Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey. Her early musical experience was in gospel music. She also studied trombone, tuba and steel drums and graduated from Dwight Morrow High School. In college at Rutgers University, she studied opera and jazz.
She met the Manhattans and began working as their opening act. She even recorded a duet with them, "Where Did We Go Wrong." her hard work earned her a record deal with Columbia Records.
In 1987, she released her album All By Myself which featured the hit single "Show Me The Way" which reached #2 on the R&B charts. In 1989, Belle released her sophomore album, "Stay With Me". Going gold, the album was packed with several strong and catchy songs. "Baby Come To Me", the album's first single, topped the R&B charts at # 1 and was followed by "What Goes Around" which reached #3. The album featured two additional popular singles, "This Is Love" which reached #7 and "Make It Like It Was" which was another #1 single on the R&B charts and #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Belle recorded a duet in 1991 with singing superstar Johnny Mathis, "Better Together" which appeared on his album Better Together: The Duet Album. Continuing her success with duets, Belle teamed up with Peabo Bryson for the song "A Whole New World" from the Aladdin Soundtrack. The song went gold and won the Grammy Award in 1993 for "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Unfortunately, the duet did not catapult Regina into Pop superstardom as Peabo's duet with Celine Dion, "Beauty and the Beast" did.
During the same year, Belle released her third album, "Passion". Going Gold, the album featured the previously mentioned "A Whole New World", "Dream In Colour and "If I Could" which reached #9 on the R&B charts. Both did well on the A/C chart. A fouth single, "The Deeper I Love" was released but it did not chart.
After a five year hiatus without any original content released, Belle put out the album "Believe in Me" in 1998. If was much more of a commercial Urban contemporary album than any of her other albums. Although the album had two hit singles, the lead single being "I've Had Enough" (it was also remixed into a sizable dance music hit), the album didn't met MCA Records sales goal. She was droped by MCA Record in 1999. In 2001, she released the album "This Is Regina!" which featured the sensual hit single, "Ooh Boy". Another single was not lifted from the album. "This Is Regina!" went Gold.
Belle is still active in the music industry and in 2004, released the album, "Lazy Afternoon". In 2005, she had several successful concerts and apprances singing both new songs and older favourites. Regina Belle is not a well known figure by the Caucasion music audiences but should be since she is one of the highest quality Adult Contemporary/Pop singer to arise in recent times.
in 2008, Belle released her first Gospel album, "Love Forever Shines" on Pendulum Records. The album peaked at #115 on the Billboard 200, #15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 Top Gospel Albums chart. The albums' single, "God Is Good" became a hit, peaking at #34 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #36 Hot Adult R&B Airplay and #2 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart. She continues to tour. She also also become a regular on the Gopsel music circuit since then.
If I Ruled The World
Regina Belle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every day would be
The first day of Spring
Every heart would have
A new song to sing
And we'd sing of the joy
Every morning would bring
Every man would be
As free as a bird
Every voice would be
A voice to be heard
Take my word
We would treasure each day
That occurred
My world would be
A beautiful place
Where we would weave
Such a wonderful dream
My world would wear
A smile on its face
Like the man in the moon
When the moon beams
If I ruled the world
Every man would say
The world was his friend
There'd be happiness
That no man could end
No my friend
Not if I ruled the world
Every head
Would be held up high
There'd be sunshine
In everyone's sky
If day ever dawned
When I ruled the world
If I ruled the world
Regina Belle's song "If I Ruled The World," is a song that speaks to the collective desire of humanity for a world that is peaceful and free. The song opens with the hope that every day would be like the first day of Spring, a metaphor for a world that is filled with new beginnings and hope. The lyrics then move on to explain how every heart would have a new song to sing, a sense of joy that would be present every morning.
The chorus of the song speaks of a world where every man would be free as a bird and where every voice would be heard. It is a world where every day is treasured and celebrated, a beautiful place where people weave wonderful dreams. In this world, there is always a smile on its face, just like the man in the moon when it beams.
The final verse explains that every man would say that the world is his friend, and no man could end happiness. The world would be a place where every head would be held up high, and there would be sunshine in everyone's sky. The song is a beautiful depiction of the world we all desire, a world that is peaceful, harmonious, and free.
Line by Line Meaning
If I ruled the world
Expressing the thought of assuming an omnipotent position in the world
Every day would be the first day of Spring
Portraying an utopian world devoid of winters and seasonal limitations
Every heart would have a new song to sing
Emphasizing the power of love and positivism in shaping a peaceful world
And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring
Promoting the idea of cherishing life's simple pleasures like a new sun-kissed day
Every man would be as free as a bird
Envisioning a world where every individual would be entitled to equal freedom and liberties
Every voice would be a voice to be heard
Advocating for the amplification of voices and opinions of every person to foster a democratic society
Take my word, we would treasure each day that occurred
Asserting the importance of living in the present moment and appreciating life's daily gifts
My world would be a beautiful place
Imagining a perfect and aesthetically pleasing world for everyone
Where we would weave such a wonderful dream
Visualizing the possibility of crafting profound dreams and aspirations in a world full of opportunities
My world would wear a smile on its face
Evoking a sense of happiness, optimism, and positivity in the imagined world
Like the man in the moon when the moon beams
Comparing the radiating glow of the moon to the joyous and gleaming world in mind
Every man would say the world was his friend
Creating a sense of brotherhood and unity among men
There'd be happiness that no man could end
Assuming an ideal world where nothing could ever take away happiness and harmony from people
No my friend, not if I ruled the world
Acknowledging the challenges and limitations of having limitless power and control over the world
Every head would be held up high
Encouraging self-esteem, dignity, and a sense of pride in the people of the world
There'd be sunshine in everyone's sky
Describing the joy and brightness that would surround everyone in the envisioned world
If day ever dawned when I ruled the world
Reflecting upon the possibility and unlikelihood of such a utopian world
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CYRIL ORNADEL, LESLIE BRICUSSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind