Career
When she was 15, Ama was singing to herself on a platform at Hammersmith tube station, and was overheard by Kwame Kwaten, a producer at the FreakStreet record label.[1] In 1995, an unknown independent label released a single titled "Celebrate", which was a ballad produced by D'Influence. Although the single was not a commercial success, it did draw attention to Shola Ama as an artist. On her 16th birthday, she signed a recording contract with WEA.
The single "You're the One I Love" was Ama's first single release for WEA in 1996; it barely made an impact on the charts, only managing to reach No. 85. Her second WEA single, "You Might Need Somebody", remains her biggest hit. This Turley Richards cover reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart[2] in April 1997. It remained in the top 40 for almost two months, becoming one of 1997's biggest hits. A re-release of "You're the One I Love" followed in August 1997 and reached No. 3.[2] Her third single "Who's Loving My Baby" was released in November 1997 and reached No. 13.[2] At the age of 18, Shola Ama released her debut album Much Love (1997).
In May 1997, Ama performed her single "You Might Need Somebody" at Wembley Stadium as part of the build-up to the rugby league Challenge Cup Final.
On the success of the album, Ama won a Brit Award for Best British Female and two MOBO Awards for Best Newcomer and Best R&B Act.[3]
In 1999, Ama released her second album In Return. The project saw her working with the record producers Fred Jerkins III, Stargate, Shaun Labelle, Full Crew, D-Influence Productions and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (formerly of A Tribe Called Quest). Co-writers included Angie Stone and Babyface with David Foster.
Despite having support from her record label, In Return was a commercial flop. Following this, Ama took a break from recording.[4][5]
In 2002, Ama went back into the recording studio to record her third album, Supersonic. Unable to obtain a major label deal, she instead formed a distribution deal with Pony Canyon.
In 2004, Ama featured on the track "You Should Really Know" by the Pirates, a response in song to Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know" which reached No. 8 on the UK chart.
Ama also mentored her sister Sadie Ama, who signed her own recording contract and released "So Sure" (2004) and "Fallin" (2007).
Ama featured as vocalist on the Perempay & Dee single "DJ Play". The song was released in October 2009 and received heavy rotation on the radio.[6] She also featured on one of rapper Giggs' songs, "Cut Above the Rest", and later featured on the bonus disc to his album, Let Em Ave It, on a song called "Blow Em Away".
In February 2010, Ama joined a new collective group formed by Wiley called A-List, alongside her sister Sadie Ama and grime musicians Roll Deep, Mz. Bratt, Wrigley, Margs, Young Kye and Kivanc.[7]
In 2013, Ama narrated on the show My Crazy Jamaican Life.
In October 2015, Ama released a new 8-track EP featuring new reggae influenced tracks titled Surreal on Necessary Mayhem Records, 13 years after her last album Supersonic in 2002.
In April 2016, she featured on the album System Killer by Frisco on the song "Rocket"
Summer Love
Shola Ama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh from the moment the sun comes out
You are on my mind
(Oh summer love, summer love)
I tried to forget
But nothing comes of this
Every time I close my eyes
I can still feel your kiss
But then you creep back on
People make it seem
Loving you is a sin
(You say)
That its all gone
(Saying it's all gone)
(But baby)
You are wrong
(Baby. you are wrong)
(This love)
Is way too strong
(Love is way too strong)
Can't let you go
My summer love, oh
Summer love, oh
Summer love, oh
Summer love, oh
And maybe they are right
I'm a fool for giving in
But I miss you, baby
When you're not here
(When you're not here)
I trusted you cause you made me
And I thought when I feel (Coin yeah)
You'd save me, baby
(*Repeat)
(*Repeat 2 times with ad lib)
Break it
Break it down
Break it down, coin
They say that you're no good
But you're my summer love. you are
(You say) That it's all gone
(Saying it's all gone)
(But baby)
How wrong you are
(Baby, you are wrong)
(This love)
Is way too strong
(Love is way too strong)
And now I can't let you go
(** Repeat to end with following)
Ooh summer love, summer love
Summer lover, summer lover
Baby, baby, don't want to say goodbye
Baby, stay by my side, baby
Take me and hold me
Take me, baby, take me, baby Ooh my love, my love
Shola Ama’s Summer Love is a song that captures the feelings of longing and yearning for a past relationship. The lyrics depict the singer's emotional struggle to forget her summer love, as she recounts how the special moments they shared together still linger in her mind. While there are moments when she tries to push the thought of him out of her mind, every time she closes her eyes, she can still feel his kiss on her lips. The song expresses how difficult it is to let go of the strong emotions and affection that once bound them together.
The singer acknowledges the criticisms from friends and family about her choice of summer love, yet she still refuses to give up on the relationship. She understands that the romance might not have been the best decision, but she misses him deeply when he is not around. She has trusted him before, given herself to him, and hoped he would be there for her, but it seems the summer love is now gone. Though she knows loving him might be considered a sin, the love she feels is too strong to let go, and the thought of forgetting him leaves her feeling incomplete.
In conclusion, Shola Ama’s Summer Love is a beautifully crafted ballad that explores the depths of heartbreak and love. It captures the emotional struggle of forgetting a loved one while showcasing the consequences of giving in to one's feelings. It’s a song of hope and regret, a song that resonates with anyone who has loved and lost and is trying hard to move on but finding it difficult to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh from the moment the sun comes out
I think about you all the time when the sun is out
You are on my mind
You occupy my thoughts constantly
(Oh summer love, summer love)
Addressing the person who is the subject of the song, calling them 'summer love'
I tried to forget
I attempted to erase thoughts of you from my mind
But nothing comes of this
My attempts to forget you have been unsuccessful
Every time I close my eyes
When I am not actively thinking, thoughts of you still come to me
I can still feel your kiss
The memory of your embrace is still vivid in my mind
I push you from my mind
I try to banish thoughts of you
But then you creep back on
Despite my efforts, I cannot escape thoughts of you
People make it seem
Others present the idea
Loving you is a sin
They state that it is morally wrong to have feelings for you
(You say)
Addressing the person and quoting them
That its all gone
You imply that our love is over
(Saying it's all gone)
Reiterating what was said before
(But baby)
Expressing that you disagree with their assertion
You are wrong
You are mistaken
(Love is way too strong)
Love is too powerful to just disappear
Can't let you go
I am unable to move on from you
My summer love, oh
Addressing the person again, calling them 'my summer love'
And maybe they are right
Admitting that others may be correct in their opinion
I'm a fool for giving in
I acted foolishly by falling for you
But I miss you, baby
Expressing how much I miss you
When you're not here
You are sorely missed in your absence
(When you're not here)
Repeating the previous line
I trusted you cause you made me
I had faith in you because of what you did for me
And I thought when I feel (Coin yeah)
I believed that you would be there for me when I needed you
You'd save me, baby
I thought you would come to my rescue
Break it
Introduction to a new section of the song
Break it down
Invitation to 'break it down', i.e. get the party started
Break it down, coin
Coin can be interpreted as a nickname for someone; therefore, an invitation for them to join in the fun
They say that you're no good
Others criticize you
But you're my summer love. you are
Reaffirming affection for 'summer love'
(This love)
Referring to the love between the two people
Is way too strong
Love is incredibly powerful
(** Repeat to end with following)
Signaling the end of the song, and repetition of previous lines
Ooh summer love, summer love
Final declaration of affection for 'summer love'
Summer lover, summer lover
Acknowledging that the other person is a lover of summer, like myself
Baby, baby, don't want to say goodbye
Expressing a desire to not break up
Baby, stay by my side, baby
Pleading for the other person to stick around
Take me and hold me
Invitation to be held by the other person
Take me, baby, take me, baby Ooh my love, my love
Repeated invitation to be held, and expression of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDWARD JAMES BADEN-POWELL, KWAME AMANKWA KWATEN, SARAH ANNE WEBB, SHOLA AMA, STEVE MARSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nella
Love this song♡