Born September 30,1954, in Los Angeles, CA, Rushen's parents enrolled her in music classes at U.S.C. when she was three. In her teens, she won a solo competition at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival. The attention garnered from this earned her a contract with Prestige Records. After recording three albums and becoming an in-demand session player, Rushen signed with Elektra Records in 1978. Forging an engaging jazz/R&B/funk fusion, she regularly hit the R&B charts. Her five albums for the label were Patrice, Pizzazz, Posh, Straight From the Heart, and Now. Some of these sides can be found on Haven't You Heard:The Best of Patrice Rushen.
In 1993, Rushen signed with Disney's Hollywood Records. Her first and only release was the excellent Anything but Ordinary, which yielded the inspiring single "My Heart, Your Heart." Hollywood wasn't satisfied with the album and shelved it. Sindrome Records bought the rights to the album and reissued it with the single, and some LP tracks received airplay on R&B and smooth jazz radio stations. Rushen became a member of the jazz collective the Meeting, appearing on several releases. Her busy schedule includes session dates and being the musical director for several different tours and TV specials. 1997's Signature found Rushen returning to her jazz roots for this solid album of instrumentals.
In fall 2000, Patrice Rushen appeared as a part of Sisters Being Positively Real, an act on Brown Baby Entertainment Group.
is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer. She is also a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director. Her 1982 single, "Forget Me Nots", received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Rushen had great success on the R&B and dance charts. "Haven't You Heard" went number 7 on the R&B charts, with "Forget Me Nots" as her only top 40 pop hit in the United States.
Rushen is the elder of two daughters born to Allen and Ruth Rushen.[1] In her teens, she attended south LA's Locke High School and went on to earn a degree in music from the University of Southern California.[2] Rushen married Marc St. Louis, a concert tour manager and live show production specialist,[3] in 1986.[4] They have one son Cameron.[4][5] Her nickname is "Babyfingers," a reference to her small hands. In 2005, Rushen received an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Berklee College of Music.[6] She has been a member of jazz fusion band CAB.[7]
Her song "Hang it Up" was featured on the 2005 video game Fahrenheit.[8]
Message In The Music
Patrice Rushen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we, know exactly how to use it...
A message comin' from the soul...
Want you to listen young and old...
We're not just writing any song...
That you can dance to all night long...
Please correct me if I'm wrong...
Way for us to communicate...
I gotta let it have it's way...
{Bridge}
Let it take you to a place...
Only music can provide...
Let it make you feel as if..
You can really touch the sky!
The lyrics to Patrice Rushen's "Message In The Music" discuss the power of music and its ability to communicate messages from the soul. The first two lines emphasize that the song carries a message and the artists know how to convey it. Furthermore, the message is coming from the soul, indicating that it is authentic and genuine. Rushen invites all, young and old, to listen to the message being communicated through the music.
The following lines reflect that the song is not merely written for the purpose of dancing all night long, but rather, it is a strong way of communicating meaning. The writer emphasizes the importance of the music and its ability to bridge gaps in communication. The last two lines emphasize the importance of allowing the music to have its own way – conveying the idea that it should flow organically and allow listeners to be fully immersed in the message.
Overall, the song calls out the importance of music – not just as entertainment, but as a means to communicate important messages that can touch hearts, influence change, and provide a sense of escapism.
Line by Line Meaning
We've, got a message in the music...
Our music is more than just a beat, it carries a message.
And we, know exactly how to use it...
We understand how to use our music to convey the message we want to deliver.
A message comin' from the soul...
The message in our music comes from deep within us, it's a part of us.
Want you to listen young and old...
We want everyone, regardless of age, to hear our message.
We're not just writing any song...
Our music is not just for entertainment, it's intended to be impactful.
That you can dance to all night long...
Our music may have a beat, but it's more than just dance music.
Please correct me if I'm wrong...
If you don't agree with our message or interpretation, let us know.
But this music is a strong...
Our music is a powerful tool to express our message.
Way for us to communicate...
Music is our preferred method of communication to share our message.
I gotta let it have it's way...
I can't control the message in our music, I have to let it be expressed.
Let it take you to a place...
Allow our music to transport you to a different emotional state.
Only music can provide...
Music has a unique ability to evoke certain emotions and feelings.
Let it make you feel as if..
Our music has the potential to make you feel like anything is possible.
You can really touch the sky!
Our music can inspire you to reach new heights and achieve your dreams.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALTON TAYLOR, ROBERT MICKENS, ROBERT BELL, DENNIS THOMAS, RICHARD WESTFIELD, GEORGE BROWN, CLAYDES SMITH, RONALD D. BELL, MARY J. BLIGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind