They released the follow up album Saturday Night in 1997. The release featured the hit single "Request Line." A remix with different lyrics and raps by Queen Latifah followed.
Given a high-profile spot on the all-star compilation Roll Wit tha Flava as their first recording opportunity, Zhané lived up to the pressure and came away with one of the hip-hop party anthems of all time, "Hey, Mr. DJ." Jean Norris and Renee Neufville initially met while both were studying music at Philadelphia's Temple University (Norris is originally from Rhode Island, Neufville from Jamaica). After meeting Naughty by Nature member Kay Gee, Zhané impressed the producer enough to go right into the studio to record for Roll Wit tha Flava. When "Hey, Mr. DJ" was released as a separate single as well, it hit number six on the pop charts and earned the group a contract with Motown in 1994. Their debut album, Pronounced Jah-Nay, produced two further Top 40 hits ("Groove Thang," "Sending My Love") and went gold by the end of the year. Zhané kept busy during 1995-1996 with spots on tracks by Busta Rhymes and De La Soul as well as new songs of their own on the NFL Jams and NBA 50th Anniversary compilations and the soundtracks to Higher Learning and A Low Down Dirty Shame -- the latter, "Shame," became their fourth Top 40 hit. Norris and Neufville returned with a new LP in 1997, co-produced by Kay Gee, Eddie F., and themselves. It peaked just outside the Top 40.
Crush
Zhané Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something to wash away the pain
I saw a very gentle side of him
That took my heart and made it sing
I wish he'd run away and hide with me
Love hurts so much more than it seems
There was one thing I didn't show
I love him and he doesn't know
I wonder if I ever see the day
Will I ever find the nerve to say
I love you
And will he turn around, walk away
Will he leave or will he stay
If I tell him
Could he be the one who was in my dreams
Could he be the one sent down for me
There was one thing I failed to show, babe
I love him and he doesn't know
Have you ever loved somebody
Secretly loved somebody who didn't know
Have you fell in love with somebody
Deeply loved somebody who didn't know
I love him and he doesn't know me
I love him and he doesn't know
There was one thing I didn't show, babe
I love him and he doesn't know
Zhané's song Crush explores the pain of unrequited love. The singer longs for a man whose gentle side touches her heart and makes it sing. She wishes that he could run away and hide with her, but she acknowledges the reality that love hurts more than it seems. There is one thing that the singer has failed to show him - she loves him deeply and he doesn't even know it. She wonders if she'll ever have the courage to tell him how she feels and if he'll choose to stay or leave.
The lyrics perfectly capture the complex emotions of loving someone secretly. It's a feeling that many people can relate to, and the song reminds listeners that it's okay to have those feelings, even if they are unreciprocated. The music video for Crush features the band performing the song while a couple dances in the foreground, highlighting the yearning for love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I needed sunshine in my days
I was feeling low and needed someone to brighten up my life
Something to wash away the pain
I was hurt in the past and needed someone to help me forget the pain
I saw a very gentle side of him
He showed me his kind and caring side
That took my heart and made it sing
He made me feel loved and happy
I wish he'd run away and hide with me
I want to be with him and escape from everything else
Love hurts so much more than it seems
Love may seem sweet, but it can also bring a lot of pain
There was one thing I didn't show
I didn't tell him how I truly feel
I love him and he doesn't know
I am in love with him, but he is not aware of my feelings
I wonder if I ever see the day
I don't know if I will ever have the courage to tell him how I feel
Will I ever find the nerve to say
I am unsure whether I will be able to express my feelings
Could he be the one who was in my dreams
He matches the description of the person in my dreams
Could he be the one sent down for me
I think he might be my soulmate
Have you ever loved somebody
Have you ever experienced unrequited love?
Secretly loved somebody who didn't know
Have you ever loved someone who is not aware of your feelings?
Have you fell in love with somebody
Have you ever fallen deeply in love with someone?
Deeply loved somebody who didn't know
Have you ever loved someone who doesn't feel the same way?
I love him and he doesn't know me
I am in love with him, but he doesn't even know me
I love him and he doesn't know
I am in love with him, but he is oblivious to my feelings
There was one thing I didn't show, babe
I kept my feelings hidden and didn't reveal them to him
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, CLIFFORD SMITH, COREY WOODS, DENNIS DAVID COLES, GARY E. GRICE, LAMONT HAWKINS, JASON HUNTER, RUSSELL T. JONES, RENEE NEULVILLE, KEIR LAMONT GIST, DARREN LIGHTY, ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN, MARVIN HAMLISCH
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