Atlas began her career as part of the world fusion group Transglobal Underground. In 1995, she began to focus on her solo career with the release of Diaspora. She has since released seven solo albums and been a part of numerous collaborations. Her version of "Mon Amie La Rose" became a surprise success in France, reaching 16 on the French Singles Charts in 1999. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Conference Against Racism.
Exploding onto the scene in the early 1990s, Atlas rapidly gained widespread recognition for her successful pioneering meld of Western and Eastern musics, specifically, her use of cutting-edge electronic beats with Arabic melodies and instrumentation. After several releases with Nation Records and a string of albums fronting the seminal Transglobal Underground, she debuted with Diaspora (1994). Atlas then followed with Gedida (Beggar’s Banquet) which won the Victoire Award; the rest, as they say, is history.
Her critically-acclaimed albums Ana Hina (2007) and Mounqaliba (2010), have represented a radical evolution of Atlas’s artistic horizons. On both, Atlas combines her hallmark synthesis of Western and Middle Eastern musical traditions and culture with classical and jazz influences and sounds. Indeed, on Mounqaliba, she pushed the boundaries further, producing an album lavishly orchestrated by her long-time collaborator Samy Bishai.
In addition to her own projects, Atlas has worked extensively with an eclectic group of distinguished artists across a wide variety of musical genres including: pop (Peter Gabriel, Sinead O’Connor, Indigo Girls, and Jean-Michel Jarre); classical (Nigel Kennedy, Jocelyn Pook); jazz (Nigel Kennedy); film scores (Danny Elfman, Clint Mansell, David Arnold, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rachel Portman); and world music (Nitin Sawhney, Transglobal Underground, Talvin Singh).
Atlas’s distinctive voice has also featured on a wide number of soundtracks and scores for both films and video games, including Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Hulk (2003), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Stargate (1994), The Truth About Charlie (2002), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Die Another Day (2002), Brick Lane (2007), Sahara (2005), I Can’t Think Straight (2008), La Fille Sur Le Pont (1999), Whatever Lola Wants (2007), Bin-Jip (a.k.a. 3-Iron, English title) (2004); and Heavenly Sword (2007); Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005); Project Gotham Racing 4 (2007).
Atlas recently co-composing the music, together with Samy Bishai, for the internationally-renowned French contemporary ballet choreographer, Angelin Preljocaj. The ballet, entitled, Les Nuits will be touring internationally through to 2015. The soundtrack of the music – also entitled Les Nuits - is Atlas’s 2nd release on Mazeeka Records.
I Put A Spell On You
Natacha Atlas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better stop the things that you do
I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'
I just can't stand it babe
The way you're always runnin' 'round
I just can't stand it, the way you always put me down
I put a spell on you because you're mine
You better stop the things that you do
I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'
I just can't stand it babe
The way you're always runnin' 'round
I just can't stand it, the way you always put me down
I put a spell on you because you're mine
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
The song “I Put A Spell On You” by Natacha Atlas is a cover of the original song by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, which was released in 1956. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, portraying a sense of possessiveness and frustration towards a lover who does not reciprocate the same intensity of affection. The opening line “I put a spell on you because you’re mine” sets the tone for the song’s theme of obsession and control.
The repetition of the line “you better stop the things that you do” and the accompanying “I ain’t lyin’, no, I ain’t lyin’” reinforces the singer’s seriousness and desperation in their plea for the lover to change their ways. The phrase “the way you always put me down” highlights the singer’s insecurity and vulnerability in the relationship, while the use of the phrase “runnin’ ‘round” suggests that the lover may be unfaithful or disloyal.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a warning to the lover that if they do not change their ways, the singer will resort to using magic to control them. It is a powerful and haunting rendition that showcases Natacha Atlas’s unique vocal range and style.
Line by Line Meaning
I put a spell on you because you're mine
I have placed a magical charm on you to make sure you belong to me, and only me.
You better stop the things that you do
You should correct your behavior and stop doing things that irritate me.
I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'
I am not deceiving you or being insincere. I genuinely mean what I say.
I just can't stand it babe
Your actions have become intolerable, and I cannot tolerate them any longer.
The way you're always runnin' 'round
Your constant movement and lack of attention to me is frustrating.
I just can't stand it, the way you always put me down
Your negative comments and actions towards me have hurt me, and I can no longer tolerate it.
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
I emphatically want to impress upon you that I have indeed put a spell on you, and it is not to be taken lightly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jay Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind