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.
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Oh Girl
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You knew I needed help
Now many girls consume my time
And all of this hurts my life
And there you were
Oh girl (oh girl)
Oh girl (oh girl)
You changed my world
Oh girl (and...oh girl)
I promise I won't let you down
I'll make (Imma make you so proud)you proud
I promise I won't let you down
I'm gonna make you so proud
I'll keep you heart next to mine
And I'll be everything you need
Believe me girl
Oh girl (oh girl)
Oh girl (oh girl)
Oh girl (oh girl...oh girl)
You changed my world
Oh girl (and...oh girl)
You changed my world
You changed my world
And...love you girl
Oh how can I repay you
You changed my world
You changed my world
The lyrics to Raphael Saadiq's song, "Oh Girl," express gratitude to a girl who saved the singer from himself and helped him to get his life together. The singer acknowledges that he needed help and that the girl was the one who provided it. He goes on to say that despite the fact that he now spends time with many other girls, he recognizes that this is hurting his life and that he is still grateful to the girl who helped him when he needed it most.
The repetition of the phrase "Oh girl" throughout the song emphasizes the importance of the girl to the singer. He acknowledges how much she has changed his world and promises not to let her down. He also tells her that he will make her proud and keep her heart next to his. Through these lyrics, the singer is expressing a deep sense of gratitude and connection to this girl, who has had a profound impact on his life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Oh Girl" are a tribute to the transformative power of love and the importance of the people who support us when we need it most.
Line by Line Meaning
You know you saved me from myself
You understood that I was going down a self-destructive path and you intervened to save me.
You knew I needed help
You recognized that I needed assistance to better my situation.
Now many girls consume my time
Now that I am successful, I have the attention of many women.
And all of this hurts my life
Despite having numerous relationships, I feel that something is missing in my life and that I am hurting inside.
And there you were
During my darkest time, you were there to provide support and understanding.
Oh girl (oh girl)
I cannot help but have a deep respect and admiration for you, oh girl.
You changed my world
Through your assistance and guidance, you were able to completely transform my life for the better.
I promise I won't let you down
I am committed to making sure that I do not let you down or disappoint you in any way.
I'll make (Imma make you so proud)you proud
I promise to fulfill my potential and accomplish great things so that you may feel proud of my achievements.
I'll keep you heart next to mine
You have a special place in my heart and I will always cherish the bond that we share.
And I'll be everything you need
I promise to always be there for you and to provide whatever support or assistance you require.
Believe me girl
I hope you know that my words are genuine and that you can trust in my promises.
And...love you girl
I have deep feelings of love and appreciation for you, oh girl.
Oh how can I repay you
I am overwhelmed with gratitude and desire to repay you for all that you have done for me.
You changed my world
Once again, I cannot emphasize enough how much your kindness and assistance have meant to me and how they truly transformed my life.
You changed my world
As previously mentioned, you completely altered the course of my life through your guidance and support.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RAPHAEL SAADIQ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind