Born and raised in Washington, DC, YahZarah started singing at the age of 7 in her church choir. Her love for performance began after winning a youth talent search at the Kennedy Center at age 10. After years of honing her talent in churches, talent shows and local concerts, she entered high school at DC’s prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Upon graduation in 1997, she was accepted to North Carolina Central University in Durham on a full scholarship to the school’s jazz program.
In 1998, she left NC Central and began touring as a background singer for Erykah Badu. While touring, YahZarah contributed background vocals and vocal arrangements to Badu’s platinum-selling “Mama’s Gun” LP, and was featured in the video for the album’s lead single, ‘Bag Lady.’ In 2001, she left the Mama’s Gun tour and released her debut album “Hear Me” on the KEO Music label. A follow up LP, 2003’s “Blackstar,” was issued on the Three Keys label and reached #44 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
2004 found YahZarah reuniting with longtime collaborator and fellow NC Central classmate Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange) for a series of crucial guest appearances. With the release of The Foreign Exchange’s debut album “Connected,” YahZarah was featured on the lead single “Sincere.” The following year she appeared on Little Brother’s “Minstrel Show” LP (Atlantic Records), and was featured on the debut single “Lovin It.” She later contributed two vocal performances to The Foreign Exchange’s GRAMMY-nominated “Leave It All Behind” LP in 2008. That same year, she released an EP of new material entitled “The Prelude.” To support the EP, she toured nationally and internationally with artists such as Chaka Khan, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Rahsaan Patterson, and R. Kelly.
YahZarah’s latest album “The Ballad Of Purple Saint James,” is scheduled for release in May 2010 on the Foreign Exchange Music label.
Blackstar
Yahzarah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
yeahhh, yeahh, oh ohh
da da da da da oooh-ooh, oh, mmm
a premeditated walking sounds like
a-creepin' out of sight an angel way here
started to stick like a gentle hum
gentle hum, hum
I noticed you
wouldn't felt foolish has not picked up my line, my line
now it's spinnin' round
and kisses is long as the song
you love me oh so slow, adagio
[Chorus:]
I know you feel what others did not
so let's be happy, could we?
let's be happy, let's be happy
I'm willng if you are
you could be my blackstar (blackstar) oh
'cause things look good so far, far-r-r-r
things look good so far, baby, e-e-ee
if you're sure, say you're sure
'cuz I could love you (love you)
wanna spoil you, but don't wanna play myself out
your eyes is called on me, baby can't you see
soon as you came to breathe down
ooh, now I'm unpremeditated
terms of love congregated
now my thoughts about to drift
meddling to the soil
I'm becoming irrational (irrational), ooh
'cuz you love me so slow, so slow, so slow (so slow)
[Chorus]
you snap your fingers, my clothes fell off there
you open your mouth
mmm, YahZarah's closing the door
you say my name, ooh, the lights go off
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar, blackstar
blackstar, blackstar, mmm
'cuz things look good so far, oh, oh (blackstar)
[Chorus]
mmm, boy, so far, so far, so far, so far-r-r
oo-oooh, oo-ooh, oooh
do do do do do do
you love me oh so slow
do do do do do doooo
as you came to breathe down (blackstar, blackstar)
mm-mmmm, do do do do do do do
clothes fell off
the way you do to me make my clothes fell off
somebody turn the lights off, click
yeah yeahh yeahh
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar...
The lyrics to Yahzarah's song "Blackstar" are filled with vivid imagery and metaphor. The opening lines talk about a premeditated walking sounds like creeping out of sight, painting a picture of someone approaching the singer carefully, almost stealthily. The mention of an angel way and a gentle hum add a layer of ethereal beauty to the scene. The singer notices the person and is glad they have noticed her too. She admits to feeling foolish for picking up the phone and calling them, which implies that she took a risk in reaching out. But now that they are spinning round and kissing, she feels happy and loved.
The chorus is a plea for happiness between the two people. The singer acknowledges that the person feels something that others did not and is willing to try and make things work. They could be her "blackstar," a metaphor for a guiding light that shines in the darkness. The song ends with the singer describing a passionate encounter with the person, where their touch and words make her clothes fall off and the lights go out.
Overall, "Blackstar" is a song about taking a chance on love, even if it means feeling foolish or irrational at times. It celebrates the beauty of finding someone who sees us for who we are and loves us despite our flaws.
Line by Line Meaning
ooo-oooh ooh yeah yeahhh-eahh
The singer begins with a soulful introduction
a premeditated walking sounds like
The singer describes a deliberate, calculated movement
a-creepin' out of sight an angel way here
The singer creates a mysterious atmosphere with the suggestion of someone or something heavenly
started to stick like a gentle hum
The singer suggests a growing sense of attraction or infatuation, like a tune that gets stuck in one's head
I noticed you
The singer acknowledges that she has been aware of the other person's attention
I'm glad that you noticed it too
The singer expresses happiness that the other person has returned her interest
wouldn't felt foolish has not picked up my line, my line
The singer confesses that she might have felt embarrassed if the other person had not responded to her advances
now it's spinnin' round
The singer describes a whirlwind of emotions and sensations
and kisses is long as the song
The singer compares the duration of a kiss to that of a musical composition
you love me oh so slow, adagio
The singer emphasizes the tender, deliberate pace of the developing romance
[Chorus:] I know you feel what others did not so let's be happy, could we? let's be happy, let's be happy I'm willng if you are you could be my blackstar (blackstar) oh 'cause things look good so far, far-r-r-r things look good so far, baby, e-e-ee if you're sure, say you're sure 'cuz I could love you (love you) wanna spoil you, but don't wanna play myself out
The singer reflects on the positive signs in the relationship so far and invites the other person to be her partner, while acknowledging the unknowns and potential risks
your eyes is called on me, baby can't you see
The singer recognizes the other person's gaze and what it implies
soon as you came to breathe down ooh, now I'm unpremeditated terms of love congregated now my thoughts about to drift meddling to the soil I'm becoming irrational (irrational), ooh
The singer describes the intense effect of the other person's presence and the way it disrupts her previously calculated approach
'cuz you love me so slow, so slow, so slow (so slow)
The singer repeats the motif of the unhurried, careful pace of the romance
you snap your fingers, my clothes fell off there
The singer uses an erotic image to convey physical desire
you open your mouth
The singer implies that the other person is about to speak or sing
mmm, YahZarah's closing the door
The singer playfully acknowledges that she is in charge of what happens next
you say my name, ooh, the lights go off
The singer describes a sensual moment triggered by the other person addressing her by name
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar, blackstar blackstar, blackstar, mmm 'cuz things look good so far, oh, oh (blackstar)
The singer repeats the title and suggests that the relationship is still promising
mmm, boy, so far, so far, so far, so far-r-r oo-oooh, oo-ooh, oooh do do do do do do you love me oh so slow do do do do do doooo as you came to breathe down (blackstar, blackstar) mm-mmmm, do do do do do do do clothes fell off the way you do to me make my clothes fell off somebody turn the lights off, click yeah yeahh yeahh blackstar, blackstar, blackstar blackstar, blackstar, blackstar, blackstar...
The singer concludes with a sultry, rhythmic sequence that blends music and lyrics, reinforcing the sensuality and intimacy of the previous lines
Contributed by Emily G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jblackrevo9
ooo-oooh ooh yeah yeahhh-eahh
yeahhh, yeahh, oh ohh
da da da da da oooh-ooh, oh, mmm
a premeditated walking sounds like
a-creepin' out of sight an angel way here
started to stick like a gentle hum
gentle hum, hum
I noticed you
I'm glad that you noticed it too
wouldn't felt foolish has not picked up my line, my line
now it's spinnin' round
and kisses is long as the song
you love me oh so slow, adagio
[Chorus:]
I know you feel what others did not
so let's be happy, could we?
let's be happy, let's be happy
I'm willng if you are
you could be my blackstar (blackstar) oh
'cause things look good so far, far-r-r-r
things look good so far, baby, e-e-ee
if you're sure, say you're sure
'cuz I could love you (love you)
wanna spoil you, but don't wanna play myself out
your eyes is called on me, baby can't you see
soon as you came to breathe down
ooh, now I'm unpremeditated
terms of love congregated
now my thoughts about to drift
meddling to the soil
I'm becoming irrational (irrational), ooh
'cuz you love me so slow, so slow, so slow (so slow)
[Chorus]
you snap your fingers, my clothes fell off there
you open your mouth
mmm, YahZarah's closing the door
you say my name, ooh, the lights go off
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar, blackstar
blackstar, blackstar, mmm
'cuz things look good so far, oh, oh (blackstar)
[Chorus]
mmm, boy, so far, so far, so far, so far-r-r
oo-oooh, oo-ooh, oooh
do do do do do do
you love me oh so slow
do do do do do doooo
as you came to breathe down (blackstar, blackstar)
mm-mmmm, do do do do do do do
clothes fell off
the way you do to me make my clothes fell off
somebody turn the lights off, click
yeah yeahh yeahh
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar
blackstar, blackstar, blackstar...
@LeMusicSeducer
Her voice is so super angelic... she sings so effortlessly beautiful!
@Lanibluv
This whole album was 🔥, I met at her at SxSw years ago and I had to let her know how amazing this album was by that time she was onto Purple St James but she performed this live and killed it, just effortless!
@esotericenigmamelaninshe1253
Pure fire ..meet me on the rooftop was my favorite
@Buteyour154
A pure love song. Real emotions behind this one. "You pour the magic fairy dust on me and my clothes fall off" - we all been there, ladies!!!
@anthonyfrazier7634
I love yahzarah and her music, she's an amazing talent, this the type of music,that heals souls
@ctahid54
All time vocals... Still smooth...
@OjBlack100
Pure smoothness.....Yah has growm musicaly like a fine wine, the tempo gets my head nodding and the lyrics pure bliss....and off course Yahzarah's distinct vocals are so smooth
@glamlove35
Wooooow! The treasures are hidden deeeeep! Thanks to all who upload this music. I live in Oklahoma where exposure is limited...better late than never. Good music wont die thanks to Youtube
@marcusbrown1767
I agree.also live in Oklahoma, where real talent is limited by discrimination. I hope you fancy classic motor cars, you will see me cruising blarring real tunes such as this.
@serdls7
Funny thing is I remember hearing this around early 2000s on the radio here in Detroit