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.
T.I.T.S./F&J
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That has nothing to do whatsoever with my time
She stated very clear
She made it very plain
Your subplot world is so cavalier
Yet you knew the tension inside the sweetness was so near
She stated very clear
In a way that needs no refrain
Frankie and Johnny were lovers alright
A man and a woman toughened by the weight of time
But not quite as hard as they seem
Because they both have hearts awaiting dreams
Frankie, a tough gal when she needs to be
Johnny, a city hard street man
A softer side seen eventually
But they'll both be okay even with a heartbreak yesterday
Oh when a gentle breeze takes love liberties
When a breath of air
Blows your heart a pair
Of kisses where
You wait for her
Frankie and Johnny were lovers alright
And the tempered scale of experience
Cannot forever indict
Two hearts looking to belong in the heat
Of the sun as opposed to night
No, I wouldn't worry about them
'Cos people in love cannot condemn
Those who are in love too
Frankie and Johnny were lovers alright
The lyrics of Terence Trent D'Arby's song T.I.T.S./F&J speak about two different narratives, the first being a personal one and the second being a fictional one. In the personal narrative, the singer is addressing someone who lives in their own world, disconnected from the present moment. The person is so caught up in their own subplot that they are oblivious to the tension between them and the singer. The singer acknowledges this disconnect but finds it unnecessary to repeat themselves. The lyrics "She stated very clear, she made it very plain, in a way that needs no refrain" indicate that the point has already been made.
The second narrative is about two people in love- Frankie and Johnny. They are toughened by life's experiences but not so much that they have become hardened. The lyrics seem to suggest that their love will persist in the face of any setbacks. The line "And the tempered scale of experience cannot forever indict two hearts looking to belong in the heat of the sun as opposed to night" speaks to this idea. The song is ultimately optimistic, both for the personal narrative and for Frankie and Johnny's love story.
Line by Line Meaning
You lead a life inside of your mind
You have created a world in your imagination that doesn't pertain to reality
That has nothing to do whatsoever with my time
This world you have created has no connection to my reality or experiences
She stated very clear
The woman spoke with clarity
She made it very plain
Her message was straightforward
Your subplot world is so cavalier
Your self-created world is nonchalant and carefree
Yet you knew the tension inside the sweetness was so near
Although you appear carefree, you knew that there was an underlying tension within our relationship
In a way that needs no refrain
Her message was so clear that it doesn't need any repetition or explanation
Frankie and Johnny were lovers alright
Frankie and Johnny had a romantic relationship
A man and a woman toughened by the weight of time
They have endured hardships and gained strength from their experiences
But not quite as hard as they seem
Despite their tough exterior, they are not as hardened as they appear
Because they both have hearts awaiting dreams
They both have hopeful, optimistic outlooks on life
Frankie, a tough gal when she needs to be
Frankie can put up a strong front when necessary
Johnny, a city hard street man
Johnny is a tough man with street smarts
A softer side seen eventually
They both have a vulnerable side that is revealed over time
But they'll both be okay even with a heartbreak yesterday
Despite past heartbreaks, they will both be alright in the end
Oh when a gentle breeze takes love liberties
When love is in the air and the atmosphere is relaxed
When a breath of air
A light breeze
Blows your heart a pair
Stirs your emotions
Of kisses where
With the promise of kisses
You wait for her
You eagerly anticipate her arrival
And the tempered scale of experience
Their life experiences have helped them to mature and grow
Cannot forever indict
Their past mistakes don't define them forever
Two hearts looking to belong in the heat
Both of them are searching for acceptance and love
Of the sun as opposed to night
They want to find happiness and positivity (the sun) rather than negativity (the night)
No, I wouldn't worry about them
There's no need to be concerned about their relationship
'Cos people in love cannot condemn
Those in love can't criticize or judge others in the same situation
Those who are in love too
Other couples in love
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TERENCE D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind