Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a stylisation of Meshell Ndegeocello, a pseudonym o… Read Full Bio ↴Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a stylisation of Meshell Ndegeocello, a pseudonym of Michelle Lynn Johnson (b. 29 Aug 1968) is a singer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. She was born Michelle Johnson to Army lieutenant (and saxophonist) father Jacques Johnson and her mother, Helen in Berlin, Germany.

Raised in Washington, D.C., Meshell Suhaila Bashir Shakur (as she became known) adopted the surname Ndegéocello, which means "free like a bird", while still in her teens. She has been hailed in the music press as a redeemer of soul music. Her music incorporates funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, rock and jazz. She has been nominated for 9 Grammys. She has frequently toured with Lilith Fair.

Ndegeocello honed her chops on the D.C. Go-go circuit in the late 1980s before venturing out as a solo artist. She emerged as a recording artist in 1993 on Maverick Records/Sire Records with her debut, Plantation Lullabies. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona. Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Batman and Robin. She has also appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx and The Blind Boys of Alabama, among others. Her biggest hit is a duet with John Cougar Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's Wild Night, which reached #3 on the Billboard charts.

Her singles If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night), Leviticus: Faggot, and her cover of Bill Withers Who Is He and What Is He To You? have all charted in the Billboard top 20. She sang background vocals on the song I'd Rather be Your Lover by Madonna, on her album Bedtime Stories. She also sang with Chaka Khan on the single Never Miss the Water, as well as providing her typical solid bass skills.

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Interlude: Blah Blah Blah Dyba Dyba Dyba
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Ring)
(Ring)

(Picking up)

Hello?
Yeah, this is me
Who is this?

Oh, yeah

I remember you
(laughs)
Yeah I'm just a little busy
I was hanging out with cato

Listening to some music
Yeah... Yeah
... ooh
I'm trying to get to know you too

Yeah maybe I'll come by a little later
And um
You can get to know me a little better alright?
I got to go
Alright

(click.)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Me'Shell Ndegéocello's Interlude: Blah Blah Blah Dyba Dyba Dyba seem to be a conversation held over the phone. From the beginning, we can hear the phone ringing and she picks it up. Through her dialogue, we can assume that the caller is someone whom she remembers from the past, "Oh, yeah / I remember you". Despite her busy schedule, she is trying to make an effort to get to know the caller better. She was hanging out with someone named Cato and they were listening to music. It seems like she is interested in the caller as well because she mentions, "I'm trying to get to know you too".

The conversation ends with her agreeing to meet with the caller later to get to know each other better. From the tone of the phone call, it seems like a flirtatious conversation. This song can be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to be a simple conversation between two people getting to know each other.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello?
Answering the phone call.

Yeah, this is me
Confirming own identity.

Who is this?
Asking for the caller's identity.

Oh, yeah
Recognizing the caller's identity.

I remember you (laughs)
Recalling previous interaction with the caller.

Yeah, I'm just a little busy
Explaining current situation to the caller.

I was hanging out with cato
Revealing who she was hanging out with.

Listening to some music
Describing the current activity.

Yeah... Yeah
Agreeing and showing interest in the conversation.

... ooh
Expressing excitement or pleasure.

I'm trying to get to know you too
Showing interest in getting to know the caller.