Tamar Braxton (pronounced Tay-mahr) (born March 17, 1977) is an American R&… Read Full Bio ↴Tamar Braxton (pronounced Tay-mahr) (born March 17, 1977) is an American R&B singer. She is the youngest sister of Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Toni Braxton and was a singer of the now-defunct R&B group, The Braxtons.

Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland to Michael and Evelyn Braxton. The youngest of the Braxton's six children, Tamar started singing as a toddler. Evelyn, herself an opera singer, recognized her children's talents when one day, Tamar, sang "Can you please get me some toilet paper!" Evelyn quickly started training her girls, and eventually enrolled them in singing lessons. The Braxton children also would eventually enter in their church choir, where Michael Braxton was pastor.

Brought up in a strict Christian household, secular music was initially frowned upon, causing the children to sneak and sing along to Soul Train when the parents were out of the house. They would soon start harmonizing, forming a girl group. Tamar says of this period "I was always the highest note." Her voice was in sharp contrast to her older sister's husky contralto. One day, A Toni was pumping gas at a local gas station while singing along, when she caught the attention of a producer. He heard her sing and was amazed, and decided to pull the five sisters into a group; he envisioned a female version of the Jackson 5. They released a single on Atlantic Records in 1990 as "The Braxtons," and caught the attention of producers Antonio "L.A" Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. The two had just started a then fledgling record label, LaFace, with Arista Records. The guys passed on the group, as they had just signed a new trio named TLC, but they were looking for a solo female artist and loved Toni's voice. So the girls talked it over, and Toni decided to embark on her now famous solo career.

The sisters worked as backup singers for Toni (you can see them in Toni's video Seven Whole Days). Eventually, the girls (minus Toni) would release an album for Atlantic, to which the group was still signed, in 1996 entitled So Many Ways.

In 1999, Tamar first explored her gospel side on T.D Jakes Love Songs album. Later, Tamar would meet up with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, a rapper/producer (also famous for bringing Blu Cantrell to national attention) based in Atlanta, Georgia. She recorded her solo debut album, Ridiculous, so named because of the many different musical styles on the album. The album would be retooled and released by Dreamworks as Tamar on January 18, 2000. It was lead in by the first single for the album, "Get None" with guest appearances by Jermaine Dupri and rapper Amil and featured the second single, If You Don't Wanna Love Me. The singles failed to gain significant radio & video airplay and ultimately the album didn't sell well, and Tamar was dropped from her contract,it is also worth noting that tamar proved that she could do the whistle register on money can't buy you love on tamar's deut album.

Tamar sang for the Kingdom Come soundtrack, with Toni Braxton appearing in the movie as Juanita Slocumb. Currently she sang background for Toni's album More Than A Woman (released 2002),and 2005 album Libra and resides in Atlanta. She also negotiated a new contract with Tommy Mottola's Casablanca Records, and is working to record a new album. She also sang backup in her sister Toni's famous headlining show in Las Vegas entitled, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" but has been replaced by singer Sparkle. She is currently working on a new album and her own record company with fiance, producer Vincent Herbert.

Simple Things
Tamar Braxton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I woke up this morning
I sing that to your face
So I made you some breakfast
Eggs, and some beacon on your plate

'Cause I wanna talk to you before you walk out the door
'Cause I ain't about to walk round here
And watch you stressing no more

Baby think about other times you saved me
Baby let me be here for you
Appreciate all you do
But not to the point of losing you
'Cause you work it, stressing, hustling, guessing
About how you gon' pay all these bills
But I gotta be honest
That I ain't even want here with you
'Cause I'm not everything
I don't want it to tell it to you baby
'Cause I don't really need
All the house, cars, clothes, rings
I don't need nothing else from you
But the simple things
The simple, simple things, baby

You wanna take me to dinner
But look tired as hell
But we might as well stay home
'Cause we can't even enjoy ourselves
You ain't gotta buy me no gifts baby
Not even Channel
'Cause half of these chicks in Channel, baby
Be going up through the hell
Oh baby think about other times you saved me
Baby let me be here for you
Appreciate all you do
But not to the point of losing you
'Cause you work it, stressing, hustling, guessing
About how you gon' pay all these dam bills
But I gotta be honest
That I ain't even want here with you

'Cause I'm not everything
I don't want it to tell it to you baby
'Cause I don't really need
All the house, cars, clothes, rings
I don't need nothing else from you
But the simple things
The simple, simple things, baby

Now don't misunderstand me
I love near me a good man
Who loves to take care of his good woman
But I don't think you need go out here and kill yourself over
No car, no house, no jewelry
Because at the end of the day baby
While you chasing all that, I'm really chasing you
We got lights, we got food, we got a phone, we can talk to each other
Hell we even got FaceTime, I can find where you are
And honestly we don't need none of that
As long as we got each other
'Cause that's all we really need baby
All we really need baby

Oh baby, oh baby
All we really want, is the simple things

Overall Meaning

In Tamar Braxton's song Simple Things, the artist speaks directly to her partner and reminds them of the simple things in life that truly matter. She wakes up in the morning and cooks breakfast for them, wanting to speak to them before they leave and to relieve them of any stress. Tamar tells her partner that she appreciates all they do for her, but that she doesn't want them to work themselves to the point of exhaustion. She emphasizes that she doesn't need material things like cars, houses, and expensive jewelry. Instead, all she wants are the simple things, like spending quality time together and enjoying each other's company.

The song's message is one of gratitude and appreciation for what one has in their life. Tamar Braxton encourages her partner to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to focus on what truly matters, which is their relationship. She reminds them that they have everything they need as long as they have each other. The lyrics are simple and heartfelt, expressing a sentiment that is often overlooked in a society that values material possessions over emotional connections.

Line by Line Meaning

When I woke up this morning
At the beginning of the day

I sing that to your face
Addressing the song's message to you

So I made you some breakfast
Preparing food for you

Eggs, and some beacon on your plate
Specific foods that were made for your breakfast

'Cause I wanna talk to you before you walk out the door
An urgent desire to communicate before you leave

'Cause I ain't about to walk round here
Not willing to wander around without direction

And watch you stressing no more
Unwilling to see you constantly feeling down

Baby think about other times you saved me
Reflecting on moments of support given to the singer

Baby let me be here for you
Offering assistance and help to you

Appreciate all you do
Grateful for the actions you take

But not to the point of losing you
Not wanting to sacrifice your well-being for the singer's gratification

'Cause you work it, stressing, hustling, guessing
Describing the hard work and pressure placed on you

About how you gon' pay all these bills
Specifically referencing the financial burden you face

But I gotta be honest
An admission of truth

That I ain't even want here with you
Expressing that the material things don't matter as much as being with you

'Cause I'm not everything
The singer lacks some things

I don't want it to tell it to you baby
Doesn't want to discourage or disappoint you

'Cause I don't really need
The singer doesn't have any real need for

All the house, cars, clothes, rings
The material trappings of wealth

I don't need nothing else from you
Content with all that has been given

But the simple things
Only needs the basic necessities

You wanna take me to dinner
Offering to take the singer out to eat

But look tired as hell
Appearing very exhausted

But we might as well stay home
Suggesting that staying in and spending time together might be more worthwhile

'Cause we can't even enjoy ourselves
Being unable to fully enjoy the dinner experience under current circumstances

You ain't gotta buy me no gifts baby
Reassuring that the singer doesn't need to receive costly presents

Not even Channel
Not referencing high-end luxury brands

'Cause half of these chicks in Channel, baby
Implying that many materialistic women are just striving for Channel goods

Be going up through the hell
Suffering difficulties and challenges for material possessions

Now don't misunderstand me
Setting up a clear understanding

I love near me a good man
Loving the qualities of a good person close by

Who loves to take care of his good woman
Appreciating that good person takes care of the singer

But I don't think you need go out here and kill yourself over
Believing that the hard work and strain placed on the relationship is unnecessary

No car, no house, no jewelry
Listing physical objects that the singer doesn't need or desire

Because at the end of the day baby
At a fundamental level

While you chasing all that, I'm really chasing you
Basis of the relationship is a desire to be together

We got lights, we got food, we got a phone, we can talk to each other
Emphasizing the basic needs that are met

Hell we even got FaceTime, I can find where you are
Video chat and location technologies are available and utilized

And honestly we don't need none of that
Suggesting that the physical possessions aren't essential to the relationship's success

As long as we got each other
Support and love for one another is all that's necessary

'Cause that's all we really need baby
Reiterating the idea that the basics are the most important

All we really need baby
Tying back into the song's overall message

Oh baby, oh baby
Conveying a sense of affection and warmth

All we really want, is the simple things
A reassurance that the materialistic pressures aren't necessary for happiness

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAROLE KING, RICK EVERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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