Taking an interest in music from the age of 6, joining gospel groups and attending Young Musicians Program at Berklee during middle school, Saadiq got the chance phone call of a lifetime, when Sheila E. called one day looking for touring musicians to join Prince on his Parade tour. Saadiq spent two years on the road, a time he called "My University".
Saadiq made a name for himself as the lead vocalist in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Toni! Toné!. He went by his birth name during the beginning of Tony! Toni! Toné!, where he was joined by his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian. He adopted the name of Raphael Saadiq in the mid-1990s.
After the 1996 Tony! Toni! Toné! album, House of Music, (when he performed under his current name) Saadiq started his solo career. He produced a few solo tracks, but Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). This group only lasted for one album. His solo album Instant Vintage, released in 2002, also earned 5 Grammy nominations.
Saadiq released his third solo album, The Way I See It, on September 16 2008, featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone. Saadiq acknowledges the album's old school soul sound, which he says includes nods to Gladys Knight & The Pips, Al Green, The Four Tops, The Delfonics and The Stylistics.
Various artists have tapped Saadiq to produce their work through the years. Some of Saadiq's most notable work has been with D'Angelo. The 2000 collaboration "Untitled" won D'Angelo a Grammy award for Best R&B Album. In 2007, Saadiq was called on to produce the whole third album from UK Soul singer Joss Stone. Other artists he has collaborated with include The Roots, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Kelis, Q-Tip and Young Bellz.
In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. Among the artists on the label are Joi and Truth Hurts.
http://vimeo.com/3020000
It Never Rains
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't wait till I get there
Just to kiss and squeeze and hug
Girl you know the rest 'cause they tell me
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
And you can pick me up about 8
I don't know what airline girl
But I know it won't be late 'cause they tell me
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
Now I can't sleep at night
Without your 8 x 10 by my side
That day will come
For us to be together
I'm not worried 'bout a thing
Not even stormy weather
Oh it may be cold on the east coast
But on the other side of town it never rains
We have so much to talk about
A lot a catchin' up to do
I'll bring the diamond girl
Because I'm so into you
Cause they tell me
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
Now since I'll be here at your place
Lets take a weeks trip for two
We don't have to go to far
Just as long as I'm with you
'cause they tell me
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
Can we just be alone
Without those other strangers
Calling your phone
Now I don't want to be
That selfish kind of guy
But tonight let me take you
On a natural high
Just me and you alone
Now it may be cold on the east coast
But on the other side of town it never rains
Now it may be cold on the east coast
But on the other side of town it never rains
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
Now it may be cold on the east coast
But on the other side of town it never rains
Now it may be cold on the east coast
But on the other side of town it never rains
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
It never rains in southern California
Raphael Saadiq's song "It Never Rains" is a love song about two people who haven't seen each other in a year and are looking forward to reuniting in Southern California. The song describes the excitement and anticipation of the singer as he plans to fly out to be with his love interest. The lyrics also imply that Southern California is an ideal location because it never rains there, which may symbolize the idea of a perfect location for love and happiness.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing and passion for the person he loves, which is emphasized by his desire to be alone with her. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to go to great lengths to be with the person he loves, even planning a week-long trip for the two of them. The repetition of the phrase, "It never rains in Southern California," adds to the romantic tone of the song by creating a sense of eternal sunshine and bliss, which the singer hopes to share with his love interest.
Overall, "It Never Rains" is a sweet love song that highlights the feelings of longing, passion, and excitement for a reunion with someone special in a location that represents the epitome of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I haven't seen your face in a year
It's been a year since I've seen you in person
I can't wait till I get there
I'm excited to see you again
Just to kiss and squeeze and hug
I want to show you physical affection
Girl you know the rest 'cause they tell me
I'll leave the other details to your imagination
It never rains in southern California
The weather is always good in southern California
Maybe I'll take the flight out tonight
I'm considering flying to see you tonight
And you can pick me up about 8
Can you pick me up from the airport at 8 PM?
I don't know what airline girl
I haven't decided on which airline to take yet
But I know it won't be late 'cause they tell me
I'm confident it won't be delayed, as I've heard good things about the airline
Now I can't sleep at night
I can't sleep well without you by my side
Without your 8 x 10 by my side
I need your picture next to me to feel comfortable
That day will come
We will be together again soon
For us to be together
We will have a chance to be together
I'm not worried 'bout a thing
I'm not concerned about anything
Not even stormy weather
Not even bad weather can stop us from being together
Oh it may be cold on the east coast
The east coast may be experiencing cold weather
But on the other side of town it never rains
In a different part of the country, the weather is still good
We have so much to talk about
We have a lot of catching up to do
A lot of catchin' up to do
We need to update each other on our lives
I'll bring the diamond girl
I'll bring jewelry as a gift
Because I'm so into you
I'm deeply in love with you
Now since I'll be here at your place
Since I'll be at your home
Lets take a weeks trip for two
Let's go on a week-long trip together
We don't have to go to far
We don't have to travel very far
Just as long as I'm with you
As long as we're together, I'm happy
Can we just be alone
Can we spend time together without any interruptions
Without those other strangers
Without any other people around
Calling your phone
Without constant interruptions from your phone
Now I don't want to be
I don't want to come across as
That selfish kind of guy
I don't want to be a selfish partner
But tonight let me take you
But tonight, let me treat you
On a natural high
To a fun and exciting experience
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLEMON TIMOTHY JR. RILEY, RAPHAEL SAADIQ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@riquefranklinjr9158
❤2023 and still rockin real music like this... People sleeping on real R&B it doesn't exist like this anymore. Glad I grew up during this era...
@dwightlove3704
This is a personal favorite of mine
@anandabliss9997
This was the era of real music, I was a little kid but I had an ear for 🔥. These songs that made you yearn for true everlasting love not just sex.
@anandabliss9997
It was such a good era I could cry reminiscing about the old times when this kinda music was like the soundtrack to my life.
@alyssasmith8385
Riiight
@theresabuck8773
Toni Toni nevery Raine's in cali I was 14 I'm 57..]now don't take weather for grantedWe gone have bad fall and Winter
@merliee2226
The instrumental of the song, the rhythm, everything. An absolute masterpiece.😍
@leelee185
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
@trapaneseplug1478
on my way to so cal rn just vibe
@anandabliss9997
📠