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.
She Kissed Me
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she's weak emotionally
But she kissed me
And she put it there
She's got a chip on her shoulderblade
And her attitude makes me afraid
But she kissed me
And she put it there
The way no other girl has kissed me there
She kissed me there
The way no other girl has kissed me there
When I'm bare
She kisses me there
When she bets
She'd never hedge
She likes walking on the razor's edge
But she kissed me
And she put it there
She likes rap and metal really loud
And she makes her other home girls proud
But she kissed me
And she put it there
She kissed me there
The way no other girl has kissed me there
She kissed me there
The way no other girl has kissed me there
When I'm bare
She kisses me there
She kissed me there
The way no other girl has kissed me there
She kissed me there
The way no other girl has kissed me there
When I'm bare
She kisses me there
She's as simple as a girl can be
Yet she has a cool complexity
But she kissed me
And she put it there
When she met me I was still a boy
Now I'm an older woman's toy
Because she kissed me
And she put it there
In “She Kissed Me”, Terence Trent D’Arby sings about being with a girl who is negative, emotionally weak, and has a chip on her shoulder. To the singer’s surprise, this girl kisses him unlike any other girl has before - in a way that is extremely intimate and sensual. The girl is described as liking rap and metal really loud and walking on the razor’s edge. She’s simple yet has a cool complexity. Despite her seemingly difficult personality, she has a power and allure that the singer can’t resist.
Line by Line Meaning
She is negative as can be
She has a very pessimistic outlook and doesn't see things in a positive light.
And she's weak emotionally
She is easily affected by her emotions and can't handle difficult situations well.
But she kissed me
Despite her negative attitude and emotional weakness, she kissed the singer.
And she put it there
The kiss was very intentional and placed in a specific way by the girl.
She's got a chip on her shoulderblade
She carries a grudge or a sense of annoyance towards someone or something.
And her attitude makes me afraid
Her demeanor and behavior towards others causes the singer to feel scared or intimidated.
She kissed me there
The girl kissed the singer in a particular spot on their body.
The way no other girl has kissed me there
The girl's kiss was unique and unlike any the artist has received before.
When I'm bare
This suggests that the kiss was in a private or intimate setting.
She kisses me there
The girl frequently kisses the artist in that specific spot on their body.
When she bets
When she gambles or takes risks.
She'd never hedge
She won't play it safe or take precautions to prevent a potential loss.
She's as simple as a girl can be
She doesn't have any complicated motives or hidden agendas; what you see is what you get.
Yet she has a cool complexity
Despite being simple, she still has a certain allure or intrigue to her personality.
When she met me I was still a boy
The singer was younger or less experienced when they first met the girl.
Now I'm an older woman's toy
The artist has become more experienced and is now being pursued by older women.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: T T D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fahs
We don't search for old songs...
We search for old memories.
@alicesimpson8973
Both is good 💯
@averycovert9613
True
@VanielDeeform
So undeniably 1990’s. Proving he could be funky and soulful and clearly rock hard too.
@trismaccarran9950
@VanielDeeform...Oh, he has a lot of rock in him. His in concert cover of Jumpin Jack Flash is 🔥
@letsgetlit2829
Very underrated riffs and vocals effect on the lyrics are awesome
@jca3183
Sananda should have made videos for all Symphony or Damn tracks. This album is a masterpiece
@ryandaniels9825
agreed i always come back to that album
@kalalalina4554
I want that album on vinyl but it’s too expensive 🥲
@jamiefoyers2800
I love that opening line..."She's as Negative as she can be!"...us Rh Negs salute you mate!. Very underrated track...don't make 'em like this no more!.