Renee developed a great love for music at an early age and honed her voice by singing
along with the radio. Before long she was entering talent contests and appearing in
local musical productions. Her aspirations for stardom were documented on video and
became the subject of two E! television documentaries,
"The Making of a Child Star" and "The Journey Continues".
In 1995, Renee appeared in her first commercial, the award winning ad for Levi Jeans.
In 1998 she did a Segento Cheese commercial.
She made her first foray in TV in 1995 in "Streets Of Laredo".
In 1998, Renee appeared in the episode "Doodlebug" in "Touch By An Angel".
In 1999, she was seen in two shows, "Chicken Soup For The Soul" and "Providence".
In 1999, Renee’s first major motion picture roles were "The Insider",
starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, and "End Of Days" with
Arnold Schwarzenegger. And, in 2000, she appeared in "Space Cowboys".
In 2002, she had her first major role in the CBS comedy "Still Standing", a four year run.
But, by 2002, Renee’s second career, her singing career, began to take shape.
After she saw the movie "Pleasantville", she fell in love with Etta James’s "At Last",
which began a love affair with the music of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald,
Anita O’Day and the Great American Songbook.
Then Renee was able to perform with Eddie Reed’s Swing Band playing LA area clubs.
In September 2002, she released "By Request" to commemorate her club performances.
"At Last" being one of the tracks.
Renee gained the attention of Grammy Award winning producer David Foster
and subsequently signed a contract with the Warner Records label.
In 2003, 13 year old Renee performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival singing
"At Last" to an amazed jazz audience, who gave Renee a standing ovation.
Bill Cosby, whose jazz band backed Renee quipped that “she’s only 13
and knows only one song”.
Finally, in May 2004, all elements of Renee’s career came together.
On the "Still Standing" final episode, of the second season, she performed "Summertime",
in a dream sequence, the first track on her self-titled CD "Renee Olstead",
produced by David Foster, released that month.
The release started Renee on a whirlwind promotional tour starting with
the "Today Show" and "Jazz At Lincoln Center Spring Gala" in NYC.
Montreux Jazz Festival, as part of a European tour, David Letterman and
finally Oprah ended a busy 2004. Renee’s CD was #5 on the
Billboard Jazz Chart, for 2004, after many rave reviews.
In 2004, Renee recorded two songs for movie soundtracks.
She recorded "Merry Christmas In Love" for the Italian movie "Christmas In Love"
and "A Love That Will Last", a track on her CD, was used in "Princess Diary 2".
Also, in the summer of 2004, Renee’s next film "13 Going On 30" was released.
During and after the end of the "Still Standing" run, in the Spring of 2006,
Renee continued to perform her music around the world.
She performed in numerous charity events in the US.
Renee again toured Europe, this time with B.B. King, performed in Live 8,
in Berlin, and with Chris Botti and at the "Unite The Stars" charity event,
in South Africa.
Performance highlights include the "28th Gift Of Life Celebration" hosted
by George Lopez, with Renee performing "Midnight Man" with David Foster,
in 2007. The Java Jazz Festival, in 2008, "My Baby Just Cares For Me",
where Renee received the International Jazz Talent Award, and the "Hit Man:
David Foster And Friends" tribute to David Foster with Renee performing Through The Fire, in 2008.
In 2008, she recorded her third movie soundtrack with "Ain’t we Got Fun"
for the movie "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl".
TV came back in the picture, in 2008, as Renee was cast in the series
"The Secret Life Of The American Teenager" as Madison.
In the final episode, of the second season, again her two careers came together,
as Madison sang "Fly Me To The Moon" and
"Someone To Watch Over Me" at a wedding reception.
In 2009, Renee’s long awaited CD "Skylark", again produced by David Foster,
was released, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Jazz Chart.
Discography:
2000: Stone Country
2000: Unleashed
2002: By Request
2004: Renee Olstead
2009: Skylark
Official Web Site: www.ReneeOlstead.com
Official Fan Site: www.ReneeOlstead.info
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
Renee Olstead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Any time we have a date
But I love him
Yes I love him
So I'm gonna walk up to his gate
See if I can get it straight
Cause I want him
I'll just ask him
Is you is or is you ain't my baby
Well, the way you're acting lately, well it makes me doubt
You were still my baby, baby
But it seems like my flame in your heart, well it's just gone out
A man is a creature
That has always been strange
Just when you're sure of one
You'll find that he's gone and made a change
Is you is or is you ain't my baby
Well, maybye my baby found somebody new
Or is my baby still my baby too
The lyrics of Renee Olstead's "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" tells a story of a woman who is in love with a man who always shows up for their dates late. Despite this, she still loves him and wants to clarify their relationship status by asking him a straightforward question: is he still her baby or not? The song speaks to the doubts and uncertainties that often come with relationships, especially when there are inconsistencies or changes in behavior. The woman in the song is hoping to receive affirmation from her man that he still loves her, but she is also prepared to accept the possibility that he has found someone new.
The lyrics are composed in a conversational style, and the verses are filled with rhyming couplets that add to the playful nature of the tone. The theme of a woman seeking clarification about the status of her relationship with a man is a timeless one, which is why the song has resonated with audiences over the decades. The song speaks to the universal human desire to know where we stand in our relationships, and the fear and anticipation that come with asking those challenging questions.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I got a man that's always late
I have a man who always shows up late to our dates.
Any time we have a date
No matter when we plan to meet up, he's never on time.
But I love him
Despite his tardiness, I have deep feelings for him.
Yes, I love him
I have clarified that, regardless of his unpunctuality, I really do care for him.
So I'm gonna walk up to his gate
I intend to go to his home and confront him in person.
See if I can get it straight
I hope to sort out our relationship and clear up any confusion.
Cause I want him
I desire to be with him despite the challenges.
Yeah I can't help it
My emotions and attraction for him are too strong to ignore.
I'll just ask him
My plan is to straightforwardly inquire about his feelings.
Is you is or is you ain't my baby
I need to confirm whether or not you still want to be with me.
Well, the way you're acting lately, well it makes me doubt
Your recent behavior has made me question the status of our relationship.
You were still my baby, baby
I want to believe that we are still together and you still love me.
But it seems like my flame in your heart, well it's just gone out
But it appears that your love for me has faded away.
A man is a creature
Men, as humans, are complicated and confusing creatures.
That has always been strange
They have always had odd and perplexing behaviors.
Just when you're sure of one
Just when you think you understand one man's behavior...
You'll find that he's gone and made a change
...he will inevitably surprise you and behave differently.
Well, maybe my baby found somebody new
It is possible that you have found someone else.
Or is my baby still my baby too
But I want to know if we still have a chance together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Austin, Louis Jordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind