Born and raised in Oakland, California, Zendaya began her career as a child model and backup dancer. She made her television debut as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010–2013) and starred as the titular character in the sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015–2018), for the channel. Her feature film debut came in 2017 with the superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming, and she later starred in its sequels. Zendaya's role as Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager, in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019–present) made her the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, which she won twice. Her film roles include the musical The Greatest Showman (2017), the romantic drama Malcolm & Marie (2021), and the science fiction epic Dune (2021).
In addition to her acting career, Zendaya has ventured into music. In 2011, she released the singles "Swag It Out" and "Watch Me", the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. She signed with Hollywood Records in 2012. Her eponymous debut studio album, Zendaya (2013), was released to moderate success. The album's lead single, "Replay", reached the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Zendaya's biggest commercial success as a musician came with her Zac Efron collaboration, "Rewrite the Stars", from The Greatest Showman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) in 2017. The single reached within the top 20 of several record charts and has received multi-platinum sales certifications globally.
Having already collaborated with Labrinth on the song "All for Us" for Euphoria's first season, in 2022 Zendaya co-wrote two songs ("I’m Tired (with Zendaya) - Bonus Track" and "Elliot's Song") for the second season, also performing as a vocalist on the former. Receiving continued acclaim for her performance as Rue, the second season of Euphoria earned her four Emmy nominations. Nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama for the second time, she became the youngest two-time nominee in Emmy history, while her nomination as an executive producer for Outstanding Drama Series made her the youngest woman ever nominated for producing. She received two nominations for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for her lyrical contributions to the show's soundtrack. In 2023, Zendaya won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination.
On April 22, 2023, during the second weekend of Coachella 2023, Zendaya joined Labrinth in a surprise performance of "All for Us" and "I'm Tired", which marked her return to the stage in 8 years. She was featured on the opening song "The Feels" of Labrinth's third album Ends & Begins.
Only When You're Close
Zendaya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only when you're close
All this time you weren't even on my mind
Who would've know that you'd be
Be the one in a million I need
Won't deny, I just want you by my side
Be so incomplete with just me
[Chorus]
I can't catch my breath
Only when you're close
My heart drops on my chest
Only when you're close
I get so, get so wild
Only when you're close
I can't stop and I found
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
How do you make me feel like just us two
Can live in the world where we know
That we can be free and let go
Hold me tight, so tight that our hearts collide
We live in the world that we own
Yeah, I'm at a place I call home
[Chorus]
I can't catch my breath
Only when you're close
My heart drops on my chest
Only when you're close
I get so, get so wild
Only when you're close
I can't stop and I found
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
Only when you're close
Close
Only, only, only
Let's dance
Only when you're close
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
Close, close
In her song "Only When You're Close," Zendaya sings about the powerful effect that being near the person she loves has on her. She describes not even thinking about this person until they came into her life and suddenly became everything she needs. The chorus of the song expresses the intense physical and emotional reactions she has when she is close to this person, such as her heart dropping to her chest and feeling wild. She also expresses a desire to be with this person constantly, feeling incomplete without them.
The song seems to be about the rush of falling in love and the transformative power it can have. Zendaya sings about feeling like just the two of them can live in their own world and be free together. She describes the feeling of being at home when she is close to this person. Overall, the song is a celebration of the intensity and joy of romantic love.
Line by Line Meaning
Only when you're close
The singer only feels intensely in love when the object of their affection is physically present
Only when you're close
All this time you weren't even on my mind
The singer was not looking for love until they met the person they sing about
Who would've know that you'd be
Be the one in a million I need
The artist considers the person they sing about to be extremely special
Won't deny, I just want you by my side
The singer admits to their desire for the person they sing about
Who would've thought that I'd be
Be so incomplete with just me
The artist feels incomplete without the person they sing about
I can't catch my breath
The artist is breathless and overwhelmed with emotion when they are close to the person they sing about
Only when you're close
My heart drops on my chest
The singer's heart races and their chest feels heavy when they are close to the person they sing about
Only when you're close
I get so, get so wild
The singer feels passionate and free when they are close to the person they sing about
Only when you're close
I can't stop and I found
The singer is unable to control their emotions because of the person they sing about
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
How do you make me feel like just us two
The singer feels a strong emotional connection with the person they sing about
Can live in the world where we know
That we can be free and let go
The artist and the person they sing about feel relaxed and uninhibited in each other's company
Hold me tight, so tight that our hearts collide
The artist desires intense physical intimacy with the person they sing about
We live in the world that we own
The artist feels like they share a special bond with the person they sing about
Yeah, I'm at a place I call home
The singer feels like they are at home when they are with the person they sing about
Only when you're close
I can't catch my breath
Only when you're close
My heart drops on my chest
Only when you're close
I get so, get so wild
Only when you're close
I can't stop and I found
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
Only when you're close
Close
Only, only, only
Let's dance
The singer invites the person they sing about to dance
Only when you're close
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
Close, close
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ZENDAYA MAREE COLEMAN, CLARENCE JR. COFFEE, AUTUMN ROWE, MARCUS LOMAX, JORDAN NATHANIEL JOHNSON, STEFAN JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Light Blue
[Intro]
Only when you're close
Only when you're close
[Verse 1]
All this time you weren't even on my mind
Who would've know that you'd be, be the one in a million I need?
Won't deny I just want you by my side
Who would've thought that I'd be, be so incomplete with just me?
[Chorus]
I can't catch my breath, only when you're close
My heart drops on my chest, only when you're close
I get so, get so wild, only when you're close
I can't stop and I found it's only when you're, only when you're...
[Drop]
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
[Verse 2]
How do you make me feel like just us two
Can live in the world where we know
That we can be free and let go?
Hold me tight, so tight that our hearts collide
We live in the world that we own
Yeah, I'm at a place I call home
[Chorus]
I can't catch my breath, only when you're close
My heart drops on my chest, only when you're close
I get so, get so wild, only when you're close
I can't stop and I found it's only when you're, only when you're...
[Drop]
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
[Breakdown]
Only when you're close
It's only when you're
Only when you're
[Drop]
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Clo-o-o-o-o-oh, close (close)
Endless Everything
Only when you're close
Only when you're close
All this time you weren't even on my mind
Who would've know that you'd be
Be the one in a million I need
Won't deny, I just want you by my side
Who would've thought that I'd be
Be so incomplete with just me
[Chorus:]
I can't catch my breath
Only when you're close
My heart drops out my chest
Only when you're close
I get so, get so wild
Only when you're close
I can't stop and I found
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close, close, close
How do you make me feel like just us two
Can live in the world where we know
That we can be free and let go
Hold me tight, so tight that our hearts collide
We live in the world that we own
Yeah, I'm at a place I call home
[Chorus:]
I can't catch my breath
Only when you're close
My heart drops out my chest
Only when you're close
I get so, get so wild
Only when you're close
I can't stop and I found
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close, close, close
Only when you're close
Close, close, close
Only, only, only
Let's dance
Only when you're close
It's only when you're, only when you're
Close, close
Close, close
Ishmeet Kaur
Zendaya slays. She HAS to make another album sometime soon. Who agrees?
Edmond Brown
Its been 3 years
ForeverZhao Liying
It’s been 4 years now 💕💕
forever and always
Still I've a hope after 4 years. I wish this hope not to be treacherous
Donika Stoycheva
I agree
Donika Stoycheva
7 years later and i have hope for another album
:3
she's amazing.. zendaya is one of the best things to come out of Disney
Makayla Tooley
ikr I love Zendaya
A
Yep her selena gomez and demi
Hind J
+Adian Ahmed I LOVE SELENA