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
You're The One That I Like
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I put it down for a place called Queens)
You know I represent the 213
(I hold it down for the big city)
I keep it gangsta for all my young G's
(All the P Y T's with their own car keys)
I put it down for all the ladies
It's all about you
I tried to look the other way
The day you passed me by
I saw you holding Q Tip's hand
And girl **** near died
They way you hold that cosmo
Just fits you to a tee
But I just wish that you were sitting
Right next to me
I wonder what was on God's mind
The day that He made you
I know He wrote a new commandment
After He was through
But every time I see you
I find something new
But I just gotta have you
I really want you
I just gotta have you
I really want you
I just gotta have you
Me and nephew snoop was eating
At the serving spoon
And my partner skin it back
Was sitting with us too
And all of a sudden
Your body was in sight
I couldn't finish breakfast
Now something just ain't right
Now Snoop is looking like
What the **** is wrong with you?
I said, "I know you understand"
You've been through a few
But this one was special, special to me
Is it my imagination killing me
I really want you
I just gotta have you
You, I ever want is you
I just gotta have you
All I really want is you
I just can't fake it no more
I can't take it no more
I need you in my life for sure
My wife for sure
No turning back on ya
It's on and crackin'
Pure satisfaction
Girl that's what's happenin'
I appropriate game
You know my name
Abstract hits
And the bag top splits
My man need a lady
No matter the kind
A diamond shinning like you
You know is hard to find
Time brings change
And change brings time
My nephew want you
'Cause you so fine
A woman choose a man
It's a real motee
Make a choice 'cause me and Ray
We never have beef
Me and Snoop we go hard
Real macaroni's
Why you think that we want
To have this ceramony. Snoop Dog
It's something special bout you baby boo
I need to know right here right now
What you really wanna do
I really want you I just gotta have you I really want you I just gotta have you
I really want you I just gotta have you I really want you I just gotta have you
The song "You're The One That I Like" by Raphael Saadiq is a smooth and soulful R&B track that expresses the singer's desire for a woman he can't seem to get out of his head. The song starts off with Saadiq representing his hometowns of the Long Beach and Queens, and he holds it down for his city. The song then transitions into Saadiq expressing his love for all the ladies and how it's all about them.
The next verse of the song goes into Saadiq's encounter with a woman who caught his eye. He mentions how he saw her holding Q-Tip's hand and nearly died because he wished it was him who was next to her. Saadiq then expresses his wonder at what God was thinking when he made her and how every time he sees her, he discovers something new about her. The chorus repeats Saadiq's desire to have her and how he just wants her.
The third verse goes into Saadiq's experience seeing this woman again while he was out eating with his friends. He couldn't finish his breakfast because he was so infatuated with her presence. His friends noticed and asked him what was wrong, and he explained how this woman was special to him. The song then transitions back into the chorus, repeating Saadiq's desire for her.
Overall, the song's smooth and soulful R&B beat with Saadiq's passionate voice and lyrics make it a classic love song that expresses one's desire for someone they can't have.
Line by Line Meaning
I put it down for the LBC
I represent the city of Long Beach and put it on the map
You know I represent the 213
I hold it down for Los Angeles
I keep it gangsta for all my young G's
I stay true to the hip hop culture and appeal to the young generation
I put it down for all the ladies
I create music for women and celebrate their beauty and power
It's all about you
My music is dedicated to you and your experiences
I tried to look the other way
I avoided looking at you because I was afraid of my feelings
The day you passed me by
The day I saw you walking by me
I saw you holding Q Tip's hand
I noticed you were with another man
And girl **** near died
It hurt me to see you with someone else
They way you hold that cosmo
The way you hold that cocktail is perfect for you
Just fits you to a tee
It suits you perfectly
But I just wish that you were sitting
I wish you were sitting next to me instead of him
Right next to me
Close to me, where I can feel your energy
I wonder what was on God's mind
I am curious about how you came to exist
The day that He made you
The day you were created
I know He wrote a new commandment
I am convinced God created a new rule because of you
After He was through
When He was done creating you
But every time I see you
Whenever I catch a glimpse of you
I find something new
I discover new things about you, whether physical or emotional
But I just gotta have you
I cannot resist my attraction to you
Me and nephew snoop was eating
Snoop and I were having breakfast together
At the serving spoon
A nearby restaurant where we went to eat
And my partner skin it back
My friend, who goes by the name of Skin it Back
Was sitting with us too
He was also eating with us
And all of a sudden
Suddenly, out of nowhere
Your body was in sight
I saw you walking nearby
I couldn't finish breakfast
I lost my appetite and could not finish my meal
Now something just ain't right
This situation is not normal or natural
Now Snoop is looking like
Snoop is staring at me, probably wondering what's wrong
What the **** is wrong with you?
What's bothering you? Why are you acting weird?
I said, "I know you understand"
I told him that he would know how I feel because he's been through the same thing
You've been through a few
Snoop has had his fair share of heartbreak and unrequited love
But this one was special, special to me
This experience is unique and more intense for me than any other
Is it my imagination killing me
Am I just imagining things or is this real?
You, I ever want is you
All I want is you
All I really want is you
You are the only thing I truly desire
I just can't fake it no more
I can no longer pretend that I don't have feelings for you
I can't take it no more
I am at the end of my rope
I need you in my life for sure
I know I need you in my life to be happy
My wife for sure
I want to be with you and make you my wife
No turning back on ya
I am fully committed to you and won't give up
It's on and crackin'
Our relationship is happening and progressing
Pure satisfaction
Being with you is pure joy and fulfillment
Girl that's what's happenin'
This is the real deal and we are making it happen
I appropriate game
I am good at what I do
You know my name
I have made a name for myself in the music industry
Abstract hits
My music has a unique style and appeals to a wide audience
And the bag top splits
I am successful and make a lot of money from my music
My man need a lady
As a man, I need a woman in my life
No matter the kind
I am open to any kind of woman, as long as she is the right one for me
A diamond shinning like you
You are rare, unique, and precious like a diamond
You know is hard to find
Women like you are rare and hard to come by
Time brings change
Things change over time
And change brings time
As things change, time goes by
My nephew want you
My nephew is also interested in you
'Cause you so fine
You are attractive and beautiful
A woman choose a man
Ultimately, it's up to you to choose who you want to be with
It's a real motee
It's a serious decision
Make a choice 'cause me and Ray
You have to choose between me and Ray, whoever that is
We never have beef
Ray and I don't have any conflicts or arguments over you
Me and Snoop we go hard
Snoop and I are determined to win your heart
Real macaroni's
We are the real deal and can provide for you
Why you think that we want
Do you really wonder why we are interested in you?
To have this ceramony. Snoop Dog
We want to be with you and maybe even marry you one day
It's something special bout you baby boo
You are unique and special to me
I need to know right here right now
I want to know how you feel about me immediately
What you really wanna do
Do you want to be with me or not?
I really want you I just gotta have you
I desire you deeply and cannot resist my feelings for you
I really want you I just gotta have you
I want you badly and cannot live without you
I really want you I just gotta have you
You are the one I truly desire and need in my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALVIE WIGGINS, GLENN DON II STANDRIDGE, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, ROBERT C. JR. OZUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind