The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
Be Willing
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be willing to begin leaving your mark
Dig out your buried treasure
Your work of art
And nothing will ever stand between
Heaven and your heart
Be willing to attain your freedom from
A masterpiece of promise is what you are
And never let nothing stand between
Heaven and your heart
Be willing to forgive an oversight!
Be willing to explore what doesn't bite
Fearlessness is a fountain
That redecorates the dark
And nothing will ever stand between
Heaven and your heart
The lyrics to Terence Trent D'Arby's song "Be Willing" are all about being open and willing to achieve great things in life. The first verse encourages listeners to follow their hearts and strive to leave a lasting impact on the world. This is reinforced in the second verse with a call to attain freedom from negative emotions such as hatred and bitterness, in order to become a “masterpiece of promise.” The final verse brings together the themes of forgiveness and fearlessness, suggesting that when we take these approaches in life, we find a “fountain” that redecorates the darkness and keeps us moving toward our goals.
Overall, the song seems to be an affirmation of our ability to create a fulfilling life for ourselves if we are willing to take action and work towards our goals. It is a reminder that there is nothing that can truly stand in our way if we are determined to overcome obstacles and embrace our potential.
Line by Line Meaning
Be willing to achieve what suits your heart
Be open to pursuing what your heart desires and what aligns with your true passions.
Be willing to begin leaving your mark
Be open to starting to make an impact and leave a positive mark on the world.
Dig out your buried treasure
Unearth and discover the hidden talents and abilities within you that have been lying dormant.
Your work of art
Your unique gifts, skills, and contributions that you bring to the world.
And nothing will ever stand between
No hindrance, obstacle or barrier will prevent you from achieving your dreams.
Heaven and your heart
The connection between your spiritual essence and your true inner self.
Be willing to attain your freedom from
Be open to breaking free from negative emotions such as hatred and bitterness and move forward.
Hatred and bitterness then carry on
Do not let negative feelings hold you back from pursuing your dreams and aspirations.
A masterpiece of promise is what you are
You have great potential to achieve amazing things and create a bright future for yourself.
And never let nothing stand between
Don't let anything stop you from achieving your goals and dreams.
Be willing to forgive an oversight!
Be open to forgiving mistakes or oversights made by others.
Be willing to explore what doesn't bite
Be open to trying new things and exploring opportunities that could potentially benefit you.
Fearlessness is a fountain
Being brave and bold allows you to access a flow of creativity and inspiration.
That redecorates the dark
That illuminates and brings light to the darkest corners and experiences of life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind