The group came up with the Heavies name after signing their first record contract, borrowing from a liner note on a James Brown single declaring the artist "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk". As The Brand New Heavies they gained a cult following in the London club scene and soon signed to Cooltempo as acid jazz replaced rare groove in clubs. The band issued a debut recording for Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz label in 1990 with Jay Ella Ruth as lead singer.
A single, "Got to Give", came out on Cooltempo before the Brand New Heavies signed to Acid Jazz Records and released Brand New Heavies to critical acclaim. The band signed to a division of Chrysalis Records in the UK, and American distribution was picked up by influential label Delicious Vinyl, and N'Dea Davenport (who had signed an artist development deal with Delicious Vinyl) joined the group. A revamped version of the first album with vocals by N'Dea Davenport was then released, and the singles "Dream Come True", "Never Stop" and "Stay This Way", all with Davenport on lead vocals, became hits on both sides of the Atlantic, with the latter becoming a music video directed by Douglas Gayeton that saw heavy rotation on MTV.
The group's appearance with MC Serch (formerly of 3rd Bass) and Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) at a performance in New York City, inspired the group to incorporate elements of hip hop music. Their next album was the critically acclaimed Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1, which included collaborations with Guru of Gang Starr and The Pharcyde, among others, but lacked any female vocals.
While under management by Colin Lester's and Ian McAndrew's Wildlife Entertainment, The Brand New Heavies released Brother Sister (1994) which was the last album for a while with N'Dea Davenport, who had left to complete her solo album (which she had put on hold to join the Heavies). The album spawned more singles, though one of them, a cover of Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis", was popular only in the UK because it was not included in the US version of the album.
Siedah Garrett joined the group for their next album, Shelter (1997). It contained the minor hit, the Carole King-penned song "You've Got a Friend" that was originally made famous by James Taylor. Again, though, this song did not appear on the US version of the album. The album also contained the hit "Sometimes". The remix of "Sometimes" included the rap vocals of Q-Tip from Tribe.
The Brand New Heavies then released their greatest hits album, Trunk Funk - The Best of The Brand New Heavies (2000) with Carleen Anderson on vocals for some newly recorded songs, followed by the Japan only album We Won't Stop (2003) featuring a variety of vocalists and Allaboutthefunk (2004) featuring British singer Nicole Russo on vocals.
In April 2006, the Brand New Heavies reunited with N'Dea Davenport and former label Delicious Vinyl. A new album, Get Used to It was released on June 27 2006 via Starbucks and more traditional music retail outlets. The album was recorded in New York and London; and the lead single "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" was issued in early May. The single was notable for being one of very few late releases to feature the trademarked "A Tom Moulton Mix", as the legendary disco pioneer had been asked to contribute mixes. Later that year, their song "Jump 'N' Move" was featured on the soundtrack for the 2006 computer animated feature film, Happy Feet, and the in-game soundtrack for 2004's NBA Live 2005. The band toured at the end of 2006.
After the release of a live CD Live at the Indigo2 in late 2008, the Brand New Heavies announced they would be releasing a new album in 2009 with N'Dea Davenport on vocals.
I Donât Know Why I Love You
The Brand New Heavies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eh hey (Yeah yeah yeah)
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why I love you
But I love ya'.
Kick me when I'm down that's your rule
I don't know why I love you
But I love you
yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh you never never stop your
Cheatin' ways with that other girl
You laugh in my face
Now how long must I be disgraced?
Cause I love ya'
baby baby, baby, baby
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why,
why I love you.
I don't know why I love you
but I love you
yeah yeah yeah yeah.
You throw my heart down in the dirt
You made me cry on this cold black earth, Baby,
I never knew how much love could hurt
Until I loved you.
Baby baby baby baby baby.
Can't stop
I can't stop crying can't you see
Here I'm pleadin' on my knees
I'm on my knees
Wont you help me, help me baby please
Cause I love you, I love you I love you
Baby.
Baby baby please stop,
Baby baby please stop
Can't you see I'm on my knees?
Why won't you just help me please?
Baby just believe
baby just stop
ah huh ah huh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh
baby make believe
I love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you baby
(These days why ya' breaking?)
(These days why ya' breaking my heart?)
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart?)
Oh oh I can't take it no more baby make me wanna' scream
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart)
ah huh ah huh oh oh
(These days why ya' breaking?)
oh oh oh oh
(These days why ya' breaking my heart?)
oh oh
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart?)
oh oh oh
oh oh
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart?)
The lyrics of The Brand New Heavies' song "I Don't Know Why" revolve around a relationship that is dysfunctional and troubled. The singer expresses how much they love the other person despite being treated like a fool, kicked when they are down, and cheated on with another girl. They don't know why they love the person but they do. The relationship is causing the singer a great deal of pain and heartbreak, but they cannot help but still love the person who is causing them so much harm. The singer is pleading for the other person to stop hurting them and to help them because they love them. The song ends with the singer screaming in frustration and pain at the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Eh hey (Yeah yeah)
Exclamation of excitement or happiness.
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why I love you
But I love ya'.
Expressing love for someone despite not knowing the exact reason for it.
Always treat me like a fool
Kick me when I'm down that's your rule
I don't know why I love you
But I love you
yeah yeah yeah yeah
Acknowledging the mistreatment by their partner, yet still having strong feelings of love for them.
Oh you never never stop your
Cheatin' ways with that other girl
You laugh in my face
Now how long must I be disgraced?
Cause I love ya'
baby baby, baby, baby
Calling out their partner's infidelity and disrespectful behavior towards them, yet feeling unable to leave the relationship due to their love for the partner.
You throw my heart down in the dirt
You made me cry on this cold black earth, Baby,
I never knew how much love could hurt
Until I loved you.
Baby baby baby baby baby.
Describing the pain they feel from their partner's actions, and how love can often hurt more than it brings joy.
Can't stop
I can't stop crying can't you see
Here I'm pleadin' on my knees
I'm on my knees
Wont you help me, help me baby please
Cause I love you, I love you I love you
Baby.
Begging their partner for help and understanding, despite the pain caused by the relationship. Expressing the depth of their love for the partner.
Baby baby please stop,
Baby baby please stop
Can't you see I'm on my knees?
Why won't you just help me please?
Baby just believe
baby just stop
ah huh ah huh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh
baby make believe
I love you love you love you love you love you love you love you love you baby
Continuing to plead with the partner for help and understanding, and trying to convince them of the strong love the singer feels for them.
(These days why ya' breaking?)
(These days why ya' breaking my heart?)
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart?)
Questioning the partner's recent behavior and expressing concern for the state of the relationship.
Oh oh I can't take it no more baby make me wanna' scream
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart)
ah huh ah huh oh oh
(These days why ya' breaking?)
oh oh oh oh
(These days why ya' breaking my heart?)
oh oh
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart?)
oh oh oh
oh oh
(Why ya' gonna' break my heart?)
Feeling frustration and a desire to express their emotions more passionately to their partner, due to the hurt caused by their partner's actions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jennybaptiste8387
N’dea Davenport’s voice. Beautiful
@anthonyvaughan4853
A GREAT BAND, DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS , BRAND NEW HEAVIES, ALL TIME GREATS !!!!
@gothikel
It is just - my Ideal song and music...
@glitterfalls1
I heard this track when I saw the movie and as it played in the opening I fell in love with it. This group rocks and this girl sannnnngsss this song!
@deano9110
I never knew this song was a Stevie Wonder Original until I heard it on Scandal and it was so appropriate , it actually hurt listening to the Stevie Version as it sounded like he meant it and was going through the emotions right there and then.
@stoinge
+deano9110 Stevie's original is the kinda soul that makes him a living legend
@davidcook4457
So true his voice screams emotion he sang it so young as well just fucking brilliant sorry for swearing but the heavies do it proud
@beachlover9705
Word! I almost cried listening to his version
@beachlover9705
N'dea is a whole vibe and the best Brand New Heavies era
@user-jl5sy5tq6e
あたしは57歳だけど、こんな洋楽を聴いてもいいのかしらん？❤