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"
Superficial Fantasy
Shola Ama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
superficial fantasy
i found myself floating in a little dream
you were there your eyes they shone like golden streams
i reached out my hand to you
and called your name
then i awoke here alone
i was dreaming again
and baby i just can't believe
that you weren't really there with me
baby it was oh so real
but it was just a dream
and baby i just won't believe that you were never there with me
cause baby it was oh so real
in my dream
in my dream
superficial fantasy
i imagined you were here with me
superficial fantasy
i was drifting in my sleep
sweet memories keep going around and round my head
and i for now am sorry bout the things i said
you were always there when i needed you to pull me through
what was i thinking when i thought of leaving you
and baby i just can't believe that you were really there with me
why didn't you just come to me
come and wake me from my sleep
it don't have to be a dream
it could be reality
baby i just wont believe
that its just a dream
that its just a dream
superficial fantasy
ohhhh i imagined you were here with me
superficial fantasy
i was drifting in my sleep
superficial fantasy
it was just a dream
superficial fantasy
i was drifting in my sleep and boy i hope we can make this dream come true
and boy i know that i'm safe with you
but will we grow to see our dream
because reality
and baby i just can't believe that you weren't really there with me
baby it was oh so real
was it just a dream
and baby i just won't believe that you weren't really there with me
cause baby it was oh so real
in my dream
in my dream
superficial fantasy
superficial fantasy
superficial fantasy
superficial fantasy
it was just a dream
it was real babe so real baby
it was just a dream
it was oh so real it was oh so real
baby i know that you were there with me in my dream
i know that you were there with me in my dream
honey i know that you were there with me in my dream
i know that you were there with me in my dream
baby oooooooohhh
uuummmmm
no i won't believe
i can't believe
can't believe
can't believe
uhhhhhhhmm
The lyrics of Shola Ama's Superficial Fantasy are about a dream that the singer has, where she imagines being with someone she loves. In the dream, she feels the same genuine connection and love that she does in real life. She is completely immersed in the fantasy, and it is as if the dream is real. However, when she wakes up, she realizes that it was just a dream and she is alone. The lyrics suggest that the dream was so powerful that she wants to believe that it was reality. The singer struggles with accepting that it was just a superficial fantasy and that the love she longs for is not currently present in her life.
Furthermore, the song talks about how the singer appreciates the person who was in her dream and how they were there for her when she needed someone the most. She apologizes for any hurtful things she may have said and reflects on the idea of leaving them. The lyrics reveal that the relationship is important to the singer and she hopes that they can make their dream come true in reality. However, she also acknowledges the possibility that the dream may just be a superficial fantasy and that reality may not live up to it.
Overall, the song is a reflection of how we often hold onto our dreams and imagination as a way to escape from reality. It reveals the constant struggle between wanting to believe in something that isn't there and accepting the reality of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
i found myself floating in a little dream
The singer feels like she was transported into a dream world.
you were there your eyes they shone like golden streams
The singer sees her love interest in her dream, their eyes shining like gold.
i reached out my hand to you
The singer tries to reach out to her love interest in the dream.
and called your name
The singer calls the name of her love interest in the dream.
then i awoke here alone
The singer wakes up alone in reality.
i was dreaming again
The singer realizes that she was dreaming.
and baby i just can't believe that you weren't really there with me
The singer is disappointed that the dream is not real.
baby it was oh so real
The singer emphasizes how real the dream felt.
but it was just a dream
The singer accepts that the dream was not real.
and baby i just won't believe that you were never there with me
The singer refuses to believe that her love interest was never there in the dream.
cause baby it was oh so real
The singer emphasizes how real the dream felt.
in my dream
The singer wishes that the fantasy was real.
in my dream
The singer wishes that the fantasy was real.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
i imagined you were here with me
The singer fantasizes about her love interest being with her.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
i was drifting in my sleep
The singer feels like she was drifting in her sleep.
sweet memories keep going around and round my head
The singer is reminiscing about past moments with her love interest.
and i for now am sorry bout the things i said
The singer regrets saying something hurtful to her love interest.
you were always there when i needed you to pull me through
The singer remembers how supportive her love interest has been.
what was i thinking when i thought of leaving you
The singer questions her decision to consider leaving her love interest.
and baby i just can't believe that you were really there with me
The singer wishes that her love interest was actually there with her.
why didn't you just come to me
The singer wishes her love interest would have come to her in the dream.
come and wake me from my sleep
The singer wishes her love interest would have woken her up from the dream.
it don't have to be a dream
The singer wishes that the fantasy could be real.
it could be reality
The singer wants the fantasy to be a reality.
baby i just wont believe
The singer refuses to believe that the fantasy is not real.
that its just a dream
The singer acknowledges that the fantasy is just a dream.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
ohhhh i imagined you were here with me
The singer describes her imagination of her love interest being with her.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
i was drifting in my sleep
The singer feels like she was drifting in her sleep.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
it was just a dream
The singer acknowledges the fantasy as being just a dream.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
i was drifting in my sleep and boy i hope we can make this dream come true
The singer hopes that her fantasy becomes a reality.
and boy i know that i'm safe with you
The singer trusts her love interest.
but will we grow to see our dream
The singer wonders if they will ever realize their fantasy.
because reality
The singer acknowledges that their fantasy is not a reality.
and baby i just can't believe that you weren't really there with me
The singer wishes that her love interest was physically with her.
baby it was oh so real
The singer emphasizes how real the dream felt.
was it just a dream
The singer questions if the fantasy was just a dream.
and baby i just won't believe that you weren't really there with me
The singer refuses to believe that her love interest was not there with her.
cause baby it was oh so real
The singer emphasizes how real the dream felt.
in my dream
The singer wishes that the fantasy was a reality.
in my dream
The singer wishes that the fantasy was a reality.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
superficial fantasy
The idea of a perfect relationship existing only in one's imagination.
it was just a dream
The singer acknowledges that the fantasy was just a dream.
it was real babe so real baby
The singer emphasizes how real the dream felt.
it was just a dream
The singer acknowledges that the fantasy was just a dream.
it was oh so real it was oh so real
The singer emphasizes how real the dream felt.
baby i know that you were there with me in my dream
The singer believes that her love interest was there with her in the dream.
i know that you were there with me in my dream
The singer believes that her love interest was there with her in the dream.
honey i know that you were there with me in my dream
The singer believes that her love interest was there with her in the dream.
i know that you were there with me in my dream
The singer believes that her love interest was there with her in the dream.
baby oooooooohhh
The singer expresses emotions of love.
uuummmmm
The singer is overcome with emotion and can't express herself.
no i won't believe
The singer refuses to believe that her love interest was not there with her.
i can't believe
The singer finds it hard to believe that her love interest was not there with her.
can't believe
The singer struggles with accepting that her love interest was not there with her.
can't believe
The singer struggles with accepting that her love interest was not there with her.
uhhhhhhhmm
The singer is lost in thought about the fantasy and her love interest.
Contributed by Jordyn N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.