Turner began her career with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1957. Under the name Little Ann, she appeared on her first record, "Boxtop", in 1958. In 1960, she debuted as Tina Turner with the hit duet single "A Fool in Love". The duo Ike & Tina Turner became "one of the most formidable live acts in history". They released hits such as "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", "River Deep – Mountain High", "Proud Mary", and "Nutbush City Limits" before disbanding in 1976.
In the 1980s, Turner launched "one of the greatest comebacks in music history". Her 1984 multi-platinum album Private Dancer contained the hit song "What's Love Got to Do with It", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became her first and only number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. At age 44, she was the oldest female solo artist to top the Hot 100. Her chart success continued with "Better Be Good to Me", "Private Dancer", "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)", "Typical Male", "The Best", "I Don't Wanna Fight", and "GoldenEye". During her Break Every Rule World Tour in 1988, she set a then-Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.
Turner also acted in the films Tommy (1975), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Last Action Hero (1993). In 1993, What's Love Got to Do with It, a biographical film adapted from her autobiography I, Tina: My Life Story, was released. In 2009, Turner retired after completing her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which is the 15th highest-grossing tour of the 2000s. In 2018, she became the subject of the jukebox musical Tina.
Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Turner became one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She received 12 Grammy Awards, which include eight competitive awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first black artist, and first woman, to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone ranked her among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Turner has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Ike Turner in 1991 and as a solo artist in 2021. She was a 2005 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and Women of the Year award.
In 2020, she came out of retirement to collaborate with Norwegian producer Kygo on a remix of "What's Love Got to Do with It". With this release, she became the first artist to have a top 40 hit in seven consecutive decades in the UK.
Studio albums
Tina Turns the Country On! (1974)
Acid Queen (1975)
Rough (1978)
Love Explosion (1979)
Private Dancer (1984)
Break Every Rule (1986)
Foreign Affair (1989)
Wildest Dreams (1996)
Twenty Four Seven (1999)
Open arms
Tina Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll tell you no lies
Come to me when you're down
I'll give you friendly advice
I'll be your avenue, your trusting ear
Release your deepest secrets
I'll be sincere
There's nothing to fear
Whatever life throws at you
Your friend is here
Right by your side
When love leaves you cold
Lies have been told
I will be there with my open arms
Hurting inside
Please don't hide the pain
I will be there with my open arms
I know what you're saying
I been there myself
Promises withstand
They left me for someone else
Then the tables turn
A lesson I had to learn
I can't put my fingers 'cause
Girls, my fingers have been burned
It's an age old situation
The message is clear
Whatever life throws at you
Your friend is here
Right by your side
In Tina Turner's song Open Arms, she talks about being a supportive friend to someone who is going through a tough time. She makes it clear that she is a trustworthy confidante, someone who is there to listen and offer guidance without judgment. She recognizes that life can be difficult, but wants to remind us that we don't have to go through it alone.
The lyrics suggest that Tina Turner has been through tough times herself, saying "I know what you're saying, I been there myself." This adds to the idea that the song is about empathy and understanding. When people are hurting, they often feel isolated and alone. By offering her "open arms," Tina is saying that she will be there to comfort and support them, letting them know that they are not alone.
The song is ultimately about the value of friendship and the importance of having someone to rely on when things get tough. It suggests that no matter what happens in life, there is always someone there who cares and will be there for you.
Line by Line Meaning
Ask me no questions
Don't worry about being judged for anything you share
I'll tell you no lies
I won't betray your trust by being dishonest
Come to me when you're down
When you're feeling low, you can count on me
I'll give you friendly advice
My guidance will be given with kindness and goodwill in mind
I'll be your avenue, your trusting ear
I'll serve as a channel for opening up and a listener without judgment
Release your deepest secrets
You can free yourself of your innermost feelings without fear of being exploited
I'll be sincere
My intentions are genuine and I'm not putting on an act
It's an age old situation
This is a common problem with people needing support
There's nothing to fear
Don't be afraid to seek help, I've got your back
Whatever life throws at you
No matter what challenges you face
Your friend is here
I'm here for you always
Right by your side
I won't abandon you and will always be there for you
When love leaves you cold
When you feel unloved and lonely
Lies have been told
You've been deceived with untruths
I will be there with my open arms
I'll be there with a warm and welcoming embrace
Hurting inside
When you're in pain and feeling rejected or uncertain
Please don't hide the pain
Don't keep your pain inside, share it with me
I will be there with my open arms
I will be there to support you with my unconditional love
I know what you're saying
I can relate to your situation
I been there myself
I've experienced similar emotions and can offer personal insight
Promises withstand
I'll keep my word in being an available and dependable confidant
They left me for someone else
I've been let down by others, but I won't do the same to you
Then the tables turn
Situations can change and lead to unexpected outcomes
A lesson I had to learn
I've learned from my own experiences and can help you do the same
I can't put my fingers 'cause
I can't pinpoint how things went wrong
Girls, my fingers have been burned
I've been hurt before and can empathize with your pain
The message is clear
The takeaway is that support is available and the offer stands
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARTIN BRAMMER, COLETTE VAN SERTIMA, BENJAMIN BARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind