Just like a star across my sky,
Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life…
I wonder why it is,
I don’t argue like this,
With anyone but you,
I wonder why it is,
I wont let my guard down,
For anyone but you
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind.
If those lyrics don’t get you, then I don’t know what will! Corinne Bailey Rae just released her sophomore album, The Sea, but it has been a real struggle between her two albums. Corinne burst onto the scene in 2006, being nominated for four Grammys, two Brit Awards and being named the Number 1 Breakthrough Artist by the BBC. An even greater tribute to her talent was the amount of celebrities who went to her concerts. Sir Elton John, Chris Martin and his wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Plant, Lionel Richie and Billy Joel could all be spotted at one of her gigs. But besides all the glitz and glamour, there is a real story behind this magical singer/songwriter.
While in school, Corinne and her sisters were often the center of racial remarks and prejudice. Even the church she attended immediately placed her in the gospel choir, where Corinne made it clear she wouldn’t sing. The church also had a band, so Corinne joined and fell in love with performing. She was inspired by Lenny Kravitz, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin, Veruca Salt and L7.
No one sees Corinne as a “rock chick,” but she does do a lot of rock covers in her live shows. While attending the University of Leeds, Corinne began working at a jazz/soul club, and that is where she fell in love with jazz & soul, as well as her future husband, Jason Rae. In 2000, the two were married and in 2003, Corinne began work on her solo album.
Her self-titled debut album is an excellent mix of soul/pop/R&B in a nice complete package. What makes Corinne stand apart from other musicians is her silky voice and her lyrics. Her delivery is excellent and makes you feel whatever she is feeling. The best song on the record is “Call Me When You Get This” which is what R&B music should sound like! Not filled with heavily samples and singers who don’t even write their own songs, Corinne is an artist and she paints a perfect picture on her debut album
In March of 2008, Corinne’s husband, Jason, was found dead due to an apparent drug overdose. Her latest album was almost complete and obviously pulled back due to her tragic loss. Move ahead two years and Corinne released her sophomore album, The Sea. Due to the many ups and downs of a musicians career and the death of her husband, The Sea seems to be a fitting name for the album. The name draws a lot of parallels to her own life. There are several tracks on the album that show a deeper side of Corinne, such as “Little Wing” and “I’d Do It All Again.” Like the sea, lives are not calm; they are filled with triumph and heartbreak. Like the sea, it is all very unpredictable, as we make our way down the sea we need to fight through obstacles! While Corrine continues to fight through these obstacles, one thing is certain: you’ll be sure to fall in love with this artist!
Top 5 Songs
Useful Links
Live on KCRW (Day Dreaming Cover)
Put Your Records On w/Commentary
The Guardian Interview w/Video