Vonda Shepard was born in New York but her family relocated to California when she was fairly young. She played piano from an early age. Her father is Richmond Shepard, a mime and improv actor. Vonda has three sisters: Rosetta, Luana, and Brianna. Her mother left the family when Vonda was ten, and her father raised the four girls by himself.
After performing as a backing singer for many years she was eventually given her own recording contract. Shepard's first chart appearance was in 1987 when she recorded a duet with Dan Hill entitled 'Can't We Try'. She released her first self-titled album in 1989 with little fanfare. The album did yield one chart single, Don't Cry Ilene, a mid-tempo, piano-driven jazz-RnB flavored song dealing with the break-up of a relationship between a black woman and a white man, arising from adult peer pressure. The track is sung from the perspective of the woman's white female friend, who harbors a desire to have the man for herself, but keeps her distance out of respect for her friend. The song peaked at 17 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks.
After her third album, Shepard was signed up to appear on Ally McBeal after being spotted by the show's creator David E Kelley. While on the show she recorded two full soundtrack albums and was featured on two other Ally McBeal compilations. The songs Shepard recorded for Ally McBeal soundtrack albums were mainly covers of old songs with lyrics that paralleled what was happening in the title character's life onscreen. Since appearing in the show, Shepard has released two more studio albums and a live album.
Shepard is married to music producer Mitchell Froom and they had their first child, Jack Froom, on 15 April 2006.
The Radical Light
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
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A shoulder chipped and a head for crime
He was destined to be broken
She found a diamond in a coal mine
What she saw in him was a crooked line
She just wanted him to straighten
She said truth lies underneath the radical light
One night underneath the radical light
She said once you see the truth you'll be wanting more
She doesn't know why she's got the desire
To lead this boy out of the burning fire
Call it love or call it mercy
See, one night she was dreamin'
She saw a man who looked just like him,
He said "When you find me baby set me free"
We can shine standin' in the radical light
Take a chance and find your vision
We can feel fine walkin' in the radical light
It all comes down to radical decisions
I feel your sorrow
I know you're afraid to let it go
There's always tomorrow
Come into the light you don't have to be alone anymore
[Chorus: 2X]
Show me, real truth, real love
Wake me, hold me tonight
Under the radical light
Show me, the real truth, real life
Under the radical light
Someday we will be one
Under the radical light
The lyrics of Vonda Shepard's song "The Radical Light" tells the story of a girl who finds a poor boy who is destined to be broken due to his past experiences and troubled past. She sees past his flaws and decides to help him become a better person. However, she does not reveal her true intentions to him and instead says that she wants to show him the truth underneath the radical light. She hopes to awaken a new vision in him and inspire him to make radical decisions in his life. She believes that they can both shine together under the radical light and be one someday.
The song is a powerful portrayal of love and mercy that transcends social barriers. It shows how individuals can help each other evolve and grow despite their differences. The lyrics also suggest that the truth is not always easy to see, but it takes courage to uncover it. The radical light that the girl talks about is a metaphor for the truth that eventually sets us free.
The meaning of the song is open to interpretation and can be viewed from different angles. It may refer to personal growth, spiritual awakening, or social change. However, the central theme of the song remains the same - the power of radical decisions and actions that can lead to transformation and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a poor boy having a hard time
He was a financially weak boy who was struggling in his life
A shoulder chipped and a head for crime
He had a physical deformity and was inclined towards illegal activities
He was destined to be broken
It seemed like his fate was to remain unsuccessful
She found a diamond in a coal mine
She discovered a hidden gem among the ordinary people
What she saw in him was a crooked line
She observed that he had a flawed way of living
She just wanted him to straighten
She hoped to reform him and make him a better person
She said truth lies underneath the radical light
She believed that real honesty is revealed when one is pushed beyond their comfort zone
Show you what you need, what you're looking for
She intended to exhibit to him everything that he required and what he was searching for
One night underneath the radical light
On a certain night, they were exposed to an intense situation that led to self-discovery
She said once you see the truth you'll be wanting more
She explained that once he experiences the truth about himself, he would crave for further revelations
She doesn't know why she's got the desire
She was unable to understand the cause of her wish to help him
To lead this boy out of the burning fire
She aimed to rescue him from his disastrous state of being
Call it love or call it mercy
Whether it was love or compassion, she was willing to extend her favor to him
See, one night she was dreamin'
In fact, it all started with a dream she had one night
She saw a man who looked just like him,
In her dream, she saw a person who resembled him
He said 'When you find me baby set me free'
In her dream, the person told her to release him when she met him
We can shine standin' in the radical light
Together, they can radiate their brilliance in tough situations
Take a chance and find your vision
She encouraged him to take a risk and search for his purpose in life
We can feel fine walkin' in the radical light
They would be content if they are together and are true to themselves
It all comes down to radical decisions
Their life journey was dependent on their bold and radical choices
I feel your sorrow
She empathized with his pain and grief
I know you're afraid to let it go
She recognized that he was scared to move on from his negative experiences
There's always tomorrow
She imparted hope that a better future awaited him
Come into the light you don't have to be alone anymore
She encouraged him to embrace a positive change and promised him his loneliness would end
Show me, real truth, real love
She requested authentic emotions from him
Wake me, hold me tonight
She desired his tender care and affection
Someday we will be one
One day, they would be united
Under the radical light
In intense and crucial times
Show me, the real truth, real life
She asked for the revelation of real-life situations and true experiences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MATTHEW WILDER, VONDA SHEPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind