blige's resilience and ability to stay true to herself despite the challenges of fame and success. She inspires listeners to stay positive, celebrate life, and focus on their own happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
We the best music (another one)
Introducing the song while referencing the record label We The Best Music and DJ Khaled's signature catchphrase "Another one".
All hail to the queen, Mary J. Blige (Mary J. Blige)
Paying respect and giving credit to Mary J. Blige as the queen of R&B music.
It's so hard to fake when everything I do is real
Being authentic and genuine in everything she does, making it hard to pretend or fake emotions.
Money and a doggie bag, I ain't missin' no meals
Being financially well-off and never skipping a meal or going hungry, even taking leftovers in a doggie bag.
Don't move on me wrong, I need to save my energy
Warning others not to provoke or upset her and explaining the necessity of conserving her energy for important matters.
Everybody family leave it to the industry
Acknowledging that music industry colleagues are like family, and business and personal relationships should be kept separate.
Cut out all of that noise, we ain't talkin' that way
Removing negative or unnecessary conversation and avoiding gossip or drama.
We ain't movin' like that, no way, no way
Asserting that she is not willing to change her values or beliefs to fit in with others or conform to societal norms.
Cut out all that noise, only positive vibes
Only allowing positive energy and conversation in her life.
I don't it pay no mind, I don't pay it no mind (No mind)
Ignoring negative comments or criticism and not giving them any attention or power over her.
Every day like my birthday, bring the cake in
Celebrating life and feeling grateful every day, as if it was her birthday with a cake to represent the occasion.
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Feeling immensely positive and empowered, while using "man" as an exclamation.
Every day celebrate, not just on occasion
Encouraging people to celebrate and appreciate life every day, not just on special occasions.
My crib is so big I tell the guests to use a map
Humorously emphasizing the size of her home to the point where guests need directions to find their way around.
He wanna play house, I ask him, "Where's the fun in that?" (Let's go)
Rejecting traditional gender roles in relationships and asking where the excitement and thrill would come from in playing house.
Seein' all these blessings, man, I think I pray too much
Grateful for the abundance of blessings in her life to the point where she feels like she indulges in too much prayer or gratitude.
Lately, I been feeling like I turn up way too much
Acknowledging that she has been partying or going out too frequently than she may feel comfortable with.
Where the drink? Where the drink? Sun got us all day
Asking where the drinks or alcohol are, enjoying a day in the sun with friends.
Raise the glasses up, party, party
Toasting to good times and having fun, repeating "party" as an expression of excitement.
Man, it's really goin' down
Describing an event or party that is going very well with enthusiasm.
Make your way to the crowd
Encouraging people to join in and become part of the celebration or event.
I feel too wavy, you can't save me
Feeling confident and unstoppable, no one can bring her down or save her from being this way.
I meditate on the daily, to keep sane
Engaging in daily meditation to maintain mental wellness and stability.
I mean I'm goin' out my mind, I'm goin' crazy
Despite meditation, sometimes feeling overwhelmed or out of control, even crazy.
I think it might be my season, I'm elevated, aye
Suggesting that it may be her time to shine or be successful, and that she is rising or reaching a new level.
Pick up everybody in the dance right now
Encouraging everyone to come together and dance or celebrate collectively.
If you feelin' amazin' like we feelin' amazing right now
Inviting anyone who is also feeling amazing to join in the celebration or party.
Put your lighters up
A common symbol for unity and celebration at concerts or events, holding up lighters in unison.
Feel amazing, man, I feel amazing (Mary J. Blige)
Reiterating the feeling of being amazing, using "man" again as an exclamation, and attributing ownership of the song to Mary J. Blige.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews, Khaled Mohamed Khaled, Ellas McDaniels, Mary J. Blige, Streetrunner, Tarik Azzouz, Willie Cobbs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Allison Barrows
It's a amazing how Mary J Blige managed to stay relevant after all these decades. She's truly a legend. Still looks awesome and her voice is still powerful.
carlos wallace
Yep
Jerry Lee Hines
I agree
doeline lewis
Yes you can't sleep on Mary because she will wake you up if she even think you sleeping on her they got the right one Mary just lay back and observe and then out of the blue bam !!! π€£π€£ππ
Ben Afterhours
That Part....MJB is an Immortal and Im here for it. mawmaw
Child of God
There is no one like Mary... Her music helped me through some dark times.
Candace Tyndall
You and I both.
ΧΧ€Χ ΧΧ€Χ
Me too
Yemen God
Sooo many ππΎππΎππΎππΎππΎπ€π€π―π₯π₯π₯π₯
Talbert Talbert
Not 1 lie Told β€β€β€β€β€πππππ