R&B's best kept secret is finally out. Another chapter in Syleena Johnson's book has been written. This time, it is more than recording an album. After amicably leaving an eight-year record deal with Jive Records in 2006, Syleena has launched her own label, Aneelys Records (Syleena spelled backwards). This opportunity comes by way of a label deal with Federal/Universal Music Group.
Syleena previously worked with countless artists and producers such as R. Kelly, Bob Power, Kay Gee, Busta Rhymes, Cam' Ron, Common, Jermaine Dupri, and Twista. Kanye West blessed her with his production on "Bulls-Eye (Suddenly)," from Chapter 3: The Flesh. Syleena proved to be Kayne's saving grace as she provided last minute vocals on the hit, "All Falls Down," which led to a Grammy nomination for both artists.
Artists often fall by the wayside and are rarely heard after leaving a major record label. But, Syleena didn't allow her split with Jive Records to rip out any pages from her next chapter. She simply took matters into her own hands and decided to go the independent route. With her label, Syleena will finally see the benefits of all her hard work, whether it be working on a personal project or signing other acts. She will finally have the creative control and power to see things through and plan out her career as she sees fit.
With this control, Syleena will give birth to her newest release, Chapter 4: Labor Pains, due January 13, 2009. Along with running her own label and being an artist, Syleena has also become a wife and mother within the past year. "My husband is an excellent man, I couldn't ask for a better one and my son is my best work yet," Syleena says. Naturally, this experience lent a hand in Syleena writing Chapter 4: Labor Pains, as she describes the pain of having a baby as the worst pain in life, but rewarding in the end. Syleena shadows her life on the principle that you reap what you sow "Nothing good comes easy. All the struggle, strife, work and pain we go through, that's the price you have to pay to reap the benefits in the end," Syleena expresses.
As always, Syleena speaks on behalf of a woman's struggles. But, she leads off on a lighter note with her first single from, Chapter 4: Labor Pains, "It Is True." She sings a heavenly love ballad about new found, true love with her husband and the product of that love. "It is everything I felt about my husband when we first met, and now the love of my son follows suit," Syleena swoons. There's no denying that Syleena is passionately in love as she angelically sings "over and over again, in my dreams and in my head, I'm imagining you all in my future, us continuing through 'til we get older, and I swear that I've never met, a boy like you, a true soldier, my knight in shining armor, you saved me boy, you bring me joy and that's how I know it's true."
The buzz continues and the drama unfolds in Chapter 4: Labor Pains, as Syleena displays her songwriting and storytelling skills in "Shoo Fly," an alternative tale of baby mama drama. The story comes from the point of view of a woman with a man who has a baby mama and what that woman goes through when the baby mama wants him back all the while using the child as leverage. In the chorus Syleena sings, "so shoo fly he's mine, for the last time, don't make me say it no more, damn girl to move on, be gone, so long, get gone." This is a different angle giving the woman's perspective on baby mama drama. Other notable tracks on Chapter 4: Labor Pains are "Labor Pains," the title track which is dedicated to women and sisterhood, "My First," a grown and sexy song about a man who is the first to actually give good love and affection, and "Personal Trainer," a song about the mental stimulus of physical attraction.
While dealing with real issues, Syleena never strays away from God in her music. This signature approach is what makes her unique as she shows how God applies to every aspect of life. She tells the passionate, hard truth with a voice and spirit which has been anointed by God and speaks directly to the mind and spirit of women. "I always come from a spiritual view as a Christian woman in the real world, the here and now, the issues we as women have to deal with," Syleena testifies.
Chapter 1: Love, Pain, & Forgiveness, was the beginning of how God established a relationship and peace within Syleena. He then gave her the Garden of Eden in Chapter 2: The Voice. But she disobeyed Him and ate the forbidden fruit in Chapter 3: The Flesh. Now Syleena must pay the price, which is Chapter 4: Labor Pains. Biblically, labor pains are a woman's curse, but Syleena takes it all as a blessing. "At the end, I want people to feel uplifted and motivated, that's my goal. Not to just motivate people, but myself in the process," Syleena professes. Be prepared for the experience of Chapter 4: Labor Pains.
Despite releasing four albums, Syleena is more than a singer. She caught the acting bug and showed off her multi-dimensional talent by playing a significant role in Eric Jerome Dickey's Cheater's-The Stage Play in 2005. She also added modeling to her many talents as she modeled for Ashley Stewart after signing with Wilhelmina modeling agency as a plus-size model.
Johnson released her new album, "Chapter 5: Underrated" on September 27, 2011, which features Toxic (the producer behind Keyshia Cole & Monica's "Trust", as well as much of Twista's work number) and a number of other high-profile producers and artists. The albums' lead single titled "A Boss" was released on June 21, 2011.
Still Open
Syleena Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I last saw you in May
That was the month we
Went our separate ways
And every moment since that day
There have been things that I been wanting to say
(Like I) Didn't mean to say those things
(And I) Didn't mean to cause you pain
And I still wanna do that
And if you really
Wanna know
My arms are still open
No matter where we are
And no matter where we go
My arms (For you)
Are still open
I'm dreaming
Of a perfect day
We are together
Can you see us together
And I'm hoping
You might feel the same way
Hope we can start new
'Cause I used to love you
And I miss you
I need you
I'm so hopeless
Here without you
Wanna see you
Wanna touch you
Wanna show you
How much I love you
I understand you
I will swear to you
Here's a girl who
Is there for you
All this love I have inside
Is waiting for you, oh
Oh, these arms, there still open
Ohhhhhhh's
Ahhhhhhhh's
These arms are still open to you
The lyrics to Syleena Johnson's "Still Open" are a plea to a former lover to come back to the singer's life. The song is set in winter, a time when the world around us is often cold and dark, mirroring the singer's feelings of sadness and longing. The song begins with the singer recounting how they parted ways with their lover in May, and since then, they have been wanting to say things to them. They express regret at causing their lover pain and sadness, and just want to make them happy. The singer's arms are still open to the former lover, indicating that they are willing to forgive and forget the past and start anew.
The chorus of the song is a repeated plea to the former lover to come back to the singer's life. They dream of a perfect day where they are together, indicating that they still hold a picture of their relationship in their minds, and they hope that their former partner feels the same way. The singer is hoping for a new beginning, based on the feelings they used to share before they parted ways. They acknowledge how much they miss their former lover and how hopeless they feel without them. They want to hold them and show them the love they still have inside for them. The song's lyrics express a broken heart and a deep longing for the love that has been lost.
Line by Line Meaning
It's winter
The current season is winter
I last saw you in May
The last time I saw you was in May
That was the month we
May was the time
Went our separate ways
We ended our relationship
And every moment since that day
Since then, I've been wanting to say some things to you
There have been things that I been wanting to say
I have things to say to you
(Like I) Didn't mean to say those things
I didn't mean to hurt you with my words
(And I) Didn't mean to cause you pain
I didn't intend to cause you any harm
(Just wanted to make you happy)
All I wanted was to see you happy
And I still wanna do that
My desire to make you happy is still there
And if you really
If you truly
Wanna know
Want to find out
My arms are still open
I'm still willing to welcome you back
No matter where we are
Regardless of our current locations
And no matter where we go
Even if we travel elsewhere
My arms (For you)
I'll embrace you
Are still open
I'm still waiting for you
I'm dreaming
I'm envisioning something idealistic
Of a perfect day
Of a day with no flaws or issues
We are together
You and I are a couple again
Can you see us together
Do you have the same imagination as me?
And I'm hoping
I'm optimistic
You might feel the same way
You might share my sentiment
Hope we can start new
I hope we can start fresh
'Cause I used to love you
I loved you before
And I miss you
You're missed by me
I need you
I need your presence in my life
I'm so hopeless
I feel lost and disheartened
Here without you
I don't feel complete without you here
Wanna see you
I want to gaze upon you
Wanna touch you
I desire to feel your touch
Wanna show you
I'm longing to reveal to you
How much I love you
The amount of my love for you
I understand you
I grasp your perspective
I will swear to you
I will promise you
Here's a girl who
There is a girl who
Is there for you
Will be there for you
All this love I have inside
I have an abundance of affection within me
Is waiting for you, oh
It's all for you, oh
Ohhhhhhh's
Sounds of lamentation
Ahhhhhhhh's
Sounds expressing understanding
These arms are still open to you
I still want you back
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Darren T Henson, Syleena Johnson, Rodney Jones, Keith Isaiah Pelzer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind