A native of Los Angeles, California's San Pedro community, Miguel Jontel Pimentel was involved at the age of 16 with the production company Drop Squad. Three years later, he was offered a slot in Fatty Koo, and appeared on the R&B group's BET reality show, but he turned the position down and eventually signed a solo deal with distribution from major-label Universal. In 2005, "Getcha Hands Up!" was issued as a promotional solo single, and its accompanying video -- showcasing Miguel's dancing skills -- aired on BET. An album, Young & Free, was planned for release, but it was never issued. By that point, Miguel was becoming increasingly known in the underground through his collaborative work with Blu, Exile, and Daz-I-Kue.
Miguel signed a solo deal with Jive in 2007 and continued to work with underground and major-label artists. By the end of the decade, he placed songs on albums by Musiq Soulchild and Asher Roth. He experienced major growth during 2010. Jaheim's "Finding My Way Back," a song he co-wrote, reached number 12 on Billboard's R&B/hip-hop hit (and was subsequently nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Song). Miguel also co-wrote a pair of the Jam & Lewis-produced songs that appeared on Usher's Raymond v. Raymond, which topped the Billboard 200 just before Miguel made his proper solo debut with the atmospheric hip-hop soul of "All I Want Is You," a Top Ten R&B/hip-hop hit. The parent album, All I Want Is You, followed that November and reached the Top Ten of the R&B/hip-hop albums chart, as well as the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, boosted by "Sure Thing" (number one R&B, number 36 Billboard 200) and "Quickie" (number three R&B). Once Wale's Miguel-assisted Top 40 pop hit "Lotus Flower Bomb" was well on its way to platinum certification, Miguel resumed his solo output in early 2012 with a trilogy of three-song EPs dubbed Art Dealer Chic.
The intermediate releases led to Kaleidoscope Dream, which entered the R&B/hip-hop chart at number one and crossed into the Billboard 200 Top Five in October 2012. The RCA-issued full-length was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Urban Contemporary Album, while "Adorn," Miguel's second number one R&B/hip-hop single, was nominated for three awards and won for Best R&B Song. The following year, the album's "How Many Drinks?" was nominated as well. Stardom notwithstanding, Miguel remained available for outside work. "#Beautiful," a collaboration with Mariah Carey, was issued in May 2013 and went platinum. Miguel also devoted time between albums to sessions for J. Cole, Janelle Monáe, Big Sean, Jessie Ware, A$AP Rocky (the gold "Everyday"), Mac Miller (the platinum "Weekend"), and Hudson Mohawke.
Miguel's third album, Wildheart, was released in June 2015. Like his previous full-length, it debuted within the Top Five of the Billboard 200, reaching number two and landing in the same spot on the R&B/hip-hop chart. Less melodic than what preceded it, Wildheart emphasized sensual slow jams and was acknowledged with a Grammy nomination in the Best Urban Contemporary Album category. Another round of collaborations, including a duet with Dua Lipa, and singles highlighted by "2 Lovin U" (produced by DJ Premier) and the platinum-certified "Sky Walker" (featuring Travis Scott), preceded the December 2017 release of the urgent War & Leisure. Another R&B/hip-hop chart topper, it also entered the Billboard 200 at number nine. Miguel continued his extracurricular activity through 2018 with Kygo's "Remind Me to Forget" among his most commercially successful featured appearances. His next solo release was the Spanish-language EP Te Lo Dije, which peaked at number 11 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart in 2019. Also that year, Alicia Keys' Miguel-assisted "Show Me Love" began its ascent to gold status.
A mix of smaller-scale solo output and featured appearances followed during the first few years of the 2020s. Early in the decade, Miguel was featured on tracks such as Jhené Aiko's platinum "Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E.)." The Art Dealer Chic series of EPs resumed in 2021 with a fourth volume containing the grinding "Funeral." After he was featured on Diplo's "Don't Forget My Love," Miguel saw "Sure Thing" become more popular than ever in 2023 -- thanks to TikTok -- and a re-release of the single consequently reached number 14 on the Hot 100, thereby surpassing "Adorn" as his highest-charting pop single. The singer responded that April with the smoldering slow jam "Give It to Me." ~ Andy Kellman & David Jeffries
Candles in the Sun
Miguel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is he watching?
Is she watching?
Are they watching now?
If not, what are we doing?
Where are we going?
What are we doing now?
Look at all these people
Searching for a peace of mind
Hey! Say we're all created equal
That's what they teach us
But that ain't how we treat each other
Now that ain't how we treat each other
See the truth is that we need each other, yeah
Diamond in the bag, babies on crack
Kick in the door, wavin' the 4-4
White collar, war, crime, money gets spent
Candles in the sun, blowin' in the wind
Sun goes down, heroes often get shot
Peace has long been forgot
Ohh it'll be too late when we find out
Yeah all that we got
Take a look around now, yeah
Just take a look around, here
Business and governments just watch as the innocent fade
Mindless bureaucracy fail, hindering government aid
Aren't you a appalled?
What are we doing?
Where are we going?
What are we doing?
Diamond in the bag, babies on crack
Kick in the door, wavin' the 4-4
White collar, war,crime, money gets spent
Candles in the sun, blowin' in the wind
Sun goes down, heroes often get shot
Peace has long been forgot
Oh will it be too late when we find out yeah? All that we got
Look around
Just take a look around, yeah, yeah
Look around, we're all that we got
May we all live long
And may we all be brave
And the bridges we burn, only light our way
May we all be strong
And we all be brave
And the bridges we burn, only light our way
May we all live long
May we all be brave
And the bridges we burn, only light our way
May we all live long
May we all be brave
And the bridges we burn, will be the bridges we burn
All that we got
Oh, We're all that we got
Look around now that we're all that we got
Is there a God?
Is he watching?
Is she watching?
Are they watching now?
Is there a God?
I'm sure he's watching
What are we doing?
Where are we going, nah?
Take a look around now
We're all that we got
The lyrics of Miguel's song "Candles in the Sun" offer a thought-provoking message about the state of society and the need for unity. The song begins with questioning the existence of a higher power and whether or not it is watching over us. Miguel then poses a series of more pressing questions about the actions and direction of society. He draws attention to the fact that while we are all searching for a reason and a peace of mind, we are not treating each other equal as we were taught. Miguel uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the harsh realities of life, from drug addiction to violence and corruption. He calls out the injustices of the world and urges people to take a look around at the world they've created. The chorus repeatedly states "we're all that we got," emphasizing the need for us to come together and see each other as allies rather than enemies.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there a god?
Questioning the existence of a higher power.
Is he watching?
Wondering if God is observing our actions.
Is she watching?
Asking if a female deity is observing us.
Are they watching now?
Asking if any divine beings are monitoring our current state.
If not, what are we doing?
Questioning the point of our actions if there isn't someone watching over us.
Where are we going?
Curiosity about our future destination and purpose.
What are we doing now?
Wondering about our current actions and their significance.
Look at all these people
Observing the multitude of individuals in the world.
Searching for a reason
Seeking a purpose for our existence.
Searching for a peace of mind
Looking for mental tranquility amidst the chaos of life.
Hey! Say we're all created equal
Acknowledging the popular belief that all humans are equal.
That's what they teach us
Admitting that this concept is taught from childhood.
But that ain't how we treat each other
Noting that this idea isn't reflected in how people interact with each other.
Now that ain't how we treat each other
Emphasizing that the inequality and unfairness is still prevalent.
See the truth is that we need each other, yeah
Recognizing the interdependence of all individuals and the need for unity.
Diamond in the bag, babies on crack
Describing the harsh realities of poverty and drug addiction in society.
Kick in the door, wavin' the 4-4
Referencing violent acts and weapons used in crime and rebellion.
White collar, war, crime, money gets spent
Noting the different forms of crime and ways that money is spent.
Candles in the sun, blowin' in the wind
Describing the fragility of life and how easily it can be snuffed out like a candle in the wind.
Sun goes down, heroes often get shot
Observing the dark reality that those who strive for good often fall victim to violence.
Peace has long been forgot
Acknowledging the absence of peace in society.
Ohh it'll be too late when we find out
Warning that realization will come too late when the consequences of our actions are irreversible.
Yeah all that we got
Recognizing that as humans, we only have each other and our actions to rely on.
Take a look around now, yeah
Encouraging observation of the world and its harsh realities.
Just take a look around, here
Looking around to truly understand the world and its issues.
Business and governments just watch as the innocent fade
Pointing out the failure of those in power to act and protect the innocent.
Mindless bureaucracy fail, hindering government aid
Describing how useless bureaucracy and red tape are in a crisis.
Aren't you appalled?
Asking if the listener is shocked and disgusted by the current state of society.
May we all live long
Wishing for long, healthy lives for all individuals.
And may we all be brave
Wishing for courage to face the struggles and challenges of life.
And the bridges we burn, only light our way
Seeing the destruction of old paths only as a way to make way for new ones and grow.
May we all be strong
Wishing for strength in the face of adversity.
And we all be brave
Wishing for a society that faces issues head-on and with courage.
And the bridges we burn, only light our way
Continuing on the idea that burning bridges can be a positive force for growth and progress.
May we all live long
Reiterating the wish for long, healthy lives for all individuals.
May we all be brave
Reiterating the desire for a brave, courageous society.
And the bridges we burn, only light our way
Reiterating the idea that burning bridges can be a positive force for progress.
And the bridges we burn, will be the bridges we burn
Accepting that not all old paths and bridges must be resurrected or preserved.
All that we got
The only things we can rely on are each other and our actions.
Oh, We're all that we got
Reiterating that the only thing we really have is each other.
Look around now that we're all that we got
Pointing out the importance of relying on and helping each other, especially in tough times.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BROOK D'LEAU, DRU DE CARO, JAYME SILVERSTEIN, MIGUEL JONTEL PIMENTEL, R.J. KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CV Acevedo
This isn't a music video. This is art.
The Bantu Bohemian
so true.
Cory J
My English professor made us do a whole assignment on this video and it's content.
tuchesuavae
ChineeBhai727 bless him
Dara Burko
RESPECT to your teacher!
Cory J
tuchesuavae bless her! 🤘🏽
Filip
Very underrated song. We need more modern R&B artists like this.
Mike Weez
The vibrations I feel when hearing this song is just beyond words... Such a blessing to hear such beautiful and meaningful lyrics.. Glad to see so many people appreciate what this song delivers to the soul.. We waking up together America :)
Ra The Creator
I loved this song but now... it is really hitting me in a different way right now. Hope u are safe😷 n still here cause We all that we got😘✌
Marletta Priscilla Fomby
His voice sings to souls, he's truly blessed and using it wisely. Not many singers touch the soul like his voice and words do!