Maxwell capitalized on his breakthrough with the MTV Unplugged EP, taken from his live MTV performance. It attracted attention and acclaim outside the R&B community with the left-field cover choices "This Woman's Work" (by Kate Bush) and "Closer" (by Nine Inch Nails). Additionally, the 'MTV Unplugged' version of "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever" earned him another Grammy nomination (for Best Male Pop Vocal). Anticipation for his second full-length album was high, and when Embrya was released in 1998, it entered the charts at number three. Reviews were more mixed this time around, with some critics charging that Maxwell's ambition had crossed the line into indulgence; still, the record duplicated its predecessor's platinum sales.
Maxwell adopted his middle name as his stage moniker, keeping his real identity a closely guarded secret out of concern for his family's privacy. Born of Puerto Rican and black Caribbean stock, Maxwell suffered the loss of his father (in a plane crash) when he was just three years old. The experience made him a deeply religious child, and he first began singing in his Baptist church. Still, he didn't really get serious about music until age 17, when he began writing his own songs using a cheap Casio keyboard given to him by a friend. Initially influenced by early-'80s urban R&B, and drawing his greatest inspiration from the concept of the R&B auteur (looking to artists like Marvin Gaye, Prince, Stevie Wonder). He progressed rapidly, and by 1991 he was performing on the New York club scene, despite ridicule from classmates who couldn't imagine the shy, awkward teenager doing anything of the sort. After making a name for himself, he signed a recording contract with Columbia in 1994.
In 1999, Maxwell scored his biggest hit to date with the single "Fortunate," an R. Kelly composition he recorded for the soundtrack of the film Life; it was a mammoth success, ranking as the number one R&B hit of the year in Billboard magazine. Later that year, he also cut two songs for the soundtrack of The Best Man.
In August 2001, Maxwell returned with his third full-length album, Now, which was touted as a return to the more straightforwardly romantic atmosphere of his debut. It entered the album charts at number one and quickly launched a hit single in "Lifetime." ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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... He eventually got a record deal with Columbia Records in 1994 when he was 21 years old. His loss of his father at the age of three had a great impact on him as a person and as an artist. Maxwell played keyboard in church during his youth; however, he was not aware of his vocal talent during adolescence. His vocal ability was later discovered during a romantic affair which inspired the music for his first music release "Urban Hang Suite." Maxwell was heavily inspired by the work of artists such as Marvin Gaye, Prince, Sade, and lastly Anita Baker who he gives credit to "teaching him how to sing."
After taking several years off, Maxwell released his latest album BLACKsummers'night on July 7, 2009. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Albums Top 200 chart, his second album to receive that ranking. Maxwell said his reason for leaving the music industry for such a long period was "to just take time off. The music industry has so much competition and there was no rush for me.
The follow-up to BLACKsummers'night and the second installment in a planned trilogy, blackSUMMERS'night, is set to be released late 2012 but the exact date is unknown.
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The name "Maxwell" also appears to be used by a hip hop beat producer from Oldenburg, Germany.
Welcome
Maxwell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way I thought it was
I say this only just because
You never came to love
I guess it wasn't so
Guess that's how the story goes
You didn't dig my flow
You didn't dig my flow
But you're still welcome
(You're welcome, babe, you're welcome to me)
Welcome
(Anytime you want, I'll always be free)
Anytime you want some
(You're welcome, babe, you're welcome to me)
Make yourself at home 'cause you're welcome
Welcome
Tonight will make one week
Tonight's the anniversary
And if you don't talk to me
Tomorrow will never be
But you're still welcome
(You're welcome babe, you're welcome to me)
Welcome
(Anytime you want, I'll always be free)
Anytime you want some
(You're welcome, babe, you're welcome to me)
Make yourself at home 'cause you're welcome
Welcome
Six in the morning, everything's nothing
Six in the eve, everything's still the same, hey
Wish you knew I just wish that you knew that
(I really love you) Deep like a mother loves a child
(I wanna love you) Like water, hot, runnin' wild
(Inside you) Inside you, momma, sophisticated style
Check my dictionary
I guess it never was
(You're welcome, babe, you're welcome to me)
The way I thought it was
(Anytime you want, I'll always be free)
I say this only just because
(You're welcome, babe, you're welcome, babe, you're welcome to me)
You never came to love
Welcome
Welcome
Maxwell's song "Welcome" is a vibrant and dreamy ode to the fantastical world of Wonderland, inspired by the classic story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The lyrics describe a magical place filled with enchantment and wonder, where everything is possible and nothing is quite as it seems. The singer welcomes a companion to join him on an adventure through this surreal landscape, promising to show them all the wonders and hidden treasures that can be found in this fantastical realm.
Throughout the song, Maxwell's lyrics paint vivid images of the whimsical environment of Wonderland, where potions and pastries can make you grow tall, forests and cottages are magical, and castles and cards can talk. The singer describes dancing underneath the stars, laughing until the morning comes, and having a heavy heart when it is time to leave this enchanted world behind. The lyrics suggest that Wonderland is a place where anything can happen if you believe in the magic within you and follow the song that is inside your heart.
In conclusion, "Welcome" is a mesmerizing tribute to the timeless story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which encapsulates the spirit of adventure and the power of imagination to create a world of endless possibilities where everything is possible if you dare to dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to Wonderland, we've got it all
The singer is inviting the listener to a place full of magic and wonder with endless possibilities.
Potions and pastries that make you grow tall
The place offers magical items that can make you grow taller.
Forests and cottages, castles and cards that can talk
The place has a variety of scenic attractions that are sufficiently enchanting to leave you amazed.
Welcome to Wonderland, look where you're at
The artist invites the listener to have a sense of awareness about their surroundings and be conscious of the beauty and uniqueness of the place.
Maddest of hatters, the Cheshire Cat
The place is filled with eccentric characters like the Mad Hatter and animated animals such as the Cheshire Cat.
Magical cabins and lovely white rabbits with clocks
The place has quirky cabins and cute rabbits that can talk and carry time with them.
Dancing through a dream underneath the stars
The place offers a surreal experience that is magical and dreamlike.
Laughing 'til the morning comes
The place evokes joy and happiness that one cannot get enough of, lasting into the early hours.
Everyone that leaves has a heavy heart
Leaving the place is challenging as it grips every visitor's heart with sentimentality.
Oh, Wonderland I love
The artist confesses their love and adoration for the amazing place.
Welcome to Wonderland, I'll be your guide
The singer pledges to be the listener's guide to show them around the wonderland with ancient wisdom.
Holding your hand under sapphire skies
The place has an ethereal atmosphere with clear blue skies and the guide holding the visitor's hand.
Let's go exploring or we could just go for a walk
The singer suggests going on a fun discovery journey or simply take a leisurely stroll and embrace the surroundings.
Welcome to Wonderland, where should we go
The guide invites the listener to choose the next destination, giving them a sense of autonomy and control.
There's a tea party along down the road
The guide points out a place where there's a tea party happening, encouraging the listener to check it out.
Make an appearance and maybe they'll sing us a song
The guide suggests attending the tea party, where there's a chance they'll be entertained with a song.
Nothing around here is quite as it seems
The place is surreal, and reality is somewhat ambiguous and can be deceptive.
Not sure if anything's real or a dream
The singer is unsure if the experience they're going through is just a dream or real life.
And the only thing sure from the start
One thing that is clear from the onset is that there is a song inside everyone's heart.
Is the song that's inside of your heart
The artist emphasizes the importance of inner emotion and confirms that it is essential to resonate with the song inside every person's heart.
Don't let it leave
The artist is reminding the listener that it is important not to forget the song, even after leaving Wonderland.
If this was a dream, then at least I've got Memories for when morning comes
The artist concludes that in case the experience is a dream, at least they have a vivid memory of it to cherish.
Now that I must leave with a heavy heart
The singer acknowledges the difficulty of leaving such an enchanted place filled with magic and wonder.
Oh, Wonderland, I love
The artist expresses their love and fondness for the place one last time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stuart Matthewman, Musze
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LaCheleWallace
This is the best R&B LP of the '90s, period. You just press play and let it do what it do. No skips whatsoever. My emotional attachment to it only gets stronger as time goes on.
@DBlackRocker
this album is a atemporal masterpiece.
@fucu41
What atemporal mean
@soufianekadiri776
Totally 👌
@rhomeo1
Mid 90’s Neo Soul movement was taking flight. Such a great time for music.
@wugsayseatadck
Maxwell and his band made some magical, genre shifting, mood starting stuff with this album🙌🏾
@MelodicalJazzyphile723
Maaaaan Maxwell is THEE! Smoothest got dang criminal of neo-soul music SMH 😆 I'd never leave my lady around him lol I love this brother 💯👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🍻
@tracytyler4752
THE VOLUME OF THE VOCALS, THE INSTRUMENTS DAMN, I SAY BEAUTIFUL
@alexsousa981
Loving the remastered version of this masterpiece of an album!
@tenamaxwellrivera6693
U welcome to me any time u went some