“This CD is about accepting and embracing each other’s differences, and many of the songs speak to those issues,” said Chanelle. “Our message is that God will bring you to a place of acceptance and love, and there is so much power and freedom in that,” concludes Chanelle. “Throughout our career we were always trying to please everyone, we wanted people to like us and accept what we were trying to do,” added Angel. “We have gone through so much and fought so hard to get to the place where we love who we are and know that God made us who we are. We are no longer trying to conform to someone else’s idea about who we should be. We believe that is reflected in the music on our new CD.”
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Trin-i-tee 5:7 is a contemporary gospel trio from New Orleans, Louisiana. The group was inspired by R&B girl groups such as Destiny's Child and TLC. They debuted in 1998 with a self-titled album. In 1997 the New Orleans-based gospel group comprised of high school students Angel Taylor, Chanelle Hayes, and Terri Brown, was brought to the attention of gospel label GospoCentric Records by their manager Kenneth Grant. Label owner Viki Mack Lataillade pictured them crossing over to urban market as her flagship artist Kirk Franklin had four years before. "A great deal of attention was put into their imaging because there's a fine line you have to walk with female talent with relation to church and secular audiences as well," Lataillade told Billboard magazine in 1998. "Nobody wants to think a female group is not clear about who they are and what they're singing about. They had to be attractive and trendy, but a class act as well." The label named the group Trin-i-tee 5:7 based on 1 John 5:7 biblical scripture that refers to the Trinity. The group's self titled debut project was produced in 1998 by R. Kelly and Kirk Franklin. With preorders of 100,000 copies and an aggressive urban marketing campaign, the project debuted at No. 3 on the gospel charts and eventually stepped up to the top slot. It also reached the R&B Top 20 charts and was eventually certified gold. The album created two gospel radio hits in "Mary Don't You Weep" and "God's Grace." The CD would go on to spend 7 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album chart, over 30 weeks in the Top on Billboard's Contemporary Christian chart, and almost 50 weeks on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart. Terri Brown left the group in mid-1999 and was replaced before their second album, Spiritual Love, by the group's make up artist Adrian Anderson. In 2000 the group issued their second project, Spiritual Love which featured the big hits "Put Your Hands" and "My Body", which charted in the UK charts also. "Our videos and our music are really different from most of what's out in the music industry today," says Angel. "We want to convey hope and positiveness and that's really who we are. The more popular we become, the more attention will be focused on our personal lives. I think the best thing we can do is show the world what Christianity is all about through the way we live our own lives." The album featured collaborations with gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, Tramaine Hawkins, Crystal Lewis, and Natalie Wilson (founder of the S.O.P Chorale). Unlike their first two CDs, The Kiss did not feature any production from R. Kelly, as the group had by necessity disassociated themselves from him after several controversies and scandals attached themselves to his name. By the time the group's The Kiss CD was issued in 2002, they were having issues with GospoCentric. The urban radio track "Holla" didn't get the urban radio push they felt the song merited. All their past singles at least made it to the lower reaches of the R&B charts. During that period Kenneth Grant left his post as manager, and the group sought to be released from the deal, but the company refused. Pop star Brandy's mother and manager, Sonja Norwood, took over management and brought the group to a higher level of respect by booking them on major non-gospel television shows. However, she eventually turned the management over to Beyonce's father and manager, Mathew Knowles.
Like U
Trin-i-tee 5:7 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He is a good man a loving man, but he could never love me like you.
He is a great man a faithful man, but no one knows the truth lie you.
He always takes care of me, dependable, but he can't be there for me like you.
He is an honest man I love this man, but he can never love me like you.
Chorus
No matter who he is
No matter what he does
No matter what he says
I put you first, I put you first
Cause no matter if I win
No matter if I fail
You're still there
Worse comes to worse, worse comes to worse
And I know when push comes to shove you still care
When the going gets rough look up beside and he appears
Cause no matter who he is
No matter what he says no
He can never love me like you
Verse 2
He is a kind man a gentleman, but he can never hold me like you
He is a caring man I cherish him, but Lord you're first in all I do
He makes me feel beautiful he's sensitive, but no one knows my heart like you
He is a loving man I love this man, but he can never love me like you.
Chorus
Bridge
It's something bout the way that he loves me
(It's unconditional, it's unconditional, gotta let you know)
It's something bout the way that he holds me close
(Late in the midnight hour)
I'm so happy I got someone who understands me
(It's mutual, it's mutual, gotta let you know)
Cause I can't love you better either and I'm glad you know who
Chorus
The song "Like U" by Trin-i-tee 5:7 is an ode to a higher power, expressing gratitude for the love and support provided by that entity through all phases of life. The song opens with the acknowledgement of a good and loving man, who is dependable and honest, but unable to provide the same level of love and understanding as the divine entity. The lyrics highlight the different qualities and actions of the man in comparison to the deity, with the latter being the clear winner in terms of importance and significance in the singer's life.
The chorus reiterates this sentiment, with the singer expressing their commitment to always put their faith first, no matter what happens in life. The words indicate a deep devotion and trust in the higher power, with the singer knowing that no matter what they face, they will always have that support and love to fall back on. The bridge further emphasizes the unconventional nature of this love, with the singer acknowledging that the relationship with the divine is not like any other relationship, but one that is filled with mutual understanding and unconditional love.
Overall, "Like U" is a poignant tribute to a higher power, thanking them for being a constant presence and support system in the singer's life. It is a reminder of the importance of faith and gratitude, and how these can sustain us through the ups and downs of life.
Line by Line Meaning
He is a good man a loving man, but he could never love me like you.
Although he is a good and loving man, he cannot love me like how you do.
He is a great man a faithful man, but no one knows the truth lie you.
He may be great and faithful, but no one knows me as well as you do.
He always takes care of me, dependable, but he can't be there for me like you.
While he is dependable and takes care of me, he cannot offer me the level of emotional support that you do.
He is an honest man I love this man, but he can never love me like you.
Although I love this honest man, he can never love me the way you do.
No matter who he is
Regardless of who he is
No matter what he does
Irrespective of what he does
No matter what he says
Regardless of what he says
I put you first, I put you first
You are my priority, you are my priority
Cause no matter if I win
Because even if I succeed
No matter if I fail
Even if I fail
You're still there
You will always be there for me
Worse comes to worse, worse comes to worse
In the event things get worse or difficult
And I know when push comes to shove you still care
But I know that when things get tough, you still care about me
When the going gets rough look up beside and he appears
When things get tough, you are always there for me, by my side
Cause no matter who he is
Because regardless of who he is
No matter what he says no
Even if he says otherwise
He can never love me like you
He can never love me the way you do
He is a kind man a gentleman, but he can never hold me like you
Although he is kind and a gentleman, he cannot hold me the way you do
He is a caring man I cherish him, but Lord you're first in all I do
While I cherish him for being caring, in all I do, you are my priority, Lord
He makes me feel beautiful he's sensitive, but no one knows my heart like you
Although he makes me feel beautiful and is sensitive, no one understands my heart like how you do.
He is a loving man I love this man, but he can never love me like you.
Despite loving this man, he can never love me the way you do.
It's something bout the way that he loves me
There is something about the way he loves me
(It's unconditional, it's unconditional, gotta let you know)
(It is unconditional, it is unconditional - I need to let you know)
It's something bout the way that he holds me close
There is something about the way he holds me close
(Late in the midnight hour)
(Especially in the darkest moments)
I'm so happy I got someone who understands me
I am grateful to have someone who understands me
(It's mutual, it's mutual, gotta let you know)
(It is mutual, it is mutual - I need to let you know)
Cause I can't love you better either and I'm glad you know who
Because I cannot love you better than I already do, and I am glad you know that
Writer(s): Solange Knowles Copyright: Solange Mw Publishing, Emi April Music Inc.
Contributed by Christopher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.