There's Hope
it doesn't cost a thing to smile
you don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that


this is a very good song! I like it.Anyone else like it too?

I tried to like this album, but she is too 'PG', even her 'masturbation' song sounded like a bible hyhm, kind of creepy actually, very confusing

This was an album she wrote after a relationship break up, it was meant to be her dark break up album, but she sounds like a Disney movie, and I couldnt help comparing it "Bitter" by Me'shell and it didn't cut it.

masturbation song?

SoulAlive said:

Private Party, I read an article about the album and they talked about it.

"Private Party"

[Chorus]
I'm having a private party
Ain't no body here but me, my angels, and my guitar singin' baby look how far we've come here
I'm havin' a private party
Learning how to love me
Celebrating the woman I've become, yeah

I tried to call my mother, but
She didn't get where I was going
I called my boyfriend and he said
Call me back a little later baby
I hung up the phone, I felt so alone
Started to feel a little pity
That's when I realized that I
Gotta find the joy inside of me

[Chorus]

I'm gonna take off all my clothes
Look at myself in the mirror
We're gonna have a conversation
We're gonna heal the disconnection
I don't remember when it started
But this is where it's gonna end
My body is beautiful and sacred
And I'm gonna celebrate it

[Chorus]

All my life (all my life)
I've been looking for (I've been looking for)
Somebody else (else)
To make me whole (ooo)
But I had to learn the hard way (ooo)
True love began with me (ooo)
This is not ego or vanity (ooo)
I'm just celebrating me

[Chorus]

Sometimes I'm alone but never lonely
That's what I've come to realize
I've learned to love the quiet moments
The Sunday mornings of life
Where I can reach deep down inside
Or out into the universe
I can laugh until I cry
Or I can cry away the hurt

[Chorus]

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday

a private party,huh? sounds intriguing!

I think this album is really damn good. Loving it to bits, fave album for a while, looking forward 2 seeing her next wednesday at shepherds bush.

p.s. using the phrase "masturbation song" in relation 2 India is blaspheme.

twink69 said:

Funny, I heard an interview with her talking about the breakup and while I'm glad she doesn't have anger--she and the guy are still cool--and come out 10+ songs crying about a failed romance or a man who did her wrong (read: Vivian Green or Brandy) she doesn't seem to have it in her to be dark.

I like her and I liked her first 2 albums but this one seems a bit lite for me. I need a little bit of a groove, a little bass or something.

Maybe she and Meshell need to collabo.

JackieBlue said:

i agree with the both of you...this album is just too "sunshine" for me. for all her talk of positivity she doesnt seem capable of expressing her true self when it comes to the normal pains and heartaches that we all as humans go throug.

and this album's tempo *is* way too consistent throughout...its almost sleep enducing.

but still, i like her...the album isnt horrible...its just a step back from her first two.

I like India Arie a lot, she maybee falling into that always happy all the damn time catagory.(which i personally like, but thats not to popular)

She needs her own "tyrone" song, like Erykah had, that song saved her career.

I love this song it is off the hook!

i feel in my own opinion we need more postive songs than all the crunk and down south party hip and butt shaking music!

Music/ RAdio really do suck if you ask me/ i feel as a singer myself you need more real music than all the other stuff they put on the radio!



So does anybody agree with that or not!

I wish there were more keli's ,India Arie's and different artist that are truly saying something!

Artist that can really sing, dance, and really bring in the music you feel me!

That all i have to say!


Love, Moon

I'm laughing at this thread's predominantly negative vibe. "She's too happy!!!"

I think India's a welcome change from the barrage of negative, determined-to-be-as-hard-as-a-man-while-being-a-tramp offerings we typically get from black songstresses topping the charts. She's got great singing skills, and really connects well with her "look on the bright side" routine.

"Private Party" isn't a masturbation song. It's about self-esteem, taking an inventory of your state of mind and direction.

As for not seeming able to connect well with people's everyday experiences or being unable to express herself honestly, I find that curious. I don't see that in her work, and ... well... we're on a site dedicated to a man who refused to publically acknowledge the death of his newborn son. I wouldn't call her a contender to the throne, in that category.

Moon said:

I do agree. It's totally refreshing to me.

For me, it's not that India's too happy, just that this particular album is a little too much in the same vein. But that doesn't mean it's a bad album.

I've seen her in concert about 3 or 4 times and I'll see her again because she's a good live performer and the experience is always pleasant.

I'm sorry. Inia just does not do it for me. This is not to say that she is not a good singer. I loved her song, "Ready for love". To me, her music just shows one side of things. The result is, it all ends up sounding the same.

ThreadBare said:

hold up, did i use prince as an example of an artist whom expresses himself well? nope.

and i wouldnt have had issue with this album if she herself hadnt paraded around saying this was her "breakup" album. within *that* context when i listened to the album it rang untro.

sosgemini said:

No, I didn't say you used him as an example. I thought it a little ironic, is all.

I get your meaning. It doesn't approach, say, a "Bitter" in terms of emotional territory of a breakup. But, I think her approach is to find the positive when she can. I find a lot of "downness" in the album coloring her overall positive mood.

If that makes sense.

twink69 said:

this is about masturbation?

She ain't doin' something right....

I love her to pieces and will take her 'too happy' music over 99% of the crap on the airwaves right now. Private Party is not about masterbation.

I like the cd but it's not something I keep in constant rotation like her last two cds but it's acceptable...

Hobbitch said:

isn't it funny how different people interpret song lyrics?

ABeautifulOne said:

I'll co-sign to that! It's something that just doesn't click with me on this CD. although it is a good album...

Hobbitch said:

I like the positivity of her music.It's a welcome change from all the hip-hop gangsta crap that pollutes the airwaves these days.I don't own any of her albums but I may get the new one,based on how much I am enjoying the new single "There's Hope".

Hobbitch said:

Agreed. This is a very good album. I don't think it can touch Voyage to India, but I think it's as good as her debut.

Hobbitch said:

I didn't think that was about masturbation.

its more like a celebration of self.

Rhondab said:

Isn't that what masturbation is?? A celebration of self???

Rhondab said:

She did a live preview of this song at a gathering I met her at and never did masterbation cross my mind.

Since I am a perv, maybe I shoulda listened harder.


hello beautiful lady.

shorttrini said:

oh good grief.

self.... not meaning her damn coochie.....not a celebration of the coochie.


can ya'll think a little deeper than some nasty stuff...

Rhondab said:

I cant wait for Ying Yang twins remix

ThreadBare said:

Hel-lo!

People are getting cold thats what happend. Imagine Earth Wind & Fire emerging in this day of time(with the same message they delievered) I could see how everybody hammer their craft as too "campy" or too "SUNSHINE"(funny use of term btw ).

Not comparing the 2 by any means, but India is from that school(esp Stevie Wonder), their whole craft is based upon spirituality and positive energy, its not on their blood to take a habbit of dwelling.

India is anything but SAFE. If she did want to be approved by the masses(she would've done the same shit ya'll asking - which is what basicaly 90% of what these fatherfuckers are doing to be on heavy rotation).

Rhondab said:

I am not being nasty.To me a celebration of one self, goes way deeper than the coochie. Why must you assume that I was thinking only about the coochie. I was going waaaaay deeper than that.