After a spell as a catwalk model, she scored a number of club hits after recording with group, Biz, in 1983. Her first commercial success came in early 1988, when she supplied the vocals on Coldcut's "Doctorin' the House". She soon launched a solo career on Big Life records, a label set up by her future husband Jazz Summers, releasing her debut single "The Only Way Is Up" in the summer of 1988. It went on to spend five weeks at the top of the chart, eventually becoming the biggest selling UK single of the year. Suddenly one of Britain's biggest pop acts, her follow up was another big hit, whilst her debut album went top ten.
She continued to have hits into 1989 but has since recorded only sporadically, releasing one single during 1990 and not releasing another until 1992. She returned to the charts in 1993, performing with Aswad on the top 40 hit "How Long". She continued to release singles well into the 1990s, including a cover version of The Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye". In 1997 she recorded the album Natural Life, which was only released in some parts of Europe and Asia.
Contents [hide]
1 Discography
1.1 Albums
1.2 Singles
2 Sources
[edit]
Discography
[edit]
Albums
Wanted (1988) UK #3, AUS #43
The Wanted Remixes (1989) UK #53
One On One (1994)
Natural Life (1997)
At Her Very Best (2001) UK #166
[edit]
Singles
"Doctorin' the House" (with Coldcut) (1988) UK #6, Ger # 11
"The Only Way Is Up" (1988) UK #1, US #96, AUS #2, NZ #1, Ger # 3
"Stand Up For Your Love Rights" (1988) UK #2, AUS #22, NZ #8, Ger # 10
"Fine Time" (1989) UK #9, NZ #18, Ger # 32
"Where Has All The Love Gone" (1989) UK #16, Ger # 40
"Treat Me Good" (1990) UK #20, AUS #100, Ger # 55
"One True Woman" (1992) UK #60
"How Long" (with Aswad) (1993) UK #31, Ger # 52
"Have Mercy" (1994) UK #42, Ger # 86
"Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" (1994) UK #56
"Good Thing Going" (1996) UK #53
"Never Can Say Goodbye" (1997) UK #61
"Abandon Me" (1998) UK #79
How Long
Yazz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How long has this been going on?
Well your friends and their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme,
But I can't help but have my suspictions,
Cause I aint quite as dumb as I seem.
To break up our scene in this way,
But there aint any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day,
How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?
How long and how long has this been going on?
How long and how long has this been going on?
How long baby?
Oh, your friends and their gentle persuation
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme,
But I can't help but have my suspictions,
Cause I aint quite as dumb as I seem.
Well you said you was never intending
To break up our scene in this way,
But there aint any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day,
Tell me honey
How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?
How long and how long
has this been going on,
Going on, going on?
How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on,
Going on, going on, going on?
How long, honey,
oh, has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on,
going on, going on, going on?
How long has this been going on,
going on, going on?
You been treaten me
mad you been treaten me bad
And it's been going on,
going on, going on
I aint quite as dumb as I seem.
I aint quite the fool you mean
But it's been going on,
going on, going on, going on
The song "How Long" by Yazz combines elements of pop, soul, and R&B genres in its sound. The lyrics tell a story of a relationship that has been going on for a while, but the singer senses that something is off about it. They suspect their partner is being influenced by their friends' persuasion but doesn't want to admit it. The repetition of the phrase "how long has this been going on" highlights the frustration and confusion of the singer, who wants to understand the truth of the situation.
The lyrics suggest a feeling of betrayal and confusion that people experience in a relationship. The person wonders why they were misled by the partner and their friends for such a long time. They further emphasize the idea that the person is not as naive as the partner may have had them believe. The singer demands honesty from their partner, wanting to know how long the relationship has been going on and what it truly means.
In conclusion, "How Long" by Yazz tells the story of a person who is questioning the authenticity of a relationship. The song's lyrics suggest that the person has been misled by their partner and their friends and encourages them to seek the truth. The repetition of the phrase "how long has this been going on" serves to emphasize the singer's frustration and demand for honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
How long has this been going on?
Questioning the duration of a certain situation and seeking an answer.
How long has this been going on?
Repeated questioning of how long the situation has persisted.
Well your friends and their fancy persuasion
Referring to the influence of the person's friends and their attempts to convince them.
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme,
Implies that these friends have an ulterior motive in their persuasion.
But I can't help but have my suspictions,
Expressing doubt and questioning the true intentions behind these persuasions.
Cause I aint quite as dumb as I seem.
Reassuring that despite the doubts, they are not naive or foolish.
Well you said you was never intending
Recall of the words spoken by the partner about their never intending to change the scene.
To break up our scene in this way,
Refers to the way the partner is acting towards them now as it is different from before.
But there aint any use in pretending
Acknowledging that there is no point in pretending everything is okay when it's not.
It could happen to us any day,
Acknowledging that the situation of breaking up could occur any day, despite the partner's words.
Oh, your friends and their gentle persuation
Referring to the influence of the person's friends and calling it gentle (in contrast to fancy persuasion mentioned earlier).
Tell me honey
Addressing the partner in a loving or affectionate way, asking them to reveal the truth.
How long and how long has this been going on?
Repeating the question with more emphasis and seeking a clear answer.
How long baby?
Asking the partner again in a soft, tender way.
You been treaten me
Stating that the partner has been treating them badly.
mad you been treaten me bad
Repeating that the partner's treatment towards them has been bad.
I aint quite as dumb as I seem.
Reassuring that despite the mistreatment, they are not naive or foolish.
I aint quite the fool you mean
Asserting that the partner might have underestimated them.
But it's been going on
Confirming that the situation has persisted.
going on, going on, going on
Repeating that the situation has been persisting.
Writer(s): PAUL MELVYN CARRACK
Contributed by Ethan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@butterflyblessbless5836
Rest in musical peace Angus ππΎπ€πΆπ¬π©your legacy will live on & on β¨β¨
@lesleybissmire8297
Beautiful π
@sylvansnagg856
Rest in eternal peace broβ€βππ₯
Your Golden voice will lives on foreverπ
@hennyverheij5969
I've never heard this version before, but i love it!
@marilynredding618
I love this version of this song!
@flaviah_s-zp9hv
Perfeita β€
@darrenhirst9900
Two brilliant artists who I seriously love.
@georgiagurlgamingx3237
This tune is pure class loved it from day 1
@silviasmith6105
La mΓ‘s hermosa versiΓ³n de este tema legendario. Gracias!!!
@silviasmith1875
Me encanta esta versiΓ³n! Gracias por recordarme este tema.