She is best known for her feature on the 2007 hit single "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," with Wyclef, Akon, and Lil' Wayne, which was certified Platinum by theRIAA and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Niia has performed on the Letterman Show, Craig Ferguson, and BET Honors among others and has been lucky enough to perform for some of her biggest influences, including Bjork and Patti Smith.
She is currently working on her debut album.
California
Niia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I-I-I-I...
I ca-came, I ca-came...
I-I-I-I...)
Came to California
Nothing but those blue skies
Why'd I leave my old life?
Oh, but love's deceiving
You know I've tried
Came to California (California)
Ooh, but now I don't know why
'Cause every time you need me, I fall apart
And every time you trust me, I break your heart
Every time you kiss me, it's just okay
And every time you're with me, I'm far away
Yeah
Riding up the coastline
Swimming in the moonlight
Nothing lasts forever
Yeah, even on the west side
Ooh, 'cause love's deceiving
You know I've tried
Came to California (California)
Ooh, but now I don't know why
'Cause every time you need me, I fall apart
And every time you trust me, I break your heart
Every time you kiss me, it's just a game
And every time you're with me, I'm far away
'Cause every time you need me, I fall apart
And every time you trust me, I break your heart
And every time you kiss me, it's just okay
And every time you're with me, I'm far away
'Cause every time you need me, I fall apart
And every time you trust me, I break your heart
And every time you kiss me, it's just okay
And every time you're with me, I'm far away
(Ooh, California
Ooh, California)
Niia's song California reflects the pain and confusion that comes with the pursuit of love. The singer of the song came to California to start anew, hoping to get away from her old life and everything that held her back. The golden state, with its chiseled coastline and vast blue skies, offered her the promise of a fresh start. However, she soon realizes that love is not as clear-cut as she thought it was. Despite all her efforts, every time she tries to make things work with her lover, she fails. She admits to falling apart every time her partner needs her, breaking their trust, and being distant when they are together. She blames it all on the deceiving nature of love and wonders why she even went to California in the first place.
The lyrics are relatable for anyone who has ever experienced the complexities of love. It is easy to relate to the singer's struggles as she navigates a new relationship while trying to escape her past. Her admission that love is not as effortless as people make it seem is a refreshing take on the usual portrayal of love in popular music. The song's melody is catchy and upbeat, with a mix of traditional jazz and contemporary R&B. Niia's voice is unique and soulful, infusing shades of emotion into each word.
Interestingly, Niia herself hails from the East Coast, but her love for California inspired the song. The singer has dubbed California as her happy place and has said that the song was written during a time when she was contemplating moving to the state. In fact, the song's video features some of the most scenic locations in California, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Venice Beach, and Joshua Tree National Park.
Line by Line Meaning
Came to California
I left my old life behind and came to California
Nothing but those blue skies
I was captivated by the beautiful blue skies of California
Why'd I leave my old life?
I am questioning why I left my old life behind
Blame it on your grey eyes
I left my old life because of my love for someone with grey eyes
Oh, but love's deceiving
Love can be misleading and cause us to make questionable decisions
You know I've tried
Despite the challenges, I have made an effort to make things work
Came to California (California)
I am currently in California
Ooh, but now I don't know why
Despite being in California, I am unsure of why I am here
'Cause every time you need me, I fall apart
I am not reliable and tend to become overwhelmed when someone needs me
And every time you trust me, I break your heart
I have let down the person who trusts me on multiple occasions
Every time you kiss me, it's just okay
The affection between us is not as strong as it should be
And every time you're with me, I'm far away
Even when we are together, I am emotionally distant
Riding up the coastline
I am traveling along the California coastline
Swimming in the moonlight
I am enjoying nighttime swims
Nothing lasts forever
I am acknowledging that things will eventually come to an end
Yeah, even on the west side
Even here, things are impermanent
'Cause every time you need me, I fall apart
I am repeating my tendency to fall apart when someone needs me
And every time you trust me, I break your heart
Once again, I have let down the person who trusts me
Every time you kiss me, it's just a game
Our interactions lack true emotion and are merely a game
And every time you're with me, I'm far away
I am still distant and unattached even when we are together
Ooh, California
I am still in California
Ooh, California
I am repeating the name of the state, perhaps as a way of questioning my decision to come here
Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NIIA
Every time you trust me I break your heart
AloofBuddha
youre talented and beautiful!
Erik Geurten
One of THE masterpieces in the history of modern music
BourgeoisBlues
Great song. I'm not sure why people hate the rap part, but I thought it was good. And I loved the effect of him slowly wasting away. Very well done.
Butter Jones
Agree with you💪🏾
Molly Paatalo
I think the rap is the best part! Every time I listen to this, I skip to Westside boogies part !!
Xplicit Suizyd
You are a unique artist, NIIA. You remind me of no one but you. I love all of your music.
STARISE SUN
Xplicit Suizyd Shade?FKA Twigs?
Xplicit Suizyd
zoe stary, Yeah you can tell by her voice that she was influenced by Sade, but the music is different. FKA Twigs and Niia sound nothing alike. They are two completely different artists. It would be awesome if Fiona Apple and Niia collaborated on a song.
LIANA
This song and video were beautiful.
We are two sisters and we make our own dark & dreamy music. Our new single is out on our channel, it would mean the world to us if you would take 5 minutes to listen to it.
We won't let you down!