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)
Ya Ya
Tina Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
You know that I love you
Oh, how I love you
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
You know how I love you
Oh, how I love you
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Tina Turner’s “Ya Ya” is a playful track about waiting for a lover who may or may not come. The opening line, “I’m sittin’ here, la, la, Waiting for my ya ya, Uh huh, uh huh,” sets the tone for the entire song— hopeful and slightly anxious. The chorus repeats several times throughout the song, with Turner lamenting that she doesn’t believe her “ya ya” is actually coming. The lyrics, “It may sound funny, But I don’t believe she’s comin’, Uh huh, uh huh,” emphasises the doubt that lingers in Turner’s mind, making her feel uncertain about whether her lover is truly coming.
Turner moves the song forward with her plea: “Baby hurry don't make me worry, Uh huh, uh huh / Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry, Uh huh, Uh huh / You know how I love you, Oh, how I love you, Uh huh, Uh huh.” The repetition reinforces the desperation to hear from her lover, and the phrase, “Baby hurry” is subtly mixed with some urgency. The song’s emphasis on waiting and anticipation is so relatable that it has become a hit.
“Ya Ya” is a classic R&B song that has stood the test of time since its release in 1966. But beyond its catchy chorus and easy melody, it is a straightforward yet touching love song. It has been covered by many music stars like Ike and Tina Turner, Lee Dorsey, and The Impressions. The song fits into Tina Turner’s larger discography, in which she often sang of finding, losing, and loving others. Overall, the song’s catchy melody and Turner’s sensual vocals have made it a favourite among fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, well, I'm sittin' here, la, la
I'm sitting here idly, daydreaming about the arrival of my love.
Waiting for my ya ya
Anticipating the presence of my significant other.
Uh huh, uh huh
Affirmative verbal cues to show excitement.
It may sound funny
Admitting that the situation might seem silly.
But I don't believe she's comin'
Expressing a lack of faith in my love's arrival.
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Asking my love to come quickly and not to make me fearful for their safety.
You know that I love you
Reminding my love of my deep feelings for them.
Oh, how I love you
Emphasizing the intensity of my love.
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Continuing to wait idly for my love to arrive.
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Reiterating my plea for my love to come quickly and safely.
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Repeating my request for my love to arrive soon and without concern.
Uh huh, uh huh
Reaffirming my excitement and anticipation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Clarence L Lewis, Lee Dorsey, Morris Levy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind