Just last month, Rolling Stone magazine named Andra Day one of the "10 New Artists You Need to Know," and after listening to the vintage vocals of her brand new release, "Gold," we couldn't agree more.
Welcome to Music Friday when we introduce to you fresh music featuring jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Day's bluesy ballad is framed as an heartfelt apology to a former lover. She betrayed him even though he treated her "like a precious gift," and soon after, she learned a hard lesson when her new lover cheated on her.
Day describes her heartache with this line: "I gave up gold / For grains of sand / Slipping through my hand."
In an NPR interview preceding a live acoustic performance, Day explained how "Gold" was born.
"I was with someone that I was not good to, and wasn't faithful to," she said. "I used to be ashamed to talk about it, and 'Gold' was really my moment to say, 'I'm going to talk about it. I'm going to purge because other people experience this.'"
She continued, "So, it's basically a letter to him apologizing for what I had done. Sort of spelling out my experience and heartbreak after that — having someone betray me and what it felt like. And then letting him know that I now understand what [he] went through... It's a whole candid story told from beginning to end."
"Gold" is featured on Day's debut album, Forever Mine, which is scheduled to release next Friday. NPR Music posted the live acoustic video of Day's "Gold" on August 11. Besides being anointed by Rolling Stone as a new artist we need to know, Day has catapulted onto the music mainstream with a slew of high-profile appearances.
The singer-songwriter performed at the 2015 BET Awards and the LA2015 Special Olympics World Games Closing Ceremony. Also recently, she opened for Lenny Kravitz' tour and performed at the 2015 McDonald's 365Black Awards.
The San Diego native got her career jumpstarted in 2012 when a series of her popular song covers went viral on YouTube. Those videos caught the attention of numerous record labels, which courted the future star. Eventually, she signed with Warner Bros. Records.
We know you will enjoy the video of the fabulous live acoustic performance of Day singing "Gold." Close your eyes for a moment and you'll swear that a time machine just delivered you to a nightclub in the 1950s. Of course, the lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along.
"Gold"
Written and performed by Andra Day.
He don't know I call him the teacher
He had a hard lesson for the kid
I get I put you through hell
He put me under the same spell
He lied man, he stressed me out
You loved me like a precious gift
And he loved me like a sloppy kiss
You would tell me your heartaches
Now I understand the pain
Oh why did I let you drown
Baby would you believe
That I've been broken
You say memories
Play again and again
I see the reel now it's real to me
I gave up gold
For grains of sand
Slipping through my hand (2X)
You had no problems with commitment
Like a king is loyal to what’s his
You looked for a ring to fit
While I played wifey with a kid
Oh the irony makes me sick
He tried to make me look crazy
Nothing new about his kind of scheme
I laugh when I think about
His face when truth nearly spilled out
He looked like me I get that now
Baby would you believe
That I've been broken
You say memories
Play again and again
I see the reel, now it's real to me
I gave up gold
For grains of sand
Slipping through my hand (4X)
Baby would you believe
That I've been broken
You say memories
Play again and again
I see the reel, now it's real to me
I gave up gold
For grains of sand
Slipping through my hand (4X)
Credit: YouTube screen captures.