Tevin Jermod Campbell (born November 12, 1976) is a five-time Grammy-nomina… Read Full Bio ↴Tevin Jermod Campbell (born November 12, 1976) is a five-time Grammy-nominated American R&B singer-songwriter. Campbell scored a string of R&B chart hits as a teenager in the early to mid-1990s. Campbell transitioned from child singer to adult R&B crooner, and is a recognizable figure in the New Jack Swing genre of music.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Campbell was introduced to the R&B by Quincy Jones in August 1989. Campbell's debut single was "Tomorrow (A Better You Better Me)" which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip hop Singles chart in June 1990. It was the lead single from Quincy Jones' critically acclaimed ensemble LP Back on the Block which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1991. After working with Jones and writers and producers including Siedah Garrett, Campbell worked with producers Narada Michael Walden, Al B. Sure, Babyface, and others to record additional music.

Campbell's first solo hit was "Round and Round", which charted at #3 on R&B charts in November 1991 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1991 was produced by Prince and was featured in Prince's film Graffiti Bridge. Campbell followed the success of his first two singles by releasing his debut album, T.E.V.I.N., in November 1991 which featured the R&B hit singles and Campbell's only #1 Adult Contemporary hit: "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do" followed by:, "Alone With You", and "Goodbye". His second album, I'm Ready released October 1993, yielded the #1 R&B hit and #9 pop single "Can We Talk" in December 1993, "I'm Ready", "Always in My Heart" which charted at #3 on the R&B chart. He also scored a Top 30 hit with "Don't Say Goodbye Girl" on the R&B charts. In September 1994, Campbell also scored an R&B hit with the single "U Will Know" as part of the R&B supergroup Black Men United, a group that also included singer Usher.

The year 1996 saw the release of his third album, Back to the World (#11 R&B). The title track was a success (hitting the R&B Top 20), but additional singles failed to make an impact on the chart. His early 1999 self-titled album was found Campbell venturing into the neo-soul venue. The project was rushed, and as a result charted below the R&B Top 30, with only one single charting, a Top 30 song called "Another Way".

Campbell was nominated for five Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards.

In December 2005, Campbell made his Broadway debut in the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs in the hit musical Hairspray. Campbell is currently still playing in Hairspray.

Campbell returned to the studios in 2006, working with producers Scott Storch, The Underdogs, Krucial Keys, Bryan Michael Cox, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Ryan Leslie. The comeback album is waiting to be published and will be released in 2008.

Interlude/Over The Rainbow And On To The Sun
Tevin Campbell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Way above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, Oh why can I

Overall Meaning

In Tevin Campbell's song Interlude/Over The Rainbow And On To The Sun, the lyrics beautifully convey the idea of hope and the world beyond our reach. The first verse starts with "Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high," presenting a faraway place which is only heard of in a lullaby. It is a symbol of a distant, magical place that we reach through hopes and dreams. The second verse supports the idea further, where "the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true," speaks of the strength of purpose and the power of our will to realize our dreams.

The following verse, "Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me," is taking the idea of hope further, as now it is linked to a universal symbol of wishing for something that we cannot have just yet. The line "Where troubles melt like lemon drops, way above the chimney top, that's where you'll find me," shows that the singer is looking for a place where they are free from worldly troubles and responsibilities, and where their soul is at peace. The last verse "Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can't I?" expresses the yearning of the singer to reach the other side of the rainbow and experience the fulfillment of their dreams.

Overall, the lyrics of the song convey the idea that hope and dreams can take us beyond our imagination, and by following our purpose, we can find a place where we are truly free.

Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere over the rainbow
There's a place beyond our grasp

Way up high
It's far away and unreachable

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
A dreamland that seems too good to be true

Skies are blue
A serene and peaceful environment

And the dreams that you dare to dream
Your aspirations which you want to make true

Really do come true
They can actually turn into reality

Someday I'll wish upon a star
The singer's desire and hope to reach the dreamland

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
To escape from life's obstacles

Where troubles melt like lemon drops
To have a stress-free and cheerful life

Way above the chimney top
A place that's unreachable by normal means

That's where you'll find me
The dreamland is where the singer belongs