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.
Sweetness
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into my ears
Place a blissful sigh
Into my tears
Cradle my forgiveness
Judging that I'm half a man
If it were not for your sweetness
Take your magic broom
And sweep my heart
Rescue Cupid's arrow
From broken hearts
Reaching for completeness
Digging deep into the sand
If it were not for your sweetness
I would not know who I am
I find a shelter in your wings
I find my self-remembering
That I'm in a dream
Blow your moonlit trumpet
And sound my tone
Sing to me your silence
And call me home
I'm not full of answers
Though I pretend that I am
If it were not for your sweetness
I would not know who I am
The lyrics in Terence Trent D'Arby's song "Sweetness" are about the transformative power of love and the impact it can have on a person's self-discovery. The first two lines describe the power of music to evoke emotions and make a person feel something deeply. The singer asks his lover to place a blissful sigh into his tears, which suggests that he is sad and needs emotional healing. He then speaks about being judged and feeling incomplete, but his lover's sweetness has given him a sense of self-awareness and identity.
In the second verse, the singer asks his lover to use her magic broom to sweep his heart, possibly meaning that he has been hurt before and needs emotional repair. He mentions the mythical Cupid's arrow, which could mean that he has been hurt in love before and needs to be rescued from heartbreak. He believes that his lover can complete him and help him find his purpose in life.
The third verse speaks about taking refuge in his lover's embrace and experiencing a sense of safety and comfort. He calls her trumpet a "moonlit" trumpet, which creates a dreamy, mystical atmosphere. The singer admits that he doesn't have all the answers to life's questions, but his lover's sweetness has given him a sense of self-awareness and direction.
Overall, "Sweetness" is a song about the power of love to transform a person's life, heal emotional wounds, and provide a sense of purpose and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing your magic spell into my ears
Use your enchanting voice to captivate my attention and make me feel special
Place a blissful sigh into my tears
Make me feel happy and content despite the struggles in my life
Cradle my forgiveness, judging that I'm half a man
Understand my faults and shortcomings, but also help me grow and be a better person
If it were not for your sweetness I would not know who I am
Your love has helped shape my identity and given my life meaning
Take your magic broom and sweep my heart
Clear away any pain or negativity I may be feeling and make my heart feel clean and free
Rescue Cupid's arrow from broken hearts
Help me heal and move on from past heartbreaks and bad relationships
Reaching for completeness digging deep into the sand
Searching for a sense of wholeness and fulfillment despite any obstacles or challenges I may face
I find a shelter in your wings, I find myself remembering that I'm in a dream
With you, I feel safe and protected, but at the same time, I also realize that our love can feel surreal and almost too good to be true
Blow your moonlit trumpet and sound my tone
Communicate with me and make me feel heard and understood
Sing to me your silence and call me home
Use your actions and presence to comfort me and make me feel at peace
I'm not full of answers though I pretend that I am
I may act like I have everything figured out, but in reality, there is still so much I have to learn and discover
If it were not for your sweetness I would not know who I am
Once again, your love has been instrumental in helping me grow and understand my true self
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind