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.
Girl
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl,look at how free she seems to be
The sky is no shelter in the summer
The sun is so dazzling without a cloud
The people are floating but then i see her
And now I'm floating
(contact, I want contact ! )
I think that I'm falling in love
Girl,look at how free she seems to be
I'm having a vision and we are standing
Upon the shoulders of a moonbeam
Her eyes are closing for our first kiss
She is a vision
(contact,i want contact !)
I think that I'm falling in love
Girl,look at the way she smiles at me
Girl,look at how free she seems to be
These lyrics are from Terence Trent D'Arby's song "Girl," and they tell the story of the singer being enamored by a girl who catches his eye. From the first line, "Girl, look at the way she smiles at me," it is clear that the singer is attracted to this woman. He notes the way she seems free and unencumbered, as if the sky is no shelter in the summer and the sun is so dazzling without a cloud. He sees people around him "floating" but becomes especially captivated when he sees this girl. He wants contact with her and admits that he thinks he's falling in love.
As the song progresses, the singer has a vision of standing with the girl on a moonbeam, an image that suggests the impossibility and dreamlike nature of their connection. Despite this, he sees her closing her eyes as they share their first kiss, and he again wants contact with her. The refrain repeats the lines "Girl, look at the way she smiles at me / Girl, look at how free she seems to be / I think that I'm falling in love," reinforcing the singer's feelings of attraction and desire.
Overall, these lyrics portray a romantic longing for an unattainable love interest. The singer is drawn to this girl's freedom and captivated by the idea of being with her, but their connection remains a dreamlike and ambiguous one.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl,look at the way she smiles at me
Observing the way this girl is displaying happiness through her facial expression towards me
Girl,look at how free she seems to be
The girl appears to be unrestricted and unbounded, conducting herself as she pleases
The sky is no shelter in the summer
The atmosphere above is not a source of refuge from the heat during this season
The sun is so dazzling without a cloud
The sun's brightness is so striking in the absence of cloud cover
The people are floating but then i see her
Individuals around me are levitating, but my attention is captured by the girl
And now I'm floating
As a result of seeing her, I too am experiencing a sensation of hovering
(contact, I want contact ! )
I am eager to establish a connection with her, both physically and emotionally
I think that I'm falling in love
I am beginning to develop strong romantic feelings for her
I'm having a vision and we are standing
I am envisioning a scenario where we are both present and interacting
Upon the shoulders of a moonbeam
We are standing upon an ethereal platform made of moonlight
Her eyes are closing for our first kiss
She is shutting her eyes in preparation for our initial intimate embrace
She is a vision
The girl in front of me is a surreal and stunning apparition
(contact,i want contact !)
My yearning for a deeper and more meaningful connection with her persists
I think that I'm falling in love
My emotions are rapidly developing into love for her
Girl,look at the way she smiles at me
Again, I am drawn to the girl's beaming smile directed towards me
Girl,look at how free she seems to be
Once more, her unbridled and unrestrained way of life fascinates me
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind